UPDATED December 28: The Maritime Union says strike notices at the Ports of Auckland for January could be lifted if management move from its position over casualisation of the workforce.
UPDATED December 28: The Maritime Union says strike notices at the Ports of Auckland for January could be lifted if management move from its entrenched position over casualisation of the workforce.
Union president Garry Parsloe says industrial action could be suspended if parties are serious and bargaining in good faith.
"There are a number of issues that there is plenty of room for constructive discussion around."
He says union members are not opposed to productivity improvements at the port and that recent productivity improvements show the willingness of the current workforce to lift performance “ but not at the expense of undermining family life”.
"The key issues are that casualisation and outsourcing are not an option. We want to maintain a skilled permanent workforce,” Mr Parsloe says.
UPDATED December 23: The maritime union has issued Ports of Auckland with a new strike notice - for 48 hours from 11pm January 9 to January 11.
Maritime Union president Garry Parsloe says the notice followed a wokers' meeting today where concern was expressed at the "attitude and approach" of senior port management to negotiations.
UPDATED December 23: The Maritime Union is accusing Ports of Auckland management of undermining workers' family life. Ahead of a further strike today, the union says the disputeis about workers maintaining a family life outside work - not money.
"The dispute is not about money. It is about ensuring secure jobs, decent hours and conditions for workers," Maritime Union National President Garry Parsloe says.
Mr Parsloe says proposed "flexibility" means workers will be on call for round the clock shift work and will lose job security through outsourcing and casualisation of the workforce.
He also accused Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson of using incorrect information about wages and hours of work.
"The simple fact that any Ports of Auckland worker earning the amounts stated by Mr Gibson [$90,000] would have to be doing hundreds of hours of overtime a year, over long shifts, round the clock, public holidays and weekends," Mr Parsloe says.
UPDATED December 21: Ports of Auckland’s Fergusson container terminal will remain open during this weekend’s strike, with trucks able to pick up and drop off containers between 7 am and 6 pm on Friday 23 December.
This is different to previous strikes, during which all road services were closed. Staff on individual employment agreements, managers and supervisors will run the 11 hour shift.
“Given KiwiRail’s planned network shutdown for electrification works, we felt it was particularly important to keep the Fergusson truck gate open," Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson says.
“We have had a very positive reaction from trucking companies, exporters and importers to the decision to stay open. We’re also keeping Friday 23 December as a demurrage (storage) free day, which should provide some relief to hard-pressed local businesses.”
Mr Gibson said five ships would still be affected by the strike with the company facing a revenue loss of $500,000. The value of the trade disrupted by the stoppage is $260 million.
Ports of Auckland’s on-dock empty container depot, multi-cargo wharves, cruise business, vehicle import trade, marine services, Onehunga seaport, Wiri Inland Port and Seafuels barge Awanuia are not affected by the proposed strike, and will also remain open.
Dec 21: Yesterday’s mediation between Ports of Auckland and the Maritime Union of New Zealand made little progress with the two parties still far apart, Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson says.
“We now anticipate that MUNZ will continue with the 96 hours of strikes they have threatened between now and 1 January.”
Mr Gibson says the port would work closely with its customers to mitigate the impact of the strikes as best it could.
“However, the union’s timing of these highly disruptive strikes to coincide with KiwiRail’s planned network shutdown for electrification works means significant delays for importers and exporters must be anticipated.”
Mr Gibson says it was disappointing the company’s new flexible offer including an up front 10% increase on hourly rates had not been taken up by the union.
“I believe most Aucklanders would see this offer as a very fair deal, especially as it preserved existing terms and conditions including 15 days sick leave and 5 weeks annual leave a year.”
Mr Gibson confirmed that up to 40 jobs could be lost as a result of the loss of Maersk’s Southern Star service, mostly in the container terminal area.
“Further industrial action will only serve to put even more jobs at risk and undermine customers’ confidence in Ports of Auckland’s ability to deliver reliable service,” Mr Gibson says.
Mr Gibson says one major shipping line had reported incurring costs of US$500,000 as a result of the first industrial stoppage alone, through the flow-on effects of delays in Auckland.
Mr Gibson confirmed that the port had decided against issuing any further lock out notices at this point. No further dates for mediation have been agreed.
The next strikes are for:
• 10.30 pm on Thursday 22 December until 10.30 pm Friday 23 December (24 hours)
• 10.30 pm Saturday 24 December until 10.30 pm Sunday 25 December (24 hours)
• 7 am Friday 30 December till Sunday 1st January, 7am (48 hours)
UPDATED December 9: Statements made by the Maritime Union that an expanded shipping service would boost ship calls to Auckland have today been said to be factually incorrect by Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson.
"This is an existing weekly service and will not result in any extra ship calls to Auckland," said Mr Gibson.
"Unfortunately, they got their facts wrong. There's no getting away from the reality that redundancies are possible, and that significant changes are required at Ports of Auckland is the company is to prosper."
UPDATED Thursday: Ports of Auckland presents new offer to Maritime Union during mediation, including up-front 10% increase to hourly rates.
Ports of Auckland is offering its stevedores a 10% increase in their hourly pay rates in a "last ditch" bid to resolve industrial dispute at Auckland's waterfront.
Ports chief executive Tony Gibson said today's offer was a bid to put an end to strikes that have cost the ports a $20 million shipping line service and caused $630 million in pre-Christmas trade disruption.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Union has ended today's discussion by serving a new 48-hour strike notice from 7am December 30 to 7am January 1.
The offer, made during mediation, would boost hourly rates by 10% in return for full operational flexibility and productivity improvements.
Performance-related bonuses included in the offer mean a star stevedore, already paid an average salary of $91 thousand, could increase their hourly rate by as much as 20%.
Stevedores would also get to keep all current benefits and entitlements including superannuation contributions up to 7%, medical insurance and leave provisions under the offer.
Ports of Auckland has withdrawn its previous offer to roll over the expired collective agreement with the Maritime Union of New Zealand.
"Maersk's decision to pull the Southern Star service out of AUckland - effective immediately - was a game-changer," said Mr Gibson.
The Maersk decision has shown us that we're out of time. We need to lift out game and lift it now.
"Our aim is to remove the old-fashioned, restrictive working practices that are preventing Ports of Auckland from performing to its potential," Mr Gibson said.
He reiterated his call for the union to withdraw the two 24-hour Christmas strikes planned for December 2-25 and revoke its latest notice of a new 48-hour strike from 7am December 30.
"These strikes promise to be even more disruptive for consumers, importers and exporters than those to date. This is because the union has chosen to strike at a time when KiwiRail is shutting down its rail network for electrification works.
Today's offer is the ninth offer the company has presented to the union.
UPDATED Friday:
Union attacks Ports' management as mediation talks resume
The Maritime Union is accusing Ports of Auckland management of making "bogus claims" that striking workers are to blame for the loss of Maersk's Southern Star shipping service at the port.
The attack comes as the parties return to the bargaining table in an effort to negotiate an end to the industrial action that has seen strikes and lockouts.
It is unlikely to make today’s meeting any easier with Maritime Union president Garry Parsloe saying “Sooner or later [Port ceo Tony] Gibson's stream of misinformation is going to come back and bite him. It's very hard to sit around a table with someone who just makes things up like this."
He says the withdrawal of Maersk was only for one service, adding that the real commercial facts were already on public record.
"Let me make it clear that every time the CEO attacks his workers in the media, it is having the sole result of firming their resolve to bring him to heel and make him negotiate in good faith,” Mr Parsloe says.
UPDATED Thursday: Ports of Auckland says talks with the Maritime Union made progress today with the union reducing tomorrow night's strike to 24-hours.
The strike, originally intended for 48-hours, is due to start at 10:30pm Friday.
The progress was made as both parties resumed mediation today, continuing from 9am tomorrow.
Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson said the port, which won't meet with the union during a strike, was disappointed Saturday's strike was not withdrawn altogether.
Business would still suffer delays as a result.
"Their partial withdrawal has come too late to stop the four ships diverting to Tauranga this weekend and too late to roster a full complement of staff on tonight.
"While the port will be open tomorrow, we will be working through the backlog created by the last stoppage instead of servicing new callers. Importer and exporters will still suffer delays as a result and slots for road carriers will be limited."
A further 48-hour strikes is planned for December 22 and 23.
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Wednesday:
Ports of Auckland says it has received a third strike notice from the Maritime Union.
The notice is for two 24 hour strikes, from 10.30pm on Thursday December 22 until 10.30pm Friday December 23; and from 10.30pm Saturday December 24 until 10.30m Sunday December 25 (Christmas Day).
Ports of Auckland Chief Executive Tony Gibson says the port will continue to work with the Port of Tauranga and KiwiRail to minimise the impact of the strikes on the supply chain. However, he acknowledged that the latest action could hurt retailers wanting to re-stock shelves for the Boxing Day and New Year’s sales.
The company has agreed to meet with the union for further mediation tomorrow.
Ports of Auckland has withdrawn a second lock out notice against striking workers and warned of risks to jobs and business if industrial disruptions continue.
The lockout was due to take effect following this Thursday’s planned 48 hour strike by the Maritime Union of New Zealand – Local 13 (MUNZ).
“I challenge the union to withdraw their strike notice,” Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson said.
“Not only does this show a disappointing lack of urgency on the union’s part in seeking to resolve what is a very serious situation, it also suggests to us that they are determined to proceed with the strike,” Mr Gibson said.
“In the interest of our customers , the community and the wider Auckland business sector, we have decided to withdraw our lockout notice. We have made that decision irrespective of whether the union decides to proceed with another strike.”
“I challenge the union to withdraw their strike notice and, in the interests of their members’ jobs and the Auckland economy, to make a commitment that they will not issue any further strike notices before Christmas.”
Mr Gibson said the company would be happy to meet with the union on Friday for further mediation, but only if they lifted their strike notice. “We will not meet with them during a strike,” he said.
“This industrial action has already cost Ports of Auckland one major shipping service. Further disruption in the lead up to Christmas will only put further services and jobs at Ports of Auckland at risk.”
Mr Gibson said the strike would have a very significant impact on the port and the Auckland supply chain, with four ships and around 4,100 containers diverting to the Port of Tauranga over the 48 hours. Estimated revenue loss to the port is $950,000.
“For workers, there will be no opportunity to make up this lost income – the ships have confirmed that they are diverting to Tauranga.”
Mr Gibson said three ships that would otherwise have been impacted by the lock out will now be able to be serviced in Auckland.
The company’s Bledisloe and Fergusson container terminals, and associated road and rail services, are affected by the strike. Ports of Auckland’s multi-cargo wharves, cruise business, vehicle import trade, marine services, Onehunga seaport, Wiri Inland Port and Seafuels barge Awanuia are not affected. The on-dock empty container depot will also remain open.
The strike action, which is set down for 10.30pm on Thursday December 8 until 10.30pm Saturday December 10, involves 327 employees out of a total of 580.
