Lyttelton Port strike cancelled this weekend after productive negotiations
Strike notice stays for later in the month.
A planned Maritime Union of New Zealand strike will not go ahead at Lyttelton Port Co's container terminal this weekend, though there are still strikes planned for later in the month.
Following bargaining between the union and Lyttelton Port, the industrial action planned for February 11 and February 12 will not proceed, although the Maritime Union still plans strikes for February 17-19 and February 24-26.
"The lifting of the strike notice reflects the progress made this week. We are meeting with MUNZ again tomorrow to work towards a settlement," port marketing manager Simon Munt said in a statement. "I am sure you will agree that the lifting of the strike notice for this weekend is a very positive development."
Between 160 and 180 Lyttelton Port employees are part of the Maritime Union covered by the collective contract for the container terminal, which employs more than 250 people. Port management wants to line up work rosters more closely with the company's operating needs.
The existing Lyttelton agreement was set to expire on March 7, 2016, and negotiations for a new collective agreement started in January last year, with 30 meetings in the second half of 2016. On December 1, union members unanimously voted to go on strike after rejecting a proposal by port management, with the outstanding issues over planned changes to the start and finish times for night shift workers by up to four hours.
(BusinessDesk)
Sophie Boot
Fri, 10 Feb 2017
Fri, 10 Feb 2017
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Lyttelton Port strike cancelled this weekend after productive negotiations
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