Maritime Union responds to job slashing exercise at Ports of Auckland

The Mar­itime Union of New Zealand says it does not accept the Ports of Auck­land pro­pos­al to slash 30 jobs.

Mar­itime Union Local 13 Auck­land Water­front Branch Pres­i­dent Denis Carlisle says the union met today with Ports of Auck­land man­age­ment to dis­cuss the pro­pos­al.

He says the Union is con­cerned with the lev­el of job loss­es and does not accept the rea­sons giv­en by man­age­ment.

“It appears the Ports of Auck­land are going to try and force through a restruc­tur­ing that they could not achieve through nego­ti­a­tion ear­li­er.”

Mr Carlisle says the work­ers at Ports of Auck­land Bledis­loe Ter­mi­nal believe they are being tar­get­ed by man­age­ment.

He says the restruc­tur­ing seems to be aimed at reduc­ing terms and con­di­tions, and under­min­ing per­ma­nent jobs, using the cur­rent reces­sion as an excuse.

“The Mar­itime Union does not accept this course of action is nec­es­sary nor is it inevitable and our mem­bers will be meet­ing to dis­cuss our response to this pro­pos­al.”