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An aerial shot of Timaru port - Source: ONE News -
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Timaru's Prime Port has this morning briefed staff on plans to cut 42 jobs.
Chief executive Jeremy Boys said there would be a net change of 29 staff - with 42 jobs to go and 13 news roles being created.
He said the jobs changes would be across all levels of the company.
Confirmation that the port will cut jobs by the end of September is a direct result of the lack of a national ports strategy, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) said.
"[It] condemns ports to compete with one another for trade and the losers are Kiwi workers, ratepayers, and local businesses," Wayne Butson, RMTU general secretary, said.
PrimePort employs 55 staff and 30 casual workers. The port company is losing its container trade, which makes up a significant portion of the work.
"Since Maersk and Hamburg Sud announced they were pulling out the Timaru container trade our members have been left wondering about the extent of job losses on the waterfront, today they found out. For us, it's cold comfort to say to Government 'we told you so',' Butson said.