Both Julie and Michael are signatories to the statement from some Auckland Council Local Board member released today on the Ports of Auckland dispute.
Media Release: 28 Auckland Council Local Board Members
16 January 2012
Local Board Members unite to oppose privatisation and contracting out at Ports of Auckland
In an unprecedented move, 28 Auckland Local Board members from 10
different Boards are uniting to call for Ports of Auckland to return to
good faith bargaining and drop plans to outsource jobs at the port (a
full list of Board Members is below).
“Ports of Auckland Ltd is a Council-owned company. We support its
operational independence, but the current dispute has escalated to a
strategic level. We are particularly concerned that actions being taken
by Port management, including what appears to be a pre-determined
strategy to contract out port jobs, are inflaming matters”, say the
Board members.
Internal POAL strategy documents released last week show that Ports
management was considering a contracting out strategy well in advance of
negotiations.
http://www.munz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/poal_labour_strategy.pdf
“Along with everyone else involved, we recognise the need for
competitive levels of operational efficiency at the port. But Port
management’s proposal to fire a skilled workforce and contract out their
jobs to an external provider, with few work-life balance protections
for employees and their families, is not the best way to achieve this.”
“We believe that Ports of Auckland has a responsibility to be a good
employer, and to live up to the principles that its 100% owner the
Auckland Council promotes in the draft Auckland Plan and in numerous
Local Board Plans. Driving Aucklanders’ employment conditions and job
security down in a race to the bottom is no way to build the world’s
most liveable city.”
“We’re also concerned that the dispute is being used as a wedge by
some councillors and interest groups to promote port privatisation. We
support Mayor Len Brown’s unequivocal pro-public ownership platform, and
believe the Port CEO would be well advised to publicly support it too.”
“The details of any settlement are for the parties to negotiate, but
it is quite clear to us that a way forward should be possible that
improves productivity without privatisation and contracting out being
threatened, neither of which are proven cures. We hope that Port
management and the Maritime Union will take a constructive approach and
negotiate a settlement in good faith on this basis”, conclude the Board
members.
ENDSContact: Michael Wood - 022-659-6360
Full list of Local Board Members issuing this statement:
* Please note that each Board member issuing this statement does so in their own right only, and not on behalf of their Board.
Helga Arlington, Albert-Eden
Josephine Bartley, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Leila Boyle, Maungakiekie-Tamak (Chair)
Jesse Chalmbers, Waitemata
Shale Chambers, Waitemata (Chair)
Pippa Coom, Waitemata
Christopher Dempsey, Waitemata
Graeme Easte, Albert-Eden
Carrol Elliot, Mangere-Otahuhu
Tunumafono Ava Fa'amoe, Otara-Papatoetoe
Julie Fairey, Puketapapa
Catherine Farmer, Whau
Grant Gillon, Kaipataki
John Gillon, Kaipataki
Mary Gush, Otara-Papatoetoe
Peter Haynes, Albert-Eden (Chair)
Neil Henderson, Waitakere Ranges
Richard Hills, Kaipataki
Chris Makoare, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Greg Presland, Waitakere Ranges
Simon Randall, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Tricia Reade, Waitemata
Denise Roche, Waiheke
Leau Peter Skelton, Mangere-Otahuhu (Chair)
Lydia Sosene, Mangere-Otahuhu
Alan Verrall, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Michael Wood, Puketapapa
Denise Yates, Waitakere Ranges (Chair)
