Maritime Worker June 2024

The Maritime Worker Te Whanganui-a-Tara

NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON BRANCH OF THE MARITIME

LARRY STILLS RETIREMENT

CONTRIBUTED BY B CREW KAIARAHI

A phone rings, and on the other end a voice says:

“If you want to go to Sea, get to the Inter-Island Terminal and join the Ship tomorrow”. Thus, life at Sea for Rex Lawrence Stills began, signing ship’s articles as Deck Boy on the Aramoana in 1967. Larry has had continuous sea service ever since. Over the last 57 years, many of us Seafarers have enjoyed sailing with Larry.

He has a generous nature, a friendly manner and a genuine concern for the welfare of his shipmates. He has been a great shipmate and a wonderful friend to us all.

In every dispute and struggle the Union has had during his time at sea Larry has been at the forefront with his courage and support. A regular attendee of Stop Work Meetings, and a font of knowledge regarding conditions and wages on the Rail ferries. He recently gifted to the Wellington Branch of the Union every Award and Collective since 1967. Now in his retirement, we all wish Larry a happy, prosperous and restful time of his life. We will miss him, but he leaves us a great legacy and something to look back on fondly.

MESSAGE FROM TONY MOWBRAY #1154 FORMER WELLINGTON BRANCH PRES.

Given the fact that at the time there was much discussion over certain issues that arose during the March SWM, I am squarely responsible for forgetting to mention the fact that one of our ‘long standing’ members is finally retiring.

Wellington Branch members promoting New Zealand coastal shipping and meeting with Labour MP Kieran McAnulty at Parliament, Friday 17 November 2023

We wish him “Fair Winds and Following Seas”

Good luck Larry from all your shipmates.

If any group deserves a special mention it is certainly our older members who have given so much to the industry so that we can continue to enjoy what we have today.

In saying that I would, on behalf of the Branch, like to thank Larry Stills for his continued loyalty and a working life’s contribution to the industry.

I am sorry for this oversight Larry so please accept this token of thanks even though it should have been done at the meeting. Enjoy your retirement and all the best for your future.

In Unity, Tony Mowbray

VON HENNINGS RETIREMENT

Photos from Larry and Von’s Retirement Party

Message from Tony Mowbray

Members,

As you are all by now probably aware I am standing down as Branch President effective from 26 April 2024. I would like to thank all the membership who have supported me in the role and I can assure you I will continue to remain active in pursuing the needs and rights of the Seafarer that are bound to be numerous given the current Right wing government agendas. Thanks again.

In Unity

Tony Mowbray #1154

JACK THOMASON RETIREMENT

Monday 10 June 2024

Happy retirement to Jack Thomason

FIONA MANSELL SECRETARY/TREASURER WELLINGTON BRANCH

WELLINGTON REPORT

KiwiRail –InterIslander Line

Aratere Lay-by period 11 May – 23 May

Kaiarahi Lay-by period 4 June – 5 July

Kaitaki Drydock 29 July – 6 October

OBS Meeting

This was scheduled for 24 April, several issues have been raised and discussed. It would be great if this forum continues on. This is the first time OBS has met with senior management on a regular basis to discuss and resolve issues.

Dry Dock Meeting

This was scheduled for 19 April instead.

Retirements

Larry Stills, Von Hennings, Jack Thomason, John Shaw, Paul McLaughlin, George Williams, Michael Mullins (Mad Dog), Pat Martin, Shane Shore, Kaue Vaha.

To all of you who have retired, I wish you all the best!

Offshore Oil & Gas

PSV MMA Vision is now in drydock, currently sorting through issues with the employer regarding a night watchman and crew not having working facilities in their cabins.

The crew were expected to use a toilet block/portaloo outside of their cabins.

NIWA

Wage rounds 2024 I believe this is finally finished and signed off. Thanks to Jim.

Interport Sports Tournament 2024

Bradley would like to thank all those that assisted him for the week particularly the guys from Centreport Limited who helped fundraise and cook. Also, CPL donated $3K to help with costs.

Thanks to Lynette for taking the wives out to Martinborough, Jimmy for organising the venue and catering on prize giving night and Russell Mayn for the overall organising of the event. Next Port to host is Bluff.

International Women’s Day

This event on 8 March turned out to be a great success, with Christchurch hosting. Big thanks to Annette McCauley for playing a huge part in organising the event.

There were women from Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson and Dunedin that attended which also included a mixture of unions MUNZ, RMTU, NZNO, Dairy Workers Union, all celebrating sisterhood especially those who have gone before us.

In addition to celebrating, we all donated non-perishable kai to the Christchurch City mission this is our way of giving to the locals and is something we will always do.

This will be a yearly event with the location alternating between North and South Island.

International Men’s Day

IMD is 19 November 2024.

If any of our men want to plan an event for IMD, I’ll be more than happy to support, get in touch with any of the executive committee with your ideas.

Family Picnic Day

Family Picnic Day on 23 March ad an average turn out, big thanks to those who turned up and helped out.

It’s important that we get members to come along for this to continue.

Union Training

Another successful training session, our seafaring members are extremely keen to learn about employment relations. There were 8 members at the Wellington Branch on Thursday 4 April with a second session to follow.

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.

Resignations

Craig Harrison has stepped down from his position as National Secretary. Carl Findlay has been elected as new National Secretary at the May 2024 National Council meeting, with national elections to be held at the end of this year for the four national official positions.

Tony Mowbray has resigned from Wellington Branch President.

Branch Vice President Marian Lesslie will fill in until the next elections.

Wellington Database

This is a work in progress as I continue with the transition period.

Wellington Branch Elections

Huge thanks to Returning Officer Mick Williams and his son Albert for their hard work during the process.

I believe a new process is in the pipeline for the next election. This has to change to get a higher return rate.

Wellington Branch Meeting

Next SWM is scheduled for Monday 10 June, 10am–12pm, Conference Room, Level One, Waterside House, 220 Willis Street.

SWM is held every 2nd Monday of each month. Notifications for this will now be done through email/flyers through social media.

Lastly please bear with me as I navigate my way through this transition/ handover.

Thank you to Tony Mowbray

On behalf of the Wellington Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Branch of the Maritime Union, I would like to thank Tony Mowbray for his leadership and contribution as Branch President and previous to that an Executive Member and Shipboard Delegate.

Tony stood down from his position in April 2024 but is still an active branch member.

Tony has been a committed activist who has fought for members with a special focus on coastal shipping and rebuilding New Zealand’s seafaring industry, pushing the issue along with the Union movement and politicians.

Thank you Tony, for your time and effort dedicated to your fellow workers.

PEOPLE OVER PROFITS –STOP THE CUTS

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-a-Tara to hit the streets and rally together Saturday 8th June to say NO to the cuts, and unify our voices for a future where everyone has what they need to thrive.

Through a vision for an Aotearoa that is fair and flourishing, where Te Tiriti o Waitangi is honoured properly, and for an economic system therefore that puts the wellbeing of people and our planet above corporate profit- we can unify, act, and build toward real change. Now is the time to act together.

The key kaupapa of this rally are:

Toitū Te Tiriti: Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Stop the cuts to our public services

Stop the corporate takeover of our government

What: Public Rally - People over Profits: Stop the Cuts!

Where: Pukeahu War Memorial (marching to Te Papa)

When: 1pm, Saturday June 8th, 2024

This rally is for everyone who wants to see our people and planet put before private profits - all welcome!

Event details and accessibility:

The rally will begin at Pukeahu War Memorial Park at 1pm. From there we will march through the city to the waterfront. The length of the march is 1.2km and is wheel chair accessible. There will be sign language interpreters for the speakers at the rally, and a livestream via the facebook event page.

This is a whānau friendly, peaceful event. Bring a flag, a banner and a friend and see you there!

This event is supported by: ActionStation, PSA - Public Services Association, The Tertiary Education Union, The Post Primary Teacher’s Association, NEZI - Te Riu Roa, FIRST Union, Unite Union, Peace Action Wellington, Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition, Disabled People Against Cuts Aotearoa, 350 Aotearoa, Public Housing Futures, Renters United, NZ Nurses Organisation, MUNZ - Maritime Union of NZ, VUWSA, Free Fares Aotearoa, the CTU, Unions Wellington, and friends.

WIMDOI 2024

A delegation of MUNZ and RMTU Women attended the 2024 WIMDOI (Women in Male Dominated Industries) Conference organized by the Australian union movement in Cairns, Queensland, May 2024

Above: Allan Harkess with trophy and Rowen Hodge, fun times in the table tennis

https://www.together.org.nz/not_one_more_open_letter

WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY

International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April is an international trade union movement that honours working people killed and injured because of their work.

Events were held throughout main centres in New Zealand including Wellington. We honour all workers, and their whanau, who have been impacted by workplace accidents, illnesses, and injuries in the last year.

Workers’ Memorial Day is also a call for protecting and improving the systems intended to keep workers safe and healthy at work.

In New Zealand, the number of workplace injuries, fatalities, and deaths from work-related health remain unacceptably high. Every week 17 workers are killed as a consequence of their work, every 15 minutes a worker suffers an injury that requires more than week off work. Every one of these incidents are preventable.

Businesses that cut corners to save costs at the expense of workers’ lives, bosses that repeatedly disregard risks that kill their employees, and directors that take unacceptable risks with workers’ lives must be held accountable.

Currently, there is no corporate manslaughter (homicide) legislation to hold companies truly accountable when their negligence leads to a person being killed at work. This is unacceptable. An effective deterrent is long overdue.

Companies have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their workers, and the lack of consequences for the persons running companies that fail to do so perpetuates a culture of negligence and disregard for human life.

Together, let’s ensure there’s Not One More.

The Maritime Union is joining other unions to support Camilla Belich’s Crimes (Corporate Homicide) Amendment Bill.

We want to see Aotearoa New Zealand become a world leader in workplace safety, joining other countries like Canada, United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Australia who have developed similar legislation to protect their workers.

INTERPORT 2024

This year it was Wellington Branch’s turn to host the annual Interport sports tournament which has been held for the past 70 years.

The Interport tournament is held between the different MUNZ branches around New Zealand swapping between North and South Island each year.

The Tournament is held on the second week of February. In the earlier years there was a lot more sport played than just the golf and fishing of today, such as tennis, football, rugby and athletics, but as the number of people working in the industry declined so did the numbers of player and the sports played.

I hope this can be reversed. If you are interested in Interport 2025 in Bluff/ Invercargill look out for the notification later this year in this magazine.

skippered by Jono and helped by deck hands Hamish and Hemi.

Our target fish was Bluenose. Steven Thompson from Lyttleton won biggest fish with runner up Richard ‘Digger’ Flintoff also from Lyttleton.

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t playing ball and the big fish weren’t biting so we did most of the fishing closer to shore catching Snapper and Tarakihi, and Crayfish from pots the crew put out each day.

On Tuesday Lynnette took the partners out on a sight seeing trip over to the Wairarapa and Martinborough for lunch and to check out a couple of wineries over there.

Top photo – Fishers at Interport 2024 from left: Goat,Harry, Munce, Vic, Brad, Will, Charlie, Chris, Len, Steve V H, Dick Davies, Steve T, Hank and Digger

The Interport started on the Sunday with a practice round of golf at the Wainuiomata Golf Club to get familiar with the grounds.

This was followed in the afternoon by the guys working for Centreport welcoming guests with a spit roast meal which they had fund raised for. A shout out to Centreport as well who helped sponsor the games.

The Golf took place over three days Monday to Wednesday followed by a fun day on Thursday. The winner of the Golf competition was the New Plymouth team winning the Kerekere canoe trophy for 2024 and the runners up was the Wellington team.

The fishing competition was held over three day Monday, Tuesday and Thursday leaving Seaview for the Wellington heads on the Seafarer 2,

On Wednesday it was too rough to go fishing, and I took some of the fishing group sightseeing around town where we checked out Southward Car Museum and Brewtown in Upper Hutt where we tried out some axe throwing before heading back to Petone Rugby club for the prize giving function and dinner.

I would like to thank the Wellington branch and all the other branches around New Zealand who host the Interport games.

Also thanks to all those who helped me organize this event or volunteered their time including Russell Mayn, Jimmy, Fee, Jason Newman, Lynnette ‘Granny’, the boys from Centreport who fundraised and Centreport Limited who helped by sponsoring this event.

I’m looking forward to next year games down in Bluff and hope to see some new faces down there. If you are interested keep an eye out for the Interport notification later this year.

BRADLEY CLIFFORD

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

WELLINGTON BRANCH

Clockwise from top left: 1. Axemen – Richard Flintoff (Digger),Chris Bal, Steven Thompson, Stephen Van Hout, Bradley Clifford and Will Willson-Hiko

2. Crew of the Seafarer 2 (Hamish ,Tane and skipper Jono)

3. Steven Thompson with prize winning catch

4. Richard Flintoff with prize winning catch

5. New Plymouth golfers winners of the Kerekere Canoe Trophy 2024

6. Wellington golfers runner up for the Kerekere Canoe Trophy

Former Port of Auckland CEO on trial for workplace death

Former Port of Auckland boss Tony Gibson failed to use his “influence, power and resource” to ensure frontline workers were kept safe before a stevedore was fatally crushed by a container, an unprecedented court case has heard.

The former Port of Auckland Limited (POAL) chief executive has gone on trial in a first- of-its-kind prosecution in New Zealand over the 2020 workplace death of 31-year-old father-of-seven Pala’amo Kalati.

Gibson, 69, faces two charges laid by Maritime NZ. It is the first time a New Zealand chief executive has been charged over a workplace fatality.

The prosecution has been brought under tough new health and safety laws introduced following the Pike River mine disaster aimed at holding senior company officers to account for exposing workers to risk of serious injury or death.

If convicted, Gibson - who resigned in 2021 following a string of deaths and serious incidents at the port - could be fined up to $400,000.

Maritime NZ prosecutors claim there were “systemic deficiencies” in terms of health and safety procedures at the port under Gibson’s watch.

They argue Gibson failed to use his “influence, power and resource” around the boardroom and executive to properly monitor those failures and ensure necessary steps were taken to keep workers safe.

It is also claimed that Gibson should have been “on notice” of the deficient safety culture following four previous health and safety prosecutions during his decade-long tenure as chief executive.

It’s alleged those convictions should have made Gibson aware of significant inadequacies in the port’s health and safety systems, and the critical need for immediate work to revise and rectify those risks.

“An officer who can influence the organisation’s health and safety performance must do all that they are reasonably able to do: the buck stops with them,” prosecutors allege.

– NZ Herald

Kōkako at CentrePort

Hinupahi

One of the Kōkako’s crews

KOKAKO

TONY MOWBRAY #1154

Members,

It was a privilege for myself, Jim King and Mick Williams to be able to represent the Wellington Branch by attending the ‘blessing’ for Wellington bunker vessel MV Kōkako while she was alongside at Aotea Quay on Tuesday 19 March.

Other guests included recently retired Local 13 Auckland Secretary Russell Mayn along with representatives from fuel companies and CentrePort.

This was an important day for our Branch as not only is the job Wellington based but it has also given employment opportunities to some of our members.

We are grateful to Kaumātua Peter Jackson of Te Ati Āwa Taranaki Whānui and sincerely thank him for conducting the service.

The last Wellington based Bunker vessel was the Hinupahi which ceased service in 1978 so to have the Kōkako commence her charter in November 2023 was certainly welcomed by the Branch.

Mick Williams, Tony Mowbray and Jim King

Kaumātua Peter Jackson

Lunch on the Kōkako

Crew members Kōkako

MAY DAY

May Day (1 May) or International Workers Day is celebrated every year around the world.

The date originally commemorate a massive general strike in the United States that began on 1 May 1886. The strike was centered in Chicago, a major industrial city.

At the time, working-class conditions had worsened, and trade unionists, socialists and anarchists join the American Federation of Labor’s call to protest long working hours, poor conditions and unemployment.

The multi-day strike that ensued turned violent on 3 May when demonstrators clashed with police, and again a day later at a meeting at Haymarket Square, where a bomb exploded and police opened fire, leading to many deaths and injuries..

Eight men were eventually placed on trial and four of them were hanged after being accused of placing the bomb, despite a lack of evidence and a global campaign on their behalf.

The International Socialist Congress, at its meeting in Paris, France, in 1889, chose 1 May as the date for an annual international day on which to remember the struggles of working people.

MUNZ attending May Day 2024 in Wellington

Top left: Mick Williams, Marian Lesslie, Paul Baggott, Megan Rush–Reed Bottom left: Alan Windsor (Scruff) and Pat Harcus Bottom right: Mick Williams speaks at May Day gig

Wellington Branch veterans social at the Bristol Hotel

Elected at National Council May 2024, MUNZ Womens Rep Annie McCauley and MUNZ Youth co-rep Maree Griffiths. The other Youth co-rep is Nathan Natano.

Top left – Members on the Takutai Chief show their support for our Cook Strait ferries

Top right – William Brockway aboard in the Timor Sea

Bottom – Members on the Takutai Chief commemorate Anzac Day 2024

The cancellation of the iRex project by the National Government has led to widespread concern about the future of our Interislander ferries. MUNZ members are making clear that any plans by the Government to sell off our ferries are not acceptable.

Top – Kaiarahi , Middle – Aratere, Bottom – Aratere.

Josh

Ray Fife 0274 475317 Assistant National Secretary ray.fife@munz.org.nz

Gerard Loader

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

479 1786 Communications Officer victor.billot@munz.org.nz