Mediation yesterday between the Port of Auckland Ltd and the Maritime Union of New Zealand appears to have made little headway as the pair restate their objectives in counter-claims.
The port company has proposed the pair go to the Employment Relation Authority's facilitation process, which the union has said it would do if required, once the two-day mediation process is completed.
Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson claimed in a statement yesterday that during eight months of bargaining there was no union "willingness" to negotiate a "modern flexible agreement".
The union's national president Garry Parsloe countered yesterday the port company still "pressed ahead" to casualise jobs and reduce pay.
"Despite the union offering a range of significant proposals to change the current agreement, the port continues to insist on a whole new agreement which removes basic security," he said.
Mr Gibson said "During the mediation POAL showed a willingness to answer the union's concerns, and specifically protect a number of the entitlements enjoyed by existing employees."
Late last month an Employment Court injunction stopped the port from seeking to contract out jobs of almost 300 striking and sacked workers, who have since returned to work.
However, the union had lodged a complaint over increased port security measures, The New Zealand Herald reported yesterday.
