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Port union blames Govt for job losses

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Port union blames Govt for job losses

3News NZ

John Key (Photo: Jared Mason)

John Key (Photo: Jared Mason)

Around 50 Timaru port workers are expected to lose their jobs today, and the union is blaming the Government.

PrimePort management will meet with staff to discuss redundancies and restructuring.

Last month two big shipping companies Maersk and Hamburg Sud announced they would not be using the port in the future.

Rail and Maritime Transport Union organiser John Kerr says Prime Minister John Key should take responsibility.

"It's okay having a nice smile, but the fact is the port strategy in this country is broken and needs to be fixed," says Mr Kerr.

"John needs to stop smiling, he needs to front up to these workers and come up with some answers."

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Comments

15/08/2012 8:56:06 a.m.

aiden wrote:

Jim, we already know why they ditched Timaru, it has been common knowledge around here since they lost the last contracts that the port refuses to compete with the other ports. They are just too expensive. they were even warned in negotiations that they were too expensive

10/08/2012 5:00:19 p.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE: "Last month two big shipping companies Maersk and Hamburg Sud announced they would not be using the port in the future.
Rail and Maritime Transport Union organiser John Kerr says Prime Minister John Key should take responsibility."

Typical outdated Union response - hold John Key and the government responsible.
We already know why the same two companies ditched Auckland for the Port of Tauranga - reliable and cheaper loading and unloading costs.

John Kerr should ask the two big shipping companies Maersk and Hamburg Sud - what is their reason for not using the Port of Timaru, instead of trying to score cheap political points for his Union led Labour party, especially remarking on John Keys smile.

John Kerr should do well in the labour Party.




10/08/2012 2:56:29 p.m.

graham wrote:

Neo-classical economists like John Key have no clue how to manage an economy!

Just look at the GFC or the Libor rate scandal, your ignorance is taking NZ down. National voters are educated fools.

10/08/2012 1:24:35 p.m.

aiden wrote:

lets be honest here and we all know this in Timaru, the port was greedy, did not even try to compete with other ports when the tenders went out for these contracts. These are not the first contracts that the port has lost because of its greed. the government has no involvement with this but for the fact the labour unions want to make it so, it was teh greedy port of which is partly owned by the council who likewise do not listen to the ratepayers.

10/08/2012 1:02:55 p.m.

Wiseacre wrote:

This is not about the port/union being greedy. This is about big international shipping companies playing the ports off against one-another in order to drive costs down. Despicable.

10/08/2012 8:08:05 a.m.

Mike B wrote:

In this country, if the dog has kittens it is the governments fault!!!

Job Offer- Prime Minister-Requirements, VERY broad shoulders!!!!

10/08/2012 8:02:45 a.m.

Mike wrote:

The port clients needed value for money and flexibility.

If the port/union were too greedy, that life.

If the unions worked with business for more flexibility and better productivity, it would save jobs, hence the union is against it.