Lyttelton Port workers vote to end industrial action

Workers at Lyttelton Port Company have voted to discontinue their industrial action today, according to the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU).

Around 200 RMTU members have been operating an overtime ban since 17 December and today voted to end the ban and accept management’s amended pay offer.

"Our members have voted to take what’s on the table", said RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson.

"The offer doesn’t deliver everything they wanted but it does give us an above-inflation pay increase, establishes workplace forums where we can engage constructively with management on matters like rosters and staffing levels, and provides for a proper review of trades pay rates," said Wayne Butson.

"The overtime ban has been effective in applying pressure to the employer to reconsider their initial position, and we know that on occasion shipping lines have elected to bypass Lyttelton, while others vessels have experienced delays in turnaround time," said Wayne Butson.

"We take no pleasure in these disruptions, but they have focused management’s attention, forcing them to amend their bargaining position and made an offer our members could accept," Butson said.

According to Butson the bargaining team will be meeting with management in the next few days to finalise the details and then running a ballot to ratify the new collective agreement.