Ports of Auckland corrects union misinformation

19 December 2011
Media Statement

Ports of Auckland corrects union misinformation

Statements by the Maritime Union that an expanded shipping service would boost ship calls to Auckland are factually incorrect, Ports of Auckland Chief Executive Tony Gibson said today.

The union’s claims related to an announcement last week that global shipping line OOCL would join CMA CGM in a vessel sharing agreement servicing the New Zealand and Far East markets.

“This is an existing weekly service and will not result in any extra ship calls to Auckland,” Mr Gibson said.

“The announcement simply explained that partners in the service were involving a third shipping line in their vessel sharing agreement and replacing one ship with another. The move is designed to reduce their costs and is a reflection of the difficult global shipping market.”

Mr Gibson said the union’s statement was a naïve attempt to undermine the seriousness of Ports of Auckland’s financial difficulties, following the loss of Maersk’s Southern Star service as a result of ongoing industrial action at the port.

“Unfortunately, they got their facts wrong. There’s no getting away from the reality that redundancies are possible, and that significant changes are required at Ports of Auckland if the company is to prosper.”

Mr Gibson urged the union to withdraw the 96 hours of strikes planned between now and 1 January.

“Further industrial action will only serve to put even more jobs at risk,” Mr Gibson said.

Mr Gibson said the false union claim would be used as part of Ports of Auckland’s counter-claim of breach of good faith against the union.

ENDS

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