Lyttelton parties dig in heels
Members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) commenced a 12-day strike at Lyttelton Port (or Lyttelton Port of Christchurch) on Monday this week, citing the port company’s unwillingness to offer a 1%-higher pay rate or to pay workers following last week’s late withdrawal of industrial action.
On the latter issue, Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) has countered that with the RMTU last Wednesday afternoon withdrawing a strike notice planned to start later that week, shipping lines had already been diverted meaning there was no work for the union members.
Labelling the port company’s actions an “illegal lockout” – which has been vehemently denied by LPC – the RMTU says it is pursuing its legal options over the matter.
Meanwhile, the port company also says it is now offering RMTU members a 3% salary increase each year for three years “while asking for no change to their roster, work or conditions”. It emphasises the latter terms were recently agreed to by members of the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) at the port, so as to provide a more flexible service to customers.
However, the RMTU claims the port company is in fact offering its members a pay rate 1% less than that now being provided to MUNZ.
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