Ports of Auckland dispute escalates

Ports of Auckland dispute escalates

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/7122

08/03/2012

Plans to make 300 wharfies redundant and outsource their work at the Ports of Auckland, New Zealand, have been confirmed.

Members of the ITF-affiliated Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) are currently out on strike over the proposals which weren’t made official until Wednesday. Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) gave notice to the union that workers would be made redundant and stevedoring services contracted out, most likely within a six-week time frame.

Meanwhile the impact of the long running dispute is being felt beyond Auckland. Wharfies in Lyttleton port in Christchurch have today been ordered back to work after refusing to unload a container vessel, which had been handled by non-unionised labour in Auckland. A court injunction, the same kind used to force Wellington workers to load and unload the Maersk Aberdeen and Tauranga port staff to work on the Irenes Remedy, has been issued against members of MUNZ and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU), forcing them to halt industrial action.

Despite the announcement, workers in Auckland have vowed to step up the campaign to safeguard jobs. A public rally has been organised for Saturday with local people being urged to show up in force to support wharfies and to keep the port in local hands.

The international arm of the campaign is also escalating. ITF dockers’ section secretary Frank Leys said: “We are standing firmly by our New Zealand brothers and sisters in this dispute. We have requested a meeting with the High Commission in London and I will be sending a message to workers and Aucklanders to be delivered during Saturday’s rally to make sure those on the ground are assured of the international support they have.”

Visit the dedicated ITF Auckland wharfies solidarity page for more http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/solidarity-3502.cfm .