Threat of industrial action if port jobs go

Industrial action and highlighting their cause during the coming cruise ship season are possibilities for Port Otago staff determined to retain job numbers.

Last week, Port Otago signalled a dozen jobs could go as the port company prepares for a 10% drop in container trade this export season.

That move prompted the two main waterfront unions - the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) and the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) - to hold a stopwork meeting yesterday, which was attended by more than 100 port workers and invited media.

Members voted unanimously in favour of resolutions condemning the proposal and called on Port Otago to explore alternative solutions, saying they would take action if the company forced anyone out of work.

"We are trying to save every job," RMTU South Island organiser John Kerr told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.

Both unions demanded the Otago Regional Council - the port's owner - step in to prevent any job cuts and Port Otago work with the unions to develop alternative solutions.

It was particular galling for staff the cuts were being proposed shortly after the company delivered a record dividend of $12.5 million to the regional council.

"The timing is absolutely ridiculous," he said.

MUNZ Port Chalmers secretary Phil Adams said the cuts were a "push towards casualisation" of the workforce, particularly those involved with cargo handing.

"Our joint membership is prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure the company understand that every job is precious, and the reasons behind this move by the company don't stack up," he said.

Both union representatives said industrial action was a possibility, as was generating publicity during the cruise ship season.

Port Otago chief executive Geoff Plunket said the company had tabled the restructuring proposal, briefed the unions and was in a consultation period.

"The unions seem more intent on inviting [the media] to meetings than they are in engaging the company in consultation."

The company had worked through the expected level of trade and staffing numbers, and remained hopeful redundancies would be achieved voluntarily.

It was "far too early" to speculate on compulsory redundancies, but the company would be in a position to comment at the end of the consultation phase in three weeks' time, he said.

Mr Plunket rejected any assertion the company was moving towards hiring more casual staff, and said over the past decade Port Otago had gone from 150 to 300 staff. The redundancies would come from the 170 workers involved with container stevedoring.

"Unfortunately, we are in a period now where we would like to reduce [the number of stevedores] ... We will still be a substantial employer in Dunedin and our business is in good shape."