Auckland Dispute Making Headway

by David Sexton - last modified Apr 13, 2012 02:05 PM

Ports of Auckland has released a statement welcoming “agreement from MUNZ” for an urgent application for facilitation to settle the dispute which has dragged on for eight months.

The parties are currently in their second day of talks.

According to PoA, the company yesterday proposed that the parties to use the Employment Relations Authority facilitation process, as was agreed in the Employment Court recently.

“The parties have agreed to make an application to the Employment Relations Authority early next week for an urgent start to the facilitation process,” a PoA spokesperson said.

“The company is hopeful that facilitation will assist by providing the parties with clear recommendations, made by a neutral but experienced third party.”

According to PoA, while there is a deadlock, facilitation provides a chance to put in place “a modern, flexible agreement”.
MUNZ president Garry Parsloe said both parties had agreed with a judge’s recommendation to first attempt more mediation, and then move to facilitation.

“As mediation hasn’t worked, it’s important that we now go to facilitation.

“The Maritime Union welcomes this development,” Mr Parsloe said.

“As we indicated yesterday we have struggled with a ‘cut and paste’ negotiations approach from Ports of Auckland, who are simply recycling previous proposals that provide no guaranteed days-off (and) no protection against casualisation."

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