The Maritime Union has warmly welcomed an offer of mediation from the Mayor of Auckland Len Brown, and the Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops, made publicly over the last two days.
Today on current affairs programme Q+A the Mayor said he wanted to step in to the dispute between the parties to find a solution.
“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,” said Garry Parsloe, Maritime Union of New Zealand National President.
“We will meet any time any day with any decent offer to get this issue resolved”.
On Friday Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops in Auckland offered their leadership in a spirit of reconciliation to help resolve the dispute.
The bishops said they were concerned for the welfare of workers and their families, and for the future of the waterfront industry, and that they were willing also to work with city leaders to find a solution.
Garry Parsloe said the bishops’ offer was a generous one.
“We’ll warmly welcome the help of the Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops,” he said.
“They have demonstrated they understand that at its core, this dispute is about people and their lives.”
“Our deep concern during these negotiations has been the impact the proposed changes from Ports management would have on our members’ job security and their ability to prioritise time with their families and other commitments outside work.”
“It is in the interests of everyone in Auckland to resolve this dispute in a way that protects secure jobs and ensures a sustainable and successful Ports of Auckland.”
“We hope Ports management will take kindly to the offer also, and respect the role of the Council as the owners of the Ports and the importance of the offer from the Mayor,” Garry Parsloe said.
Yesterday around 5,000 people gathered at a Save Our Port campaign rally in Auckland.
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The valiant 300 stand locked out alone
Log jamming a third of all Kiwi trade
Trying to save their lively hoods and homes
Board room manipulations are underway
We’ll serve them all up redundancy
And rehire labour that’s far cheaper
To keep the Port’s financial fecundity
And profit graph incline even steeper
This isn’t Kiwi, it just isn’t cricket
The Champaign set makes all the rules
And to fire workmen whilst on the picket
Clearly defines them greedy arrogant fools
More acres of dockland needed they claim
Stacked containers to blight the harbour view
Towards Devonport 250 meters are aimed
With modernisation only to be staffed by few
What are director’s fees annually I wonder?
Compared to those that actually do the graft
It may very well disclose whose set on plunder
While other ports struggle to service all the craft
The working world is watching your fate
Will international industrial action follow?
Stand Resolute as you are at the gate
And you will have your answers tomorrow