A resolution to the lengthy industrial dispute at Ports of Auckland looks some way off after the Maritime Union announced a third week-long strike.
The strike will start on March 9 at the end of two other week-long strikes, the first of which begins on Friday.
The two parties are at loggerheads over the port's insistence on more flexible working hours, a proposal the union says is unfair and provides too much uncertainty for staff.
Maritime Union president Garry Parsloe says the strike action will be withdrawn if the company changes its position.
"They don't have to go ahead if the port company come back to the table and bargain in good faith," he said.
But Ports of Auckland boss Tony Gibson says the industrial action is hindering the chance of reaching a deal.
"These repeated strikes only serve to make it difficult to set dates for further mediation," he said.
Mr Gibson accuses the union of distorting what the dispute was about, claiming casualisation of the workforce was the company's goal when it wanted greater flexibility.
But Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly, who along with Mr Parsloe spoke to the port's owners the Auckland Council on Thursday, says port workers have no other choice but to strike.
"The union's moved significantly, the port company is just insisting they be casualised without any protection at all around job security."
The strikers have also got the support of the Rail and Maritime Union who will not cross any picket lines during the strikes and from 34 Auckland local board members, who want action to break the stalemate and are urging both parties to return to the negotiating table.
The union is also sending a delegation to a meeting of the Australian Maritime Union in Sydney next week to seek industrial and financial backing.
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