15 March 2018

Lyttelton port workers dismayed at failure of mediation: strike action to proceed from next Tuesday night

Mediation between the the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) and Lyttelton Port was unsuccessful today due to employer intransigence and the workers will reluctantly resume strike action from midnight Tuesday 20 March.

“We engaged in negotiations today in good faith and agreed to discuss options for settlement in confidence. The RMTU put eight scenarios for settlement to LPC that would have moved us towards settlement and ended the prospect of further strike action, some of which had negligible cost to the employer, ” says RMTU organiser John Kerr.

“We are dismayed and disappointed to report that LPC has not amended its position one jot. It appears to us that LPC is unwavering in its determination to attempt to break the will of our members and to inflict unnecessary pain upon the Canterbury economy.

"Accordingly we have no option but to advise that Lyttelton Port will shut due to industrial action for at least five days from next Tuesday. We have no other choice under the existing law governing industrial disputes in NZ.

“All our members are seeking is equality with other workers on the waterfront. It’s sad it’s come to this,” John Kerr says.

ENDS

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