March 12: Ports of Auckland chairman Richard Pearson has rejected Auckland Mayor Len Brown's offer to mediate the waterfront dispute.
"We have passed the point of no return," Mr Pearson said.
The chairman said he was willing to meet with Mr Brown, but the council-owned company's decision to fire 292 striking workers was "irrevocable."
March 11: The horses may already have bolted - or at least the unionised wharfies been fired - but Auckland Mayor Len Brown has offered to play mediator in Ports of Auckland's dispute with the Maritime Union.
Mayor Brown - criticised by many of his supporters for sitting on the fence - made his peacemaker offer on TVNZ's Q&A this morning.
Martime Union national president Gary Parsloe greeted the offer with enthusiasm, saying, "The Mayor’s offer in particular is extremely important as the Council is the owner of the Ports, and we believe it is now being wrecked by the Ports board ... We will meet any time any day with any decent offer to get this issue resolved".
On Friday, the Council-owned company confirmed it had hired Drake and AWF to hire independent contractors.
NBR staff
Mon, 12 Mar 2012
Mon, 12 Mar 2012
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Ports rejects Len Brown mediation offer
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