Lyttelton industrial dispute comes to an end with settlement
Wednesday, 18 April 2018
After months of bitter industrial dispute, the Lyttelton Port saga is approaching an end just two days ahead of planned strike action and a company lockout.
Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) on Wednesday reached an agreement in principle regarding terms of settlement.
As a result, the RMTU has lifted all strike notices and LPC has withdrawn its lockout notice.
'Lyttelton Port can now continue providing normal operations,' chief executive Peter Davie said.
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'LPC wants to acknowledge customers' ongoing support and thank them for their patience during the industrial action.
'It is encouraging that we can again give importers, exporters and our region certainty of uninterrupted service at Lyttelton Port,' Davie said.
The agreement in principle regarding the terms of settlement requires formal ratification by RMTU members.
Union organiser John Kerr said members would meet soon. He thanked members and supporters.
The terms of the agreement remain under wraps for now, but a union source said members were pleased.
The bargaining agents for both sides had a series of options available over pay increases and other conditions.
A public meeting that was to be held in central Christchurch on Wednesday night will no longer go ahead.
The event was to be chaired by employment lawyer David Beck and involved a panel discussion with invitations sent to LPC, the Christchurch City Council and business groups.
LPC had declined to attend, saying it was not an appropriate public forum to be airing the issues.
Business groups express relief at the end of the dispute, which threatened them with additional freight costs.