Precious cargo safe from strike

By ELLEN READ

Striking Ports of Auckland workers have agreed to some exemptions to save 150 to 200 boxes of export meat from being ruined.

More than 200 Auckland watersiders walked off the job yesterday for 48 hours after a breakdown in contract talks between the Ports and the Waterfront Workers Union.

Ports of Auckland has estimated this will hold up 3000 containers with goods worth about $150 million.

The union's Auckland branch president, Denis Carlisle, said exemptions had been issued for some union members to work on the meat.

"We're not in the business of punishing working people. Our fight's with Ports of Auckland who are reluctant to embrace the new [employment] legislation," he said.

Six or seven vessels will be affected by the strike but the Port has said it is unlikely goods will suffer.

Plans had been made to protect perishable goods, Ports of Auckland spokeswoman Karren Beanland said.

"I think we're pretty much in a position to ensure that perishable goods receive the proper cargo care."

A two-day delay would not have much relevance for ship cargo, Export Institute president Bob Fenwick said.

Ports of Auckland chief executive Geoff Vazey criticised the timing of the strike, saying it came during a period of international business and economic uncertainty.

He said it was an appalling time to strike because of Air New Zealand's troubles and the difficulty of getting products into the US.

"This is entirely the wrong time to strike and gain any sympathy."

Mr Carlisle said there was never a good time for a strike, particularly for waterfront workers.

"I was told by a stopwork meeting on September 7 that if I had not reached agreement with the company by September 12 a strike notice had to be issued. There was no premeditation on our part related to any events overseas or anything else."

Ports of Auckland said outstanding issues relate to the transferability of staff between wharves and a small number of workers at the Axis Bledisloe container wharf, who are claiming the right to work up to eight shifts a week before other port staff can be brought in.

According to the union, the issue of coverage remains unresolved. While the company had agreed to include casual members in the collective coverage clause, it was still seeking to exclude certain members, Mr Carlisle said.

"We are saying they have the right to choose," he said.

Mr Vazey said the union's demands were unreasonable.