Unions should bear extra costs to consumer– EMA

UPDATED:Businesses operating on thin margins are being forced to pass on extra costs to consumers the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) says.

The costs should be footed by the Maritime Union and Council of Trade Unions, EMA's chief executive Kim Campbell says.

"It was their refusal to negotiate new terms and conditions in their employment agreement that led to the present impasse, despite strong assurances that the proposed new agreement would maintain workers’ hours, wages and numbers," Mr Campbell says in a statement. 

“Shippers, freight forwarders and trucking companies caught between the strikes and their clients have already incurred a lot of extra costs which they need to recover somehow.

“Its regrettable some freight companies are now finding it necessary to impose port disruption surcharges on customers. These are for example $100 per TEU (20 foot container equivalent)," EMA's chief executive Mr Campbell says in a statement.

UPDATED: A Ports of Auckland job advertisement is the result of international recruitment agency Hudson having an Australasian website which meant ads placed with the recruitment agency appeared on both Australian and New Zealand sites the ports and they were not deliberately targeting Australian workers, the port says.

UPDATED: Jobs are being advertised in Australia by the Ports of Auckland because contractors afraid of being  targeted by union action, the ports says.

The port says no decision has been made to contract out the workforce despite claims from Garry Parsloe, Maritime Union's national president, that the decision has been made and current negotiatiA nAons were transparent nonsense.

It is clearly stated in the advertisement that no decision has been made and they are seeking expressions of interest only.

The ports say any prudent business would test the market to see what viable options were available and they remain in a process of consultation with the union with a mediation session set for Thursday. 

The advertisement on international talent agency Hudson's website can be viewed here.

'Rogue' ports of Auckland seeking overseas workers - union

Feb 28: The Maritime Union says Ports of Auckland management are placing advertisements on Australian websites for a replacement contracted out workforce on Auckland’s waterfront.

Garry Parsloe, Maritime Union national president, said the ads show that Ports of Auckland management claims it wanted to reach a negotiated settlement were transparent nonsense.

The Ports of Auckland is advertising on behalf of “potential contractors” for overseas workers to replace Ports of Auckland workforce.

Mr Parsloe said Auckland ratepayers are paying Ports of Auckland management to destroy local jobs.

“I am pleased to say the Australian workers I have spoken to have been appalled by this action by Ports of Auckland management and will have nothing to do with them.”

The advertisement on the Hudson.com Australian website also says that Ports of Auckland wants to hear from non-waterfront workers who “would commit to training and up-skilling.”

Parsloe said Auckland ratepayers will be paying for the training of a non-skilled workforce, and possibly years of disruption to Port operations.

He said last weekend the CEO of Ports of Auckland Tony Gibson attacked the Maritime Union of New Zealand for working with international unions to defend secure jobs as undermining New Zealand’s interests.

At the same time Mr Gibson was attacking the Maritime Union for its internationalist outlook, he was advertising in Australia for replacements for a casualised and contracted out workforce.

“This is a rogue management with its own agenda and the Council must step in to protect the interests of Auckland,” Mr Parsloe said.