Ports of Auckland

[Robert Taylor]

Or perhaps North Korea is actually the ultimate capitalist state, run by, and for the benefit of Kim Family Industries, with millions of underpaid, unrepresented worker/slaves.

That is of course what I was cynically inferring to. Also add underfed and they have had to defer from their ''communist principles'' ( if indeed there is such a thing ) to accept food aid from those nasty Westerners.

[Robert Taylor]

I dont think anyone is linking unions to communism....maybe socialism though. And I Sir, concour almost totally with you Robert!

Im pretty sure Helen Kelly is a communist, or close to it.

[Winston001]

What is missing in this dispute is comprehensive information from the Maritime Union of New Zealand explaining their position. Yes the POA have an effective media presence and employ advisors. But we are far from the days of cloth-capped trade unionists.

There are many well-educated left-wing activists (most of the Labour Party) who are able to put together slick media presentations. Matt McCarten and Leila Hare come to mind, John Minto, plenty of Green activists too.

Seriously, why haven't we seen a barrage of pro-union advertisements and interviews putting their point of view. I haven't even seen a rebuttal of the average $91,000 wage. Surely if that is untrue it is easy to disprove.

[Winston001]

And the mayor - Len Brown?? He's been affiliated with the Labour Party since he was 17 yr old. For goodness sake if any politician has sympathy with the workers and could intervene its him. At the very least he could stand on their side if they are being genuinely oppressed.

Come to think of it, where's the Labour Leader in all this?

[puddytat]

Come to think of it, where's the Labour Leader in all this?

Tarred to the other side of the same brush

[Zedder]

And the mayor - Len Brown?? He's been affiliated with the Labour Party since he was 17 yr old. For goodness sake if any politician has sympathy with the workers and could intervene its him. At the very least he could stand on their side if they are being genuinely oppressed.

Come to think of it, where's the Labour Leader in all this?

Actually Winston, Len Brown offered to mediate between the two parties and he was scheduled to meet with the union early today.

As for the Labour Party it would only be political support if anything.

[Winston001]

Ok fair enough, Len Brown offered to mediate: good on him. That's something but far far too late given this dispute has been publicly known about for 6 weeks and probably brewing for 3 months. I'd have thought Len would have jumped in when Fonterra moved their work to Tauranga weeks ago.

Lets go back to basics: the shareholders of POA are the ratepayers of Auckland. POA used to be listed on the sharemarket but the council bought up all of the shares. That makes POA a type of state owned enterprise.

So the Council can call a shareholders meeting, make resolutions requiring the directors to keep the waterfront guys on and resolve the dispute. Or the council can fire them and appoint new directors who will do that.

[Zedder]

Ok fair enough, Len Brown offered to mediate: good on him. That's something but far far too late given this dispute has been publicly known about for 6 weeks and probably brewing for 3 months. I'd have thought Len would have jumped in when Fonterra moved their work to Tauranga weeks ago.

Lets go back to basics: the shareholders of POA are the ratepayers of Auckland. POA used to be listed on the sharemarket but the council bought up all of the shares. That makes POA a type of state owned enterprise.

So the Council can call a shareholders meeting, make resolutions requiring the directors to keep the waterfront guys on and resolve the dispute. Or the council can fire them and appoint new directors who will do that.

I think you need to read up about the entity that is the Ports of Auckland plus how the legislation surrounding it affects the Mayor's power of intervention etc.

[Robert Taylor]

Ok fair enough, Len Brown offered to mediate: good on him. That's something but far far too late given this dispute has been publicly known about for 6 weeks and probably brewing for 3 months. I'd have thought Len would have jumped in when Fonterra moved their work to Tauranga weeks ago.

Lets go back to basics: the shareholders of POA are the ratepayers of Auckland. POA used to be listed on the sharemarket but the council bought up all of the shares. That makes POA a type of state owned enterprise.

So the Council can call a shareholders meeting, make resolutions requiring the directors to keep the waterfront guys on and resolve the dispute. Or the council can fire them and appoint new directors who will do that.

I have no time for Len Brown as he is a wimp, but clearly even he can see that the strikers are out of order. Had Banksie still been Mayor he would have stated his position very quickly and very clearly.

Auckland has had some dreadful mayors, including more recently that guy that makes breakfast cereals out of wood shavings. Also a lefty.

[Robert Taylor]

What is missing in this dispute is comprehensive information from the Maritime Union of New Zealand explaining their position. Yes the POA have an effective media presence and employ advisors. But we are far from the days of cloth-capped trade unionists.

There are many well-educated left-wing activists (most of the Labour Party) who are able to put together slick media presentations. Matt McCarten and Leila Hare come to mind, John Minto, plenty of Green activists too.

Seriously, why haven't we seen a barrage of pro-union advertisements and interviews putting their point of view. I haven't even seen a rebuttal of the average $91,000 wage. Surely if that is untrue it is easy to disprove.

You mean ''well educated at communist finishing school"

[Winston001]

You mean ''well educated at communist finishing school"

LOL not really. Trade unions have played a crucial part in the development of our society and social democracy is the norm in most OECD countries. Its amusing to watch American politics where they debate universal healthcare when its not even discussed in the rest of the developed world.

It's uncertain whether the current strikes are the last gasp of the union movement or perhaps a resurgence.

[SPman]

I think you need to read up about the entity that is the Ports of Auckland plus how the legislation surrounding it affects the Mayor's power of intervention etc.

Very much so. The laws and regulations around all this are rather convoluted and not what the average joe would think....

the definition of "Council-Controlled Organisation" in the Local Government Act specifically excludes port companies:

(4) The following entities are not council-controlled organisations: ...
(c) a port company or subsidiary of a port company within the meaning of the Port Companies Act 1988
Why is this the case?
The provision seems to have originally been introduced into the Local Government Act 1974 by the Local Government Amendment Act (No 2) 1989, which introduced new provisions about "Local Authority Trading Enterprises (LATES)", which specifically excluded port companies. The reason for that? Because the then-Labour government of Roger Douglas David Lange wanted local bodies to sell their ports.

[Robert Taylor]

LOL not really. Trade unions have played a crucial part in the development of our society and social democracy is the norm in most OECD countries. Its amusing to watch American politics where they debate universal healthcare when its not even discussed in the rest of the developed world.

It's uncertain whether the current strikes are the last gasp of the union movement or perhaps a resurgence.

Yes, we seem to have dredged up memories of the 70s with this current union activity. Certainly there is no argument that there was a time when unions were 100% needed to achieve some balance. But the flipside is when they have held countries to ransom and disrupted the smooth flow of many other industries. It is certain that at times they were taking direction from their communist mates.
With respect to the USA that place is now such a basket case that it should be renamed North Mexico.

[Paul in NZ]

Quick question. Do you think the world will end when you go? Or because you stayed?
If you reread your post - you might be a bit biased......or what was it called again "set in your ways".

No I dont think I'm biased. Its worked out really good for me personally but its made it hard for young people born here to get jobs. While its easy to say someone is set in their ways its a lot harder to explain to a bank manager about your casual employment situation when you want a mortgage.

[Paul in NZ]

In simple terms the port workers work shifts that may not coincide particularly well with the arrival of vessels hence they work on average 28 hrs in their 40 hour week. Management want more flexibility in the working roster so the port workers more than 28 hrs in the 40 hr week.

My first experience with POA was over 30 years ago.As a complete newb I was sent down to deliver a container of Squash. I got there about 2.00pm & joined the queue out on Quay St, I gave up at 8.00pm as I was miles from the gates & the port closed at 10.
Next morning I was there at 5.00AM , 3rd truck from the gate. they ran a booking system where we all stood in an office at 7.30 & drivers booked in. I booked in 3rd,with probably 100 behind me, the arsehole booking officer looks at me.
" Been here before "
" Nope "
" Well you can fuck off to the back of the queue "
I was dumb struck , I bloody near cried, you could not argue with anyone on the wharf or you could get blacked
An OD who knew me came to my rescue
" If he was keen enough to get up at some ridiculous hour to get here first there is no way you are doing that,this is bullshit, I'll help him through , it won't be a problem "
That OD is still my mate

30 years on I run the odd truck, we will not cart off the AK wharf, it is not worth the hassle. If I need boxes on or off I get another company to run them.

On the other hand about 18 months ago we put a large volume of freight through Tauranga including a considerable amount of break bulk or over dimension cargo. Easy peasy , the port company, stevedores & port workers could not have been more helpful.

POA is a pain in the arse to deal with, inflexible arseholes. Tauranga is a dream in comparison. No wonder Maersk got the shits

Something had to change at POA, it can't carry on with the same old same old.

Ah - very interesting post - thanks. I've had some bad experiences there importing gear and I guess not much has changed.