KEY POINTS:
Auckland's marathon waterfront pay dispute is lumbering into another year, despite what the port company says has been "constructive dialogue" this week with the Maritime Union.
An Employment Relations Authority investigation due to start today of claims by the two parties of breaches of good faith over an abortive pay offer made in September has also been adjourned until next year.
The dispute, which began late in 2006 after a collective agreement covering almost 300 waterfront workers expired, was marked by five strikes last year and flared again this month into a 24-hour stoppage.
Prospects of a settlement looked shaky at the start of mediated talks on Wednesday, with the company appearing unenthusiastic about the union's proposal.
But union branch president Denis Carlisle said the company sought more time to reconsider the package.
He said the union had offered a major concession by which the company would be able to transfer workers between its Fergusson and Bledisloe container terminals.
The Employment Relations Authority case involves allegations by both the union and company about a pay offer which the union refused to put to a vote by its members in September, arguing there would be no point as it was doomed to failure.
The union accused the company of breaching good faith by trying to communicate directly with its members over the offer, but in turn faces a counter-claim against both itself and Mr Carlisle for not presenting the package to the workers.
