Farmers warn quarantine strike will hit economy

Farmers warn there will be a threat to the economy if a 24-hour strike by quarantine staff goes ahead next week.

Officials admit such a strike could jeopardise biosecurity checks at borders.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry union staff say they will walk off the job for 24 hours next week, affecting most quarantine workers at ports and airports.

The ministry describes its Quarantine Service as the country's first line of defence against pests and diseases which could devastate the agriculture, horticulture and forestry sectors.

It has not ruled out seeking a court order to block a strike, with the employers and union split over whether the quarantine service is an essential industry.

Federated Farmers last night warned of the threat to the national economy if biosecurity standards at borders were compromised.

President Charlie Pedersen said there was a risk from both the accidental release of a disease or pest, and a person bringing something into the country out of malice.

"They're our gatekeepers. The risk is very large. The idea of not having our first protection at the gateway is very alarming.

"Anything would be better than nobody on the border - the Army, the police, anything."

Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton has been briefed on the possibility of a strike on Friday week, but would not comment last night. An attempt at mediation to settle the pay dispute is planned before then.

The department has advised shipping and freight companies, and airlines such as Air New Zealand, about likely delays to cargo and passengers.

Ken Harris, the general manager of the ministry's quarantine service, said last night that every effort would be made to ensure biosecurity protection.

He said that while services would be reduced, the ministry did not plan to lower quarantine standards and all checks would be conducted.

But that could mean lengthy delays to freight, which could cause problems for importers of perishable goods. There would also be delays for arriving airline passengers, as bags still had to be checked for food or plant products.

Public Service Association assistant secretary Jeff Osborne said negotiations had been under way since April, but the dispute, centred on pay and backpay claims, remained unresolved.

"We're not that hellishly far apart," he said.

Mr Osborne estimated between 500 and 600 MAF staff would strike. About 90 per cent of the Quarantine Service workers are union members.

The PSA did not believe the service was an essential industry, so a skeleton staff did not have to be maintained.

Mr Pedersen said if the Quarantine Service was not legally an essential industry, it should be. If the strike went ahead, he said, New Zealand should consider shutting its borders for a day - whatever the cost.