Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ), and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) joint media release
Workers at Port Otago are going on the front foot in a public campaign to change aggressive management tactics which are
threatening the future of the region’s export hub.
A meeting on Wednesday 16 December of over one hundred members of the combined port unions, the Maritime Union of New
Zealand (MUNZ), and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU), unanimously passed a motion that ‘This meeting of
Combined Unions at Port Otago call upon management to abandon their aggressive approach to industrial relations at our
Port and endorse a campaign of resistance.’
RMTU South Island Industrial Organizer John Kerr says the meeting brought together a united workforce who had
contributed a massive amount to the region over a tough and uncertain year.
Port workers are essential workers on the front line, whose challenging jobs were complicated by dealing with overseas
crews during a pandemic, he says.
Mr Kerr says Port Otago workers were no longer prepared to deal with aggressive management attitudes that were out of
step with what was required during a vulnerable economic situation.
The meeting heard about management bullying, a ‘sinking lid’ approach to staffing and contemptuous treatment of union
representatives.
A campaign plan to change management’s approach and achieve a more co-operative industrial relations environment was
endorsed.
He says similar problems over recent years at the Port of Lyttelton concluded with a clear out of senior management and
board members.