Port to pay locked-out union members, hold off contracting

Ports of Auckland will pay locked out union members until this Friday, and will hold off contracting non-union stevedoring services for two weeks longer than previously announced.

The commitments were made in the Auckland Employment Court today, but PoAL remains adamant it will not mix union members involved in industrial action with non-union staff who have kept working, meaning unionised staff will not return to work despite drawing pay this week.

There would also be little for them to do. While a small, non-unionised workforce continues to operate the port, it is unable to handle normal traffic volumes and Auckland-bound ships have been diverted or skipped New Zealand to avoid the port.

Maritime Union of New Zealand workers had been due to return to work last week after PoAL’s legal strategy collapsed in the Employment Court, but the port issued a lockout notice immediately afterwards and reasserted its intention to seek competitive stevedoring services.

The parties returned to the court today to set the timetable for further hearings.

“The injunctions regarding the alleged lockouts will be dealt with by the court on Friday, at which time the court will address the evidence that Ports of Auckland and the union have provided regarding the health and safety concerns held by the company,” the port company said in a statement after the hearing.

“The union accepted the company's offer, which it had made in good faith, to pay MUNZ employees who lifted their strike notice and who are available for work this week” until this Friday’s hearing.

The port also agreed not to progress its decision to contract out stevedoring at the port until after the court considers the union’s claim, in a hearing commencing May 16.

“In relation to the current health and safety issue, the company has been very clear that it has health and safety obligations to all its staff. It has stressed to the court again today, and will certainly do so again on Friday, that it takes such concerns very seriously.”

There are fears that the workplace may be made unsafe by tension between unionised and non-unionised staff, with media reports citing threats to non-union staff.