Strike reinforces Port’s case for a contracted workforce

17 February 2012

Media Release

Union’s 14 day strike action reinforces the Port’s case for a contracted workforce ASAP

The Maritime Union’s 14 day strike threat while failing to respond to Port ‘package’ offer is a selfish betrayal to the many Auckland families who will suffer, says National Road Carriers executive director David Aitken

In a statement strongly encouraging Ports of Auckland’s to establish a fully contracted workforce on the waterfront as soon as possible, the National Road Carriers (NRC) said it was greatly disappointed at the Maritime Union’s continued refusal to respond to what NRC regarded as a very generous Port package involving a 10% increase in salary and guaranteed hours of work under a contracting arrangement.

“Most of the transport industry operates successfully under a contract model. Most transport users contract their transport resources, and have done so for 100 years. New Zealand’s most successful transport company runs entirely on this basis, and it is in turn a contactor to its clients. The union is showing itself to be nothing more than a dinosaur in its entrenched attitude in refusing to move to a more flexible working model with the inevitable result it will become extinct if it maintains this approach.”

They are badly letting down their work force colleagues and families in other key industries across the transport and other critical distribution businesses.

Even though the Port has indicated it will remain open during the strike, there will be severe impacts on many families as the impact of the strike reaches into the rest of the supply chain.

“As businesses fail to receive their containers and vital goods, more workers and families will inevitably be affected.

“Clearly, the union bosses are failing to think through the impact not just on their own members but also the hurt it will potentially cause to many other sole operators and contracted workers – most of whom don’t receive anywhere near the average $90,000 annual wage package the watersiders do. The Union was offered a collective agreement early in the stages of negotiation, and they failed to reach a negotiated settlement. They now expect others to pay for their error”

“The action of the union to extend the strike without seeking to talk to the Port shows the dispute has moved to a new level. It is now inevitable that the Port must seek to put in place a contracted workforce arrangement without delay – not only to bring the port into the modern world but to protect Auckland’s threatened image as an unreliable, uncompetitive and uncertain port city

ENDS

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