Stopping ratepayer-owned asset sales main focus for union members
They are concerned if the Lyttelton Port Company was sold or partly sold to private interests, jobs could be lost or wages and conditions affected.
Debate over asset sales like the port company, the airport, Orion, Enable and Citycare is a long-running political football in Christchurch elections between left and right-leaning mayors and city councillors.
A key figure in the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) says members will ask people to vote for candidates who are against selling the city's assets.
They will not endorse particular candidates.
Said RMTU Lyttelton Port branch secretary Mark Wilson: 'Your vote is your vote. But we ask that voters consider what a candidate's stance is on selling public assets and infrastructure.'
The campaign does not have the formal support of the two port unions, RMTU and Maritime Union. But Wilson said it has 'very significant' support among members of both organisations.
'The unions and us as workers do have to be careful about what is said as employees of LPC, but this campaign is more about what the council might do rather than our employer.'
Under the banner of new political pressure group, New Zealanders for a Democratic Economy (NZDE), union members and supporters are organising public events, demonstrations and are canvasing public places to drum up opposition to key asset sales.
Although the new group is not directly endorsing candidates, Wilson said the campaign is likely to favour left-leaning candidates and the Labour-aligned The People's Choice candidates who oppose key asset sales.
Wilson believes Mayor Phil Mauger and right-leaning city councillors support selling the port and other key assets either through full or partial sale of shares.
But Mauger says he remains firmly committed to 'protecting Christchurch's ownership and value in strategic assets.'
Mauger did not respond to further questioning from The Star asking whether he would support partial sales of key assets and in what form.
"During my campaign and since being mayor, I have made it clear these key assets should be controlled by the council,' he said.
Mauger has no issue with the union members' campaign, saying they have every right to 'engage in public debate on matters like asset ownership.'
Wilson said NZDE want a more clear position from Mauger on asset sales.
"It will make things a lot easier for us. We hope he and councillors will clearly lay out what they have done in the past term on asset sales and what they plan to do next term.'
Wilson believes a sale of the port company or other key assets could lead to worker unions being sidelined.
"Private-owned companies, particularly some big, foreign multicorp is just interested in making as much profit as possible, so they don't have much of an interest in good pay or safety for workers.'
The People's Choice chair Paul McMahon welcomed the campaign and said some of the group's candidates will be present at anti-asset sale events.
"We're happy to work with anyone to oppose asset sales.'
McMahon said there is a one-seat majority of city councillors currently opposed to asset sales.
He believes if one more city councillor who favours asset sales is elected, there will be a new push for sales next term.
An LPC spokesperson declined to comment and referred questions about a possible sale to Christchurch City Holdings Ltd (CCHL) which owns city assets on behalf of the city council.
A CCHL spokesperson said there are no current investigations into selling shares in key assets and any sale decisions rest with the city council.
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