Media statement 20 November 2000
For immediate release
Attention News Editor
Mainland left with no option but to load log carrier
Delaying tactics by Bluff members of the Waterfront Workers Union left Mainland Stevedoring Limited with no alternative
but to load the log carrier Eastern Forest using stevedores from the Amalgamated Stevedores Union, the company said
today.
Mainland Director Greg Dickson, said the company had spent many hours talking to national and local representatives of
the Waterfront Workers Union in an attempt to overcome the Bluff workers’ opposition to any other stevedoring company
doing the work.
“It’s been extremely frustrating,” he said. “We’ve been accused of being
unreasonable at the same time that we’ve sat down and offered a long-term arrangement which would provide the union with
continuity of work.
“The Eastern Forest has been lying at anchor since Friday. In the business of shipping that’s long enough to test the
patience of a customer. We would have liked to continue to negotiate and we are grateful for the assistance of
Invercargill MP Mark Peck and Mayor Tim Shadbolt in attempting to facilitate agreement.
“However, for this shipment, we had no alternative but to go ahead and use workers from the Amalgamated Stevedores Union
to do the work. This shouldn’t preclude talks continuing because we intend to secure more work. To that extent, the
issue isn’t going to disappear.
“At the end of the day, we find ourselves asking the simple question, is it unreasonable for an exporter to employ the
stevedore of its choice to load a ship? If you believe the Bluff representatives of the Waterfront Workers Union, the
answer is yes.”
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Mr Dickson said Mainland had offered concessions to achieve a long-term arrangement for Mainland’s involvement at Bluff
and Port Chalmers. The main points were:
Mainland would operate a small team of local workers.
The company would engage permanent labour on a cross-hire basis from the existing stevedoring workforce, subject to
agreement on terms.
All workers would be subject to Mainland’s terms and conditions of work and the company’s safety procedures negotiated
with the Amalgamated Stevedores Union.
“This offer would have provided continuity of work for the Waterfront Workers in both ports. The Waterfront Workers in
Bluff have privately indicated they don’t like the offer while publicly maintaining they’re not being given time to
consult with their members.”
Mr Dickson said the union had indicated it wanted absolute first right to load the ships Mainland had been engaged to
load. It had also refused to accept the terms and conditions of employment Mainland had negotiated with the Amalgamated
Stevedores Union.
“Of great concern to us is their rejection of our use of radio controlled loading procedures in preference for their
own, outdated hand-signalling techniques which greatly increase the risk of injury.”
Mainland Stevedoring is a subsidiary of International Stevedoring Operations, a family-owned New Zealand company based
in Tauranga. The company has invested heavily in world-class IT vessel management systems. It uses sophisticated
software to load ships and track cargo from dockside to destination.
“Our planning systems can only add value to southern ports and communities,” Mr Dickson said.
Ends
Issued on behalf of Mainland Stevedoring Limited by Busby Ramshaw Grice.
For further information contact:
Greg Dickson Kevin Ramshaw
International Stevedoring Operations Busby Ramshaw Grice
021 917 002 025 507 420