By Phil Boeyen, ShareChat Business News Editor
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Thursday 27th September 2001 |
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The company warned of the planned stoppage last week and says it is frustrated and disappointed that it could not be averted.
"We have negotiated in good faith since the union tabled its claims in February. The negotiations have been protracted and difficult, with the union changing its position at almost every stage," claims POA boss Geoff Vazey.
Mr Vazey says there are two key issues at stake in the current negotiations with the waterfront union.
One is transferability of staff, with the union asking that only people employed on a particular wharf can work there. The other is that a small number of staff at the Axis Bledisloe container wharf wants the right to work up to eight shifts a week.
"With the increasing peaks and troughs in the business as ship exchanges get bigger, that means we would be paying people literally to sit idle on one wharf while we pay other workers for additional hours," says Mr Vazey.
"The union demands are unreasonable and would lead to the reintroduction of archaic and restrictive work practices."
Mr Vazey says he regrets any disruption to the port's customers and users but says the company's negotiating position has received customer support.
Around 225 of the port's 540-strong workforce are not working due to the industrial action, which is timed to end early Saturday. POA says the strike will affect seven vessels due in Auckland over the two-day period.
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