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Port management "apple pie" comment - contempt for workforce
Port management "apple pie" comment shows contempt for workforce
10 February 2012
The Maritime Union of New Zealand says no progress was made at today's mediation with Ports of Auckland management over the employment dispute at the port.
Maritime Union of New Zealand National President Garry Parsloe says that while the Union went in with a proposal to try and find a constructive way forward around productivity and job security, they were met with indifference from management.
He says the company refuses to come to a negotiated settlement and have continued with a "take it or leave it" approach to their offer, as well as simultaneously working on an outsourcing plan for the port workforce.
He says comments by management that workers seeking to maintain the one guaranteed weekend off they have every three weeks was "motherhood and apple pie stuff" revealed a great deal.
"This is a company that makes great claims in its corporate mission statement towards its concern for its workers' wellbeing, but those values seem to have little to do with how they actually think and behave."
Mr Parsloe says the attitude of arrogance and contempt of management towards the wellbeing and family life of its workforce was staggering.
He says senior officials from the Maritime Union and Council of Trade Unions who attended the meeting were extremely concerned.
"This is a company that is owned by the people of Auckland whose concept of social responsibility is nil."
Mr Parsloe says the Ports of Auckland could be "torn apart" unless management started to negotiate.
"This port serves the importers and exporters of Auckland and is a public service."
"The owners of the asset must remove the management team before the value and future of out greatest asset is wrecked in the pursuit of an agenda that few Aucklanders agree with."
Mr Parsloe says comments yesterday from ACIL CEO Gary Swift to Auckland city councillors that he supported the negotiation of a collective employment agreement between management and union at the port were being ignored by POAL management.
"It is now time for the owners of Ports of Auckland to pick up the telephone and tell port management to negotiate."
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