Rail and Maritime Union members will continue strike action today after mediation between them and Lyttelton Port Company reached a stalemate.
The industrial action is over safety and pay conditions for port workers, and the 200-or-so workers will be on strike until Sunday.
RMTU organiser John Kerr said last week that the union engaged in negotiations in good faith and agreed to discuss options for settlement in confidence.
"The RMTU put eight scenarios for settlement to LPC that would have moved us towards settlement and ended the prospect of further strike action, some of which had negligible cost to the employer," he said.
"We are dismayed and disappointed to report that LPC has not amended its position one jot ... It appears to us that LPC is unwavering in its determination to attempt to break the will of our members and to inflict unnecessary pain upon the Canterbury economy.
"All our members are seeking is equality with other workers on the waterfront ... it's sad it's come to this."
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