Maritime Union welcomes Council moves to make Ports of Auckland a good employer

2 May 2012

The Maritime Union has welcomed moves by the owners of Ports of Auckland to ensure it acts as a good employer.

The Auckland City Council has directed its investment company Auckland Council Investments Limited (ACIL) to endeavour to ensure that Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) comply with ACIL’s personnel policy and good employer provisions, and work with the Council to agree the best productivity target for the Port.

On 30 April the Auckland Council’s CCO Strategy and Review Committee agreed that the following be referred to ACIL:

• “Requires ACIL to endeavour to ensure that its personnel policy and good employer obligations, including the definition of a good employer, are also complied with by its wholly owned companies Auckland Film Studios and Ports of Auckland Limited,”

• “and That Council works with ACIL on the best productivity target for the Ports of Auckland”.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National President Garry Parsloe has welcomed these moves.

“Both of these issues are vital in ensuring that the current dispute with POAL is settled.”

He says Aucklanders will be pleased to see this initiative by the Auckland Council and hopes that they are agreed by both ACIL and POAL.

Mr Parsloe says the ACIL Board are meeting today 2 May and will be discussing the feedback of the Council.

“In the confidential part of the meeting they are discussing the current dispute. We hope that they will be encouraging POAL to reach a fair settlement of the collective agreement without contracting out when we go into facilitation next week. “

Mr Parsloe says the costs of the port dispute and the ongoing risks are huge.

“It is in the best interests of both parties and the community for a resolution to be reached. The Maritime Union will continue working positively to achieve this outcome.”

ENDS

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