OCEANIA

More strike pain ahead at Lyttelton

8 years ago

Further industrial action has been announced by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) following a breakdown in communications with New Zealands Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) yesterday.

RMTU members cited 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

Claiming LPC has “rejected any compromise we suggested”, RMTU South Island organiser John Kerr says the union’s about 200 local membership will strike for five days from April 20.

“They remain determined to force our members to pick between inferior pay and conditions or unsafe rosters,” he says.

“LPC should use the next 14 days to think about how they’re treating the people who make their profits.”

LPC chief executive Peter Davie counters that the RMTU knocked back three separate options put forward.

“All three options are very fair and will provide significant wage increases to our staff,” he says.

“The sticking point is that the RMTU want the same 4% salary increase in the first year that their workmates in the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) received, but they refuse to make the roster changes MUNZ members already have made.”