Port workers seek support
Lyttelton Port workers clad in high vis and waving union banners rallied outside the Christchurch City Council offices on Thursday to call for intervention in their dispute with the port.
‘‘What do we want? Fair deal. When do we want it? Now. Workers rights are under attack. Stand up. Fight back,’’ went the call-andresponse chants, punctuated by blasts from an air horn.
About 50 Rail and Maritime Transport Union port workers and their supporters gathered at the council buildings at midday to ask the council to step in.
The Christchurch City Council owns Lyttelton Port Company through its commercial arm, Christchurch City Holdings Ltd (CCHL).
The port company and the union are in dispute over the terms of a new collective contract. The pay of some union members – about 25 according to the port – was docked on Thursday after a strike notice was withdrawn with less than seven days’ notice.
The union has characterised the move as an illegal lockout, while the port company has expressed its disappointment that the union instructed workers to turn up when they knew work was not available.
‘‘International shipping movements are planned at least a week in advance. The union knows that,’’ port company operations manager Paul Monk said. ‘‘Our wharves are empty today, but the union still wants its members paid. The union is not acting in good faith.’’
Council chief executive Karleen Edwards accepted a letter from the union on behalf of acting mayor Andrew Turner. In it, the union called for the council to use its influence to get the port to pay its members.
A council spokeswoman said CCHL’s position was it would be inappropriate for the shareholder to intervene in an employment dispute.
The union’s South Island organiser, John Kerr, said about 70 workers were going without pay. He said the seven days’ notice was arbitrary.
‘‘Lyttelton Port Company is wholly owned by Christchurch City Council so we’re appealing to our mayor and councillors to step in and encourage management to change their minds.’’
Kerr said mediation on Wednesday came close to resolving the dispute. Contentious roster changes had been dropped and they were ‘‘really close to a deal’’ on the money.
Further strike notices issued for Friday through until Monday – when another meeting is planned – have been withdrawn. Monk said it was too late for shipping to return and there would be little work available.
‘‘There is no lock-out of the union’s members and nothing of this sort has been advised to the union or its members.’’
Union member Joshua North-Johanson said the union was asking for pay parity with the other major waterfront union. It wanted a 4 per cent increase the first year, then 3 per cent each year for the next two.
Workers expressed disappointment at the absence of port company chief executive Peter Davie, who last year was Christchurch’s highest paid public boss, taking home $955,000.