Ports of Auckland Dispute (POAL)

Maritime Union of Australia, National Secretary, Paddy Crumlin has welcomed news that Ports of Auckland has withdrawn its lockout notice and the unionised workforce can now go back to work. Mr Crumlin, who met with the Mayor of Auckland Len Brown this morning as both a representative of the MUA and International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), hailed today's developments as a victory for all workers. Mr Crumlin attended a rally yesterday at the entrance to the port, along with ITF Dockers Section Secretary Frank Leys, MUNZ General Secretary Joe Fleetwood, MUNZ President Garry Parsloe and NZCTU President Helen Kelly. "This is a victory for common sense," said Mr Crumlin, who is chair of the ITF Dockers Section and ITF President. "It reinforces the fact that these 1998 Patrick-style assaults on workers' rights and organised labour won't be successful. "It reminds everyone in the stevedoring and maritime industry that the only way forward is to negotiate in good faith for a collective agreement. "Dockworkers of the world unite in a crisis and they won't allow this sort of behaviour from militant employers to prevail." Produced by Jamie McMechan Maritime Union of Australia - Film Unit. Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) http://www.mua.org.au Australian Council of Trade Union (ACTU) http://www.actu.org.au/ International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) http://www.itfglobal.org International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) http://www.ituc-csi.org/