The Employers & Manufacturers Association says the latest development in the Auckland ports industrial dispute is promising, and a collective agreement is near.
Ports of Auckland has said it will accept the latest recommendations from a facilitator.
Association chief executive, Kim Campbell said the port company has lost a lot of business in the past 18 months, which will be regained once an agreement is reached.
But the union says while it is keen to compromise, it still wants to go into negotiations.
Talks on a collective contract broke down in 2011, leading to strikes, lock-out notices, court action, privacy complaints and threats of mass redundancies.
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