Lyttelton Port workers take industrial action

Lyttelton Port workers take industrial action over safety and fair pay

Workers at Lyttelton Port Company have voted unanimously in favour of industrial action as their employer ignores safety concerns and demands roster changes without proper compensation.

“We’ve been in collective bargaining since July last year – we’ve met 21 times,” says John Kerr, organiser for the Rail and Maritime Transport Union. “The sticking points are safety and pay.

“Management wants to change people’s hours of work so the port can operate 24/7. We have no problem with that – as long as it’s done safely, and people are compensated for those hours.”

Fatigue is a major concern on the waterfront, and Lyttelton Port Company currently has no policy for managing it. A joint working group including experts from Massey University has been created to report on how the extended work hours and roster changes can be implemented safety.

“Fatigue can be a killer when people are working around the clock, in all weather conditions, and operating heavy machinery,” says John Kerr. “Until we get the recommendations from the working group, it’s premature and risky to change the rosters.”

There is also a marked reluctance from Lyttelton Port Company to compensate workers for the roster changes.

“These changes will impact people’s ability to spend time with their families and earn a decent living,” says John Kerr. “Meanwhile, LPC’s chief executive was paid $955,000 last year. There’s a serious imbalance in the way senior managers are rewarded compared to the people on the front line.”

The industrial action at Lyttelton Port will include an overtime ban and full stoppages from 3 March.

“We want Lyttelton Port Company to come back to the table with a realistic proposal so the industrial action doesn’t have to happen,” says John Kerr.

Lyttelton Port Company is owned by Christchurch City Council, and the RMTU believes the Council should follow the government’s lead by introducing measures to restrict senior executive pay.

“The Mayor and Christchurch city councillors need to pay attention to what’s happening on the waterfront and realise that this is what happens when you leave things to the market,” says John Kerr. “Ditch the neoliberal dogma and stop the wealth being funnelled to the top.”

ENDS

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