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Union upset at lockout at Lyttelton Port

Author
NZN,
Publish Date
Thu, 12 Apr 2018, 10:58AM
Christchurch City Council is again being urged to intervene in the Lyttelton Port dispute. (Photo \ Getty Images)
Christchurch City Council is again being urged to intervene in the Lyttelton Port dispute. (Photo \ Getty Images)

Union upset at lockout at Lyttelton Port

Author
NZN,
Publish Date
Thu, 12 Apr 2018, 10:58AM

Lyttelton Port Company is locking out workers, prompting those affected to call on owner Christchurch City Council to intervene.

Lyttelton Port said it had received a strike notice for 11 of the RMTU's 191 members at the port.

The 11 operate the launch which delivers pilots to vessels so when they strike there is no movement of shipping.

LPC chief executive Peter Davie says the tactic will not work.

LPC will pay none of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union's 191 members for the days the company receives a strike notice for, he said.

"I want to make this very clear. The RMTU strike notice may be for only approximately 11 of its members but none of its 191 members will be paid for any day for which we receive a strike notice," Mr Davie says.

The union says it's a lockout and it's bullying.

"This move by LPC shows very clearly that their priority is bullying RMTU members into submission, not getting the port working," says John Kerr, organiser for the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.

The council, as the 100 per cent shareholder of the port, needs to step in and tell Mr Davie that "Canterbury needs its port working, and when he's taking home nearly $1 million a year he can afford to treat our members properly".

The port says the dispute is about the RMTU wanting a better settlement than the other major union at the port, the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ).

"The RMTU claims it wants the same offer we made MUNZ - but it has rejected it. The RMTU members want the same salary increases as MUNZ but they will not make the roster changes MUNZ agreed to as part of their offer."

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