Auckland airs its union grievances

In its recent Maritime Alert publication, MUNZ directly inferred that “no progress had been made in settling the outstanding issues” due to Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson not attending two recent facilitation meetings.

Furthermore, the article stated the port company had made it clear at those meetings there would be no negotiation on the shift rosters issue simply because it “has a position and it would not be moving from it”.

Ports of Auckland communications head Matt Ball retorted that while Mr Gibson had spent “hundreds of hours” in such meetings, he did not attend every one – as neither did MUNZ president Garry Parsloe.

Moreover, Mr Ball said the recent meetings had been about “process, nothing substantive” as MUNZ was waiting on the outcome of various legal cases in November.

Emphasising his port company had accepted the facilitator’s recommendation seven months ago, he lamented that “unfortunately the union appears to be more focused on legal action and public posturing than bargaining”.