KEY POINTS:
Labour Day became a family time for Auckland dock workers who knocked off yesterday for another strike in their campaign for higher pay.
The strike by the 265 workers, for three hours and 15 minutes - symbolic of the port company's 3.25 per cent pay offer - preceded a new phase of bargaining due to start today under the scrutiny of an Employment Relations Authority facilitator.
Maritime Union members were joined by partners and children at two picket sites at the city's container terminals yesterday, in a last show of protest before the facilitator visits the port this morning to observe the work they perform.
Union advocate Denis Carlisle said he expected the container terminals to be as busy as ever during the visit, as the port tried to catch up time lost to the latest of his members' five strikes. "We are pleased the facilitator will be looking at the workplace.
"It is important that he understands the nature of the industry."
"Facilitated collective bargaining" will continue in closed session on Friday before the facilitator decides whether he is ready to make recommendations on a process for reaching agreement, or even to propose terms and conditions of a settlement.
Although the warring parties will have no legal obligation to accept his recommendations, the Employment Relations Act will allow him to step up pressure for a settlement by making them public if he wishes.
Port company spokeswoman Karen Bradshaw said settling the dispute with a collective agreement to replace one which expired late last year was the top priority for its new chief executive, Jens Madsen.
But she confirmed that a 3.25 per cent pay rise, which the union has rejected, was still being paid into workers' bank accounts.
