The Maritime Worker Te Whanganui-a-Tara
(Above) From left, Alan Harkess, Kenny Walsh, Jimmy Mobbs and John Baker. (Top right) From left, Nika, Luke Foster, Karl Baker, Jimmy Mobbs and Kenny Walsh. (Bottom right) Jimmy with his cake!
TO JIMMY MOBBS
Jimmy Mobbs, a long serving seafarer (55 years) and comrade recently took voluntary redundancy to make way for younger seafarers at Kiwirail–Interislander.
His knowledge, wisdom and experience in the industry and union will be greatly missed. It is always sad to see great seafarers like Jimmy leave the industry, however we hope that he will enjoy all the time he has now with his whanau.
MAY DAY RALLY FRANK KITTS PARK 12–1PM THURSDAY 1 MAY 2025 SEE
PEARL WYNYARD: TRAILBLAZER
Pearl Wynyard was the very first wahine to ever become an AB on the Cook Strait Ferries.
However, her career at Interislander began in 1998 as a Stewardess back in those days on the Arahura and Aratika Today these staff are referred to as Cabin Attendants.
Pearl also got the opportunity to work on the super yachts in the Mediterranean which she says gave her a fancy way to travel the world and be paid for it. Pearl currently performs the Quartermaster role steering the vessel through the waters of Wellington Harbour and the Marlborough Sounds. Her work also consists of loading and unloading the vessel.
Pearl says navigating a vessel like the Aratere takes full concentration, especially entering the narrow Tory Channel when there are high winds and strong tides.
Her hope is more young women will follow her footsteps and enter into what she believes is a great career pathway to learning worldwide skills.
Sadly, Pearl will be leaving us in the very near future and moving onto greater opportunities, but she will be pleased to know that since her career change many years ago, more women have followed in her path of becoming qualified AbleBodied Seafarers.
Thank you for setting the benchmark and leading the way for female seafarers. We wish you success in all of your future endeavours Pearl.
Farewell shipmate and comrade!
Pearl Wynyard, an AbleBodied Seafarer (AB) at Interislander on the Aratere
MAY DAY 2025 FIGHT BACK TOGETHER MARANGA AKE
May Day is a time to commemorate both the struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement.
Based on the success of our nationwide hui on the 23rd of October, we are again hosting hui across the country on May Day to fight back against the Government’s ongoing attacks on workers’ rights.
When working people unite and fight back against anti-worker policies, we create change and transform society for the better.
When we fight back together, we win.
Last year, we hosted 12 events across the motu. This year, we will make a bigger impact.
Why does this matter?
This is the most anti-worker government that we’ve seen in decades, attacking our rights day after day and trying to
divide us. But we won’t let them get away with it. We must fight back.
The coalition government has shown they are in the pockets of the rich, putting corporate interests over the interests of working people.
Through standing together and mobilising, we can demonstrate our power and ensure that this one-term government loses its legitimacy.
When our backs are against a wall, we fight back. And when we fight, we win.
Attacks on working people come on top of the relentless and ongoing attacks on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori rights. The coalition is trying to divide us and are sowing the seeds of division.
Don’t let the buggers get you down! Join us across the motu on May Day to take a stand against the coalition.
HELPERS NEEDED
Kia Ora Members, Sue Windsor from NZCTU has reached out to asking for help from our membership with the MayDay Hui on Thursday 1st May,
We are looking for Marshals, people to man the BBQ’s, help with setting up and packing down, setting up and decorating the stage area which will potentially be a truck.
If a member happens to have a Truck Licence that can drive a Curtain Sided truck (Class 4 licence) please reach out. Please reach out to Sue or myself Megan Rush-Reed (Megz.rushreed@gmail. com) if you can help in any way.
Let’s help make this day great.
BY MEGAN RUSH-REED
WELLINGTON BRANCH WOMEN’S REP ABLE-BODIED SEAFARER, MV KAITAKI
Following a successful weekend away for International Women’s Day in Christchurch last year, the International Women’s Day (IWD) committee spent the past year planning and fundraising to organise another weekend retreat for women from across New Zealand.
This event aims to provide an opportunity for relaxation, networking, and celebration of International Women’s Day.
This year, the IWD committee decided to hold the weekend celebrations in New Plymouth.
Seventeen women from various locations across the country, including Auckland, Tauranga, New Plymouth,
Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru, and Dunedin, participated in the event.
Attendees represented several unions, such as MUNZ (Maritime Union of New Zealand), RMTU (Rail and Maritime Transport Union), DWU (Dairy Workers Union), PSA (Public Service Association), along with a Career Fire Fighter and an Employment Lawyer.
The weekend began with reconnecting with sisters and meeting new ones, followed by discussions on the #AccelerateAction theme.
We explored New Plymouth, visited markets, and enjoyed a Multi-Ethnic Extravaganza. For International Women’s Day, we dined at Salt and heard from Hazel Armstrong about the history of women’s struggles and achievements.
It was inspiring to reflect on our progress. On behalf of our IWD Committee—Rebecca, Fiona, Marian, Annie, and myself—I thank everyone who supported our fundraising efforts. Stay tuned for upcoming events.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY COMMITTEE
Maritime Union of New Zealand – Rail and Maritime Transport Union
Committee Members:
Annette McCauley
Fiona Mansell
Marian Lesslie
Megan Rush–Reed
Rebecca Hauck
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
SATURDAY 8 MARCH 2025
FIONA MANSELL SECRETARY/TREASURER WELLINGTON BRANCH
WELLINGTON REPORT
Stopwork Meeting
• The next Wellington Branch SWM is scheduled for Monday 14 April, usual time and location, 10am–12 noon MUNZ National Office, Conference Room, Level 1.
KiwiRail –InterIslander Line
• Joint Council and drydock meetings were held on the 11 March at Kiwirail.
• MOU for Kaiarahi CA’s/Motormen – slight change of rostered hours, during Aratere Dry Dock.
• Aratere dry dock – the vessel will depart Wellington on 2 July and scheduled to arrive back on 4 September, fingers crossed.
Strait Shipping
• A bargaining notice will be sent out to the company in a few weeks, as the Collective Agreement expires in June.
• The Connemara will be going to Singapore for dry dock from August/ September.
• Bluebridge have purchased a new vessel to eventually replace the Strait Feronia.
NIWA
• Met with the members across all 3 unions on 24 February. Members have kept their claims to a minimum.
• First negotiation dates were scheduled for Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 March.
• A ratification meeting will be held on the Tangaroa and the other 2 vessels very soon.
Qube
• Mediation with MBIE was scheduled for 17 March in Tauranga, the main issue is around working more than four 12-hour shifts in a row without a guaranteed work day off before starting their next shift, especially while operating heavy machinery.
We have a long battle ahead with this company, bargaining may resume very soon.
C3
• The company is proposing to remove the allocation of the hatchman position. Coach, Carl and one of our delegates will be meeting MNZ on 11 March to discuss why this shouldn’t be done. A petition was sent out to all members of C3 to sign and present to MNZ.
National Elections
• The elections for national officials are now finished, both candidates were informed of the results once counting had been checked and rechecked, results were then released to the wider membership on 4 March. Thank you to everyone who participated by voting.
• Big thanks to the National Returning Officer, Mick Williams for all your hard work throughout this process. Thanks to Albert Williams, Rob Egan for organising a new voting system for us, last but not least to thanks to all four scrutineers who counted the votes on Monday 3 March at National Office.
Port Taranaki new vessel proposal
• I met with members on the MMA Vision , along with Guild and AMEA unions, to discuss the proposal from Alex Park regarding the purchase of a new vessel.
• MUNZ met with Alex on 28 January to go through the proposal. The main issues for us is that his proposal of one crew two on two off warm stack while the vessel will sit for two weeks with no one onboard.
• Furthermore, he wants to be part of the multi-employer award but doesn’t want to abide by the full terms and conditions of that award.
• He wants an MOU to give Port Taranaki a very clear advantage over other operators who have signed up to the Offshore Multi-Employer Collective and following the terms and conditions in the award.
MUNZ Rules
• The committee have met for two days in Wellington to go over the rules.
We have another 2 days booked in the first week of April.
The Dairy Workers Union have gone through this process, it took 18 months. This process is to make sure we are compliant with the new Incorporated Society rules.
MUNZ Whanau Picnic
• Our annual picnic was held once again at the Avalon Pavilion on Saturday 15 March, big thanks to Lynette Payne, Megan Rush Reed, Paul Baggott, Quintin Kerr for all your help.
A lot of work and planning goes into all the events we put on for our members therefore I would to thank the members that turned up with their whanau.
Hope you all enjoyed yourselves, I would love to see more members come along to the next picnic.
Branch AGM
• Date is set for Monday 8 September, six months after the end of financial year. We will be inviting Penny Mercer our accountant from Lyttelsoft to attend.
All branch members are encouraged to come along, this AGM will be held prior to the September Stop Work Meeting, notices will be sent out in due course.
Relay for Life
• This year we are submitting a team for 5–6 April, this is to support those that have suffered from cancer, held at the Sky Stadium.
Please see the flyer if any of you would like support in any way. All money raised goes straight to Cancer Society.
Finally thank you member’s for all your encouragement, assistance and support so far in running the Wellington Branch, I appreciate you all.
He waka eke noa – We’re all in this together.
StraitNZ upgrades Cook Strait ferry fleet with new ship
StraitNZ Bluebridge says it is buying a new ship as part of its ongoing investment in Cook Strait services.
The company says it will take ownership of the Stena Livia ferry from European shipping company Stena Line.
The vessel, currently operating between Germany and Latvia, is a sister ship to the Connemara , which began service on Cook Strait in 2023.
“We are familiar with the vessel type and know it is well suited to work on Cook Strait.
When we set out to find a suitable vessel replacement a few months ago,
we wanted to be able to provide more freight and passenger capacity and the Livia delivers both,” StraitNZ Chief Executive Shane McMahon said.
Launched in 2008, the Stena Livia will undergo a name change and drydock maintenance in Europe before joining the Cook Strait fleet in July.
It will replace the Strait Feronia , launched in 1997, towards the end of the year.
The new ship will increase vehicle capacity by 10 per cent and significantly boost passenger capacity through further modifications, the company said.
MUNZ critical of Gibson appeal
The Maritime Union says an appeal by former Port of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson against health and safety conviction should be dismissed.
In November 2024, the Auckland District Court held former Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson had failed to exercise his duty of due diligence as an officer of a PCBU (Person conducting a business or undertaking) under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Industry regulator Maritime NZ laid charges against Mr Gibson after the death of a stevedore, Pala’amo Kalati, in 2020. The Union understands an appeal has been lodged.
MUNZ National Secretary Carl Findlay says the conviction of Mr Gibson was an important public recognition of the harm he had caused.
“One thing we found when Tony Gibson was in charge at the Port was that he always saw himself as right, and saw everyone else as wrong.”
“This attitude would have fatal consequences.”
He says Mr Gibson’s regime at Port of Auckland saw multiple deaths and serious injuries, sustained attacks on the workforce, and a failed automation project that cost Aucklanders hundreds of millions of dollars.
Mr Findlay says the successful recovery of the Port of Auckland since Mr Gibson’s resignation in 2021 confirm previous problems were down to poor management.
“It has taken several years to turn around the Port but we have done it.”
Mr Findlay says the recent reappointment of Tony Gibson to a board position at Marsden Maritime Holdings (MMH) in Northland is a travesty.
“There is no way Tony Gibson should have been appointed to any senior business role, let alone the Board of a maritime and port company.”
Marsden Maritime Holdings is a New Zealand Exchange-listed (NZX) company, which has a 50% stake in Northport, a marina, and significant industrial land holdings.
The Maritime Union will continue to campaign for corporate manslaughter laws and was seeking the removal of Mr Gibson from the Board of Marsden Maritime Holdings.
PICNIC DAY
The Wellington Branch Annual Picnic was held at Avalon Pavilion on Saturday 13 March. Thank you to all those that brought their families along to enjoy a day of fun activities, Zappo, face painting, games, and yummy food. Big thanks to Lynette Payne and Megan Rush Reed for organising this event, Quintin Kerr, Glen Wylie, and Paul Baggott for helping out. Hopefully, we will see more members attend next year.
A young seafarer writes
BY WILLIAM BROCKWAY
“I and many of my shipmates are forced to look overseas just to secure employment. We don’t want to leave New Zealand, but we have to just so we can work in our industry.”
Over the last few months we have all read in the news and stories online about New Zealanders moving over to Australia and elsewhere to find greener pastures.
As a young Seafarer, in a unique and essential industry, I would like to share my experience and opinions.
Sailing is a passion for me, when I was young my dad and I would be on the sailing dinghy during holidays.
Seeing his passion during the friendly sailing regattas got me hooked on the water. But the Merchant Navy is hard, if not near impossible, to get into.
There are no tertiary education places for us to go to get a foot in the door.
We are left hoping a company will offer a position for us to gain our tickets and our way into the industry.
I was lucky enough to secure this with a position on the ferries, and I knew that.
I was proud to be a sailor for our island nation. I, and many of my shipmates, saw the importance of having a strong and reliant coastal fleet.
Our nation is totally reliant on trade, domestically and internationally.
One of the cheapest and environmentally friendly ways of this is shipping.
We are a nation who suffers natural disasters from time to time.
Having a strong reliable fleet of our own ships not only allows us to have jobs but it always makes us available to be the first ones to deliver relief to regions of our country if the worst ever came.
Two years after my graduation I was approached with an opportunity to help expand our nation’s coastal shipping fleet, to lower our nations reliance on foreign flagged ships servicing our coast.
I joined one of the Maersk ships that ran from Auckland down to Lyttelton, amongst other ports in New Zealand.
This was an opportunity I jumped at, even at the risk of leaving full time employment, as I knew this was an important step forward for our industry and our country.
These ships would allow for a consistent schedule for businesses and customers to get cargo delivered around our coast.
It would also allow us to have two more ships to offer the ability to deliver relief between the two islands if Wellington harbour was struck by ‘the big one’ leaving the ferries inadequate for the job.
Regretfully this was a terrible decision, as these ships would be removed from our coast only a few months later.
I am not the only one who suffered from this, it was only a few months prior to this that Marsden Point was shut down.
Many of the people I sailed with had now been made redundant twice in one year.
Departing the ship for my time off and being told a few days later that I was not coming back was hard to understand, after leaving a secure job of five years I felt I had made a huge mistake.
My mental health took a toll from this sudden redundancy. But I was not the only one.
I would often get phone calls from shipmates who were talking about trying to retrain into other fields despite not having the funds to cover their efforts.
With mortgages to pay, families to care for and other costs to bear.
It was hard to hear that people who taught me so much, were thinking about throwing in the towel.
Especially as it was an industry that they had given so much to, often it was their whole working lives.
I myself was very fortunate enough to secure a few weeks relieving on other ships later in the year, but it was always at the mercy of my phone ringing to secure another week or two of pay.
Our industry is very small, we have a small number of ships on our coast.
In the past we had a strong fleet of ships serving not only our coast but, foreign countries to ensure a constant and sustainable economic trade.
Many of my older shipmates have passed on stories of the ‘good old days’.
If you lost your job one day you could be on the corner the following morning and have a job that afternoon.
They have mentioned that over time that has slowly but surely changed, if you lose your job now you could be waiting a few months at best to get back up the gangway.
Nowadays we are relying on multibillion dollar companies who operate Flag of Convenience ships to service our shores.
These are low waged, low safety standard, and dangerous vessels for workers.
These are flagged in countries with low to no minimum safety standard.
If one of their crew members were to stand up to complain about the basic issues they would be off in the next port, sent home, and often not employed ever again.
These companies chase money, it was shown post COVID when we were often skipped off their usual run.
I wonder if they would stay to support us if we needed them during a dark time, they might for a highly exaggerated price.
I was proud to be a seafarer for my country and to give everything I had to support our industry.
Seafarers work long hours under tough conditions, we do it not just because it’s our job but as it’s our duty as seafarers.
During the pandemic we sailed, I remember a truck driver I met during a midnight crossing while I was on the ferries.
He was delivering PPE down to the South Island. We were literally in the same boat, working hard jobs during a terrifying time while our families were the only ones who understood the sacrifice we were both making to benefit our country.
Regretfully after being unemployed for so long and refusing to give up my passion, I am forced to find better opportunities elsewhere.
I feel envious of my friends in other fields who choose to move for better money and better conditions because they can.
I and many of my shipmates are forced to look overseas just to secure employment. We don’t want to leave New Zealand, but we have to just so we can work in our industry.
Our industry is under threat, we have received very little support from government, current and in the past.
We are the backbone of a society that refuses to look after us, or even just acknowledge us.
If we as seafarers downed tools, not only here but globally, society would cripple within a week.
The blockage of Suez Canal for example, only 12% of global shipping traffic goes through it but it hit global headlines throughout the world.
It is time that we as a nation start investing in our people. That we give myself and other young people a reason to stay here.
I am unfortunately forced into moving so I can remain in my industry.
But I have compassion and understanding for nurses, police, tradies, teachers and so so many more who choose to move because they can’t take the low unappreciative wages and conditions anymore.
Our governments have turned their back on the working people for too long. It is no wonder we are moving elsewhere. In solidarity for all those who are struggling.
The Maersk Nansha was taken off the New Zealand coast along with the Maersk Nandi in 2023 after less than a year in operation, leading to serious job losses for New Zealand seafarers
NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024
BY PAUL BAGGOTT VICE PRESIDENT WELLINGTON BRANCH
In November last year, Lynnette Payne and I were given the opportunity to attend the 2024 Labour Party Conference in Christchurch as observers representing MUNZ Wellington Branch.
AFFILIATED UNIONS SECTOR
Friday 28 November began for us at 10am with an Affiliated Unions Sector meeting with informative speeches from several MPs, including Willie Jackson, Barbara Edmonds and Chris Hipkins.
They conveyed a strong understanding of the need to engage with Unions especially in the wake of the damage this Coalition Government is doing to workers rights and with all the jobs losses from the devastating cuts.
In the question and answer session several MUNZ members including me asked questions concerning the Ferries and Coastal shipping, including the need to repeal Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act.
The MPs that we talked to were certainly positive about coastal shipping and understood our concerns about section 198.
SAVE OUR PORT RALLY
MUNZ National Women’s Rep Annie McCauley was inside the meeting and remained in constant phone contact informing us of the proceedings.
She said that we could be seen, and our chants heard by the meeting and it was having an effect on the Board members.
As Annie updated us on the progress, we were able to adjust our chants to ramp up the pressure.
The end result was a success with CCHL opting not to privatize the Port.
This was a good example of how a well-planned and coordinated protest can have an effect on a decision.
the approach of Finance Minister Nicola Willis as “selfish economic vandalism.”
She stated focus of the next Labour government will be on hospitals, rail enabled ferries, and fair pay agreements with entitlements to those who need it the most.
These were realistic achievable and affordable plans to provide in 2026. Another standing ovation.
LABOUR PARTY BUSINESS, CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS AND POLICY
The rest of the day was spent in Labour Party housekeeping, making changes to the constitution, deciding on policies, and in house elections.
Saturday
The afternoon was spent at a protest rally organized by MUNZ and the RMTU outside the Christchurch City Holdings Ltd (CCHL) AGM in the Christchurch Town Hall, to protest CCHL’s plans to privatize or contract out the Port of Lyttelton.
CCHL is the business arm of the Christchurch City Council, which is the ultimate owner of the Port.
After a period of roadside banner waving and chanting we split into two groups.
One group were allowed to enter the AGM and the rest of us stayed outside chanting and displaying placards.
29 November featured an interesting review of the history of the trade union movement with the Labour Party by the CTU.
Willie Jackson spoke for the Māori Caucus.
Willie, as always, was a rousing intelligent speaker. He stated Te Tiriti is part of us. “This is not a Māori issue it is a New Zealand issue and a justice issue.” “Not today, David, not tomorrow Winston, not ever Christopher Luxon!”
Needless to say, it was a standing ovation for Willie.
Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds gave a speech and described
For the Labour Party New Zealand Council elections, Holly only missed election as Women’s Vice President by six votes.
One of the big issues is whether to have a Capital Gains Tax or a Wealth Tax or some form of both?
It was decided that the policy council needed to do more work on the issue before the next conference.
But the mood in the room was there must be some form of higher wealth Taxation in the next Labour Government.
Sunday 1 December began at 9am with an address by Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni.
This was followed by more Party business.
LEADER’S ADDRESS
At 2pm Chris Hipkins gave the Leader’s Address.
Chippy gave a rousing speech with a lot of inspiration from the announcements made.
• Under a Labour Government New Zealand would not be joining the AUKUS military alliance.
• Labour is planning to review our taxation system to make it fairer.
• There would be reversals of many of the appalling policies of the ‘Coalition of Chaos’ including a revision of gun laws, revisiting fossil fuels, and sustainability.
• Reinstating Smoke Free NZ and cancel tax breaks to the tobacco companies.
• Rebuild hospitals and fully rebuild Dunedin Hospital as promised.
• Have publicly owned rail enabled interisland ferries (this was very popular with the crowd) and investment in public transport, sensible roading projects and a robust reliable national rail network.
• To continue the job training and focus on rebuilding and expanding schools.
There was an assurance that no policies will be made that haven’t been properly researched and proven to be deliverable.
This ended with a very enthusiastic standing ovation, and left us with a sense that Labour is rebuilding and in good shape to take on this Government in the 2026 election.
Unfortunately, Chippy’s speech didn’t include Coastal Shipping, but from the many conversations I had with key MPs, it is certainly on their agenda.
They all also know of the need to repeal Section 198, so the lobbying done by MUNZ in the Coastal Shipping campaign is having an impact.
We just need to keep up the pressure any chance we get.
I want to thank MUNZ National office, MUNZ Lyttelton Branch for putting us up in their lovely Union accommodation, and particularly Annie McCauley who picked us up from the airport and acted as our chauffeur and tour guide for our stay.
We were able to meet and get to know many MUNZ members from other branches and enjoy hospitality with them.
Also thank you to the Wellington Branch and Branch Secretary Fiona Mansell for sending us and organising flights and accommodation.
LYTTELTON PORT JOB CUTS WILL COST LIVES, WORKERS WARN
A proposal to cut jobs at Lyttelton Port will result in more deaths, port workers warn.
However, the Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) says the proposed changes are about “enhancing operations and ensuring the safety and well-being” of its staff.
In an unusual move, foreperson stevedore Gerard Loader took workers’ concerns to the Christchurch City Council on Wednesday 5 March, asking it to intervene. The council owns 100% of LPC.
Workers were presented with a proposal from LPC late last week, which seeks to disestablish 35 positions, and create 21 new ones.
However, LPC said there are 20 vacancies in the container terminal and affected employees could be redeployed into those positions or apply for the 21 new ones.
Workers were told the move would save $3.9 million, Loader said.
Loader, the Maritime Union of New Zealand Lyttelton branch president, told councillors the proposal comes under the guise of health and safety, but he believed it would result in more deaths at the port.
He said the model that LPC wanted to create was the same that Auckland Port operated under when father-of-seven Pala’amo Kalati died in August 2020.
“This has kept me awake at night, as I know that this proposal will result in another death in the port because a foreperson will not be present.
“This is something I don’t really know if I will cope with as I have witnessed enough death on the job as it is, and I know that a foreperson being present will ensure we never have to experience this again.”
Loader has worked at the port for 14 years and his role, as well as 24 other foreperson stevedores, was proposed to be disestablished.
Health and safety was their core role, he said.
The main responsibility of a foreperson stevedore was to ensure that every person who entered the port, be it cargo handlers, foreign crews, contractors and truck drivers leave the port alive and in one piece, Loader said.
Stevedoring was such a dangerous occupation that it came second only to forestry in injuries and second only to mining for deaths on the job after the Pike River disaster, he said.
“In fact, you have more chance of being seriously maimed or killed on a wharf in New Zealand than you would if you joined any of our armed forces.”
There have been six deaths during Loader’s time at the port and two affected him deeply as they were friends.
However, none of those deaths happened under the supervision of a foreperson, which was something Loader said he was proud of and wished to continue.
Loader, who was supported by fellow employees and union staff at the meeting, asked the council to instruct LPC through its investment arm Christchurch City Holdings Ltd to honour the council’s letter of expectation by inviting both unions to the table to come up with a solution that worked for everyone.
“Finally, I ask, who will be held to account when a death does occur?”
LPC has 637 permanent staff and 26 casual employees.
MAY DAY
May Day – International Workers Day 2025
May Day is a global day of defiance, a shout of solidarity from the working class!
Every year on 1 May, workers around the world remember the battles fought for our basic rights.
Across the world, May Day is a day for workers to take to the streets and to show our collective power to resist and overcome ongoing injustices.
We use May Day to promote our demands of fair wages, safe conditions, and a life free from exploitation.
May Day is the beating heart of the labour movement.
It’s not just history, it’s a living call to arms.
On May Day we remember the past, celebrate victories, and, most importantly, to organize for the struggle ahead.
May Day is a reminder that the rights we have were not gifts from employers.
They were fought for and won by those who came before us.
Now we have an obligation to protect and advance these rights for those who come after us.
Origins of May Day
The fight for May Day was forged in the fire of the 1886 Haymarket Massacre in Chicago.
On May 1st, 400,000 US workers, mostly in Chicago, demanded an eight-hour workday.
In those times, 16-hour days in deadly conditions were the norm. The bosses and their police were determined to keep it that way.
When police murdered unarmed strikers on May 3rd, a protest the next day in Haymarket Square was bombed, leading to more violence and deaths on both sides.
This wasn’t just a riot, it was a brutal crackdown on workers.
In 1889, the socialist and union movements declared May 1st a day to remember Haymarket and to continue the fight for working class rights with a global day of action.
Thursday 1 May 2025
Seamen’s Union members and supporters march in Wellington during the 1913 Strike
Fiona
Gerard
Ramesh Pathmanathan
ramesh@munz.org.nz
Albert Williams 021 973561 Senior Admin Support albert.williams@munz.org.nz
Grahame MacLaren 021 2921782 ITF Inspector mclaren_grahame@itf.org.uk
Graham McKean 021 960 194 Organizer graham.mckean@munz.org.nz Victor Billot
479 1786 Communications Officer victor.billot@munz.org.nz
