C&R Backs Mayor on Ports resolution

C&R Leader Christine Fletcher today confirmed that her team would support the Mayor and Ports management over the Ports of Auckland industrial relations dispute.

"The Mayor has been put in a very difficult position by Cr Richard Northey - who was personally chosen by the Mayor to be a chairman of one of the major committees at council. We are astonished Cr Northey would propose a motion at his Accountability and Performance Committee this Thursday that opposes the Ports of Auckland decisions on employment issues, a backflip from when Cr Northey voted to support the Ports of Auckland board on December 8”, said Cr Fletcher.

"It also puts the Mayor in a very embarrassing position should Cr Northey's motion pass, as it both reverses the previous Auckland Council position, and is at odds with the Mayor's statements that it isn’t the job of politicians to leap into this dispute and push management around", said Cr Fletcher.

"We think the Mayor should take the initiative and call an extraordinary council meeting earlier this week to deal with this issue. Having it fester for all week will hurt the overall interests of all of the Auckland council", said Cr Fletcher.

“We support Len Brown's desire to ensure the investments of Auckland Council run properly for ratepayers. If we don't get this right, then ratepayers will face large increases in their rates to replace lost council income. It could badly hurt council business for the rest of the term. This is a time for cool heads and not a time for council to try and circumvent the lawfully constituted labour relations processes", said Cr Fletcher.

“The motion risks the council looking like it is at war with itself. Even worse, the passing of Cr Northey’s motion would confirm a very public schism between the Mayor’s office and the councillors he is supposed to rely on most for implementing his vision.”

"C&R therefore will support the Mayor's position to let the Ports of Auckland mangement and Auckland Council Investments Ltd resolve the crisis as they see fit. We have also worked with key independent councillors to offer their support to the Mayor on this issue," said Cr Fletcher.

ENDS

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