[240312.EN.SEA] New Zealand Court Reinstates Sacked Dockers Until Legalities Settled

NEW ZEALAND employment court in an closed session with the sacked dockers and the Ports of Auckland employer managed to un-sack the striking dockers and put hiring freeze on replacements until a judge determines the legalities involved.

In a judicial settlement conference the Ports of Auckland [PoA] has agreed to stop recruiting privately contracted non-union dockers until Thursday (today) March 22.

"They have adjourned for the day but are bound by confidentiality not to release anything outside of the judicial settlement conference," said a spokesman for the port.

Ports of Auckland also agreed following a telephone conference with the court and the union not to sack dockers or engage contractors before the proceedings.

Judge Barrie Travis will then hear an interim injunction plea to extend the recruiting half by the Maritime Union of New Zealand [MUNZ] before its case against the "unlawful" dismissal of 292 dockers is heard next week.

The dispute has diverted cargo to the Port of Tauranga that is said to have reached the "saturation point", reported Fairfax Media, adding that the smaller port had achieved a record of 20,200 container moves last week against its normal week of 12,000.

Source : SN-TR.