Mr Jackson, a former trade union organiser and Alliance Party MP, supported the striking port workers' calls for eight-hour shifts and job security on his Radio Live afternoon slot today.
He called Ports of Auckland bosses "greedy, filthy, right wing fundamentalists'' who were led by a "gutless wonder'' mayor.
Intimidation or violence was needed to stop non-union workers being called in to do the striking workers' jobs, he said.
"If you really want something you've got to act ... You don't go stop and then the scabs come in and they take your jobs. Go and bust your picket or your placard on theirs cars. I support that action.''
Striking wharfies should also hit out against the "slick'' Ports of Auckland board chairman Richard Pearson, Mr Jackson said.
"I'm into militant action. Go and occupy. If I was them I'd go and sit on that Pearson's car, right. I'd sit on his car, occupy his car. Occupy his office. Occupy everywhere. Do what you have to do.''
But this evening Jackson sought to clarify his remarks.
In a statement, Radio Live said Jackson "wishes to make it clear that he does not advocate violence of any kind.
"Jackson says his comments on Radio Live today were made in the context of a heated debate with co-host John Tamihere on the Ports of Auckland industrial dispute, an issue he feels passionately about, and they should not be taken as a call for violent action.''
The statement quoted Jackson as saying: "I want to make it clear that when I say 'militant action', I'm talking about taking a stance on an issue in a strong but non-violent manner, in the way that Lucy Lawless took a stance recently with Greenpeace.
"As I said very clearly in today's broadcast, I do NOT advocate violence.''
This evening Mr Pearson said staff had faced intimidation and abuse as they came to work this morning and were forced by union members to stop at the picket line.
"Many staff are upset and several have made complaints,'' he said in a statement.
"This is a dispute between the Port and the Union, and I reiterate that Union leaders and others need to ensure their members are behaving within the law and are respecting the right of others to come to work.''
Mr Pearson said the dispute had now reached "the point of no return''.
Ports of Auckland sacked 292 workers, mainly stevedores, last week in an escalation of its four-month industrial dispute with workers.
An offer of mediation from Auckland Mayor Len Brown, whose council is 100 per cent owner of the port, was rebuffed by port bosses.
Mr Pearson said the dispute has now reached "the point of no return''.
- Herald Online
