Auckland's wharves in container dispute

It may have just been an accident of bad timing, but a dispute about who moves containers between Ports of Auckland's Bledisloe and Fergusson wharves went global this month, with shipping companies being warned off against using the port, reported New Zealand Transport Intelligence.

The Maritime Union of NZ was acting for wharfies at the port who had lost the work of moving containers between wharves to a trucking company.

In the midst of talks which were becoming increasingly acrimonious, the union sought help from its global parent, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF).

The ITF, which has global reach and can send shivers down the spines of shipping company executives, wrote to Orient Overseas Container Line of Hong Kong urging it to avoid Auckland. But by the time the approach was made the port had agreed to negotiate with the local union about re-instating the container shuttle service operated by port staff. The two groups are scheduled to meet this week.

The port is being coy about the situation, which has dragged on some months. Still, it has written to shipping companies saying it has been in talks with the union and the ITF is likely to withdraw its letter to shippers.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)