Local Board Members call for urgent change of approach at Ports of Auckland
23 February 2012

Thirty four Auckland Local Board members from twelve different Boards* are jointly calling for urgent action to resolve the Ports of Auckland dispute ahead of a planned two week strike starting tomorrow, Friday February 24.

“We repeat our call for the one hundred percent Auckland Council owned Ports Company to urgently get back into negotiations with the union for a new Collective Agreement. The strategic importance of resolving the dispute is overwhelming now, and it is time for Ports management to listen and adopt a different approach”, say the Board members.

“The chorus of voices calling for Ports of Auckland to take a more pragmatic approach is growing rapidly. A group of business leaders and major port stakeholders last week called for a new vision for the port and an end to labour casualisation proposals, and key Council leaders have called for a return to good faith bargaining with a focus on productivity improvements with a directly employed workforce”

“The message is simple. The Port company needs to back off from its extreme proposals to outsource or casualise the workforce. These proposals are a barrier to reaching a settlement, and they run counter to the vision of secure employment and stable communities that runs through many Local Board Plans, and the draft Auckland Plan. Improved productivity should be developed through a negotiated partnership approach with the workforce, rather than by firing all existing staff and contracting work out”

“The Maritime Union has publicly stated that it will lift the planned strike action if negotiations resume. We strongly urge Ports of Auckland to publicly re-commit to negotiations without the threat of out-sourcing. The approach taken to date is creating unnecessary economic and legal risk for the city and the Council. That is unacceptable and it is incumbent on Ports of Auckland, as a company ultimately responsible to Council and ratepayers in our communities, to re-assess their approach”, conclude the Board members.

ENDS

Full list of Local Board Members issuing this statement:
* Please note that each Board member issuing this statement does so in their own right only, and not on behalf of their Board.

Helga Arlington, Albert-Eden
Josephine Bartley, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Leila Boyle, Maungakiekie-Tamak (Chair)
Jesse Chalmbers, Waitemata
Shale Chambers, Waitemata (Chair)
Caroline Conroy, Papakura
Pippa Coom, Waitemata
Christopher Dempsey, Waitemata
Graeme Easte, Albert-Eden
Carrol Elliot, Mangere-Otahuhu
Tunumafono Ava Fa'amoe, Otara-Papatoetoe
Julie Fairey, Puketapapa
Catherine Farmer, Whau
Grant Gillon, Kaipataki
John Gillon, Kaipataki
Mary Gush, Otara-Papatoetoe
Peter Haynes, Albert-Eden (Chair)
Neil Henderson, Waitakere Ranges
Richard Hills, Kaipataki
Viv Keohane, Kaipataki
Chris Makoare, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Tracey Martin, Rodney
Christine O'Brien, Mangere-Otahuhu
Greg Presland, Waitakere Ranges
Simon Randall, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Tricia Reade, Waitemata
Denise Roche, Waiheke
Leau Peter Skelton, Mangere-Otahuhu (Chair)
Lydia Sosene, Mangere-Otahuhu
Rob Thomas, Waitemata
Alan Verrall, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Margi Watson, Albert-Eden
Michael Wood, Puketapapa
Denise Yates, Waitakere Ranges (Chair)

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