Published: 19 Mar 2012
Ports of Auckland workers were boosted by several displays of support and solidarity last weekend.
On Saturday, Ports workers hosted a visit to the Teal Park camp at 2pm by coaching staff and players from the Canterbury Bulldogs NRL rugby league team, in town to play the NZ Warriors.
Bulldogs assistant coach Jim Dymock, who will be there, has a family connection with the Maritime Union in Australia.
In addition, the workers enjoyed a very relevant musical show.
Chris Prowse, the musician behind the Trouble on the Waterfront album and show which was used to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Waterfront Dispute, performed at Teal Park on Sunday.
In addition, a Wellington event over the weekend raised money for Ports of Auckland and AFFCO workers.
On Thursday, Bishop Muru Walters of Wellington visited the Teal Park camp along with members of the Anglican Social Justice Commission.
Earlier this week Bishop Walters had said "I am a bishop from the north. When people in the north hurt, I hurt. When their security is put under threat, so is mine. I will stand in solidarity with the workers on the picket line. We need to remember that people are the most important thing: the security of families and especially children."
Maritime Union National President Garry Parsloe said Ports workers deeply appreciated the support and solidarity shown by people across Auckland, other parts of New Zealand, and from workers' unions internationally.
