WorkSafe New Zealand says it has held productive meetings with the Lyttelton Port of Christchurch and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.
WorkSafe’s acting chief executive, Brett Murray, says initial discussions with the senior management and representatives of the board of the port company today were useful and positive. A separate meeting with the RMTU was also constructive.
“I was heartened today by the attitude of both the company and the RMTU – nobody wants to see workers injured or killed at work. All sides are committed to improving the health and safety record at the port.”
The other major union at the port, the Maritime Union of New Zealand, was not available to meet until after the funeral of the worker killed at the port last Thursday.
“The board of the Lyttelton Port of Christchurch gave a clear undertaking that it will meet with WorkSafe and the unions to discuss health and safety at the port. It is vital that we get all sides around the table,” says Murray.
“The best way to ensure that any workplace is safe – particularly one as complicated and inherently dangerous as a port – is to ensure that employers and employees are working together alongside the regulator.
“Today’s meetings were an encouraging first step in that process,” says Murray.
