Watersiders strike again, mediation next week

Mediation between Ports of Auckland and striking wharfies will begin next week, after the workers walked off the job again yesterday as part of their ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

The Maritime Union members want a 4.5 to 4.9 per cent pay rise and the company has offered around 3.25 per cent.

It was the third time the 250 wharfies had struck.

They walked off for two days at the beginning of the month followed by a three-hour stoppage last week.

Another stoppage is planned for Labour Day, on Monday.

Yesterday afternoon, Ports of Auckland managing director Jens Madsen said the Employment Relations Authority had announced it would accept the company's request for facilitated bargaining with the union.

Meetings between the two factions are scheduled for Tuesday and Friday.

Mr Madsen said he was hopeful the "uncommon step" of seeking assistance from the ERA would resultin a fair and reasonable conclusion soon.

Ports of Auckland applied to the authority after many months of negotiations and five strike notices issued to the company by the union over a month.

- NZPA