Labour have given up. They are ceding the left, the only question that remains is to whom:
Labour isn’t commenting on the dispute.
Industrial relations spokeswoman Darien Fenton says she doesn’t think it’d be helpful to do so while negotiations are still ongoing.
The Maori Party meanwhile seems a little deluded about the impact contracting out 212 jobs will have:
The Maori Party has come out on the side of workers in the Ports of Auckland dispute.
Co-leader Pita Sharples is concerned about the impact the row will have on the livelihoods of thousands of workers, particularly young Maori.
He’s written to the tertiary education and labour ministers asking for an assurance employment opportunities for those affected are on their radar.
He’s also concerned about the decisions of Maersk Line and Fonterra to re-route trade to Tauranga and Napier, and what impact there may be on jobs.
Someone needs to sit down with Pita and have a wee chat and explain that striking actually hurts more, literally in the thousands, workers than the 212 greedy, rich prick wharfies, who BTW are mostly poms, not Maori.
One thing is for certain is that Labour are all at sea with this dispute, their leadership, through their absence are telling us with their silence that they back the ports.