They said it was 'absolutely wrong' for the ex-CEO amid the current situation
The former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) is the subject of calls for removal from his directorial roles in two other organisations associated with POAL amid charges against him.
The Maritime Union, citing the Companies Office website, said former POAL CEO Anthony Michael Gibson is the director of Marsden Maritime Holdings and North Tugz.
Marsden Maritime Holdings are the owners of Northport and have 19.9% shareholding by Ports of Auckland; North Tugz, on the other hand, are 50% owned by POAL and 50% by Northport.
Gibson resigned as CEO of the Ports of Auckland in 2021 after concerns about his management over the organisation.
Currently, he is facing health and safety charges due to a death at the Ports of Auckland during his tenure.
Read more: Employee falls to death at Ports of Auckland
Russell Mayn, secretary of the Maritime Union of New Zealand Auckland Branch Local 13, said that it was "absolutely wrong" for the former CEO to hold directorial positions to companies associated with the POAL.
"It is absolutely wrong that an ex-CEO who is before the courts on health and safety charges is still a director of companies with substantial shareholdings by Ports of Auckland," said Mayn in a statement.
According to Mayn, it was a "ridiculous situation" and called for Gibson's removal from his position as director in North Tugz and Marsden Maritime Holdings.
Gibson previously pleaded not guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety Worker at Work Act that stemmed from an employee's death in 2020.
The former CEO is also tagged in the now-defunct automation project of the Fergusson Container Terminal, which was recently called off to leave $65 million down the drain.
An investigation is also being carried out to find out why the project pushed through despite the numerous concerns raised by the Maritime Union and other organisations.