Maritime Union to meet with Port of Napier in jobs dispute

The Maritime Union of New Zealand is stepping up efforts to secure the future of Napier maritime workers.

The four national officials of the Maritime Union are arriving in Napier tomorrow  to meet with Port of Napier Limited CEO Garth Cowie at 11am.

The Port of Napier has awarded a container stevedoring contract to out of town company ISO who are a notorious anti-union employer.

25 permanent jobs and 60 casual jobs at Hawkes Bay Stevedoring Services are in jeopardy as a result.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the message they will be bringing to Napier is that the Port Company has a responsibility for their workers and to ensure secure local jobs.

“If we don’t get a satisfactory result we are going to be forced to consider national industrial action.”

Mr Hanson says the situation is snowballing with strong interest from international unions and the maritime industry about the outcome of the talks.

He says the Maritime Union is in contact with overseas Unions including the Maritime Union of Australia and the International Transport Workers Federation head office in London.

Support has also been guaranteed by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union who also have members at the Port of Napier.

“We are in the process of contacting all shipping companies that use Napier to explain to them the serious situation and the possibility of delays and disruption.”