The Maritime Union of New Zealand is gearing up for its 330 Ports of Auckland worker members to be made redundant after the port management outlined its plan to hire outside contractors at a formal consultation this morning.
MUNZ President Garry Parsloe said the requests for proposal (RFPs) outlined this morning factored in the majority of union workers being made redundant if the outsourcing plan goes ahead. While Ports of Auckland stressed the decision was not definite, Parsloe said their actions seemed to speak otherwise.
“It seems a significant waste of energy and money on their part if they weren’t,” he told BusinessDesk.
Ports spokeswoman Catherine Etheredge said the meeting was a chance for management to outline its vision for the proposal.
The union has previously said it would give another strike notice if the proposal for outside contracting was continued. Parsloe said no decision had been made with the ports set to offer more information on Monday.
“We haven’t got the strategy sorted yet, but we won’t cop it sitting down” Parsloe said.
At the same time as this morning’s meeting, another meeting was taking place in London made up of various union and maritime workers groups, who discussed the dispute at Ports of Auckland and the prospect of declaring Auckland a ‘port of convenience’.
President of the International Transport Workers Federation Paddy Crumlin told NewstalkZB they're concerned about what's going on in Auckland.
"We've determined, unless they change their mind, we're going to declare Auckland a port of convenience which gives it special attention both politically and industrially, and financially I guess,'' he said.
The ‘port of convenience’ campaign has been used by the ITF to highlight international ports it believes create major obstacles to achieving decent working conditions for wharfies through privatisation, casualisation and a lack of union trade rights.
A sixth 24-hour strike, starting Jan 31, was called off Wednesday night after ports agreed to let MUNZ hold a stop-work meeting for four hours on the same day.
7 Comments
Play with fire and you'll get burnt. What did these striking workers expect? Repeated strikes only to be welcomed back with open arms and on generious terms? They had it sweet, as they're about to find out the hard way - see how many ~$90k jobs there are out there, fellas, for someone with little education. Oh, and while you're off home explaining to the Mrs how you'll be on bread and water for a while, you might want to reflect on how the union bosses seemed to keep food on their tables throughout...(I'll give you a clue - they were being paid while you weren't. Some representation, some solidarity, huh?)
At the same time as this morning’s meeting, another meeting was taking place in London made up of various union and maritime workers groups, who discussed the dispute at Ports of Auckland and the prospect of declaring Auckland a ‘port of convenience’.
oh yeah is that so...guess they'll be adding Shanghai and China's other 2000 odd ports then?
Idle threats from a dying union ...
..... are they also going to declare the Port of Tauranga a " port of convenience " ...... where the stevedores do much more work , for less pay ? .... seemingly content with their situation ..
Not complaining of course , those union wallahs at Ports of Akld have greatly enhanced the business in which I have an investment ..... tah very muchly !
seems they all read the same history novels
how to lose your job in three easy steps ...... by Aurthur Scargill
How to print money - by Wopping coud never happen.
Amazing that after all these years Unions still think the only way to suport the members is to bleed their employer dry until there are no jobs left! Suppose its a bit late to follow GBH's lead and buy into Tauranga
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