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“Further strike action pointless”

15 December 2011

“Further strike action pointless”

The National Road Carriers is seriously disappointed at the Maritime Union decision to walkout of mediation talks and issue another strike notice.

In a statement strongly supporting Ports of Auckland’s right to make changes to working conditions to improve the Port’s performance, Chris Carr, chairman of the National Road Carriers (NRC) wharf committee described the further strike action as very short-sighted.

“We predict the Union will end up the loser as jobs disappear at the waterfront as more shipping companies take options to avoid Auckland.

“The union’s decision shows that they are definitely not acting in the “good faith” that they have claimed,” he said. Long-term, the Port must be able to achieve conditions that ensure performance across the waterfront improves ahead of other ports Auckland competes against – especially Tauranga.”

“We strongly encourage the Port to look at options to use more non-union labour to ensure the port can continue to operate 24/7.”

“I fail to understand what is driving the Union to take continued strike action,’ said Mr Carr. As the Union has stated itself, the dispute is not about pay rates, but about making some changes to working conditions. The affected workers are already receiving wages that even for the lowest paid are more than twice the average wage for New Zealand.

The bottom line is that Port of Tauranga is almost 20% more efficient than the Ports of Auckland. “This 20% difference is critical to Auckland’s competitiveness and reflects on the whole freight distribution logistics chain – including road transport,” said Mr Carr.

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In recent years, freight operators have also been challenged to make efficiency gains including changes to work practices to meet the Port’s 24/7 operating schedule. “We have come through some tough situations in making this adjustment, but are now overall a more professional and efficient sector that our customers have benefited from and largely appreciate.”

To put it simply, the challenge facing the Ports of Auckland is to get its act together and become a more competitive and attractive port than Tauranga, including the role and responsibilities that stevedores play. “We would love for the Union to buy into that opportunity,” the NRC statement concluded.

ENDS

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