Further industrial action to protect secure jobs at Ports of Auckland

The Maritime Union has announced further industrial action to protect secure jobs at Ports of Auckland.

A meeting was held this morning in Auckland attended by around 300 port workers.

Maritime Union National President Garry Parsloe says the meeting of workers voted to place further strike action on the port.

The strike action would run from 7am on 15 February 2012 until 7am on 22 February 2012.

The strike action would not be continuous, but would involve members refusing to work containers that had been delivered to or moved around the Ports of Auckland by Conlinxx.

Conlinxx is the majority owned POAL company that has already been used to outsource jobs at the Ports of Auckland.

Mr Parsloe says this is legal and protective action to protect jobs and family livelihoods from outsourcing and casualization.

He says the industrial action was taken with reluctance, but was necessary as port management refused to negotiate.

“It is aimed at getting management to negotiate rather than dictate. The Union is prepared to work through productivity and other issues but not under the type of threats the management are holding over its employees.”

Mr Parsloe said the Maritime Union members had received support for their cause from many workers in New Zealand as well as overseas.