Media Release: Rail and Maritime Transport Union

Sunday February 12, 2012

Publically owned companies should protect, not destroy, jobs

Publically owned companies like Ports of Auckland should be protecting jobs, not casualising them, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union said today.

The RMTU, a member of the International Transport Workers Federation, is backing Auckland port workers in their campaign for secure jobs.

“Figures out this week showed there are still 150,000 people unemployed. Publically owned companies like Ports of Auckland should be in the business of protecting jobs and livelehoods, not attempting to destroy them,” Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson said.

“Ever increasing casualisation and a lack of rostered work patterns is a significant problem on the New Zealand waterfront.”

“Workers and their families have a right to know what hours they will have from week to week so they can plan their lives.”

“When Ports of Auckland workers stood up for these basic principles they were met with relentless hostility from Port management.”

“Aucklanders should let their port company know that they support secure jobs for port workers, and join the community campaign launched this week.”

Wayne Butson said the RMTU had been publicising the dispute among its membership and letting them know how they can support the port workers, including by volunteering through the saveourport.com website.

Ends.

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