Ports looking to hire amid strikes

Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson is on the lookout for three outside stevedore contractors in an attempt to get the business back on track as negotiations with the Maritime Union have stalled.

The port and the Maritime Union continue to be at loggerheads over the company's proposal to introduce flexible rosters to improve the port's productivity and which the union says will lead to a casualised workforce which provides no guaranteed shifts or hours.

Gibson said ''time is running out'' after working for 11 months to try and achieve the changes needed, and he will issue a request for proposals to stevedoring contractors at the end of the week.

Meanwhile the union began a 48-hour strike at 11pm on Monday night, the fifth disruption to the port since November. The port and the union are to go in to mediation on Thursday.

Gibson said the port's ninth and latest offer to the union was its ''best and final''.

It includes a 10 per cent rise on hourly rates over 30 months, performance bonuses of up to 20 per cent on hourly rates, 160 hours a month of guaranteed work for full-time staff and the retention of existing benefits and entitlements in return for a more flexible roster system.

Stevedores around the country say they are interested in contract work at the Ports of Auckland but haven't been approached by the port yet.

Ken Harris, director of logistics company NZL, said it would prefer that the union and port management came to a sensible arrangement around the contract.

''Should the port's proposal get the green light, we'd be reluctant to participate but we would. I do have concerns about the casualisation of the workforce. It's gone too far.''

NZL owns 10 per cent of stevedoring company Conlinxx, in partnership with the Ports of Auckland.

An outstanding issue between the parties is the union's concern that management contracted out jobs for driving four shuttles to Conlinxx in the term of the last agreement.

Harris said he hasn't talked to Gibson about his proposal, despite its involvement in the port.

Logistics company ISO managing director Greg Dickson said it would be interested in making a bid for work, but hadn't had any direct discussions with Gibson.

Dickson said a typical transpacific container vessel (5,000, 20ft equivalent units) costs about US$40,000 a day to operate, and ships operate on tight schedules.

''Delays due to inflexible labour practices cost New Zealand exporters and importers through higher freight costs."

- © Fairfax NZ News