Members are advised that the Employment Court Judge delivered his verdict to the Union this afternoon. The Judge has ordered that the Union and the Employer must return to mediation before notice of strike action is given to the employer.
To that end the strike action planned to start on the 1st July 2011 and postponed by the Union at the request of the Courts to Saturday 9th July at 08:00 cannot now take place.
A further notice and clarification will be available on Monday.
Members will no doubt be aware of the major 5th Alarm fire that broke out last night on the North Shore. This fire had widespread impacts to people across Tamaki Makaurau with several Emergency Alerts having to be made. Additionally, our thoughts go out the local community, including the owner, tenants, and staff of the businesses impacted.
Members will no doubt be aware of Wednesday's major fire in a scrapyard in Papakura. Whilst the cause of this fire is still under investigation what is known is that the impacts of it were widespread right across Auckland.
We have been told that staff wanting to do Return to Work Duties will have to do them at District HQ and they do not intend to reimburse your travel costs, “you are getting an enhanced pay and you can fund your own travel”. We have since got an agreement that the travel distance reimbursement will be paid for travel to District HQ.