Ports of Auckland-Maritime Union strike

Having withdrawn a “technically-flawed” notice of industrial action issued late last week, the union reissued notice on Monday advising a 24-hour strike would commence from 10.59pm on Tuesday December 2.

The prospect of industrial action involving up to 300 container terminal stevedoring, road, rail, shuttle and engineering service workers is “extremely concerning”, said Ports of Auckland managing director Jens Madsen.

“Not just for our customers and business operations but, given the uncertain economic climate, for the Auckland region and New Zealand as a whole,” he said.

Illustrating the strained relations, Mr Madsen has described the union as “verging on shambolic.

“At the root of our disappointment is that we haven’t heard from the union what they want. We put two offers in front of them for consideration on October 23 and have not had any response since then.”

However, Maritime Union Local 13 president Denis Carlisle countered the port company was taking an “aggressive approach” by attacking the union in public.

“This tactic has had a major negative impact on negotiations between the parties,” he said.

“It appears management are assuring their customers they are trying to reach a solution on one hand, while pushing up tensions with inflammatory statements on the other hand, which does not indicate a constructive attitude.”