BREAKING NEWS – Auckland turns the tables

As such, while the port will continue with collective bargaining it is proceeding with a proposal to contract out its labour force. In affect, the port has turned the table on the union.

The strike action has already cost the port Maersk Line’s Southern Star service, which the line permanently moved to Tauranga in December. The transfer saw Auckland lose 52 ship calls, 123,600 teu and nearly NZ$20m (US$15.5m) in revenue annually.

Last week New Zealand’s largest exporter, Fonterra, decided to move its export shipments from Auckland to other ports from the end of this month until further notice.