The Maritime Worker Te Whanganui-a-Tara
NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON BRANCH OF THE MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND
C3 WAINGAWA MASTERTON BRANCH TO CLOSE
BY FIONA MANSELL SECRETARY/TREASURER WELLINGTON BRANCH
On 6 June 2024, MUNZ members and employees at C3 Waingawa were given a proposal to fully close the branch.
However, despite this and the excellent work done by the workers at the site an economic return is not being achieved from the operation, due to irregular and declining volume.
C3 has been unable to identify other measures that would support the continuation of operations in Waingawa without generating unsustainable losses with no chance of recovery.
Wellington Branch members promoting New Zealand coastal shipping and meeting with Labour MP Kieran McAnulty at Parliament, Friday 17 November 2023
SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION
C3 is the exclusive inland log scaling and marshalling service provider at Waingawa (Masterton). The main log yard is leased by C3’s customers, however it is owned and developed by Centreport.
The Waingawa rail volume is sent direct to Centreport, Wellington.
Over the past 24 months C3 has collaborated with the stakeholders to improve the commercial viability of the operation.
Customers have confirmed they cannot afford to pay higher rates as rail is already notably more expensive than road.
In 2024 volumes have further declined and one of the major forestry estates has now been sold. It is possible this parcel of volume will now be delivered to Centreport by road rather than rail. Even if this parcel of volume continued by rail volumes are still insufficient.
Furthermore, to make the situation more dire, C3’s agreement with the main customer Log Distribution Ltd expired on 31 May 2024.
There simply is not sufficient volume, and customers do not support a continued service.
PROPOSAL
If confirmed the proposal would mean full closure of the branch effective on or around 26 July.
Following the consultation the only two outcomes were to be considered:
• Internal Redeployment
• Redundancy
Continued next page
Our members produced several suggestions such as dropping down to a skeleton crew, using the site as an out of port base.
The company looked into these ideas however the hard answer was no. It was all unsustainable if the customers were not prepared to commit. To make matters more difficult for some of them, the company hired fresh staff only a few months before this proposal.
UPDATE
A new date has been set for the closing of Waingawa, this is now scheduled for 30 August.
All the workers have received redundancy notices, most if not all will work right up until closing date.
There have been two or three offers. We can only hope that whoever takes over the lease will:
1. Keep the current workers on.
2. Staff remain MUNZ members.
FINAL WORDS
This is such a sad situation for our members, most have young children, or about to, have just brought homes, have been there for a long time, and now have to figure out next steps for themselves and their whanau.
November 2021 a month into my role as Assistant Secretary I took my first trip over to meet several of these members. They instantly made me feel welcome and at home in their workplace, before telling me all the problems they were dealing with.
I sat and listened, for a few years they were wanting a shower that was promised to them to be installed, a decent place to dry their PPE gear.
In a matter of months we got the shower sorted, a new place to dry their PPE, not the best option but was better than the original place.
Recently one of the workers built a drying shed for their PPE. A great win because that is what mattered to them.
Mid last year about 11–12 workers that were on Individual Contracts finally had enough of fighting on their own.
A meeting was called which I attended we discussed the benefits of joining MUNZ, by the end of the meeting they became MUNZ Members and within a couple days it got out to those who didn’t attend that the union was their only hope.
They too signed up, after signing the site became a fully unionised workplace.
Just by them signing they got new payrates, back pay (although extremely delayed), an availability rate, better terms and conditions.
Some of these people were still on minimum wage, the power of joining a union!
The mahi I have done with C3 Masterton has been an exciting, challenging and rewarding journey, I have learned a lot by taking the time to sit and listen to them.
On behalf of the Wellington Branch, we wish you all the best for your future endeavours! Kia Kaha!
Front page and above – MUNZ members at C3 Masterton
FIONA MANSELL SECRETARY/TREASURER
WELLINGTON BRANCH
WELLINGTON REPORT
Aratere
On Friday 21 June, Aratere ran aground. Investigations taking place, the ship is still in Picton. Interviews conducted with crew, Hazel Armstrong on standby to support MUNZ crew that were on lookout. Information changes daily.
Kaiarahi
Back in service, modifications to passenger areas and several repairs getting done. Modifications to the timetable and crew roster. Second MOU signed.
Transformation Process Meeting
Waiting for more follow up meetings, a lot of information going around regarding redundancies, privatisation, new ships etc. nothing in writing yet.
Restructuring at Head Office
Affecting Finance, Learning and Development, Recruitment, Strategy and Sustainability, Zero Harm (renaming to Safety, Health and Wellbeing), approximately 40 jobs will be affected. Going through the Consultation phase.
Strait Shipping
While travelling on both the Feronia and Connemara recently it has become apparent that there are several issues going on with calculations of sick leave, public holidays and having to use annual leave to attend STCW and PISC courses.
These are Employment issues we will need to address.
Qube
Proposal to Restructure Stevedoring and Marshalling Loadout
On 21 May, the business proposed to reduce the current pool of employees on annualized hours by up to 10 positions.
This meant the business would be open to voluntary redundancies from employees affected by the restructure. If this was not achieved, then the business would undertake a fair selection process. Any employee not successful would have their positions disestablished. Due to an increasingly unstable log market, there has been a significant drop in volume which has impacted service levels.
Update – Not one MUNZ member was affected by this proposal.
Seafarers Day
This was celebrated on 25 June. Thanks to those who have sent in pics, we are seeking permission to send them into ITF for a photo competition.
Maritime Worker Newsletter
We will still be running this however with the transition/handover with Jimmy at this stage it has been a bit delayed. Anyone with stories/reports send to my MUNZ email address.
Stopwork Meeting
Scheduled for Monday 9 September, same time, same place and probably the same people.
MUNZ crew members aboard Strait Shipping’s Connemara
MUNZ members at Bluebridge with MUNZ Nelson officials Holly Payne and Deane Hogg (left) and Labour MP Arena Williams (second from right)
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
MARIAN LESSLIE #918 PRESIDENT WELLINGTON BRANCH
It’s been a busy few months at the branch. The Aratere incident is the main one that jumps out.
I was down in Picton on the Kaiarahi in wet dock when Aratere ran aground.
I was asked by Nelson Branch Secretary Holly Payne if I would be able to meet her and go and see the crew when they come off to make sure that they were OK and if there was anything that they needed. Esther the ACSM from Kaiarahi joined us too.
We made sure that crew were able to get back to Wellington and had transport to get them home as we didn’t want the crew driving after been stuck on board for so long and without any real rest.
We also made sure that there was food available for the crew and really made it clear that we had come along to be there for them.
There was a lot of work being done behind the scenes by Fiona and Holly while we looked after the crew.
Apart from all that we had to try and keep the crew away from the media as they were waiting there when they come off the ship.
I’m extremely proud of the crew on board they did themselves proud and can hold their heads high I have talked to a truck driver who was on board and said he couldn’t fault the crew in how they were looked after and treated.
We also kept in touch with the crew to make sure all was OK.
Kaiarahi had a 6 week drydock down in Picton where work was being done in the engine room to replace the generator damage, work on deck, work in crew cabins also replacing damaged decking in galley and food court.
There were same challenges to work though while there. With over 100 people to feed at lunch some days and around 50/60 for other meals with water and power going off which made things interesting.
We have also been busy going on board all the Interislander and Strait vessels to catch up with crews to see how things are going for them.
We have had crew come and talk to us about issues or enquiries that they wanted some answers. Overall, it’s been a good outcome for all involved.
I also went with Fiona to meet with the workers from C3 Masterton Port. It was unfortunately a sad visit and discussion as the site is going to shut down.
Not something that is nice to deal with and not great for all involved in that Port.
Other areas that I have been involved:
• May Day 1 May with others from the Wellington branch.
• Attended the WIMDOI (Women in Male Dominated Occupations and Industries) conference in Cairns. This was amazing with 250 delegates from all work sites. Some of the content was quite confronting and hard to take on. WIMDOI is an important affirmative action initiative for women which seeks to:
• Empower us as individuals, unionists and as workers.
• Improve our access to and retention in, better paid fulfilling and safer work.
• Strengthen our unions and the labour movement
• Assist us to collectively continue to successfully pursue our aims and objectives.
We have also attended a few meetings with KiwiRail. This is obviously on-going and at times can be painful.
There is a lot of work to do around the cancellation of the new ships and where to next.
It’s also important to note that Swire is removing the Takutai Chief from her coastal run. This is another blow for our union with the loss of jobs.
We need to have a reliable coastal shipping service in New Zealand to ensure freight is moving around NZ and that our members are employed on them.
12 August Monday 9 September Monday 7 October Monday 4 November Monday 9 December
Time: 10–12pm
PEOPLE OVER PROFITS –STOP THE CUTS
PAUL BAGGOTT #4136
WELLINGTON BRANCH EXECUTIVE
In May this year MUNZ was contacted by a protest group called ACTION STATION who together with the NZCTU and trade unions were planning to hold protest rallies and street marchs in Wellington.
The theme of the protest PEOPLE OVER PROFITS STOP THE CUTS was targeted at the Government for its “Thousands of job losses. Rolling attacks on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. No-cause evictions and selling off public housing. Cuts to our public transport, health and education.”
“It is clear – this government has waged economic war on everyday people in Aotearoa.
Their approach isn’t new. Taking from our collective pool to line the pockets of private interests is a tried-and-true method of moving resources away from our communities and forcing more and more of the basics of life into businesses to be profited from.
It puts profits over people, and our living world. For what? We are calling on communities based in Te Whānganui-aTara to hit the streets and rally together Saturday 8 June to say NO to the cuts and unify our voices for a future where everyone has what they need to thrive”.
MUNZ joined this movement at the planning stage. I attended the initial meeting and several on-line Teams meetings to plan the event.
As it was the first of possibly many more protests, it was decided to start with a rally at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, with speeches and music by our old friends the Brass Razoo Solidarity Band. Followed by a march down Tory Street to the forecourt of Te Papa for some more speeches.
Luckily Saturday 8 June was warm and sunny and over a thousand protesters took part.
MUNZ had a small group from the Wellington Branch with a Union Banner and several former MUNZ Members were also here.
After a round of rousing speeches and a practice of the protest chants, we were off down Tory St, in a noisy march that filled the width of the road and was longer than a city block, accompanied by music of a couple of other bands marching with us and our chants, we certainly made our presence felt and heard.
At Te Papa there were more speeches and songs before the protest dispersed. This is the first of many protests as the negative effects of this Neoliberal Coalition of Chaos Government bite deeper.
Future Protests may include marches the through the streets of Wellington to Parliament.
If you are dissatisfied or have been negatively affected by this Governments actions, please look out for more protests and join us! Make your voice heard.
The loss of a New Zealand operated coastal freighter and 16 MUNZ seafarer jobs due to the economic downturn threatens the viability and resilience of our supply chain. This comes to a total of 40 job losses over both crews when including Officers and Engineers.
Swire Shipping, the owners of Pacifica Shipping, have advised its second New Zealand coastal freighter Takutai Chief will be removed from service soon after a downturn in trade.
Mr Findlay says the Union accepts the reasons given for the decision, including current poor economic conditions and service changes by international lines reducing feeder volumes.
“Nonetheless, this is a major blow to New Zealand shipping and our maritime workforce, and reduces the resilience and future security of our supply chain.”
Mr Findlay says Pacifica has shown an ongoing commitment to New Zealand coastal shipping.
He says coastal shipping offers a low emission transport mode, and reduces congestion and wear on roads.
The situation reflect a larger crisis within the New Zealand maritime industry where there is a lack of stability due to failure in strategic policy, he says.
Mr Findlay says the dependence of New Zealand on overseas shipping was a major problem during COVID with serious disruptions when overseas shipping calls were delayed or dropped.
He says skilled New Zealand seafarers will leave the industry for opportunities in Australia, with an ageing workforce seeing a large number of seafarers retiring in the near future.
Mr Findlay says the uncertainty around the future of Interislander ferries is another aspect of the ongoing crisis in New Zealand shipping.
“Despite being a maritime trading nation, New Zealand has no clear strategy for a sustainable shipping industry, which leaves us exposed and vulnerable in a volatile global market.”
“New Zealand needs to build its coastal shipping capacity, with New Zealand owned, operated and crewed ships.”
Pacifica Shipping is an operating division of Swire Shipping (N.Z) Limited.
LOSS OF TAKUTAI CHIEF UNDERMINES NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING AND SUPPLY CHAIN
with a timely message. If we lose NZ coastal shipping, we lose supply chain resilience, a skilled maritime workforce, and a low emission transport mode #CoastalShipping #bluehighway #maritime #seafarers (Photo supplied by Tony Mowbray)
Crew of the Takutai Chief
FERRY DEBACLE PROMISES AN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL STORM
BY CARL FINDLAY
NATIONAL SECRETARY
MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND
“The Government’s reckless decision to cancel the iRex ferries is turning into a billion dollar debacle.”
Ever seen someone lose a billion dollars on a single roll of the dice?
We’re about to see just that as the chickens come home to roost on the Finance Minister’s reckless decision to cancel the iRex ferries. A single decision that was made literally days before South Korean shipbuilders were about to cut the steel for the ships’ hulls.
Industry consensus is that the break fee on the 2021 fixed price contract for two ferries fitted out for optimal use for Cook Strait is likely to approach a half a billion dollars NZ.
Anyone wondering why it would cost almost as much to break this contract as to actually build the ferries just needs to imagine what would happen if they pulled out of a deal to build a house just as the foundations had been laid, the materials and equipment had been purchased and put on site and the agreements with the subcontractors had been struck.
That cancellation fee will come on top of more than half a billion dollars of sunk cost in the project so far – money anyone who has passed through Wellington or Picton recently will have seen being spent on reclaiming land and upgrading infrastructure ahead of the new ferries’ arrival.
That’s a billion dollars, give or take, of taxpayer’s money for nothing but dust. I’ve not seen a single business decision by any minister cost New Zealand more than that. Ever.
Perhaps the worst part of this situation is that, even after the misguided decision to scrap iRex, there was a brief opportunity to come out of this okay by building the boats at the 2021 price and then selling them on.
Maybe even changing some of the build specs to make them an even more attractive purchase.
Not that they would have been hard to sell. Since the fixed-price deal was struck three years ago, the rest of the world has come out of recession and is buying ships again to meet rapidly increasing sea-freight demand.
Alongside post-covid construction inflation, that’s seen the cost of building ships reach a 16 year peak.
Building at 2021 prices and selling in this market could have got our money back plus much more to help pay for whatever “Plan B” the government had for this critical infrastructure.
But for some reason that is economically, politically, and commercially unfathomable, the Finance Minister said “no”.
Unfortunately, throwing a billion dollars of New Zealanders’ money on the bonfire is only the beginning of this fiscal fiasco. We still need to replace the current ferries by 2029 and that’s going to cost up to twice the price of the iRex ferries.
And it gets even worse. The government wants to try to cut costs by buying ferries that have no rail capability. The implications of this for our economy and our freight market are far reaching and range from longer loading times and thus reduced capacity across the strait, to eliminating rail’s competitive advantage in the market –and potentially KiwiRail’s viability as a competitive nationwide freight company altogether.
Figures we’ve worked up show that just the cost of double-handling a container at each end of the strait rather than rolling it straight onto and off of a rail-enabled ferry will add $150 to $200 per container.
Kiwi businesses will be paying millions of dollars a year more to move rail freight between the islands. This is an additional cost that would be locked in for a generation. We don’t buy new ferries often.
And if rail can’t survive being hobbled like this, nobody seems to know what the cost of removing an entire mode of freight transport from the domestic market will be to freight customers and our economy.
It would probably make sense to model that economic scenario before cutting rail from the strait.
I’m sure that the many New Zealand businesses that rely on domestic freight, rail or otherwise, would appreciate at least that small amount of due diligence and forewarning.
If they are pressed on the issue, the government will tell you that the iRex ferries were too big and that caused the landside infrastructure costs to blow out. But here’s the thing.
The majority of any landside savings that would come with their advised preferred option (said to be two E-Flexer class ships from Sweden-based multinational Stena Line) won’t come from having smaller ships.
The smallest version of the E-Flexer is 7% longer than our current largest ferry, the Kaitiki, and has more than 50% greater tonnage. In fact, the smallest E-Flexers are only marginally smaller (and, in the 2024 market, likely to cost more) than the so called “mega” ferries the government has been deriding as too big and too expensive – they’ll still need new wharves.
The only land-side ‘savings’ with E-Flexers would mostly be the result of getting rid of rail capability and so not having to upgrade the rail infrastructure at Wellington and Picton terminals.
We estimate those savings are likely to be in the low hundreds of millions of dollars.
A lot of money but still far less that is likely to be lost on the cancellation of iRex, and only a small portion of what will need to be spent on our ageing terminals regardless of what kind of ferries end up using them.
And to reiterate: any saving on removing rail capability will come at the expense of higher freight costs for New Zealand businesses and our economy and the risk of making our domestic freight market significantly less competitive.
Just to break the iRex contract the government is about to spend the equivalent of building several new regional hospitals, or many times the cost of giving police a decent pay rise and increasing frontline staff, or of fixing all of our leaking and mould ridden school buildings.
For this huge outlay they will be getting literally nothing.
Talk in the industry is that the Government’s plan is for a Private Public Partnership (PPP) via a Schedule 4A company – probably in partnership with Stena Line and probably including some kind of ship-leasing and private operation arrangement.
This is likely the only way the government could claim to have shifted some of the immense cost of this decision off their books.
Or at least muddy the political waters by pushing it out for future taxpayers and freight customers to deal with.
If we negotiate a PPP with that political motivation we will be the price-takers.
Even if the Finance Minister can get coalition partners to agree to a PPP, it is not an option that works for New Zealand.
Putting a private and for-profit gatekeeper right in the middle of our national freight system will do nothing but increase costs to freight customers, see profits go offshore and end up costing New Zealand much much more than simply spending the money on publicly owned rail-capable ferries upfront.
Whatever decision is made here will affect our inter-island freight and impact our economy for decades to come.
We need this government to do better.
MV Kaitaki , Wellington Harbour – Photo credit: By Karora – Own work, Public Domain,
Maritime Union of New Zealand Oldtimers Function
Te Whanganui A Tara - Wellington Branch
• Saturday 7th December 2024
• TIME • 1600 - 2100
• Trax Bar & Cafe • Wellington Railway Station
Refreshments • Food
Food and beverages are covered by the Wellington Branch. Beverages are limited to house Beers and Wines. RTD’s, Spirits etc. will be paid for by individuals. Refreshments such as orange juice, coke, lemonade from the bar will be provided.
Contact Veterans: Mick Williams:0223098959
Lynette Payne:0273559080
Mission to Seafarers Oceania: 125th Anniversary
PAUL BAGGOTT # 4136
WELLINGTON BRANCH EXECUTIVE
This year, The Mission to Seafarers marks 125 years of continuous service to seafarers in New Zealand and Oceania.
The celebrations were held during Sea Week, 8-14 July 2024.
There were a number of events to mark the occasion. These included a Sea Sunday Service on Sunday 14 July at The Wellington Cathedral of Saint Paul.
An Open Day at the Wellington Seafarers Centre on same day gave people an opportunity to visit the Seafarers Welfare Centre.
A Wellington Maritime Exhibition was hosted at Alfred Memelink Artspace Gallery, The Esplanade, Petone, by acclaimed maritime artists Alfred Memelink and Paul Deacon, featuring historic and modern merchant shipping that has passed through the port of Wellington.
A Gala Dinner at Government House was hosted by the MTS Patron Dr Richard Davis, husband of the Governor General.
There is also a project to build a Seafarers’ Memorial outside the Wellington Cathedral of Saint Paul to memorialize the 125 years The Mission to Seafarers have been operating in New Zealand.
The Mission to Seafarers Wellington Seafarers Welfare Centre is based at CentrePort, 2 Fryatt Quay, Pipitea, and is open for all Seafarers, including crew from New Zealand ships such as Ferries and Coastal vessels.
Crewmembers are invited to come to the Seafarers Centre to relax and unwind, use the free WiFi, enjoy a cuppa tea and a biscuit, and help themselves to free magazines, books and other resources that we have available, free of charge.
It’s a nice place to go to during lay-ups when you want to get off your ship for a break but don’t want to go into town.
The Mission also offers a network of chaplains, staff and volunteers and provides practical,emotional and spiritual support through ship visits, headed by The Reverend Lance Lukin (Regional Director and Port Chaplain) and Tim Tovey (Assistant Chaplain and Ship Visitor for the Port.)
The Mission to Seafarers Wellington can be contacted at: Mobile +64 (0) 22 519 5225 Email: mtswgn@gmail.com
Working Class History: the Miners Strike Remembered
MICK WILLIAMS
MUNZ WELLINGTON VETERANS SECRETARY
When in the UK I attended the excellent Great Miners Strike Exhibition that is running in mining towns.
I was fortunate to be invited to the Bolsover exhibition at the home of the great miner and retired MP Dennis Skinner.
Hilary Cave presented MUNZ with "The Strikers story!" a DVD history of the 1984/85 UK Miners Strike.
Hilary played a great part in the strike and is author of the book "Coal not dole."
Forty years on, Hilary gave her recollections of the Miners Strike firsthand as a member of the National Union of Mineworkers headquarters staff.
Her official responsibilities as head of education vanished as she assumed all manner of organisational tasks including the organisation of mass rallies and demonstrations throughout the country.
Also 40 years on there are still demands for an inquiry into what happened during the attack on miners by Police at Orgreave near Sheffield.
This is necessary for justice for the brutal treatment of miners that day.
There needs to be accountability of police and government for their abuse of power with serious ramifications for democracy.
New Zealand Unions hosted UK miners during their strike and our union sent a container of meat to miners families, which the late Jim Woods handed over to the Doncaster miners.
The late John Jamison and I visited the miners at Doncaster to give support and I also attended the miners conference at Tenby Wales.
Proud to have been part of miners struggle!
Top: A famous photo from the Miners Strike at the Orgreave picket where a mounted policeman batons Lesley Boulton, a defenceless female photographer. The photo was captured by another photographer John Harris. Lesley Boulton escaped injury when a miner grabbed her and pulled her out of the way.
Bottom: MUNZ Wellington Veterans Rep Mick Williams with author and former NUM employee Hilary Cave at the Miners exhibition.
MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 2024
MAREE GRIFFITHS
WELLINGTON BRANCH EXECUTIVE
NATIONAL YOUTH CO-REPRESENTATIVE
In February 2024, I and 13 of my MUNZ comrades had the privilege of attending the Maritime Union of Australia’s five day Quadrennial conference in Adelaide, South Australia. I was in attendance as the Women’s Youth Representative. I’d like to thank the Wellington Branch executive and the National Council for allowing me the opportunity to attend this conference. I would also like to thank The Maritime Union of Australia for hosting this wonderful event. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
This year’s conference had the theme of ‘United and Stronger’. This theme underlined the importance of solidarity within unions and the maritime industry as a whole, emphasizing collective action and collaboration to face the challenges of the past 4 years, and the future.
Throughout the conference, various sessions focussed on strengthening the union’s position, enhancing member engagement, and addressing current industry issues.
After five days of hearing from inspirational Australian speakers, and international leaders and delegates, it was impossible to walk away without feeling united and stronger.
WOMEN IN MARITIME INDUSTRY
For me, one of the highlights was listening to MUA Assistant National Secretary Mich-Elle Myers. She delivered a compelling keynote address that captivated the audience with her insights and passion.
Her presentation focused on the importance of women in the maritime industry, and innovation in addressing the challenges facing our community.
Mich-Elle emphasized the need for proactive women leadership and the role of each individual in fostering positive change.
This is something that resonated with me. We don’t have many female leaders to look up to in our industry, so we must become those leaders for the generations to come. A quote from MichElle’s speech that has been etched into my memory – “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
For those who need some more explanation of the meaning, this quote is about how you create your own space. This idea isn’t just about physical space – it’s about the spaces we carve out in society, in conversations, and in the industries we aspire to shine in.
It’s about not waiting for an invitation but instead, stepping into our power and making our presence known.
MARITIME YOUTH
During the conference, my fellow MUNZ youth representative Nathan Natano and I were fortunate enough to get amongst the MUA youth workshop. This aimed to engage younger members in discussions about the future of the industry.
This meeting provided a platform for comrades to voice their concerns, share experiences, and propose innovative ideas for strengthening the union’s youth presence.
During this meeting the MUA youth had established either new or returning leaders of each respective state.
Nathan and I were elected as honorary members of the MUA youth committee.
I am so grateful for this opportunity for Nathan and I to be able to be a voice for MUNZ youth and continue to grow and re-establish our strong ties.
MUA MUNZ FEDERATION
On the last day of the Conference, MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin moved a resolution to establish a federation between MUA and MUNZ.
Paddy explained that a formal arrangement was the next logical step for our two unions after many decades of closely working together on workplace, safety, geopolitical and industrial challenges facing maritime workers in both countries. The resolution was passed unanimously.
We had witnessed a historical shift forwards between our unions. This was a perfect way to end the week.
In closing, the Maritime Union of Australia’s Quadrennial Conference was a resounding success, marked by five days of robust discussions, valuable networking, and collaborative problem-solving.
I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend with 500 other like minded union members from across the Tasman and all over the world.
Together, we will continue to champion the interests of our members and uphold the values of solidarity and fairness in our industry.
In unity, Maree Griffiths.
Josh
Ray Fife 0274 475317 Assistant National Secretary ray.fife@munz.org.nz
Gerard Loader 021 1286236 National Vice President gjloader@outlook.com
Ramesh Pathmanathan 021 260 4895 Office Manager 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 National Organizer graham.mckean@munz.org.nz
Victor Billot 022 479 1786 Communications Officer victor.billot@munz.org.nz