Port of Auckland to contract out workforce

Well this is called playing the trump card. Ports of Auckland have said:

Ports of Auckland has advised the Maritime Union of New Zealand – Local 13 (MUNZ) that it does not find the counter-offer tabled on 6 January attractive, and that while it will continue with collective bargaining, it is proceeding with a proposal to contract out its labour force. …

“I welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters further with MUNZ when mediation resumes on Thursday. However, we’ve run out of time. Without rapid changes towards substantially more efficient labour practices, more customers and more jobs will be lost in the coming weeks.

“We’ve worked now for 11 months to achieve the changes needed, but the Union does not appear to be taking the issues seriously,” he said.

Gibson says the Port’s last offer remains its best and final offer. It includes a generous 10 per cent rise on hourly rates, performance bonuses of up to 20% on hourly rates, and the retention of existing benefits and entitlements in return for a new roster system that will provide increased operational flexibility while allowing workers to plan their rosters a month in advance.

As it signalled before Christmas, in parallel with the collective bargaining process, the Port is progressing plans for redundancies as a result of the loss of the Maersk and Fonterra business, and will begin a consultation process this week over a proposal to contract out its labour force.

Mr Gibson said that if the proposed contract labour model was to proceed, he expected that the majority of affected employees would continue to work for the Port as employees of the selected contractors.

The average wage for a wharfie there is $91,000 a year. It is likely to exceed $100,000 a year under the POA offer.  Many people would kill for such a job.

Labour wants to change the law so Ports of Auckland do not have the option of contracting out its labour force if this is more efficient. Their policy is that any contractor should be forced to offer the same terms and conditions. This would mean that the union (which is affiliated to the Labour Party) remains much more powerful.