UPDATED Friday January 6: The Maritime Union is disputing Ports of Auckland claims that Fonterra is pulling out of the port in favour of Port of Tauranga and Port of Napier due to recent industrial disruption.
UPDATED Friday January 6: The Maritime Union is disputing Ports of Auckland claims that Fonterra is pulling out of the port in favour of Port of Tauranga and Port of Napier due to recent industrial disruption.
Union president Garry Parsloe says for a second time, claims by Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson about loss of work at the port have been contradicted.
In the latest instance, Mr Parsloe says a Radio New Zealand interview with a Port of Napier manager earlier this week confirmed the union viewpoint that shippers and port customers moved ports for a variety of reasons. Radio New Zealand reported on Thursday that Port of Napier services manager Bruce Lochhead says it began negotiating a deal with Fonterra well before the legal industrial dispute in Auckland.
Mr Lochhead told Radio New Zealand the Port of Napier had been working for a couple of years with Fonterra and other organisations including KiwiRail and the shipping lines carrying Fonterra products out of New Zealand to ensure "an increased share of their business with some success, some good success, over the past couple of years."
Mr Parsloe says shipping companies and market dominant companies have always operated in their own interests and manipulated ports to suit their own agendas.
"It's been like that for as long as I can remember."
The port has not responded to the claims.
The country’s largest exporter, dairy co-operative Fonterra, is moving its export shipments from Auckland to other ports, from the end of January until further notice.
Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson says the move is related to the threat of ongoing strike action at the port by the Maritime Union of New Zealand.
"With MUNZ threatening further strike action, it is inevitable that customers will look for alternatives and contingencies. Shippers need certainty and reliable service,” he said.
The move will see weekly trade worth around $27m re-routed through the ports of Tauranga and Napier instead of Auckland.
Mr Gibson says the port has had no response from the union to it last three negotiation offers and will only continue mediation with MUNZ when a formal response is received.
“Following Fonterra’s decision, I have today advised the union that this is our best and final offer. It includes a generous 10% rise on hourly rates, performance bonuses of up to 20% on hourly rates, and the retention of existing benefits and entitlements in return for a new roster system that will provide increased operational flexibility while allowing workers to plan their rosters a month in advance,” he says.
The union has consistently maintained that the industrial action is about casualisation of the workforce not pay rates.
Mr Gibson says the port is beefing up resources to keep terminal operations open through the continued industrial action. Further strike action is planned for a 48-hour period between Monday January 9 and Wednesday January 11.
