Maritime Union offer to continue mediation

The Mar­itime Union believes that a small amount of progress was made at medi­a­tion with Ports of Auck­land man­age­ment over Thurs­day and Fri­day this week.

Mar­itime Union Nation­al Pres­i­dent Gar­ry Parsloe says that some major issues remain unre­solved, how­ev­er.

He says the Mar­itime Union has offered to con­tin­ue with medi­a­tion next week and are await­ing a response from Ports of Auck­land man­age­ment.

Mr Parsloe says Ports of Auck­land man­age­ment appear to be locked into a destruc­tive spi­ral towards dis­as­ter with their con­tract­ing out and casu­al­iza­tion agen­da.

“There appears to be no ratio­nal basis to it, so per­haps this is part of a wider agen­da around the port and pri­va­ti­za­tion.”

At the con­clu­sion of medi­a­tion today, Mr Parsloe says while the Union is always open to dis­cus­sions, there had been no shift in the con­tract­ing out plan.

“Unless man­age­ment pull back from their attack on their work­force, the port will effec­tive­ly be crip­pled for an indef­i­nite peri­od.”

Mr Parsloe says until port man­age­ment address the claims in the col­lec­tive agree­ment and drop their plan to out­source jobs, then indus­tri­al action will con­tin­ue.

“Our mem­bers are fight­ing for their fam­i­lies liveli­hoods and are very aware that this entire attack is about destroy­ing job secu­ri­ty and cre­at­ing a divid­ed and inse­cure work­force.”