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Port workers plan more strikes

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Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:38a.m.

Workers have been in a deadlock with Ports of Auckland for months

Workers have been in a deadlock with Ports of Auckland for months

By 3 News online staff

Further industrial action is planned at the Ports of Auckland, with workers striking twice more this month.

The Maritime Union today announced a full week of strike action, starting at 7am on February 24.

This is in addition to partial strike planned from next Wednesday at Port of Auckland subsidiary Conlixx, when between 7am on February 15 and 7am on February 22 workers will not work with containers moved by outsourced labour.

Maritime Union National President Garry Parsloe says the industrial action is “is a direct attack on conditions of work and secure, permanent jobs”.

“The port company is planning to make our members redundant and contract out their jobs,” he says.

“It is an attack on the port workforce and their families and is bringing the future of the Ports of Auckland into grave danger.”

Mr Parsloe says if Ports of Auckland management return to the negotiation table, the industrial action may be reconsidered.

“These industrial actions are intended to focus the attention of management on the real issues.”

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Comments

12 Feb 2012 09:23p.m.

joe wrote:

its funny how nzers hate on unions, but flock in there droves to aussie for better wages, why are they better? because 80% of the workforce over there is unioniesd...

12 Feb 2012 02:39p.m.

Chris wrote:

Its strange how NZ is so anti union, given that Kiwis spend so much time whinging about their working conditions. People stood by idly as the Employment Contracts Act disempowered most of the unions, and now we wonder why we've become such a low wage economy.

Now one of the last unions that actually have any clout are going in to bat for their members, and the country can't wait to put the boot in! Its quite disgusting how the Port has dealt with this, playing on the jealousies of others in an effort to win over public opinion. Of course a full-time stevedore's wage is going to seem pretty generous when compared to a non-union Warehouse employee. But whose fault is that? Maybe if kiwis hadn't been so apathetic during the neo-liberal reforms of the late 80's and early 90's, then we'd ALL still enjoy decent working conditions, with regular rostered hours and overtime.

Just remember, these guys aren't after an obscene payrise or an outrageous bonus - they are simply fighting to keep their existing working conditions. They shouldn't be villified for that.

09 Feb 2012 12:51p.m.

sonnetag wrote:

This is a textbook case of how to strike your members out of Jobs. Parsloe is a little man with big ideas about the "Power" he and his Union has. The sooner the Port fire all these "Workers" and rehire good stevedores and get the Port running properly the better. The Miners strikes in the UK lost tens of thousands of jobs - is this what Parsloe wants for NZ??