Lyttelton Port Workers Vote For Industrial Action

Lyttelton Port staff represented by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) this afternoon voted for an indefinite ban on overtime to commence on 17 December.

‘Our union represents more than 200 workers at Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC), over half the staff employed by the port in front line roles, and all of those working in critical areas like plant and civil maintenance, security, and marine services. From 17 December they will not perform overtime, this is in response to LPC’s failure to engage on our key claims in collective bargaining,’ said RMTU South Island Organiser John Kerr.

‘We’ve been in talks with LPC since July, and the sticking points are productivity and equity,’ he said.

‘LPC have refused our key claim on productivity which seeks to establish a structure so we can work together on improvements in this area. We are also trying to bring cargo handlers at LPC’s inland port at Woolston into the collective agreement, workers who are paid $6 per hour less than their workmates over the hill on the wharves,’ he said.

‘The recent 18% increase in LPC Chief Executive Peter Davie’s pay packet hasn’t helped, nor has the appalling health and safety record at the port in the past twelve months,’ he said.

‘Our members have been doing difficult work in all weathers around the clock, they have broken every record in terms of the volume of cargo that’s been shifted, and they have played and continue to play a vital role in supporting the rebuild of Christchurch. They want LPC to be productive and profitable, and all they want is to be paid commensurately and to be able to work safely,’ he said.

‘It’s galling when we’re taking the initiative in seeking to engage constructively with LPC and management doesn’t want a bar of that,’ he said.

‘In addition to the overtime ban the membership also voted for multiple total withdrawals of labour in a series of rolling stoppages to take place over coming weeks. We have to give notice to LPC of when these will occur and that’s the next step unless we can reach a resolution,’ he said.

‘We simply want LPC to think commercially and pragmatically so we can all get on with doing the good work that helps drive the re-build and the Canterbury economy, we’re happy to sit down and thrash out a deal,’ he said.

ENDS

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