MUNZ longshoremen have been joined on a waterfront picket line by about 60 Auckland University students. New Zealand Herald photo.
Auckland university students and politicians have joined wharfies protesting a “disturbing” move to lock them out of Ports of Auckland.
Ports workers were served an official lockout notice from Ports of Auckland management this morning, just hours before a vote to end lengthy strike action.
It was issued a day after the company announced it would stop plans to make 292 striking workers redundant and resume mediation on a collective contract at the port.
The indefinite lockout is set to start in 14 days, with contracted workers continuing to unload vessels until the lockout commences – as had been the case during the strike action.
Workers immediately took to Auckland streets after the notice was served, amid claims by close observers that the port company’s chairman, Richard Pearson, is running the port’s strategy and is “out of control”.
They have been joined on a waterfront picket line by about 60 Auckland University students.
Maritime Union president Garry Parsloe said shocked workers were protesting an “unlawful” attempt to stop them returning to their jobs.
The ports company is legally obliged to allow wharfies to go to work before the lockout starts in two weeks, he said.
“Ports workers are ready to go back to work and get this port moving again for Auckland.