Lyttelton tit-for-tat threats continue
Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) has responded to notice of strike action on April 26-29 from the small marine staff component of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) by declaring it will pay no union members during that period.
According to LPC chief executive Peter Davie, the absence of the estimated 11 of 191 RMTU members involved would effectively mean “there is no shipping” during the period. Those workers operate the port’s launch to ferry pilots to and from vessels at the head of the harbour, so no vessels requiring pilot guidance would be able to arrive or depart, he says.
Mr Davie says the remaining about 180 members of the RMTU would be fully aware of this impact, but “intend to come to work, do nothing and get paid”.
Terming LPC’s response a “lockout notice”, RMTU organiser John Kerr says its move “shows very clearly that their priority is bullying”.
The full membership of the RMTU has also recently announced a strike on April 20-24.
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