Mediation between Port Otago and the Maritime Union of New Zealand - at an impasse over pay talks - has failed and industrial action will begin at midnight next Wednesday.
Munz national president and Port Chalmers branch secretary Phil Adams said yesterday there was no resolution from the twoday mediation and an ‘‘indefinite'' overtime ban would begin next week, the first industrial action at the port for about 21 years.
Port Otago said it had devised an operational plan to unload container ships without the need for overtime and which would cause minimal disruption for visiting ships.
While a 6% pay rise had been rejected by the union, the main clash is over the hours for the ‘‘graveyard'' shift, with Port Otago wanting it moved to a 10-hour shift, which would start when a ship arrived alongside, as opposed to the present rostered 11pm start time.
The overtime ban covers more than 200 port staff, including 75 members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.
All three eight-hour shifts will operate as usual.
Port Otago chief executive Geoff Plunket said the port could be run without overtime.
He predicted the seven container ships scheduled for next week would have ‘‘none or minimum disruption'' from the overtime ban.
However, Mr Adams predicted the action would have a cumulative effect towards the week's end.
Mr Plunket said no date had been set for talks to resume because ‘‘you can't have an overtime ban and negotiate as well''.
Container volumes at Port Chalmers have risen more than 70% during the past three years, to about 178,000 annually.
