VOLUME 17 — JUNE 2022
The Maritime Worker NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON BRANCH OF THE MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND
STRAITNZ FERRIES:
$1000 BONUSES PAID TO NON-UNION LABOUR StraitNZ paid their employees on Individual Employment Contract (IEA, non-union) a $1000 bonus, while MUNZ members never received anything. Obviously this is unacceptable and we immediately took issue with the company. StraitNZ’s initial correspondence was sent out by text to those on the IEA’s: That the staff on an IEA who made a good contribution to the business and their hard work over what has been a challenging time, will receive an additional one-time payment of $1,000 (pre-tax) in their next pay cycle. The above point is what prompted me to write to StraitNZ management. I stated that our members also worked through the same challenging times, just like those who received the bonus payments. I also reminded them that in the first COVID lock down of 2020, our members took a pay cut equivalent to 20%, and against this unions will and to our disgust StraitNZ even sacked some of our on-board Hospitality crew. StraitNZ wrote back with a different response from the first which was: Through recent negotiations, we have passed benefits on to employees in CEA’s through superior wage/salary increases, so we just see it as a different payment mechanic, and it’s not the intention at all to advantage one group over the other. As a result of this, I organised a meeting with StraitNZ with which was held in my office, myself, Fiona Mansell, Will Dady, and Clive Glover. This was so that StraitNZ could clarify their rationale and their position on why MUNZ members never received the $1000 bonus payment. The response from StraitNZ went around in circles and didn’t really address the bonus payment, rather than them trying to explain the payment mechanic and, they reiterated the point
that their staff on an IEA were not remunerated in the same way those MUNZ members covered by the CEA. I begged to differ with them, I stated that your staff who have elected to opt for an IEA have negotiated all their terms and conditions with StraitNZ, therefore, they should be very happy with what they have negotiated, their response was, well no, not really. We couldn’t believe what their response was to my comments. I also stated it’s not right for this union having to explain to all our disgruntled members why they missed out on the bonus payment, and that StraitNZ should bring out a memo to all employees stating why these payments were made, which I thought they may do. As a result of our meeting, a third letter came from StraitNZ, now explaining a third version of events as to why they
paid the bonus payments to non-union members. This is probably why they never brought out a memo to all staff outlining their reasons for the payments, Approximately 335 of StraitNZ’s 475 full time staff are employed on IEAs. For these workers, any “… review of improvements [of ] terms and conditions including remuneration… ” is undertaken at the end of the financial year, when the company’s performance for the year becomes known. (11 April 2022) So, with now a third letter from StraitNZ, I thought it prudent to involve our lawyer to try and have them answer our concerns. Our lawyer still awaits a formal response from StraitNZ.