Ports of Auckland redundancies delayed again

A protest march regarding Ports of Auckland industrial action earlier this month. Photo / Doug Sherring

Planned redundancies at the Ports of Auckland have again been delayed.

The port had planned to lay off 292 workers as part a drive to contract out jobs to make the port more competitive.

However last Thursday the Maritime Union successfully sought an injunction to halt the redundancy process.

The legality of the wharfies' dismissals will now be heard before the Employment Court next Monday.

A Judicial Settlement Conference was held today between the Maritime Union of New Zealand and Ports of Auckland, to discuss legal action by the Maritime Union at next Monday's public hearing.

Ports of Auckland had previously undertaken not to make stevedores redundant before today's conference.

Following today's settlement conference, which was held in private before Judge Barrie Travis at the Employment Court in Auckland, the port has extended this undertaking until 10am Thursday, when the Employment Court will hear, if necessary, the Maritime Union's bid for an interim injunction.

The Maritime Union is to file its evidence for next Monday's public hearing by 4pm tomorrow.