KEY POINTS:
Ports of Auckland staff are set to strike on the day celebrating labour rights in New Zealand if they cannot reach an agreement with management.
More than 250 Maritime Union staff have given notice they will strike at least three times between now and the end of October in an attempt to win a 4.5 to 4.9 per cent pay rise.
The first strike will be tomorrow from 10am to 1.15pm, with further strikes to follow on October 17 and October 22, which is Labour Day.
Union branch president Denis Carlisle said the Labour Day strike was to draw attention to the fact that it would otherwise be a normal operating day for the port, even though it was supposed to be a celebration of workers' rights.
All three strikes will be for 3-1/4 hours, Mr Carlisle said.
"This is a reflection of the workers feelings on the recent actions of the employer and the 3.25 per cent wage increase they are trying to force workers to accept."
Staff had been on strike last week. Attempts to break the 10-month pay impasse failed on Friday, despite the efforts of two industrial mediators.
Mr Carlisle said other issues include back pay and bringing a new group of workers into the collective agreement.
He said management had yet to make the head shift needed to resolve the dispute.
"We're confident that they will soon come around. Our requests are reasonable and the workers will be happy to get back into it as soon as they feel they have been listened to."
- NZPA
