Cracks emerge in Ports of Auckland board as Campbell quits over strategy differences

Friday 30th March 2012

Ports of Auckland director Rob Campbell has stepped down from the board after falling out over strategy at the city-owned business, which is making heavy weather of attempting to contract out its unionised wharfies.

Chairman Richard Pearson accepted Campbell’s resignation, saying the decision came from “differences in views on board strategies.” The board won’t be making any further comment on the matter.

Campbell didn’t immediately respond to BusinessDesk inquiries.

The port’s shareholder Auckland Council Investments Limited (ACIL) will appoint Campbell’s replacement.

The resignation comes amid a protracted industrial dispute with stevedores, where port management wants to introduce more use of casual labour by hiring external contractors.

Employment Court Judge Barry Travis yesterday granted an injunction on the port contracting out the workforce, saying “the overall justice of the case required the defendant (Ports of Auckland) be prevented from exercising its dismissal proposals until its right to be able to do so, in light of the statutory requirements, is dealt with by the substantive hearing.”

Maritime Union of New Zealand workers had been due to return to work last week after the port’s legal strategy collapsed in the Employment Court, but the port issued a lockout notice immediately afterwards and reasserted its intention to seek competitive stevedoring services.

(BusinessDesk)

BusinessDesk.co.nz

Comments from our readers

No comments yet