Lyttelton union back in talks today after overtime ban

Further mediation talks between Lyttelton Port [NZX: LPC] of Christchurch and the Rail & Maritime Transport Union have been agreed for today.

Chief executive Pete Davie told NBR Online he remains committed to resolving the issues.

The union has issued notice of an indefinite industrial overtime ban at the port from December 17.

“We expect our operations will continue as usual during the overtime ban,” Mr Davie says.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union has 156 members covered by the main collective employment agreement, which is under negotiation.

The Maritime Union, which is not on strike, also represents workers at Lyttelton, more than the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union has connected its industrial negotiations to the issue of safety at the port.

Mr Davie says while although there have been three fatalities at the port in the last year, two of the three deaths were not port employees.

They were staff of other companies operating at the port, he says.

Meanwhile, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union says the overtime ban has already hit a number of major companies hard, according to spokesman John Kerr.

At least one ship due for repairs had already been moved elsewhere, he says.

“Recent deaths and serious harm injuries have inflamed relations here but the workers are passionate to tackle health and safety issues head-on with a more consultative approach," he says in a statement.

“Their (Rail and Maritime Transport Union) proposal, which LPC rejected, was aimed at boosting productivity and profitability by establishing a consultative body to harness members’ talent and engagement for making their own jobs safer and more efficient.

“The same model at KiwiRail has successfully boosted safety and productivity performance, and our rail members are supporting the workers at the port to replicate that system”, Mr Kerr says.

“These guys are working hard on this but they need the support of management. The 18% payrise LPC’s CEO Peter Davie got last financial year took his salary to $1.2 million, while the workers wondering are starting to wonder what he is actually being paid for.”

c.hutch@clear.net.nz