Auckland hopeful as facilitation looms

POAL says that MUNZ has withdrawn its opposition to the lifting of interim injunctions which were to be considered by the Employment Court this week which restricted the port from hiring and training new staff, following on from last year’s strikes.

Tony Gibson, CEO, Ports of Auckland, said: “It’s a positive step which should assist the parties to continue in facilitation and settle a collective agreement.”

Meanwhile, MUNZ says that it reached the decision after an agreement was made with POAL over employing and promoting stevedoring staff. It says POAL has also agreed not to discriminate against members of MUNZ.

Garry Parsloe, president, MUNZ, said to Port Strategy: “MUNZ felt secure withdrawing their injunction applications as a result of significant agreements with POAL as to the employment of staff and the treatment of MUNZ’ members, until we can have a substantive Court hearing.”

While the injunctions have been withdrawn, MUNZ has asked the Court to allocate a substantive fixture of allegations that POAL have breached their good faith obligations during the period of bargaining for a new collective agreement – these issues remain before the Court.

Three days of facilitation between POAL and the union are due to take place on 3 June.

The dispute between the two parties, which has resulted in on and off picketing and striking for 15 months, stem from the port wanting to introduce ‘competitive stevedoring’ at two of its container terminal operations. MUNZ said that this is an attempt to ‘casualise’ the workforce.