Auckland port workers cut strike

The Ports of Auckland has been left shocked this afternoon after receiving a third strike notice from port workers. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Planned strike action by the Maritime Union tonight has been canned to make way for mediation.

Maritime Union national president Garry Parslow said the union had agreed to ditch plans to strike tonight in response to a request from the Ports of Auckland.

The strike will now start tomorrow night, while mediation will begin at 9am tomorrow.

Ports of Auckland Chief Executive Tony Gibson said he was disappointed the union was continuing with plans to strike this weekend and again later in the month

However he said he was determined to press ahead to find a resolution to the dispute.

"Inflexible work arrangements dating back decades need to be addressed for the port to move forward and offer the best service it can for Auckland and New Zealand. Maersk's decision to shift the Southern Star service to Tauranga has shown us that we're out of time. We need to lift our game and lift it now."

Maersk announced earlier this week it was switching one of its services to Port of Tauranga, at a cost of about $20 million of revenue to the port.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE / NEWSTALK ZB