Port of Lyttelton safety needs serious attention

Safety at the Port of Lyttelton needs serious attention following the second death in two months, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union said today.

The RMTU has today expressed its condolences for the death of a watersider at the Port of Lyttelton yesterday, a member of the Maritime Union of New Zealand.

It follows the death of a contractor at the Port in late November after he was pinned between a logging truck and a forklift.

“Our sympathy goes to the family of the worker who lost their life yesterday. This will be heart wrenching for them as they prepare for Christmas without a loved one, as it will for the worker’s friends and workmates.”

RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson said that the Port of Lyttelton needed to work with unions to review systems at the Port following the Christchurch earthquakes.

“There are concerns from workers that the Port is working beyond capacity and available space. This needs to be addressed quickly, and we support MUNZ’s efforts to get everyone around the table on this matter urgently,” Wayne Butson said.

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