Fourth strike notice

Members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) working at the Port of Timaru issued a fourth strike notice yesterday. RMTU South Island organiser John Kerr says the notice was for a 24-hour strike on December 19, following those notified for December 16, 17 and 18. The RMTU has been in negotiations for a Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) with Prime Port Timaru and Quality Marshalling since May and Kerr said the employers would prefer not to enter into a MECA and have countered the claim for an 8 per cent pay increase with offers below the rate of inflation. ‘‘We remain hopeful we can reach an agreement in the two weeks before industrial action is due to commence.’’