Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Unwarranted risk

255 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 7 8 9 10 11 Newer→ Last

  • DexterX,

    In the late 50s early 60s a survey was done for a rail link/line from Marsden Point to the Oakley Creek it was to connect with that part of the western rail line that runs through the Mt Albert/Avondale area.

    Perhaps the potential play is to actually downsize the Port of Auckland - move most of its functions to Marsden Port and Tauranga. Providing the opportunity for Auckland City to sell off or lease out a significant part of the "Portland" and retain enough of it for Cruise Liners, fishing and warehousing (for stock in transit/or distribution) and use the sale/ground rent to fund other infrastructure projects.

    In essence what happens to the watersiders is nobody's concern except theres..

    The recent ridiculous port expansion that Len Brown supported could have been “others” having fun with him to feel out how far "out" they could get him to go.

    Went to the march today and was surprised to see David Shearer there - he had said he wasn't for or against the watersiders in this dispute.

    I wonder what next after the "Night Mayor" of Auckland, Jester Len Brown - The Clown Prince of Darkness Cameron Brewer?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Went to the march today and was surprised to see David Shearer there – he had said he wasn’t for or against the watersiders in this dispute,

    You've hardly been following the story have you? The position was neither for not against until the mass firing at which point things, obviously, changed.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    A little too little to late - it is game over.

    The Nats must feel very fortunate - what with Shearer seeking to appeal to National Voters and Len sitting on his hands or keeping them deeply in his pockets.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    At least we have stronger controls on the use of military personnel as strike-breakers than existed in 1951

    But we are fast running out of soldiers to do the dirty work....Race horses and their owners might be all that could be called to be the next generation of Massey's cossacks.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    A little too little to late – it is game over.

    Yes, yes, clearly the major problem in this conflict was the failure of Shearer to put out some press releases. This is just the Green Lantern Theory of employment relations, and pretty obviously not at all useful.

    Shearer's job is to get elected and implement good policy. It's not to get involved in industrial disputes. That's Helen Kelly's job.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ross Mason,

    unleash the whippets

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    put out some press releases

    that worked so well for them last term :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    Yes, yes, clearly the major problem in this conflict was the failure of Shearer to put
    out some press releases.

    These are your words not mine.

    Shearer's job is to get elected and implement good policy. It's not to get involved in industrial disputes. That's Helen Kelly's job.

    If Shearer/Laour are looking to motivate the large number of registered voters who did not vote - likely Labour voters - he/they had better stand up for something - he/they can't be the neither for nor against he has largely been on the POAL dispute.

    By comparison Goff has been onto it as regards MFAT issues.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    What else can Labour do? They aren't the government guys, that thing that you all went around laughing at them for losing? It means they can't do the things you want them to. The ability of a political party to intervene in an industrial dispute is almost non-existent when in government, when in opposition it really is non-existent.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    Phil Goff who was able to point out the inconsistencies in the govt approach to MFAT and also the potential harm to the national interest and got his position across,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Which is not an industrial dispute between two private parties, it's the administration of the public service, and noticeably, the gov't hasn't given any signal it will back down on MFAT changes.

    Arguments based around the claim that Labour should have done more about POAL are basically just Green Lanternism.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    Attachment

    What else can Labour do? They aren’t the government guys, that thing that you all went around laughing at them for losing? It means they can’t do the things you want them to. The ability of a political party to intervene in an industrial dispute is almost non-existent when in government, when in opposition it really is non-existent.

    Hear hear, We went down to photograph and support this . Darien Fenton asked me to join her. Phil Twyford was right behind us and crossed the road to join the masses. Cathy Casey even brought her dogs. That's Part of Akld Council, that's part of Labour Party. They announced this on the Red Alert website. They were there.Front and centre. Everyone there, and were many, went down there to support this. It was personal and Labour represent.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    From the Granny.
    March give Hope

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Also from the Herald:

    Matt McCarten stereotypes Pasifika and Maori as poor and left-oriented voters, while adding some detail about Mayor Brown's political origins.

    And David Farrar conveys the National Party's perspective, as you'd expect.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    And David Farrar conveys the National Party's perspective, as you'd expect.

    He's very approving of both Shearer and Len Brown. Which means Kiwiblog is now officially centrist. It shows in the commentary.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX,

    My feeling is that the direction this dispute went and is presently progressing was well set before the dispute emerged, perhaps likely well before the collective expired and possibly even before the lead up to the last election.

    It is interesting (tenuous perhaps) - in the Teapot Litigation Andrew Caisley of Kiely Thompson Caisley acted for John Key - Kiely Thompson Caisley have been appointed to the govt panel providing advice on employment matters and if you look at the flurry of recent early March 2012 Employment Court judgments Caisley & Franks - or KTC – are largely acting for a number of the Port Companies.

    It is also Interesting - the injunctions sought by other Port Companies against other watersiders taking industrial action in support of Auckland Watersiders whilst under a collective agreement was made under urgency – whereas the injunction sought by MUNZ on the bad faith act in mass dismissal will be heard in about two weeks time and it may well be a further few weeks before any decision is handed down.

    What I consider we will likely see in upcoming Employment Law Reforms will be the removal of the object of the Act to promote or even conclude collective bargaining and the removal of the fourth week of annual leave – be it by a buy back – where the fourth week is used as a factor to reduce wage claims - or statutory leave is reduced to three weeks.

    What is happening now and is going to happen won’t be positive for anyone – this includes the POAL, Auckland City, ratepayers and the economy as a whole. The thing is being taken to the brink of insanity based on the pursuit of loose ideological nonsense.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    The thing is being taken to the brink of insanity based on the pursuit of loose ideological nonsense.

    This is after all, the Coalition of Fear. I see nothing confident about this nasty collection of greed.
    Nothing.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to DexterX,

    What is happening now and is going to happen won’t be positive for anyone – this includes the POAL, Auckland City, ratepayers and the economy as a whole. The thing is being taken to the brink of insanity based on the pursuit of loose ideological nonsense.

    Has there ever been an industrial dispute that's spilled over into a diplomatic incident? I could easily see this happening with PoAL and the ITF & ILWU.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Has there ever been an industrial dispute that’s spilled over into a diplomatic incident?

    Waterfront lockout 1951

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    '51 waterfront strike- Wish I had time to watch this tonight.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Has there ever been an industrial dispute that’s spilled over into a diplomatic incident?

    This one surely has the potential to go all the way, it could spread to the Airports if the powers that be don't back off pretty quick.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    If I remember rightly, one dead in '51.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to merc,

    one dead in ’51.

    Three dead in Tauranga

    The Allied Workforce employee was working for another contracted company when the accident happened.

    Allied Workforce chief executive Mike Huddlestone said it was a member of the contracted company, the name of which he would not reveal, who ran over the man.

    It is the third fatality at the port within the past 15 months

    In June this year, two Bay companies were fined a total of $55,000 after a forklift ran over and killed stevedore Brian Kevin Shannon, 61, of Otumoetai at the port on June 2010.

    Mr Shannon worked for Independent Stevedoring Limited (ISL) loading and unloading cargo from ships. ISL and on-wharf logistics company C3 Limited, whose employee was driving the forklift, were both fined over the death after pleading guilty to charges in court.

    On December 17 last year, a 35-year-old Chinese seaman died after falling from the side of the logging ship Green Hope and into the water in Tauranga Harbour.

    Attempts to resuscitate him after he was pulled from the water by workmates were unsuccessful.

    There was also a death at the port in 2003.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/the-1951-waterfront-dispute/division-and-defeat
    Ah, a fractured skull, not a death (from a baton charge). Lead to a snap election though.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Anyone read the fascinating article in today's SST by Greg Ninness about the source of the data that has been bandied about re the "efficiency" of Port Auckland???

    And the front page headline about the local body per person debt??

    Conspiracy warning ahead:

    Is there - or is there starting - a concerted effort by someone to plant the seed for the next round of local body shinnanigans.

    These happenings seem a wee bit too cute.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 7 8 9 10 11 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

This topic is closed.