Auckland loses out
December 6th, 2011 at 2:29 pm by David FarrarStuff reports:
The possibility of further strikes at Ports of Auckland has forced major shipping line Maersk to shift one of its services to the Port of Tauranga, leaving the Auckland port company $20 million out of pocket.
And:
”Maersk have explained to us that the possibility of further industrial unrest has been central to their decision to shift the service to Tauranga.”
The port company will lose 52 ship calls, 82,500 containers, and nearly $20m in revenue annually.
I guess that may mean fewer jobs. Funny how the real world operates.
Related posts:
- What a diference
- Ports of Auckland loses Fonterra
- Maritime Union wants total control
- Hide on POAL and unions
December 6th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Well at least now POA should be able to end the strike – just serve redundancy notices
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
And the ‘enlightened’ Union response was … to blame the POA for the loss of the business for daring to lock them out during their strike.
David, pray tell when Unions ever lived in the real world?
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
I am pleased there are people around who will not be intimidated by gangsters and union leaders. Well done Maersk!
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
The Ports of Auckland should move out of the CBD anyway. Its operations are an eyesore on Auckland City, the traffic brings congestion to the motorway and the noise is also a problem.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
TVB, who wants to work in the CBD now anyway?, its just losers that will be forced to ride Lens Folly. Anyone with half a brain moved out of the city.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
No doubt the unionists will blame the company for any (future) job losses. The real world, indeed.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Unicornists are extinct aren’t they?
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Don’t worry. Auckland Council knows how use your rates and has invested in a movie studio to diversify their holdings.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Won’t the jobs just move to Port of Tauranga, isn’t that how it works in the real world?
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Friday and Monday a strike- Sat/Sunday a lookout.It really takes two to tango in a dispute.
Vote:Maybe the manager and his lakeys who made the decision for a weekend lockout could be sacked to, opps silly me the rightist on this blog can never see faults in managment only in the so called scumbag workers.
December 6th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
YesWeDid “Won’t the jobs just move to Port of Tauranga, isn’t that how it works in the real world?”
Maybe. It depends on how much spare capacity there is at Tauranga at the moment. Even if more jobs are created at Tauranga, though, there is no guarantee that the jobs will go to the workers who are made redundant in Auckland. I think what the union has done is commonly referred to as “cutting off one’s nose to spite their face”.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
YWD
Not necessarily. It depends of POT’s labour capacity. If it does create new jobs, why would they hire from POA?
They would be better off training people from Tauranga who want to work. I’m assuming that it isn’t a closed shop there in terms of recruitment.
Just as well the POA guys earn $90k. Hope they saved some of it so their kids can still have lots of toys for Xmas.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
I am sure that Kiwirail (i.e. the taxpayer/owner) will be happy.
They have an inland port in Auckland and will be very happy to put on extra trains. Pity about all the extra trucks on the road though from all those who will not.
That said sometimes you have to loose to win. If Auckland port does get it’s act out now it stands to lose a lot more to Tauranga.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Plebe perhaps you can take off the blinkers and see that someone earning $91000 per year and striking is an ungrateful fool – not an exploited dickensian stereotype
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Sometimes cutting off the nose improves the face and the ugly face of unionism has a rather ugly nose to match
Vote:.
I wonder what the effect on the Tauranga line is for Cullenda Rail, as in leaks money.
December 6th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
James – you’re exhibiting the same blinkered attitude as Plebe, just at polar opposites.
Vote:These disputes are never black and white – fault will undoubtedly lie on both sides.
I note Maersk are leaving their Northern Star service at POA – so why not move that one also if they worried about future action.?
December 6th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
plebe says: “Maybe the manager and his lakeys who made the decision for a weekend lockout could be sacked to, opps silly me the rightist on this blog can never see faults in managment only in the so called scumbag workers.”
Oh, bollocks. This decision was the culmination of considerable discussion / negotiation between the POA and the Union but the union wanted shuttles restored (go figure) and wanted the company to guarantee that any ‘benefits’ negotiated by the union could not apply to anyone working at the POA on an IEC.
So this union wanted to dictate to the employer how they should negotiate an IEC with another (non-union) employee and when the POA said “No – we’ll make those decisions,” the union dropped their lip and filed notice to strike. The rest is history – including the decision by Maersk to move business to Tauranga.
On this occasion, the union deserves everything coming their way. Including the need to explain to their members why there will be redundancies.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Ports of Tauranga is continuing to kick the Auckland ports butt.
I think Tauranga is much better run and more efficient.
The ceo in auckland should be sacked.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
“I guess that may mean fewer jobs”
and fewer profits. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
That is one reason wants wider-ranging collective agreements – to go back to the old days where a union (or group of regional unions) had the monopoly on a particular industry and ‘good trade union principles’ (ie one out all out) applied.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
The Reality.
It burns. It burns
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Tauranga’s container port does not have the same union influence due to starting its container operations much later. What will really be killing Auckland is they bought this business by offering much lower rates than Tauranga in the first place. So POAL lose, Maersk lose and Tauranga strikes lotto
Wreck the CEO in Auckland is to a fair extent trying to work a rigged deck of cards becuase of the legacy employment conditions won by the Unions before Tauranag was a container operation.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
I have figured out why every level of society is moving to AUSTRALIA, for good or bad. Here in NZ, on every blog/this blog theres a REAL nasty us and them posting , the RICH pricks and the SCUMBAG workers and god forbid the unemployed DISPISED DOLEBLUDGERS on this blog.My countries dying, and all we have is rants from the left and right. NOTHING FOR RAISING THE SPIRIT OF NZ and getting us going , just a shitty them and us flow of posts. Posts should start( im a SCUMBAG WORKER or a RICH PRICK )tax dodger,opps or someone hanging onto their well paying job
Vote:This would make it easier to read posts from the left bludgers and right rich pricks and would help Mr Farrar, with his demerite system.
December 6th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Some years ago I owned shares in Ports of Auckland. Then the Regional Council made an offer to buy out the private shareholders. I gladly sold, realising that the Regional Council would botch it, which has proved to be the case. Just how much money have Auckland ratepayers lost on this venture?
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
How can a dispute end up with strikes and lockouts happening at the same time? The union threatening to not come to work and the company threatening the same thing (not being allowed to come to work).
Isn’t this a case of saying to the screaming child “If you don’t stop screaming I won’t give you any more brussel sprouts”.
It’s pretty poor taste doing all this at Christmas time. I’m not expecting any incoming sea freight at the moment, but adding 4+ days to people’s supply timeframe is going to be a killer. I’m with Clarkson on this one.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
OK plebe – shall we start with you then? 8)
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
lol plebe, in your previous incarnation as Todd you threatened to sue DPF. Want to go for 2 from 2?
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
plebe… The reason they strike Thursday and Friday is so they can get double time working Saturday and Sunday which the company prevented them doing by locking them out. The union thinks the company is so dumb that the workers can strike for two days and have the same pay packet.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Poetic justice. [Unions why?]
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
P S Todd, we already know why kiwis are emigrating to Australia, it’s called mineral exploration. Could happen here in NZ too, but the Scumbags keep blocking it, which is why us Rich Pricks decided that they should pay their own way.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Im trying to save my country for my grandkids folks
Elaycee (1,848) Says:
December 6th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
OK plebe – shall we start with you then?
RightNow (3,574) Says:
December 6th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
lol plebe, in your previous incarnation as Todd you threatened to sue DPF. Want to go for 2 from 2?
Not me, you two above are so wrong, im just a SCUMBAG worker, thinking for my grandchildren and their future and NZ
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Elaycee & RightNow
You are “RAISING THE SPIRIT OF NZ” & could change plebe from being a “DISPISED DOLEBLUDGER” to a “SCUMBAG WORKER” & it could “help Mr Farrar, with his demerite system.”
Rest assured you are on the side of the angels.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Thank you, nasska.
I stand in your shadow.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
And of course Maesrk don’t sense an opportunity to exploit the strike/lockout to their own advantage.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
My mistake plebe, easy mistake to make given your spelling and grammar are identical to Todd’s. You even seem to share Todd’s brain deficiency.
Anyway, you say you’re trying to save NZ for your grand-kids. It’s ironic really, I also would like my grand-kids to be able to enjoy a wonderful NZ.
First step – smash the unions. Second step – expand mineral exploration. Third step – break the cycle of intergenerational welfare dependency. Fourth step – expose the CAGW scam for the bullshit it is and scrap the ETS.
Note – these steps may not necessarily happen in that specific order.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Pongo (258) Says:
December 6th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
plebe… The reason they strike Thursday and Friday is so they can get double time working Saturday and Sunday which the company prevented them doing by locking them out. The union thinks the company is so dumb that the workers can strike for two days and have the same pay packet.
Why not? Teachers do – without working weekends.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
After all those policies, all I can shout is: RightNow for PM!.
Vote:Fuck, yeah
December 6th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
I can see why the blog is a bit quiet at the moment, theres only the feral rightwing posters, ranting and insulting .The brighter posters only test the waters to see if the rabid rightwingers have moved on.
nasska (2,223) Says:
December 6th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Elaycee & RightNow
You are “RAISING THE SPIRIT OF NZ” & could change plebe from being a “DISPISED DOLEBLUDGER” to a “SCUMBAG WORKER” & it could “help Mr Farrar, with his demerite system.”
Rest assured you are on the side of the angels.
Elaycee (1,849) Says:
December 6th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Thank you, nasska.
I stand in your shadow.
Nostalgia-NZ (40) Says:
December 6th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
And of course Maesrk don’t sense an opportunity to exploit the strike/lockout to their own advantage.
RightNow (3,576) Says:
December 6th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
My mistake plebe, easy mistake to make given your spelling and grammar are identical to Todd’s. You even seem to share Todd’s brain deficiency.
Anyway, you say you’re trying to save NZ for your grand-kids. It’s ironic really, I also would like my grand-kids to be able to enjoy a wonderful NZ.
First step – smash the unions. Second step – expand mineral exploration. Third step – break the cycle of intergenerational welfare dependency. Fourth step – expose the CAGW scam for the bullshit it is and scrap the ETS.
Note – these steps may not necessarily happen in that specific order.
Vote:A good example why the blog is quiet, ABUSE from educated idiots
December 6th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Your cut and paste formatting is leaving a lot to be desired plebe/Todd.
Try searching for an HTML tutorial, it’s pretty easy.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Manolo – thanks for your endorsement, but politics doesn’t do it for me. I’m looking at starting a brewery
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Plebe (4.27pm); proof of the need for National Standards in literacy
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
POA should invite Mr Chris Corrigan across from Australia to provide some trainign on how to deal with the waterside workers unions. Someone with a backbone of steel forced forced restructuring on an industry previously run by these criminals for about 10 years.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
“Auckland loses out”
I think the title should be POAL loses out. Auckland, and the rest of the country, win. This because we don’t have a monopoly container port for international cargo. Competitive discipline is maintained! As an Aucklander I am happy. (Although as an Auckland ratepayer slightly less so).
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Why does plebe not just be honest and admit two things -
1. If he moved to Australia he would have to ‘work’ (horror of horrors!)
2. He doesn’t have $147 for the airfare
Why flog this nonsense about wanting to save the country for his grandkids? why not be honest and admit you can’t leave! ha ha
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
One day lefties may figure out that the very policies they oppose would actually benefit the poor the most.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
I was under the impression that POAL heavily discounted their bid in order to win the Maersk business from Tauranga and was likely to have been losing money on the contract.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 9:35 pm
Better to be in a Union than in a job.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
Is it a full moon tonight JeffW or are you in a civil union with a magic mushroom?
Get a job on the dock lad.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Labour plus Union …… Own goal. Pity about the jobs…. When will these useless pricks ever learn.
Vote:December 6th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
The Port Entry of Tauranga makes a lot more sense moving forward as a country. Auckland’s growth is expected to increase for the next 1-2(00) years. Wellington and Hamilton are also set to go off like fireworks on Chinese new year.
We need a central North Island location to deliver goods across the board, and as quickly and smoothly as possible. Tauranga is obviously the prime location.
The Auckland Port is an eyesore and should have been scrapped years ago.
Vote:December 7th, 2011 at 12:50 am
You really do have to love unions. Push the shit too hard over crap that actually doesn’t really matter and the capitalists fuck off elsewhere. Way to go commies. I certainly bet the union bosses won’t be feeding their poor comrades who have fallen.
Fucking unions and their goons. So union goons, where to from here? Will you commit capital and create jobs for your loser members? No, I didn’t think so.
Vote:December 7th, 2011 at 11:20 am
It was a bit strange the POA moaning about lost revenue and then locking the workers out – effectively increasing the length of the strike and adding to the lost revenue!
Vote:It seemed a case of – whatever u do I’m going to do back to you. I think both parties need to pull their heads in and get it sorted. A mediator perhaps with both parties agreeing to the result?
December 7th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
D4J, not good at recognising irony I see
Vote:December 31st, 2011 at 2:05 am
Old post but I came across it while searching for something else.
Anyway I’ve never owned a business but it seems to me in this so called ‘real world’ if you are making a large change in providers, this usually implies you’ve been in negotiations with both providers for a while. This would seem to suggest at worst the strikes or risk of further (which were a few days before the annoucement) may have been a last straw but it’s definitely not the only factor. (The risk of strikes have likely been obvious for a while which may have been a factor but clearly that implies the strikes themselves weren’t the only factor.) Perhaps I’m mistaken and companies frequently make major decisions overnight without any form of ongoing negotiation?
Well let’s see:
A simple search to find whether Maersk themselves ever made any official comment finds
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10771444
“Maersk Line New Zealand trade and marketing manager Dave Gulik said industrial action was a significant factor but not the only factor.
which also mentions
Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns said the company had been working for some time to attract a new import ship call to Tauranga, and was pleased to gain the weekly service.”
So even Maersk themselves have said it wasn’t the only factor and Tauranga have basically said it’s something they were working on for some time. Not that either party is unbiased, from Maersk’s POV it’s clearly in their interest to sent a message both to the unions and the ports of Tauranga but it’s hard to believe it was the only factor but they chose to lie about that. Nor is their any reason to think Maersk particularly cares whether it’s a strike or a lock out, ultimately either harms their business in the short term.
So perhaps I’m not a complete fool and companies do actual tend to negotiate before they make major deals and there usually are several factors which influence their decisions. I’m surprised that I’m apparently the first to consider these possibilities here, but whatever I guess ….
Vote: