New Zealand port sacks striking workers

New Zealand's Ports of Auckland announced it was sacking almost 300 striking dock workers Wednesday, escalating a long-running industrial dispute in the country's largest city.

The company, which is owned by Auckland city council, said 292 of its employees, mostly stevedores, would be made redundant and stevedoring work in the port would be outsourced to three specialist firms.

It said the sacked workers, who have staged a series of rolling strikes since last August as they battle against plans to revamp working practices at the port, would be encouraged to apply for jobs at the stevedoring firms.

"This decision has not been made lightly, but we believe it is vital to ensuring a successful and sustainable future for the Port, including protecting jobs over the long term," chief executive Tony Gibson said.

He said the changes were needed to make New Zealand's second largest port more competitive, with the business suffering over the long term because of inefficient work practices and, more recently, through industrial action.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand said the sacked workers were "gutted" at the port's action, as they had offered to provide increased workplace flexibility during talks with the employer.

Union president Garry Parsloe said important principles were at stake and the sackings would not end the industrial dispute.

"We don't accept that our jobs should be casualised, we cannot let Ports of Auckland get away with this move," he said.

"This is by no means the end of our campaign for secure work."