The Maritimes July/August 2003

Issue 3 • August 2003

Magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand

ISSN 1176-3418

Port Roundup Delegate training races ahead Mainland get the message from Bluff Ted Thompson: the passing of a ‘giant of the waterfront’ Women’s Conference: the changing face of the Union Holidays for casuals Interport 2004 Union Clothing Port Security

Fighting for NZ Shipping On the road with the cabotage campaign

Maritime Union making an impact throughout New Zealand

by Trevor Hanson General Secretary Our recent June joint council meeting went very successfully and we are set on course for our first conference on 21 – 23 October.

It is proposed that both of our organizations will completely merge on October 1.

This will mean the start up of two new Seafarer branches, one in Auckland and the other in Wellington.

At the same time the National office will join together all resources and finances.

If the past 12 months are a indication of the future then I am sure that our marriage will be a success.

Union elections Nominations for national positions are opening on Monday August 18 and close on Friday October 10, and elections will take place after conference.

Cabotage campaign I have been particularly impressed with the amount of work put into the cabotage campaign by a group of young Wellington Seafarers.

The campaign came together quickly from the seed of an idea to what is now a major national campaign.

The group brainstormed their own posters, they asked me to write to all politicians, and they put together information packs and sent them to all politicians.

At the time of writing the Cabotage campaign group have met with every politician in the country.

The good part about it is they have involved branches right around the country as well.

Some of the receptions they got are a story on their own – I hope Rachel, Joe or some of the committee find time to put them in writing for this edition, after the amount of work (mostly voluntary) put in by them.

I hope that the assurances of help from many the politicians bears fruit.

The recognition by the Government that vessels using our members should carry coastal cargo would be tremendous not only to seafarers and wharfies, but New Zealand as whole.

The overall picture of the industry is one of change as the big boys continue to try and out-manoeuvre each other for market share, all with the ambition of being topdog.

It doesn’t work, and plays hell with workforces along the way.

As a union we will continue to combat such attacks.

From our new position I am sure we will do so from a position of much greater strength.

Contact the Maritime Union National Office Telephone: 04 3850 792 Fax: 04 3848 766 Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington Email: nationaloffice@munz.org.nz General Secretary: Trevor Hanson Mobile: 0274 453 532 Email: trevor.hanson@munz.org.nz Joint National President: Dave Morgan Mobile: 021 441 013 Email: dave.morgan@munz.org.nz

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Joint National President: Les Wells Mobile: 0274 329 620 Email: les.wells@munz.org.nz ITF Inspectorate: Kathy Whelan Mobile: 021 666 405 Email: kathy.whelan@munz.org.nz The Maritime Union of New Zealand is affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

Port security The changes to port security are now well under way.

The Maritime Union was represented at the first national port security consultative committee by myself.

The first local port committee meeting was held in Gisborne, which Dein Ferris and I attended.

It appears that as the Government puts the new law into place, the national committee will devolve to Port level committees.

At both the Wellington and Gisborne meetings we made it clear that we are not accepting any form of vetting of our members unless it is on a national basis.

We also made it quite clear we want a national register of Waterfront workers and Seafarers.

All ports will have these local meetings soon, and we should be represented at all of these meetings.

It is particularly important that we are there putting the case for our membership.

Health & Safety Delegates It appears we are well ahead of others in delegate training for Health and Safety.

Remember it is a tool we have been given, so let’s use it and stop some of the bad practises that have developed over the past decade.

We have featured an article in this Maritimes which covers the training seminars which have been going on around the ports.

We have just produced and sent to all ports a small handbook for waterfront delegates, in some ports it is already being used and from all reports it has been a success.

Front cover picture: The Cabotage campaign hits Wellington with officials and rank and file members canvassing the public in Cuba Street, Friday 18 July, 2003.

(Photo by Andy Ball)

A dangerous time for New Zealand workers

by Dave Morgan Joint National President We have seen it all before, midway through the second term of a centre left Government the middle class strikes begin.

It is a dangerous time for workers as it begins a process that shapes the future Government in New Zealand.

This must not fool the Maritime Union and its members, right now the Farmers are leading the push, but we should remember the Government is closer to us and our people than the Federated Farmers will ever be.

I do not know enough about the Kyoto protocol on the environment to add much except to say there is a proposed minimal levy being put on farmers to fund a study on how we to deal with the large environmental problem of farm industry emissions.

The levy proposed is in the end to benefit the farming industry.

Federated Farmers have always opposed any development in our industry albeit that they hardly ever had any direct business with New Zealand shipping.

Business New Zealand, Federated Farmers, and the Manufacturers Federation are all opposed to even a minimal adjustment to the cabotage regime and consequentially the development of a New Zealand shipping industry that may have a priority claim to work around the New Zealand coast.

They all oppose anything that may cost them and interfere with their divine right to do exactly what they want to do and let someone else clean up and pay for the consequences of their actions.

We do not need to become apologists for the Labour led Government but we do need to maintain a clear working class political perspective on the issues that unfold around us and know what is best for our class.

We are a group of workers organized into a Union for mutual benefit and for the benefit of those who

follow us.

We must continue to campaign without favour to win our argument for cabotage.

This Government is more centre than centre left and we need to continually remind them of what is necessary for their own transport strategy to succeed.

We need to ensure also that we do what we can to organize in our industry and communities for the reelection of a centre left Government.

International Ports and Shipping Security Code This matter is moving ahead and the union has been in attendance at national and local port meetings held over the past month.

Security assessments have been programmed for New Plymouth, Wellington and Tauranga initially with others to follow.

These assessments are to be done by an Australian company Global Village Strategies and they will consult widely within the ports.

The union is represented on the National Committee.

We have been successful in getting the Union’s claim on the table for a national vetting process deeming our existing members secure.

The other goal put forward is for a national register of seafarers and wharfies with security clearance to be held by the Maritime Safety Authority.

The Union has insisted that we be represented on the local Port Committees also and have, to date, gained this representation.

It requires constant vigilance as there is a great deal of employer resistance to our claims for a register.

There is yet to be debate on the matter but logic is surely on our side in the argument.

In the meantime the ILO has now resolved on the matter of seafarer identity cards and these will be developed by the national states in accordance with international criteria. [continued on page 5]

‘The Maritimes’ Edition 3, August 2003 Contents Trevor Hanson Report ............... 2 Dave Morgan Report ................. 3 News ................................... 4 ITF Report ............................. 8 Holidays for casuals campaign ..... 9 Vale Ted Thompson .................. 10 Vale Tas Bull .......................... 11 Merchant Navy memorial ........... 11 Delegates Training ................... 12 Women’s Conference ................ 14 Cabotage Campaign Special ........ 16 Bluff picket news .................... 18 International news .................. 19 Port Roundups ........................ 20 Clothing ............................... 28 Interport 2004 update .............. 28 Health and Safety update .......... 29 Webwatch ............................. 30 Letters ................................. 31 Union Contacts ....................... 31 The Back Page ........................ 32 ‘The Maritimes’ is the official national magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, published quarterly.

ISSN 1176-3418 National Office: PO Box 27004 Wellington New Zealand Telephone 04 3850 792 Fax 04 3848 766 Email: nationaloffice@munz.org.nz Web: www.munz.org.nz Edited and designed by Victor Billot Email: victor.billot@munz.org.nz Editorial Board: Trevor Hanson and Dave Morgan Thanks to the photographers including Harry Holland, Rachael Goddard, Bob Thorpe, Bob Stephenson, Phil Spanswick, Joe Fleetwood, Kathy Whelan, Dave Lark, Trevor Hanson, Todd Valster (RMTU) and others unnamed. Thanks to the MUA, ITF and ILWU for material, and Andy Ball and Julie Uitentuis for design work and proofing.

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Port of Wellington shuts down for 48 hour strike

Keeping the New Zealand flag in New Zealand coastal shipping: cabotage campaign gains steam The Maritime Union’s national campaign for Cabotage has gained excellent coverage in the last few weeks.

A campaign team has been touring New Zealand in a new Union van to raise public awareness, lobby politicians and gather signatures to send to Parliament.

Several thousand posters have gone up around the country and nearly 50 000 leaflets distributed to members, families and communities.

We feature a cabotage campaign special with an article by campaign organizer Joe Fleetwood on pages 16 and 17 of this edition of the Maritimes.

Work stopped at Wellington’s Centreport on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 July as workers launched strike action.

Members of the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and the Rail and Maritime Union of New Zealand (RMTU) were both involved in the 48 hour stoppage.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the dispute involves employees of the Regional Council owned Centreport.

Centreport has create a wholly owned stevedoring subsidiary Central Stevedoring Ltd (CSL) and sponsored the formation of a company Union which ”is open to employees” of CSL. RMTU General Secretary Wayne Butson says “Centreport claims it needs these cuts in the conditions of our members to meet the market, yet by establishing CSL they are actually ‘creating’ the competition.”

“The conditions on the Wellington waterfront are in line with conditions in most New Zealand ports.”

Union members who have been working on the waterfront for years and who are highly skilled have been spectacularly unsuccessful in obtaining employment with CSL. Mr Butson says one member with over 20 years waterfront experience received a decline letter that stated he “lacked the necessary skills.”

Mr Hanson says despite several

meetings and mediation with Centreport, the Union has received no assurances that members job security and conditions will be carried over to the new company.

Maritime Union Wellington Secretary John Whiting says the contracting out of work could have potentially devastating consequences on waterfront workers and the stability of the waterfront environment.

“We are not going to stand by and watch our jobs and conditions die a death from a thousand cuts as contracting out and casualization rip the guts out of our workforce.”

Mr Whiting says a majority of work at Centreport is now done by casual labour with all the negative implications that has for workers.

The Maritime Union describes the issues at stake as “line in the sand” and says if necessary the Union will make the dispute a national one.

The Unions gained a commitment from the EPMU and the Merchant Service Guild that their port members, will respect the picket lines.

Mr Butson says Wellington rail workers were also helping out on the picket lines.

This is the second week in a row Maritime Union members and RMTU members have supported each other in industrial action on the waterfront, following last weekends non-related pickets in Bluff.

Maritime Union members on the Centreport picket, 28 June 2003 (photo by Trevor Hanson.)

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Dave Morgan Report [continued from page 3]

Although we had thought that the issue had been resolved earlier the basis of a fingerprint test and the card itself will hold only passport type details of the bearer.

This represents a compromise as the question of a smart card was advanced by the shipowners.

This was rejected by the ITF as such a card could be used to carry political, religious and other private information about the bearer.

Maritime Union Working through the transition period, the Joint National Council of the Maritime Union met in Wellington on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 June 2003 for the second time.

The amalgamation process was continued and we increased the understanding of both groups of how we work into the future.

The Joint Council meeting also paved the way for the first Triennial Conference of the Maritime Union that will be held in Wellington from 21-23 October 2003.

Matters for Conference should be received as remits from Branch meetings and need to get to the National Office of the Maritime Union by the end of August.

Cabotage Campaign The campaign has been a marked success to date and it is necessary now that to keep up the momentum.

The long term policy for a campaign van has been realized and put to good effect.

A team have had it on the road throughout the main shipping centres in the North Island distributing

leaflets and having the postcards signed and sent in to the MPs. The word cabotage is resonating through Parliament House as a clear indication of our success.

There has been some difficulty in assessing just when the matter is going to be reported to Cabinet and this is important to our case.

The campaign has been timed to the Ministers advice that he would put the Shipping Industry Review before Cabinet in July 2003. This may now be in some doubt as the Minister is now saying within a couple of months.

It will be difficult to sustain the campaign at current levels for that period of time without full membership involvement.

Women’s Conference In a clear demonstration of how the Union is changing in composition but not in spirit or politics a group of women members’ three delegates from Wellington and Auckland represented the Maritime Union at this conference in Wellington.

Six observers from Wellington joined them and all not only enjoyed the experience of connecting with other women trade unionists but they also organized and carried Union policy forward.

The group presented and had carried, an industry remit on cabotage which was important for the Union in the context of the previous report but it also should be noted it was not a specific women’s issue and it secured strong support for the cause of the Maritime Union.

Well done to all those members who participated, their action bodes well for the increased participation of women in our Union and the growth of a strong Maritime Union.

‘The Maritimes’ is the official magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand.

All correspondence to: ‘The Maritimes’, PO Box 27004, Wellington, New Zealand.

Email victor.billot@munz.org.nz Deadline for all Port reports, submissions, photos and letters: October 11 2003.

Port security swings into gear New port security measures introduced by the Government are moving ahead quickly.

Maritime Union representatives have been attending meetings of the new Port Security Committees which are in charge of the policy.

A national port and ship security committee based in Wellington is responsible for the overall policy.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson attended the initial meeting in late June.

Local committees have been set up in ports around the country, and are being attended by local Maritime Union representatives as well as national officials.

The ports of Wellington, New Plymouth and Mt. MaunganuiTauranga are the first three ports to be assessed.

The Maritime Union is pushing for a guarantee all our members will be deemed ‘secure’ when the new laws come into force.

The Union also wants a national register of bona fide waterfront and seafarer union members set up by the Maritime Safety Authority (MSA).

The MSA have been given the task of running the security project which aims to be in place in the next twelve months.

A Maritime Safety Bill that puts international security rules into effect is expected by the end of the year.

Countries have until July 1 next year to comply with International Maritime Organization security rules developed after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US. In New Zealand, the rules may involve up to 14 government agencies, requiring co-ordination among the involved parties.

This years Budget included money for Customs to x-ray more containers.

There are plans to buy mobile trucks and to x-ray cargo identified as risky through sniffer dogs, physical inspection and a risk-analysis information system.

The new machines are expected to be in service by early next year.

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Employment law needs more teeth

Courtesy call: Two representatives of the Port of Los Angeles called in at the Maritime Union national office in June. The Port of Los Angeles is setting up a office in New Zealand, and the visitors exchanged views on port security, biosecurity, the US economy and the attack by Portland police on anti-war demonstrators and ILWU members in April.

Pictured from left Trevor Hanson (Maritime Union), Al Fierstine (Port of LA Director of Business Development), Dave Morgan (Maritime Union, standing), and Thomas H. Warren (Member, LA Board of Harbor Commissioners.) Mr Warren is a former ILWU president of Local 63 Marine Clerks.

Thumbs down for America’s Cup slush fund The Maritime Union of New Zealand says the Government’s decision in May to hand out $33.75 million dollars to back a 2007 Team New Zealand America’s Cup challenge shows strange priorities.

Joint National President Dave Morgan says he would like the Government to show similar interest in the New Zealand shipping industry.

Mr Morgan says “The Government says its all about targeting the richest tourists in the world for economic development.”

“However the Maritime Union says the Government should be targeting New Zealand workers for economic development.”

The New Zealand shipping industry is an essential part of New Zealand’s economic infrastructure that has been let down by successive Governments.

Mr Morgan says urgent attention is required to protect and build New Zealand’s shipping capacity.

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Inland ports threat to waterfront?

Tasman Orient Line has committed to Ports of Auckland’s Otahuhu inland port facility.

All Tasman Orient carried import containers will now be transferred to the Otahuhu facility on arrival at the seaport.

The Otahuhu facility is located in the centre of South Auckland, and has all the road and yard functions of a container terminal.

Export containers are processed at the inland port and transported to the seaport, and import containers cleared at the seaport and then stored and distributed from the inland port.

Ports of Auckland claim moving the processing and storage functions of the seaport inland will relieve pressure on the seaport.

Import containers are transferred to the inland port outside normal working hours in a bid to relieve portrelated traffic.

Otahuhu is one of two inland port sites for the Port of Auckland with a third under construction at Wiri.

New research strongly supports the case for strengthening of the Employment Relations Act. Professor Pat Walsh of Victoria University released research in July which shows the Employment Relations Act (ERA) is failing in its key objective of promoting collective bargaining.

It also says there has been little change in the bargaining environment since the Act came into force more than two years ago.

CTU President Ross Wilson says the research proves the ERA was a very moderate change to our employment laws.

“Unfortunately it is now proving to be so moderate as to be ineffective in achieving its stated objectives.”

Many employers have used sophisticated legal strategies to frustrate the ERA, and weaknesses in the law have been exposed in practice over the past two years.

Unions have proposed four key goals to the Government’s review of the ERA. These include the promotion of collective bargaining and an end to freeloading by non-union members.

The protection of vulnerable workers on ownership change of a business and better ‘good faith’ provisions are also needed.

Mr Wilson says the new research shows the ERA is not working as it was intended and that key parts of it need to be strengthened.

“Private ports not in public interest” – Aussie expert Shareholders, rather than port users, are benefiting from any efficiency gains in privatized ports, according to University of Wollongong researcher Dr. James Reveley.

Dr. Reveley recently completed an economic analysis of Australian and New Zealand ports with fellow researcher, Associate Professor Malcolm Tull of Murdoch University.

Dr. Reveley said he and Professor Tull conducted the first comprehensive analysis of reforms made to Australian and New Zealand ports.

During the 1980s, while Australia retained most ports in public ownership and concentrated on corporatization, New Zealand favoured partial privatization, with the majority of shares held by local authorities.

The researchers compared the two systems as New Zealand was thought to be an example of best practice by port commentators, based on little analysis or evidence.

But the researchers found privatized ports may not be in the best interest of the public.

They said any private monopoly on a port needs close surveillance by authorities, which does not happen enough in New Zealand.

In Australia there are bodies such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and Victoria has a special regulatory board for ports.

Reveley and Tull noted that South Australia has recently privatized all seven major ports in the state.

Standing tall: Maritime Union rank and file members show their support for striking workers at the Kinleith plant near Tokoroa. The Maritime Union donated thousands of dollars as well as food to the striking workers and visited the picket line during the three month dispute. The Kinleith workers returned on May 28 with their heads held high.

Bulk carrier Safety and project still on? Gangway Nets The Maritime Union have a coastal bulk collective employment agreement with Adsteam, but the company has had no ship to date.

Adsteam have restructured which has meant the withdrawal of their New Zealand company.

Maritime Union Joint National President Dave Morgan says it was assumed this meant the end of the long term project to operate a coastal bulk carrier.

But former New Zealand Manager of Adsteam Peter Dunlop has told the Union the coastal shipping plan is not dead.

Seabulk Ltd, a new company, is taking over for Trans-Tasman and coastal bulk shipping.

Mr Dunlop says some coastal movements will be subcontracted from Sea Tow when they have no barges available, or via Seabulk for cargo that open barges cannot carry.

Although the Union have yet to speak with Seabulk, from media reports it appears we are looking at the arrival of a landing barge to be based in New Plymouth for coastal operation.

It is owned by LD Shipping, who operate non union out of Launceton Tasmania.

The Maritime Union national office has recently received enquiries from some ports about gangway nets.

It appears employers are asking what is wrong with box nets as they are being used in other ports.

The Maritime Union policy has never changed, and if it is occurring then our members are being put at risk.

The Union recently supplied a proposed delegate’s list of safety checks on vessels to the Maritime Safety Authority for their perusal.

The MSA came back to the Union with a suggested addition and gave verbal approval to the rest.

Point one of the proposal was: “Ensure that the gangway or accesses to a vessel is in good repair and safe.

Safety nets should be slung from the outboard side of the gangway, then underneath the gangway and finally secured to the ships side to prevent anyone falling on the inboard side of the gangway.

Although boxed gangways are acceptable, they must also have a safety net slung and rigged as mentioned in the first instance.

Ensure adequate lighting is in place, for boarding, and evacuation, during hours of darkness.”

An unsafe gangway under the new act is a hazard!

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ITF News

and Views

Kathy Whelan ITF Coordinator for New Zealand ‘Crew drink canal water while Captain’s dog drinks mineral water’ makes a good newspaper headline.

Sadly this was just one of many examples of abuse the International Transport Workers ‘ Federation (ITF) discovered in May on board the Panamanian flagged vessel ‘Wisteria.’

The Indonesian and Myanmar crew members were covered by the Korean owners/managers employment contract – which contained 5 clauses threatening retribution should they have any contact with the ITF. A double set of books was kept – in the case of an AB the employment contract provided for a monthly consolidated wage of US$930, but he was actually paid US$340.

Crew also worked excessive hours with no overtime payments.

In respect to the Indonesian crew members, their manning agent in Jakarta charged them US$432 for getting them the job and took a retainer of US$50 per month for each crew member he had placed with company.

The condition of the ship was dreadful and it lacked any form of social amenities.

Crew didn’t even have enough crockery or eating utensils.

Food was substandard and in a lot of cases past its use by date.

There was a the of basic facilities such as water for showers and laundry, with no soap or laundry detergent provided.

The vessel was at the end of its New Zealand charter doing four ports loading meat and fruit.

Five Indonesian crew members who had been on the vessel for varying lengths (from 3 months to 2 years) sought assistance from the ITF. Given the number of New Zealand ports the vessel was calling at we were able to put a case together.

We obtained back pay of US$28,548.66 and made sure all five crew members were repatriated.

Bob Thorpe (New Plymouth) and Billy Connelly (Napier) did a great job in getting the documentation required for the claim and in giving the crew support and assistance.

The ‘Wisteria’ is a typical flag of convenience ship.

It was owned by a Korean company, registered in Panama, and crewed by a mixed nationality crew from Korea, Indonesia and Myanmar.

This is just one of many examples of abuse and mistreatment that occurs in the shipping industry.

It is a classic example of why every bit of energy and commitment should be given to the Maritime Union’s campaign for the restoration of cabotage.

ITF Green alliance lobby UN A new coalition of labour, environmentalists and human rights groups have joined the ITF in demanding stronger laws to govern international waters.

Armed with a new ITF publication ‘Steering the Right Course’ the ITF, WWF International, Greenpeace International, Friends of the Earth International, Global Witness and Human Rights Watch argued hard for this at recent United Nations meetings.

The ITF described the flag of convenience system as leading to “real suffering and hardship amongst seafarers and their families as well as damage to fragile marine ecosystems.“ The coalition’s case for properly regulated international shipping, a genuine link between ships and flags states and clearly defined responsibilities by flag states won support from a number of delegations at the conference.

These issues were included in a report for consideration by the UN General Assembly when it meets later this year.

This article can be found on the Web at: http://www.mua.org.au/news/ shipping/alliance.html

We want your ideas!

The Maritimes welcomes contributions from members around New Zealand.

Letters, articles and photos can be sent in – they can be about on the job topics, personal interests, sport, history, politics, social events, in fact anything you like.

Please send to: ‘The Maritimes’, PO Box 27004, Wellington, New Zealand or email victor.billot@munz.org.nz or fax 03 4736 975 or phone 021 171 0911 8

“If we took a holiday, took some time to celebrate, Just one day out of life, it would be, it would be so nice.

One day to come together, to release the pressure, we need a holiday.”

Some members of the Union may remember the above song which was a hit for Madonna in the eighties.

Unfortunately for many of our members there is little chance to take some time to celebrate or release the pressure.

With growing casualization of the waterfront, many of our members are ‘regular casuals’ who function as fulltime workers but have none of the benefits of permanent employees.

For most of its history, the waterfront has had some form of casual labour to service the peaks and troughs of shipping.

In recent years the ‘casualization’ of jobs has become common throughout the economy, and the maritime industries have become increasingly casualized as well.

part timers who are employed under many different guises.

There are two types of casual worker.

The first being a person who is employed when a port is extremely busy, usually on a one off basis.

The second is a person who regularly works as a casual for a specific stevedore or makes himself available to all stevedores at their home port.

The Union submission was made on behalf of our members who are in the second category (Regular Casuals), many of whom have worked in the industry for lengthy periods, and rely on this employment as a sole or first preference income.

Many have worked on this basis for ten or more years with a hope of permanent employment in the industry.

Technological advances have reduced the amount of labour required on many cargoes.

Combined with older members staying on until they can obtain the

worked should be kept by the employee and his employers at the port.

A day worked will be any day on which a regular casual works eight hours or more.

When a regular casual has worked 24 days, they should be granted one eight hour payment at the average casual rate in that port.

This payment can be either from a individual employer or averaged out amongst the employers for whom the casual worked the last 24 days.

The Union says the Holidays Bill does not allow for a regular casual to be specific as to which day of the week qualifies them to a public holiday, that falls on a day which is otherwise a working day for them.

The Union told the Select Committee that the majority of regular casuals have to work on Public Holidays.

In most cases they cannot afford not to take the work.

They are also reluctant to turn an employer down, in case they don’t get the next call for work.

Time to ‘release the pressure’: holiday rights for casual workers Early in July 2003 the Maritime Union made submissions on the Bill currently before Parliament for changes to the Holidays Act, as well as MP Matt Robson’s Private Members Bill for four weeks annual leave.

Phil Spanswick and Trevor Hanson appeared before the select committee on behalf of the five hundred regular casual members working at New Zealand ports.

The Labour and Green Party committee members agreed they would examine the Union’s case.

(In contrast the Business Roundtable submission was there should be no law providing for holidays for workers at all!)

The Union explained to Government and opposition politicians how shipping and cargo companies are demanding a relatively small core group of skilled employees backed up by a casual workforce.

Between these two groups are a considerable number of permanent

Government superannuation, the situation has prevented many regular casuals progressing to full time employment.

Many regular casuals work 150 days or more a year, and in reality are on standby without payment waiting for the telephone call to come to work.

The only difference between these people and a permanent employee is that casuals are not on some form of guaranteed weekly payment.

The Maritime Union believes the new laws being made by the Government do not take the regular casuals employment status into account.

The Union made the following points.

Public Holidays A regular casual should have protection under law for Public Holidays.

Where a regular casual is employed at a port by an individual or several stevedores, a total of days

Sick and Bereavement Leave On the matter of sick days and bereavement leave the Union says a regular casual should be entitled to a proportion of the days granted to permanent workers under the Bill.

The Union argued that a regular casual should be entitled to one day sick leave at the rate of eight hours pay, for each 50 days worked per year, and one days bereavement leave for each 80 days worked per year.

Other industries such as Hospitality, Aged Care and Retail all employ large numbers of casual workers who are mainly women and teenagers.

Surely they should be entitled to sick and bereavement leave as well.

The rights of casual workers whether in the Maritime industry or elsewhere can no longer be ignored.

The Maritime Union will continue its campaign for the rights of casual workers and to reverse the casualization of the maritime industries.

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Vale Ted Thompson: the passing of a ‘living legend of the waterfront’ Members of the Maritime Union and many others in our industry were saddened with news of the death of Ted Thompson on May 29, 2003.

Tributes and messages flowed to Ted’s family from many branches and individuals in the Maritime Union.

Life member Chris Kenny spoke on behalf of the Maritime Union at Ted’s service.

He described Ted as a good family man who had lived in an era that saw great struggles to advance the interests of workers.

Ted was prominent amongst the fine trade union leaders, working class intellectuals and activists of the time.

“He was a man of high ideals and integrity, who could be relied on absolutely and under any circumstances.”

Born in the Coromandel in 1916, Ted had a long and productive life.

He spent the early part of his working life as a construction worker before going to sea as a fireman in 1938.

During the war he participated in the allied landings in North Africa on the Awatea.

After dropping the 6th Commando Battalion off at Algiers the Awatea was attacked by German bombers and sunk with many casualties.

After the war Ted took up a job on the Wellington Waterfront in 1946.

As a member of the Wellington Branch Committee during the 151 day

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waterfront lockout in 1951, he was “very much at loggerheads with the National Government, the Federation of Labour and the Press, an unholy Trinity.”

Following his return to work in 1954, with the Union in disarray, Ted was voted walking delegate, a position he held until 1967.

From 1967 to 1972 he served as assistant National Secretary to the New Zealand Waterside Workers Federation, and in 1972 he became the Waterside Representative on the Federation of Labour.

In 1980 he became the Federation of Labour Vice President.

As the Waterside National Secretary he is held largely responsible for negotiating the new containerization agreements.

In the hard fought negotiations, Ted was in his element.

Among other gains he won a 30 hour week on the container terminals.

Waterfront workers enjoyed the fruits of his negotiating skills.

Ted had an international outlook, he was a staunch opponent of racism and apartheid, he supported the Federation of Labour’s opposition to the Vietnam War, opposed the 1981 Springbok rugby tour and supported the Chilean trade ban.

Ted, a staunch supporter of the Labour Party, was also a strong supporter of the Union’s cultural and sporting activities.

Terry Ryan on behalf of Maritime Union Auckland Branch Local 13 described Ted as a “genuine working class hero.”

“Ted was widely recognized as the driving force that created the Waterfront Industry Superannuation fund, and just as he predicted it would, it allowed wharfies to retire with dignity. “ Members would also remember Ted for his eloquent language.

An example is his response to a 1978 question on employers reasons for redundancy which he described as “a barrage of emotional tripe from the evil-intentioned edge of industrial spivs.”

Maritime Union Secretary Trevor Hanson described Ted as a living legend to New Zealand waterfront workers.

Ted attended the 2001 Waterfront Workers’ Conference to witness the process of amalgamation between the Waterfront Workers Union and the Seafarers Union, a move he had long supported.

“His forethought and driving passion to enhance workers’ rights and conditions are still very visible and with us today – our national building and our superannuation schemes are two examples.”

Vale Ted Thompson, seafarer, waterfront worker, and unionist.

(Thanks to Chris Kenny and Ted’s daughter Beverley Carter for their notes and photographs.)

Ted Thompson pictured with his late wife Ida.

Ted’s family have asked the following message of thanks be recorded: Thompson, Edward George (Ted) The family of the late Ted would like to sincerely thank past and present members of the Maritime Union for the expressions of sympathy and support following our recent bereavement.

The tributes to our Dad have been greatly appreciated.

Vale Tas Bull (1932 – 2003)

The Maritime Union of Australia has announced the passing of former General Secretary of the Waterside Workers Federation Tas Bull, union leader, internationalist, socialist, seafarer, waterside worker and writer.

Tas was elected Waterside Workers Federation Sydney Branch Vigilance Officer 1967, Branch President and Federal Councillor 1970, Federal Organizer 1971, Assistant General Secretary 1983 and General Secretary 1984 to 1992.

He also served as ACTU Vice President and Senior Vice President in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Born in Australia of Norwegian and Scottish stock, he went to sea at the age of 14 and joined the Seaman’s Union of Australia in 1954.

He joined the waterfront and the WWF in Hobart in 1956, and went on to play a key role in the Union.

He was instrumental in the deci-

Dunedin Mayor Sukhi Turner opens the Dunedin Workers Memorial on April 28. Situated in the Market Reserve, the memorial is for Otago workers who have died through accidents on the job. The memorial was funded by local Unions and some businesses. The opening ceremony was attended by local union members and politicians.

sion to amalgamate the WWF and the SUA into the Maritime Union of Australia.

When he retired from Union office he remained active in senior roles with ACTU projects.

He celebrated his 70th birthday in Havana, Cuba, with friends and comrades in January 2002.

In a letter to the MUA, Dave Morgan and Trevor Hanson of the Maritime Union of New Zealand expressed their sadness at the passing of a “huge character in the working class struggle for human rights and dignity in Australia and the AsiaPacific region.”

Tas Bull was known and respected internationally as a trade union thinker and activist, fearless in his adherence to his principles.

Tas had given a lead both with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and with the Australian Union movement.

The Auckland Merchant Navy Memorial was unveiled by Helen Clark on 2 March 2003 at Teal Park at the Port of Auckland.

President of the New Zealand Merchant Navy Association (Auckland Branch) Dave Lark says the memorial was planned for several years, but a suitable situation was only found recently.

Contributors to the memorial included the Maritime Union, the RSA and individual donors. A wreath laying service will be held at the memorial on Sunday 31 August at 11am.

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Delegate Training

Wellington members learn how to improve their on the job effectiveness as workplace delegates.

Delegate Training

CTU communications manager Lyndy McIntyre talks to union delegates at the Auckland Health and Safety Seminar. Lyndy recently moved on from the CTU and is now working for the Nurses Organization (but her assistance to the Maritime Union during the height of the Carter Holt and Mainland dispute will not be forgotten!)

Air of concentration: Port Chalmers delegates get to grips with employment agreements.

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Delegate training is the way the Maritime Union is making our Union more effective in the workplace.

Delegates have attended training sessions throughout New Zealand as part of a general education programme as well as the CTU Health and Safety campaign.

Craig Harrison of Auckland Branch Local 13 has been helping to organize the training programme and says the courses have had a positive impact.

“Delegates have come out of the course, and started coming up to the office, downloading more info and signing up members.”

The Delegate’s Training Course has three separate parts.

The first is an introductory seminar about the Union at work, the second is based around resolving workplace disputes and the third is about how to deal with the disciplinary process.

The course is led by Union educator Chris McDonald (assisted by Bob Stephenson) who has taken courses around New Zealand including Auckland, Wellington, Mt. Maunganui, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers.

The Delegates Training is Department of Labour approved as “Employment Relations Education Leave” which was introduced with the Employment Relations Act. As one Port Chalmers delegate wrote on his course evaluation sheet, “ . . . being a Union delegate will be a challenging and rewarding process.

I am at no illusion that I will have to work hard and make sure I try to do things correctly, and do the best for members. Chris doesn’t sugar coat things – which gives you a reality check!”

Health and Safety Training The Maritime Union is taking part in the Health and Safety seminars run

by ACC and the Council of Trade Unions.

These two day seminars are being run to educate Health and Safety delegates as part of a nationwide campaign.

The ‘Unions Talking Health and Safety’ campaign aims to make our workplaces safer.

The goal is to elect 10,000 health and safety delegates throughout New Zealand this year.

By ensuring these reps are trained and supported, and by developing systems where workers can participate in health and safety decisions, the campaign can be a success.

See page 29 for more health and safety news.

Port Chalmers delegates at their May seminar. From left (standing) Chris McDonald (Union educator), Andrew Mears, Mark Middleditch, Gene Carthy, Adam Law, (sitting from left) Jeff Duncan, Cyril Todd, Michael Lysaght.

Moro Peters (left) and Richard Goldthorpe of Mt Maunganui Tauranga branch at their Union delegates seminar held at the Tauranga Hockey Club, 5 June 2003.

Mt Maunganui Branch President Terrance Tai (left) with delegate Peter Winiata at the 5 June seminar “Working with members to resolve workplace issues.”

Playing it safe: Mt Maunganui Tauranga delegates at the ACC/CTU Health and Safety Rep Training Seminar, 8/9 July 2003. From left, Eddie Cook, Brian Huxtable, John Matehaere, Debbie Gardiner, Scott Tietjen, Sam Nepiata, Tony Gibbons, Mark Oxenham. Back row, from left, Peter Cook, Selwyn Russell, Brian Harrington, Kerry Grant, Daniel Hocking.

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ACTU Guest speaker ACTU President Sharan Burrow discussed the strategies required to reduce inequality in the workplace and economy.

Women are likely to be disadvantaged in the labour market by the effects of globalization, discrimination, violence, casualization and low pay.

Sharan spoke of a possible program in Australia for women with either 20% extra for childcare or 15% for each child.

Youth Union Movement (YUM)

A two day Women’s Conference was recently held at Victoria University, Wellington, organized by the Council of Trade Unions (CTU).

The women delegates of Maritime Union of New Zealand welcomed the opportunity to attend on the account of the lack of a women’s structure within the Union.

CTU Vice-President and Women’s Council representative Darien Fenton

Transport Union (RMTU) and the Maritime Union attended.

Cabotage Discussion groups of respective unions were formed to identify issues in their workplace.

The Maritime Union joined with fellow sisters from the RMTU to identify three hot topics.

These were lack of education in the

Tali Williams addressed the conference on behalf of YUM (Youth Union Movement.)

She spoke of the disadvantages young workers face in the workforce when well over a quarter of the New Zealand workforce is now casualized in the so-called ‘flexible’ labour market.

Despite employment growth, many of these new jobs are low-wage, casual and part-time positions – particularly in the service sector, where many young people work.

Casualized or temping agency style workplaces, health and safety, wages, conditions and security of employment

The changing face of the Union: opened the conference with an introduction of the 19 women council members.

Speakers included Australian CTU President Sharan Burrow, Tali Williams of the Youth Union Movement (YUM), Prime Minister Helen Clark, Audrey Mei of the Service Workers Union at Sky City Casino, and Minister of Women’s Affairs Ruth Dyson.

150 Delegates attend conference The conference brought more than 150 women delegates together from all over New Zealand.

Women from ASTE (Tertiary education staff), SFWU (Service workers), Runanga, Komiti Pasefika, PPTA (Secondary teachers), AUS (University staff), DWU (Dairy workers), Finsec (Finance industry), NZEI (primary teachers), NDU (Distribution workers), EPMU (Engineers, Printing and Manufacturing workers), NZNO (Nurses), PSA (Public sector), CLAW (Clothing and laundry union), Rail and Maritime

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workplace and unions, absence of a women’s structure and Cabotage on the New Zealand coast.

Rachel Goddard spoke on the Cabotage issue on behalf of the Maritime Union.

The conference learned of the poor conditions third world crews experience and how different nationalities are used to create divisions.

It was pointed out that the Maritime Union provides voluntary inspectors for Flag of Convenience ships through the ITF. The work of the ITF helps defenceless workers who have been abused and underpaid.

Legislation in the form of the Jones Act ensures cabotage on the coast of the USA among other countries.

Other countries shipping lines have the right to exploit Third World labour on the New Zealand coast, but New Zealand workers don’t have the right to work on theirs.

are all under attack.

Today’s young workers have never known some of the conditions that used to be considered as standard, such as the forty-hour week and penal rates for weekend work.

Tali spoke of the current legislation that permits a extremely low minimum wage for young workers, and of the employment agreements that contain age based scales of pay for carrying out the same work.

July sees YUM camps, training workshops for young union leaders in Auckland and the current recruitment campaign in Wellington underway.

Activities to date have included trainee organizers encouraging young workers into unions, producing basic rights pamphlets and secondary school resources, and the training of young people to be active in their own unions.

The CTU will also be holding ‘Organizing young workers’ workshops.

Prime Ministers’ speech Prime Minister Helen Clark spoke to the Conference about how the Government plans to change laws that affect working women by regulating the previous deregulated system.

Changes included the Employment Relations Act review, the Holidays Act, pay equity and protections for vulnerable workers.

The Prime Minister talked of stress for women workers in factories.

She commented on the outdated Holiday’s legislation, and new plans to separate bereavement leave from sick and domestic leave.

The Prime Minister didn’t see four weeks leave occurring in this term because of the Government plan to tackle the issue gradually as she felt over regulating would ‘cause an imbalance.’

The Prime Minister said “unions are an essential part of democracy” and described her view of “evolutionary rather than revolutionary.”

Clark did not see compulsory unionism as an option, instead promoting improving legal rights and employment equity, requiring a longer plan of action.

Sue Boraston says the ASB and TSB are the only non-union banks.

Members asked questions from the floor on how they could contribute to the campaign.

Delegates were asked to talk to their bank operators and find out if they were Finsec members.

If the bank operator was not a Finsec member to then ask to talk to a Finsec member instead.

If the bank operator was a union member, delegates were asked to congratulate them on being a union member and to indicate that they too were a union member.

Sky City Casino Audrey Mei from the Service Workers Union at Sky City Casino spoke on their campaign to have the right to work in a smoke free environment, and other issues facing the members working there.

PSA and Nurses Organization The PSA’s Pay and Employment Equity Agenda and the Nurses’ Organization remuneration strategy were also discussed.

2. For the CTU and affiliates to support the Maritime Union in the struggle for Cabotage.

Both remits were carried.

It was the first year the women’s conference has had the right to put forward remits or statements for voting at the full CTU conference in October.

Pay Equity, Paid Parental Leave, Health and Safety The Minister of Women’s Affairs Ruth Dyson spoke on the implementation of the government’s agenda on pay equity, paid parental leave, and health and safety.

She discussed the idea that the market should determine pay rates, and the under valuing of women in the workforce and society.

The conference ended and thanks goes to the Maritime Union stopwork meeting members for electing the women to attend the conference.

The union would also like to thank Wellington Seafarer members Marina Johnson, Colleen Lewis, Sa Baker, Fleur Bishara, Julie Raroa and Auckland Seafarer Heidi Mills for their active participation.

Women’s Conference Report

Report by Wellington Seafarer Rachael Goddard

Women’s Task Force

Announcements

A Women’s task force will be chaired by retirement commissioner Diana Crossan. Members will be chief executives (or their nominees), of the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the State Services Commission with three nominees from the CTU.

It was announced Women’s Council representative Sue Shone of the PPTA would be leaving with Carol Beaumont elected to the position of CTU secretary formerly held by Paul Goulter.

Day 1 ended with drinks, food and ‘Choir Choir Pants on Fire’ who performed at NZEI House.

Pacific Women

Day 2

Komiti Pasifika spoke on issues facing Pacific women in the workforce.

Workshops followed with topics including well-being for Pasifika Women, Tautoko Wahine Maori, Casualization, Health and Safety, Globalization and Peace, as well as Work/Life issues including Hours of Work and Pay Equity.

Finsec A panel of women workers armed with case studies from delegates spoke on successes and challenges of the Finsec TSB campaign.

Another article from Auckland delegate Heidi Mills is printed in the Auckland Seafarers Port Roundup on page 20.

Day 2 included “Get A Life” workshops and a speech by the Minister of Women’s Affairs Ruth Dyson.

The majority of the Maritime members took part in the “Get a Life” workshops with members discussing work/life issues, casualization and job security.

The workshops were informative and educational resulting in collective remits.

The Maritime Union put forward two remits to the conference: 1. Supporting education of Women, Maori and youth

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Fighting for New On the Campaign Trail Joe Fleetwood 0296 reports Well, comrades, we’re still on the campaign trail over 9 years since the introduction of section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act. Since that time we have seen the decimation of New Zealand coastal and deep sea shipping.

The Seafarers’ Union Committee of Management met late May 2003 with the Cabotage campaign high on the agenda.

It was decided a rank and file assault on the Government should take place and I received the honour of coordinating this campaign – giving me a chance to give back to a union and industry that has been very good to me and friends.

We all know what we owe to each other but some choose to forget from time to time, something I believe the ‘old timers’ of the Union never forgot.

It is because of their work we have had a good run for so long.

We need to keep the pressure up – we are struggle based union and that is what makes the Maritime Union what it is.

The initial pressure for the campaign was to produce a pamphlet and posters that were easy to understand and hard hitting.

Judging by the feedback from members and the public we seem to be on track.

The Government needs to see and feel the pressure felt by workers and families.

I feel we were received well by MP’s, so let’s hope they do the right thing for New Zealand workers.

Unless the Government condemn the exploitation of cheap foreign labour, they are going along with the unspeakable actions committed by global corporates.

All of this in the name of profits earned at the expense of human lives, which have little value to these people.

We set times to lobby MP’s, and the campaign was opened in Wellington by Wellington Secretary Mike Williams and General Secretary Trevor Hanson.

Marion Hobbs MP was first cab off the rank, she was very positive and the first to give a commitment to help the workers.

The campaign hit the road on July 6 in the newly purchased union van.

We were in Auckland for eight days canvassing cabinet ministers and MP’s

(any missed have since been ‘cleaned up’ by the Auckland Branch.)

I spoke to stopwork meetings and was received with true union comradeship.

Auckland’s North Shore was our first visit with a dozen members turning up to canvass the main shopping malls.

We moved into Auckland city on Monday 7 July.

Tuesday saw members canvassing at Mangere and Otara Malls where we set up an information centre table with posters and gave speeches to the public.

Hundreds of pamphlets were filled out and posted.

We left for Tauranga on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday continued talking to the public, filling in pamphlets and posting off the completed slips to MPs. We headed to Hamilton on Wednesday night, and on Thursday members letterboxed about 3500 pamphlets.

Thursday night we moved onto Wanganui where we met ex member Harry Clark and his wife Wendy who kindly put us up for the night.

We finished with a letter box drop and returned to Wellington on Friday night, a job well done by all union members.

18 000 pamphlets were distributed in the North Island in a week, with good public awareness and interest.

We are off to the South Island next and can no doubt expect similar assistance and goodwill from members.

There has been a large number of members working very hard behind the scenes which has made my job a lot easier.

You know who you are so many thanks to you all comrades.

Keep up the great work (you all make up for the non active lazy members who have a lot to say but that’s where it stops!)

To all of the ports, thanks for pushing hard and campaigning with passion.

Thanks to the ITF for being active in the campaign, and to the MUA for strategies which have strengthened the Tasman Maritime Federation.

To Local 13, thanks comrades for the help and hospitality given.

To Gary and the Auckland seafarer members – it’s great to see the fight is still very much alive in us all – keep up the good work comrades.

Many thanks to Harry Clark and family for the help we received, you only get support like that from true unionist.

Many thanks to the trade union movement and solidarity shown by all workers. Kia Kaha. Touch one Touch all.

On the road with the

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Zealand Shipping Putting the New Zealand flag back in coastal shipping It is widely recognized domestic shipping between New Zealand ports is a vital part of our national transport system.

The recent Shipping Industry Review and the Government’s Transport Strategy both recognize the importance of shipping to New Zealand as a trading nation.

Unfortunately, there is one ‘flag’ missing from New Zealand coastal shipping at present – the New Zealand one.

Until 1994, shipping between New Zealand ports was done by New Zealand crews working on New Zealand ships, a system known internationally as cabotage.

Since that time, New Zealand coastal shipping has been ‘opened up’ to foreign operators who now carry out most domestic shipping in New Zealand waters.

This has led to a bizarre situation, where we have watched our own shipping industry dwindle away to a fraction of its once proud state.

Our coastal routes are now worked by flag of convenience ships, owned in one country, registered in another, crewed by Third World seafarers who are paid and treated abysmally.

Imagine if our airplanes or trucks were crewed by exploited foreign workers, working on substandard vehicles that operated outside New Zealand laws and safety regulations.

People wouldn’t stand for it – yet this is exactly what has happened to coastal shipping in New Zealand.

The only thing being levelled on this playing field is New Zealand jobs and New Zealand industry.

There is only one sensible solution to the current botch up.

That is the reinstatement of coastal cabotage by ensuring in law that New Zealand crewed and operated ships are given priority for domestic shipping.

The removal of cabotage was motivated by the thoroughly discredited free market dogma of the 1990s.

Of course, all our major trading partners have maintained their own systems of cabotage.

The United States, Japan and the European Union all reserve coastal trade for their domestic fleets, or fleets of member nations.

New Zealand, by contrast, is at risk of becoming a country where we have few trained seafarers left in a job.

How can this be in a country that is entirely dependant on shipping as our trading link to the rest of the world?

We need to maintain jobs and skills in this vital industry, rather than hand it over to rogue outfits who are essentially importing cheap labour.

The benefits to the economy from the reinstatement of cabotage are many.

It supports New Zealand business, and as such should be a cornerstone of any economic development policy.

Another overlooked fact is that New Zealand is increasingly insecure in an unstable global situation.

The Government has to pour millions of dollars into ensuring port security.

The simple fact is domestic carriers mean less exposure to terrorism.

A number of flag of convenience ships have recently been seized by authorities around the world for suspected involvement in terrorist activity.

Using domestic carriers will also mean less exposure to biosecurity hazards like noxious insect or animal pests escaping and causing havoc in our agricultural and horticultural industries.

The Government noted in its recent Transport Strategy that New Zealand exports have increased by 25 percent in volume between 1993 and 2001 – and 99 per cent of imports and exports by volume are moved by sea.

The Maritime Union commend the Transport Strategy goals of providing an affordable, safe, integrated and sustainable transport system by 2010.

Yet unless a viable New Zealand shipping industry is a central part of the strategy, these goals will remain theory rather than practice.

We need to support New Zealand workers, and New Zealand shipping companies, who have a long-term commitment to the New Zealand economy, to our merchant fleet, and to protecting our environment and biosecurity.

New Zealand’s domestic shipping should be worked by our own merchant fleet.

Let’s get our flag back in coastal shipping – cabotage is the answer.

e Cabotage Campaign

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Staunch South New Zealand’s southernmost port has been the site of double action by local workers in the past few weeks.

Around thirty Bluff waterfront workers, local townspeople and supporters from as far north as Port Chalmers picketed the log boat ‘Northern Light’ on Saturday 19 July at Southport in Bluff.

The ‘Northern Light’ was being worked by Mainland Stevedoring and their bussed in employees.

Work on the ship was delayed as Mainland employees arrived under heavy police escort at around 5.20pm.

They were taken past hiding in a large container box on a truck.

The local workers maintained a loud and disciplined picket.

They spent several hours waiting in a cool Southern breeze but their spirits were not dampened.

The heart of the issue is about decent wages, working conditions and a sustainable industry, all of which are

18

being put under threat by rogue operators such as Mainland.

The picket came at the same time as members of the other waterfront union the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) picketed Southport in support of a pay rise for their casual members at Southport.

Members of both Unions supported each others pickets in the unprecedented double industrial action in New Zealand’s southernmost port.

“Mainland thought they could introduce their divide and rule tactics in the Deep South, but weren’t expecting the continued resistance to their methods,” says Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson.

Maritime Union Bluff Branch Secretary Ray Fife says local union members know they are defending local jobs and the local economy.

In an interview with the Southland Times, he said Mainland had promised to create permanent jobs in ports it had come to, but had not kept its word.

Mr Fife says they will continue resisting Mainland “as long as it takes” in order to defend local jobs and conditions.

“We don’t like how Mainland treat workers, the way they do work and how they impact on local communities.”

“If Mainland become established here, we know what the effect will be on Bluff workers and the local economy, and we are not going to let that happen.”

Maritime Union members had spent the last couple of days support-

ing a RMTU picket because local casuals in that union had not received a pay rise in twelve years and were on $9.90 an hour.

Maritime Union members join the previous days RMTU picket of Southport (the train in the background is specially parked to provide a windbreak!)

Mainland Stevedoring display their slogan “Excellence through Innovation” which should read “We hide in a box wherever we go.”

The Mainland Fan Club: wherever Mainland go, they are given an official escort, paid for by the local communities whose livelihoods they threaten.

International News Anti self handling ILWU Convention votes to get Bush out groundswell grows

By Steve Stallone, The Dispatcher Spurred on by the dire circumstances facing the union and the country, delegates to the 2003 Convention of the International Longshore and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU) set a clear agenda for the next three years.

At the San Francisco gathering on April 28 - May 2, priorities were dumping Bush in 2004, opposing his war on and occupation of Iraq, pushing for universal healthcare and continuing the union’s organising programme.

The opening session of the Convention on Monday morning erupted in a spontaneous chorus of Bush bashing that would continue throughout the week.

ILWU International President Jim Spinosa says “the single biggest challenge ahead for the ILWU and the entire American labor movement is defeating Bush and the right-wing, anti-worker members of Congress in the 2004 elections.”

“Things are bad now, but if we fail in 2004, the labor movement will face a real nightmare—a second-term Bush who can slash and burn workers without ever having to worry about another election.”

Delegates passed a resolution committing all the union’s locals to political action to defeat Bush and elect pro-worker candidates in 2004.

Spinosa emphasized the need for access to health care and how rising medical costs have made keeping benefits an issue in all ILWU contracts.

The only real solution, he said, is a national, single-payer healthcare program.

Guest speaker the Reverend Jesse Jackson told delegates “workers are under attack by this administration.”

“If ever there were a time for a massive march on Washington by workers for jobs, income or health care, it is now.”

Workers, stand up and fight back.”

European shipowners and bureaucrats face a campaign of resistance if they press ahead with moves to encourage cargo self handling.

ITF Dockers’ Secretary Kees Marges announced an intensified campaign at the annual convention of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in Puerto Rico.

Maritime unions around the world have agreed to take action to strengthen their opposition to any threat to waterfront work.

More than 20,000 port workers in Europe went on strike earlier this year in protest at the EU’s planned liberalization of European ports.

“The unrest in January was only a warm up for our campaign against the destruction of secure employment in the docks,” says Mr Marges.

“We have brought forward a strategy to mobilize 400,000 port workers.”

The action was approved by the ITF’s affiliated waterfront unions in London in July.

Unions are angered by what they see as encroachment on dock work by self handling on ships, for example by securing and unsecuring containers, and by cargo owners using untrained casual labour inside port terminals.

Demonstrations against legal threats to dock work will be matched by campaign action in ports and the targeting of shipping companies.

The ITF is alerting its worldwide force of inspectors to ensure agreements preventing cargo handling on board ship are being observed.

Delegates to the Dockers Section meeting heard that charterers were attempting to bypass agreements by making cash payments to seafarers for securing cargo on entering and leaving port.

Mr Marges says dockers’ unions are preparing for a long battle against self handling on board and in terminals, particularly if the European Union allows cargo owners to recruit non-union, unskilled and casual labour for dock work.

The Invasion of Iraq & Crony Capitalism Bush now controls Iraqi oil revenue and the key port while championing a criminal, Ahmed Chalabi, as the USA’s man in Baghdad.

Chalabi has a string of convictions for multi million dollar frauds.

He has now been on the US payroll for a decade pocketing some $60 million from the CIA and more from the Pentagon. (See “The Thief of Baghdad,” Sydney Morning Herald, May 10).

Meanwhile, Vice President Dick Cheney, former chief executive of Halliburton oil company is busy rebuilding Iraq’s oil industry.

The UK Guardian reports that Halliburton has admitted one of its subsidiaries paid millions in bribes to a Nigerian official for tax breaks.

And another subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), has a broad role in the Iraqi oil industry.

The company is now involved in the operation and distribution of oil products in Iraq.

The US Government aid agency broke its own rules to award US terminal operator Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) a US $4.8 million contract to rebuild the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr over international competitors, say news agency reports.

The anti-union firm has clashed with workers in three continents.

Fairplay shipping magazine says the requirement for security clearance was dropped to give SSA the contract.

“The news comes as charges of crony capitalism circulate worldwide about how the US is handling the multi-billion dollar reconstruction contracts, especially in the maritime industry,” Fairplay reports.

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Port Roundup: Auckland Seafarers

by Garry Parsloe

Auckland May Day 2003 The Auckland May Day Committee decided to celebrate May Day on Thursday 1 May, despite some groups wishing for activities to be held the following Saturday.

Unions and groups assembled at the bottom of Queen Street at 5pm armed with union banners etc.

An open mic operated from 5 – 5.30pm with various speakers talking on working class issues.

At 5.30pm the march commenced up Queen St. to Aotea Square.

On arrival at Aotea Square, the Chairman of the May Day Committee, Garry Parsloe called together the rally and introduced the speakers.

The first speaker was Grant Duffy, Secretary of the Auckland CTU local Affiliates Council followed by Daphna Whitmore, representing the AntiCapitalist Alliance.

Whisky Hastie, Senior Production Delegate, Kinleith Mill, and Mike Treen, Auckland Branch Global Peace and Justice also spoke.

After the speeches the Chairman of the May Day Committee put the May Day resolution: “That this meeting calls for an end to the occupation of Iraq – Troops out now!

We pledge our support for the striking Kinleith workers, and we call on workers in New Zealand to rebuild the trade union movement to be the required effective fighting force to combat the anti-union attacks of the national and international corporates and their politicians”.

The resolution was carried with a show of hands and a loud cheer.

After the rally a function was held at the Auckland Trade Union Centre in Great North Road.

May Day falls on a Saturday in 2004 and planning is already underway by the May Day Committee.

Womens Conference a milestone for New Zealand unions

by Heidi Mills I recently attended the Women’s Conference in Wellington as a delegate for the Maritime Union of New Zealand and as a representative of Fuller’s Auckland.

Five other women members including seafarer member Rachael Goddard also attended the conference (see Rachel’s report on page 14).

Conference speakers included Australian Council of Trade Unions President Sharan Burrow and Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Sharon Burrow spoke on strategies to reduce disparities in the workplace and economy from an international perspective.

Prime Minister Helen Clark gave an overview of the Government’s plans to change the laws and policies affecting working women.

These issues included the Employment Relations Act review, The Holidays Act, pay equity and protection for vulnerable workers.

Other issues discussed were how many companies have not developed specific policies relating to the employment of women.

(See the Global Employment Policies and Practices published by the International Labour Organization).

A healthier and safer working environment, where women were involved, and where companies were accountable was also discussed.

Rachael Goddard put forward a remit on Cabotage, focussing on the environment and job security for New Zealanders.

The remit was unanimously passed by delegates.

The opportunity for women to put remits forward to the CTU conference was a milestone.

All remits will now go forward to the next CTU Conference.

Rachael Goddard checks out the handiwork of the Cabotage campaign team.

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Port Roundup: Mt. Maunganui

by Phil Spanswick We recently settled the Balance AgriNutrients, P & O Ports, Owens and Orica Collective Agreements and are in negotiations with Tolls and Quality Marshalling for the renewal of their Collective Agreements.

The ACC/CTU Health and Safety Seminar was held on 8 and 9 July and twelve of our health and safety delegates attended.

The Cabotage Campaign hit Tauranga on July 9.

A large number of pamphlets were handed out to a positive response.

The local Port Security meeting was held on July 11 with both MUNZ and the Rail and Maritime Union represented.

In the May issue of the Maritimes, specifically the Auckland Seafarers column, Wayne Butson of the Rail and Maritime Union says he hopes to increase that union’s membership in Tauranga.

Does that mean the RMTU will be embarking on a poaching campaign?

Port Roundup: New Plymouth

by Shane Parker The branch is going through its usual quiet time for this time of year as the dairy season has slowed and the farmers have stopped putting on fertilizer, probably saving up for their fart tax.

This has allowed some of our members to travel out of port for the first time in a long time.

It’s good to get around other ports and see what’s going on.

At our recent stop work meeting we had a visit from Susan Leuchars from the Super Fund which was timely what with the recent performance of the fund.

She was lucky to be able to inform the members of a improved performance since the end of the financial year.

The first meeting of the local port facility security committee was held and was attended by a large section of local and national industry representatives including Dave Morgan from the Maritime Union head office.

A local committee was set up which includes representatives from Maritime Union and the RMTU. Graham Roberts has recently stood down as President of the local branch, and his replacement for the position will be decided at the upcoming AGM.

Port News Delegates at the Mt Maunganui Tauranga branch training seminar on 5 June, 2003. From left, Nick Bischoff, Sam Nepiate, Gavin Cooper, Selwyn Russell, Dennis Kemp and Brian Harrington.

On the P & O Ports collective agreement negotiations team, from left to right, Paul Sellers, Neil Chapman, Phil Spanswick, Peter Winiata, Andrew Cooper, and Moro Peters. The collective agreement was ratified on Tuesday 15 July.

21

Port Roundup: Napier

by Bill Connelly

Around and about The port is reasonably busy at the moment, even though the fruit and squash, which are Hawkes Bay’s major seasonal exports, are coming to a close.

The Port of Napier is in the process of the demolition of Number 2 Shed.

It is understood this is to create added space for the expected increase in container traffic through the port.

Ohope Beach Accommodation in New Zealand Members should be aware that the holiday accommodation at Ohope Beach is now at a premium, because of the sale of the front two units.

The Union still owns unit number 3 and bookings can be made through the Napier Branch, by contacting the Secretary either at the Union Office, his home or on his mobile telephone number (see page 31 for contacts.)

It is widely known that the Union was the main advocate of this proposed piece of legislation becoming a legally binding document and has been since the initial meeting in June of 1996.

The General Secretary and I have contacted the interested parties from OSH and the MSA to try and get this back on the table for discussion.

As most of you are aware the only two points holding up further discussion and implementation was “Stress and Fatigue and the Hours of Work”.

This is now covered under the changes to the Health and Safety in Employment Act. My own personal opinion is the sooner we have some form of legislation in place to cover the old General Harbour Regulations 1968, which I might add expired on the 31 March 2003 along with other outdated legislation covered under the old Harbours Act 1950, the better.

The current Guidelines for Health and Safety in Port Operations being displayed on the web are dated 1997, whereas the final draft dated August 2000 is much more comprehensive and worker friendly.

Port Roundup: Gisborne

by Dein Ferris If it was any quieter up here, we’d be at a standstill.

There have only been a couple of ships in the last month and it appears the bottom has fallen out of the log trade.

Trevor and I attended the Port Securities meeting on June 30 which was worthwhile.

I am on the committee so will be able to present our point of view.

We met with a few of the members after the meeting and they expressed their views to Trev.

We managed to get Trevor on a plane by 7.00am – we do have good weather aye Trev?

The Gisborne branch executive is as follows: President: Ian Croker Secretary : Dein Ferris Executive : Rex O’Connell James Harvey Rubin Anderson Malcolm Deans

Port News Gold Coast Accommodation in Australia

This is proving to be a most popular destination for all members throughout the country.

Please note that the confirmation period for bookings is now six months, which means that members around New Zealand can now book six months in advance.

Due to our recent inclement weather bookings have been heavy.

It seems everyone want to escape to the warmer climate of the Gold Coast.

Demand means we do not have any vacancies until 21 February 2004.

Code of Practice for Health and Safety in Port Operations This was the question I asked in the last issue of the Maritimes.

With the introduction of the changes to the Health & Safety in Employment Act soon to become law one has to ask the question what ever happened to the August 2000 final draft on the “Code of Practice for Health & Safety in Port Operations?“

22

Auckland branch Local 13 delegates at their recent health and safety training seminar, from left Joe Tairua (Leonard & Dingley), Brett Haldane (Auckland Stevedores), Graham McKean (Axis Fergusson), George Pou (Axis Bledisloe) & Jacki Dickinson (Road Office Port Company.) (photo: Bob Stephenson)

Port Roundup: Wellington Waterfront

by John Whiting

Ted Thompson We mark the passing of our deeply respected Life Member, Ted Thompson with sadness but also with gratitude for his life of service.

Ted’s contribution to the lives of all watersiders from the 1950’s through to the present day should never be forgotten.

His energy, commitment, industrial and political acumen, and his acute sense of the achievable have left us a legacy that includes the container agreements – the base of today’s terms and conditions, the sound organizational and financial structure of our Union, and the Waterfront Superannuation Fund.

Vale, Ted. He continued his interest in our struggles and always volunteered his wise counsel right up to the most recent months.

This type of training is essential for our members to defend themselves and progress into the future.

There will be follow-up seminars in the next few months.

Many thanks to Chris McDonald and Craig Harrison for running this course.

Crane pain: a ships crane at Centreport in Wellington snapped and fell in July. No-one was injured but the consequences could have been far worse.

(Photos courtesy of Todd Valster of the RMTU.)

Port News Port company negotiations

These negotiations are into heavy weather with a 48 hour strike definitely on as the Maritimes goes to print.

The main problem is the sale of the Port Company’s stevedoring subsidiary to new owners Independent Stevedoring of Mt. Maunganui in combination with Tasman Orient Line.

We believe this is effectively selling our jobs.

It is evident from Centreport’s late claims to change starting and notification times, and smoko arrangements, that the new structure will involve further downgrading of work conditions.

Our members are strongly opposed to any further worsening of the Collective Employment Agreement and we are determined to fight for a positive outcome.

Crew change, Ocean Bounty style: the helicopter is a SuperPuma, carrying 16 in comfort. (photo by Bob Thorpe)

Delegate Training We recently held our first delegate training seminar.

A group of young members from our Waterfront Branch and the local Seafarers Branch attended and benefited from the course.

Graham Roberts (New Plymouth), Mike Williams (Wellington Seafarers) and Brian Callaghan (Nelson) at the Maritime Union Joint Council Meeting in June. Graham has recently resigned as New Plymouth Branch President.

23

Port Roundup: Lyttelton

by Les Wells The Police Inquiry into Christine Clarke’s death based on complaints received by Derek Powell was released recently.

It seems that some of his complaints were upheld - so what - he was still the bastard behind the wheel.

As reported last edition Pacifica has lost a ship, and there is more and more pressure being put on the men to make changes to the rosters.

We continue to battle on with the other three companies dealing with the everyday pressures put on the workforce with reduced manning.

Port Roundup: Timaru

by Kevin Forde The Timaru branch had our AGM recently.

The Branch executive comprises Kevin Forde (President) and Tony Townsend (Secretary), with the executive members Graham Wallace, Greg Murphy, Wayne Hanson and Peter O’Driscoll.

The Maritime Safety Authority held their port security meeting on July 22 which myself and Trevor Hanson attended, even though it appeared they didn’t want us involved.

I was proud to be made a life member of the Union at the last national meeting.

On June 12 the branch picketed the cement ship Nan Chang Hai. A local cement loading contract was given to Mainland Stevedoring and their out of town employees.

Local union members will continue to defend local jobs and the local economy.

Port Roundup: Nelson

By Brian Callaghan Stevedoring Services manager John Moore recently moved north to Tauranga and the staff wish him well in his new venture.

The new manager Steve Bell is from Tauranga and is currently commuting between two ports.

A busy fruit season has just finished.

The hoki season is underway but it is not expected to be as busy this year as quota have been reduced.

Log trade is continuing and is still a major export from Nelson with five ships calling into the port in June.

Port security has been stepped up recently and various meetings held, however no representatives from the Maritime Union were in attendance.

Port News Recently sighted in the port of Lyttelton by a keen eyed photographer.

‘Doom’ of Bluff unloading urea. (photo by ‘Harry’ Holland)

At the June National Council Meeting (from left) Joint National President Les Wells, Port Chalmers Branch President Dave Dick, Assistant General Secretary Terry Ryan and Mt Maunganui Tauranga Secretary Phil Spanswick.

Gilly Holland loading scrap onto the Flacon Tiger. (photo by ‘Harry’ Holland)

24

Port Roundup: Local 21

by Phil Mansor The establishment of Local 21, the Stores and Warehouse branch of the Maritime Union, has been a long time coming.

There had been conflict between the two unions (Stores and Watersiders) around the start of containerization in the early 1970’s.

This led to the Stores Union leaving the then Federation of Labour (FOL) as we felt decisions had been stacked against us.

However the problems between us and the watersiders were worked through, and the two unions began working together.

I first discussed the proposal of forming an alliance between the Stores Union and the Watersiders with former Watersiders Secretary Sam Jennings in the early 1980s.

The idea was to set up a similar system as used by the ILWU on the West coast of the United States.

After meetings with members at that time, we came into the Waterside office and the Watersiders General Secretary became our General Secretary as well.

During the mid-eighties, transport and maritime workers came together in a federation after concerns about the formation of the CTU from the FOL and public sector unions.

Over the late eighties and nineties, other events including the Industrial Relations Act and the Employment Contracts Act had a major impact on the way we functioned.

The introduction of the Employment Relations Act in August 2000 was the last major change.

Apart from the collective bargaining and good faith requirements, there is not too much joy in it for Unions.

I am of the firm opinion we need to follow the pattern of the ILWU in the USA and Canada.

The formation of Local 21, representing stores workers, is a step in this direction.

The way forward is for Maritime Unions to become more global in the same way as big business.

Port Roundup: Bluff

By Ray Fife It has been uneventful in the deep south lately as shipping has tapered off at the moment.

The downturn is probably due to the high NZ dollar and the SARS outbreak.

Biosecurity Recently we had a spider incident on the vessel MSC New Plymouth while it was in port.

A very observant casual stevedore found dead red back spiders on board.

All members walked off the ship and would not return until MAF carried out a thorough search.

Subsequently live red back spiders were found and the ship was fumigated before the resumption of work.

The National Executive policy of “find it, report it” has paid off it seems.

Members are now more aware and are being more observant when working aboard vessels.

Superfund Waterfront Super Fund Director Susan Leuchars addressed a good turn out of members on the present state of the fund, and gave her view of the long term projection of the fund.

The meeting was very informative with many questions asked and answered in a positive manner.

We would like to again thank Susan for attending and hope these meetings will be on a more regular basis.

Health and Safety Ray Fife, Harry Holland, Terry Osborne and Paul Cross have been elected as Health and Safety delegates.

A training workshop has yet to be organized for down south, but the handbook issued by National Office has been made use of already in recording incidents/accidents and day to day safety issues.

It is good to see delegates take a positive attitude toward their added responsibilities.

Port News Bluff picket see page 18

Archie and Kevin of Bluff unloading fish from Pacinui (photo by ‘Harry’ Holland)

25

Port Roundup: Port Chalmers

by Phil Adams With the winter well upon us in the south, the busy nature of our port continues to keep members occupied, particularly in the terminal.

Weekend work has become the norm which although acceptable to the employees is causing concern amongst those who continually turn up.

A roster system is being looked at which hopefully may allow for more predictable time off, and a more contented home life for members.

Highest number of TEUS for year to date The terminal has just turned over 100,000 TEUS for the year.

This is the highest number of containers the port has handled, which puts us in a good position for the future, and augers well for the employment of more young new entrants.

New tug There is a new tug in the Port, much needed for the berthing of the 4100 vessels.

It apparently has a higher bollard pull than Lyttelton’s Blackadder tug, another much needed victory over our rivals further north.

Port Company News

South Island Organizer

The lads at Port Chalmers Cargo Services have been reasonably busy with logs, containers, fish and fertilizer.

Their boss, Ross Gibb, recently moved to the port company to take up the role of Assistant Terminal Manager at Port Otago.

The new manager for members at Port Chalmers Cargo Services is Ross Burket, formerly from Lyttelton.

Our first job with him will be to address issues that were agreed to with the previous manager.

One of the major issues to be discussed is the casual rate.

The port company have agreed to pay casuals overtime, which is believed to be unique around ports in New Zealand and should be aimed at by all ports.

The port company have opened what is seen to be an inland port.

We have put the company on notice the Union hopes to represent those who work there and bring them under our collective agreement.

The Port Chalmers branch still supports the creation of this position.

However in the South Island it is quite a fragmented situation.

This is due to the fact not all ports use their elected representatives for negotiations and problems, and instead port company unionism is being practiced.

It is the latter case that the branch now views the South Island organizers’s job as ineffective.

Elected representatives has been the strongest attribute of the union throughout the years.

The South Island organizers’s position would be justified if the system currently operating here was practiced in each South Island port.

Here we have one person (Phil Adams) working for the port company and involved in negotiations and issues for all companies in the port.

There is no problems with this structure, and as the National President would say, the members come first.

Mainland The Port Chalmers branch is still very vigilant in regard to companies like Mainland.

The branch will be supporting future pickets by the Bluff branch to halt Mainland’s attempts at establishing the company there.

Notification is the problem at the moment, but members are prepared to travel to help their comrades.

Both the Port Chalmers and Bluff branches have written to the forestry company using Mainland in Bluff and are yet to receive a reply.

Ted Thompson It was with great regret that we received news of the death of Ted Thompson.

Those who knew Ted found him totally dedicated to the members he served, and in his later years the Port Chalmers branch used Ted in various situations in which he never hesitated to help.

Ted served as National Secretary during the good old days and could see the struggles the union had in recent times.

He congratulated the Union in adapting to the current industrial climate that was totally foreign to him.

Ted could see the Union was holding its own and in some cases clawing back what had been lost, and keeping the Union at the forefront of unionism in New Zealand.

Our deepest sympathy to Ted’s family, he will be missed.

Racing with Nautilus Franco Running a slashing second to qualify for the graduation final at Forbury recently, Nautilus Franco ran last in the final.

Nautilus Franco continues our heartache of owing a racehorse, but rest assured she will be back in the new season to agonize us all.

Former Waterfront National Secretary Bruce Malcolm, Dave Dick and Keith Currie at Port Otago.

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Sheds The branch now represents all who work in the warehousing side of Port Otago.

Currently they are looking at moving to a shift system which although attractive may see the ability to earn a reasonable wage threatened.

Members concerns were conveyed to the company by David Dick and myself, and hopefully a meeting to address the issues will be held.

As a collective group is vitally important at this time, we left the meeting assured the men were totally behind the negotiators in our stance.

Holiday Unit The holiday unit continues to be fully utilized.

Its popularity extends to ports in the North Island from where we have received inquiries.

It is now fully booked for the rest of the year.

Enquiries to Ian Quarrell telephone 03 472 7216 or Phil Adams 03 472 8052.

Local Elections Elections for the positions of officials and Executive were recently held with the following results: President: Dave Dick Vice President: Clive Giles Secretary: Phil Adams Executive: Noel Currie, Keith Currie, Ian Quarrell, Adam Law and Wayne Welsh.

Trustees: Keith Currie, Murray Gillon.

It was indeed heartening to see 10 people contest the five executive positions and although incumbents prevailed, the calibre of those who

missed out will see their turn come in the future.

This can only be good for the branch.

It is also hoped to have a representative from both warehousing and seafarers on the executive this year.

Amalgamation The amalgamation has been going smoothly for the branch.

Seafarers are attending meetings and given the opportunity at meetings to raise matters, which they do.

Amalgamation with the RMTU still seems light years away and the branch believes in getting one amalgamation out of the way before starting another.

Maritime Union Structure With the first full Maritime Union elections in October, those standing for positions should now be considering their options.

The new union needs dynamic leaders to see it into the future with confidence.

The Union can make a difference by sticking to union principles and using the system instead of working outside the system.

The Joint Council meeting held in June in Wellington included looking at the structure and budget of the new union.

Members left knowing the Union is in a sound position both financially and structurally.

Super Fund The super fund seems to be coming back after a disastrous year.

Members continue to join, such as

Stu Neill of Port Chalmers asking the tough questions to Waterfront Super Fund manager Susan Leuchars.

the lads in the sheds who are convinced the super scheme is the way to go.

Susan Leuchars, David Young and Geoff Plunkett recently addressed a super fund meeting.

This went a long way to addressing concerns and all who attended are quietly confident of the future of the scheme.

Member Stu Neill met with Susan Leuchars after the meeting to ask additional questions.

Branch reports for “Maritimes” The opportunity to write a branch report for the “Maritimes” should not be underestimated as it is well received in the port and long may it continue.

With 2003 being the first year of the amalgamation the transition has been smooth, and the amalgamation is something that should have happened years ago.

The young members in the branch are interested in the Union’s affairs so the future looks assured and I hope this is happening in other ports around the country.

Maritime Union of New Zealand Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch Stopwork Meeting, June 2003

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Union Clothing

Interport 2004 plans under way

The Maritime Union of New Zealand is ordering Union clothing for members that will be available from the National Office.

Thank you to those who wrote in on the inquiry form that was in the last issue of the Maritimes.

This helped us plan what orders we were going to make and we will get back to you all personally in the next few weeks.

At this initial stage only t-shirts, polo shirts and ‘beanie’ hats will be available.

Once we have seen how this first set goes we may extend our range of items.

The clothes will be made in New Zealand by unionized companies.

Once they are ready we will let you know by posting the information on our website www.munz.org.nz and there will be order forms in the next edition of the Maritimes due out in November.

The Maritime Union 50th Interport Sports 2004 Tournament is to be held from the 9-12 February next year at Gisborne.

All ports are cordially invited to compete and all entries should be sent to the Auckland branch Local 13 office, PO Box 2645, Auckland.

Due to heavy interest some events may of necessity have a cut off imposed at a future date.

Entry fees set by the Council of Sport in Lyttelton were set at $150 and must accompany any entry registration.

Sports competitions will be catered for in the following events: Golf, Fishing, and Indoor Sports (which sees all contestants playing Indoor Bowls, 8 Ball, Snooker, and Darts over the 4 days of competition.)

Venues Golf - Poverty Golf Club Fishing - in the Ariel reef, South Rocks area Indoor Sports - to be confirmed (either the RSA or Cosmopolitan Club).

Entry fees The Auckland local executive has authorized an account to be used for the Interport entry fees and fundraising activities.

Any cheques can therefore be made out to the Auckland branch.

As per 3(d) of the MUNZ council of sport constitution, the Secretary for the tournament will be the Local 13 Secretary.

All correspondence to PO Box 2645, Auckland.

Any disputes over eligibility will be determined by MUNZ Joint National Council.

Accommodation The Waikanae Beach holiday park at the beach end of Grey St. (phone 06 867 5634) has Ranch house cabins (24 two bed cabins), tourist units (16 with two bedrooms and TV) and Deluxe Tourist flats with excellent modern facilities.

This along with other motels in the area are all within walking distance to the venues.

Contacts Gisborne Co-ordinator: Dein Ferris (phone 025 649 9697) Golf: Arthur Peke (phone 09 274 5852) Fishing: Terry Ryan (ph. 09 303 4652) Indoor Sports: Sam Pene (ph. 09 275 8260)

Clive Giles (left) and Dave Dick of Port Chalmers branch enjoy a glass of Port Otago wine at the launch of the new tugboat ‘Otago’. The $7 million vessel arrived in April.

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Memorabilia We are desperate for old interport memorabilia, stories, photos, programmes etc. for the 50th annual event programme.

Older material in particular is required.

Spirit of Competition, Wellington Harbour, February 2003.

Health & Safety News Website has the answers for health and safety reps The website for workplace health and safety representatives is live. http://www.worksafereps.org.nz is lively and interactive, featuring a handy toolkit for health and safety reps, information on training programmes and the latest news from New Zealand and overseas.

Website editor Nick Henry says the site aims to support workplace reps and help anyone interested in looking out for the heath and safety of their workmates.

There is a helpdesk with information about accidents, hazards, ACC, the Occupational Health and Safety Service, the law, and the role of workplace representatives.

If you can’t find what you are looking for, the site allows visitors to post their own questions.

Visitors to the site can also add their own health and safety experiences in the “Sharing Solutions” open forum section.

Here, reps can discuss problems affecting their workplace and offer one another solutions; share success stories; discuss wider health and safety issues; and talk about the issues involved in being a workplace rep.

It’s also possible to subscribe to a monthly health and safety newsletter, and order resources such as t-shirts, posters and pamphlets.

There is information on the Council of Trade Unions’ campaign “Unions talking Health and Safety” which aims to train 10,000 workplace representatives by the middle of next year.

Nick Henry says the website is modeled on similar sites in other countries, where they have successfully supported the role of health and safety representatives.

“It would be great if health and safety reps – and any worker inter-

ested in health and safety – checked out the site, contributed to the on-line forum, and emailed me with any news or suggestions,” he said.

“I’d also like to get case studies to put up in the campaign section, which describe problems and how the reps found solutions – workers’ stories are the best way of showing how the new law is working.”

Nick Henry says the best part of his job is getting feedback on the site.

“I am looking forward to seeing the site taking on a life of its own through the participation of reps and other workers interested in health and safety.”

The Role of the Health & Safety Rep The Act contains a set of functions for health and safety representatives listed below.

The role of the rep should be included in your workplace's Worker Participation system.

You need to make sure the functions your worksite agrees to are appropriate for your own workplace.

That may mean agreeing with your employer to a different set of functions than those set out in the Act. Being an elected Health and Safety Representative is a very important role.

It carries with it significant powers, but also the responsibility of representing fellow workers in relation to health and safety issues.

What does the Act say about the role of reps?

be dealt with • Consulting with OSH inspectors on health and safety issues • Promoting the interests of workers in a health and safety context generally and in particular those workers who have been harmed at work, including in relation to arrangements for rehabilitation and return to work • Carrying out any functions conferred on the representative by: (a) a system of employee participation (if an agreed system) (b) or the employer (with the agreement of the health and safety rep or the union representing the health and safety rep), including any functions referred to in a Code of Practice.

Other Responsibilities Hazard Notices Health and safety reps will be trained to undertake the process leading up to and, if necessary serving a Hazard Notice on the employer.

Hazard notices can be issued by a trained health and safety rep using the form which can be downloaded from the website.

Advising Fellow Workers On Refusal of Unsafe Work The Act places a significant responsibility on the health and safety rep in advising fellow workers on refusal of unsafe work.

If the health and safety rep advises the worker that the work is likely to cause serious harm then that amounts to reasonable grounds.

The role of the health and safety rep includes: • Fostering positive health and safety management practices in the place of work • Identifying and bring to the employer's attention hazards in the place of work, and discussing with the employer ways that the hazards may

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Webwatch The Maritime Union of New Zealand website has been up for a couple of months now and we have received lots of visits from members and interested ‘browsers’.

You can check out our website at the following address: www.munz.org.nz It has information about the cabotage campaign and news about Union events, downloadable versions of the Maritimes and the Union rules, as well as links to other interesting sites.

Some other good union sites can be found here:

Seafarers at the national Maritime Union joint council meeting in June 2003, from left Brian Forde, John Jefferies and Alan Windsor.

CTU website www.union.org.nz Health & Safety at work website www.worksafereps.org.nz ILWU website www.ilwu.org MUA website www.mua.org.au ITF website www.itf.org.uk Here are political websites of interest to workers: Labour Party www.labour.org.nz

No need for a plumber: MUA member Chris Alexander of Newcastle on board the Ocean Bounty. (photo by Bob Thorpe)

Green Party www.greens.org.nz Alliance Party www.alliance.org.nz Progressive Party www.progressive.org.nz Socialist Worker http://au.geocities.com/swo_nz/ The New Zealand Government also has a huge number of websites which can be found by going to: www.govt.nz Delegates at the Maritime Union of New Zealand Joint National Council, June 2003

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Letters Challenge for the Union During a recent visit to see Margaret Wilson (Minister of Labour) as part of our cabotage campaign, seafarers were able to inform her we were now members of the Maritime Union of New Zealand.

This simple statement spoke volumes in terms of empowering us in our efforts to lobby her.

The new Union is bigger with a more diverse membership and occupies a strategic position within the Maritime industry.

Politicians and anyone else need to take more notice of bigger stronger unions and will find it harder to ignore us.

However the challenge of the new union in preserving and hopefully expanding our existing job base in a fast changing world is immense.

The attainment of these goals will depend to a large extent on the unity and commitment of the membership to achieve them.

This comes down to a membership who identify with the new union and comprehend what it’s about.

Everybody has got to come on board.

The marriage of the two unions has taken place but the courtship between Wharfies and Seafarers will continue for some time.

This process will occur naturally as the union develops and we face the challenges that lie ahead together.

The structure of the new union will also have an effect on this process.

It seems we are all living under the same roof but are for the most part separated off in different rooms.

We must ensure that this type of structure does not create inefficiencies or hinder us in pursuing our collective goals.

There are now many well established and resourced non union and scab stevedores working on New Zealand wharves.

The numbers of New Zealand crewed ships continues to decline.

We have as previous unions been unable (despite all our efforts) to counter these threats even with a Labour Government in power.

Why is this?

Are we simply seen as groups of self interested workers pushing our own barrow?

We have got to be able to show the Government the direct benefits to the whole country of having a NZ shipping industry and unionized wharves.

I am sure the new Union will be far more effective in tackling these and other issues.

We will need to tap into every bit of talent the new Union has and where needed find new and innovative ways to fight.

Peter Harvey Tauranga Seafarer

Glimmer of hope Retired wharfies deal mostly in nostalgia so it is pleasing to see a glimmer of hope in the amalgamation of the Maritime interests.

At this stage it is probably too much to think that the real value of collective bargaining is alive and well across the workers in the Maritime industries.

In these enlightened times it seems to be left to the so called professionals and academics to do that.

Those retired members and others who knew Ted Thompson will recall his abilities not the least of which was his knack of making the hard decisions without fear or favour.

One always knew when he addressed the multitude and included the work “however” the tumult and the shouting died.

A resolution to fill the bill was produced that others thought they had engineered.

Let there be no moaning at the lean now that he’s put out to sea.

Lloyd Jenkin Timaru The Maritimes welcomes letters from members and former members, as well as other interested individuals and groups.

Please mail to ‘The Maritimes’ Magazine, Maritime Union of New Zealand, PO Box 27004, Wellington, New Zealand.

Fax 03 4736 975 Email victor.billot@munz.org.nz

Regional Contacts Whangarei Mobile: 021 855 121 Fax: 09 4351 453 Address: PO Box 397, Whangarei Email: danny.schick@munz.org.nz

Auckland (Seafarers) Phone: 09 3032 562 Fax: 09 3790 766 Mobile: 021 326 261 Address: PO Box 1840, Auckland Email: garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz Auckland (Local 13) Phone: 09 3034 652 Fax: 09 3096 851 Mobile: 021 760 887 Address: PO Box 2645, Auckland Email: shona@munz.org.nz Mount Maunganui Phone: 07 5755 668 Fax: 07 5759 043 Mobile: 025 782 308 Address: PO Box 5121, Mt. Maunganui Email: phil.spanswick@munz.org.nz Gisborne Phone: Mobile: Address: Email:

06 8676 438 025 6499 697 23 Bloomfield Rd, RD1, Gisborne dein.ferris@munz.org.nz

New Plymouth Phone: 06 7589 728 Fax: 06 7513 646 Mobile: 0274 127 854 Address: PO Box 659, New Plymouth Email: shane.parker@munz.org.nz Napier Phone/Fax: Mobile: Address: Email:

06 8358 622 025 2174 289 PO Box 70, Napier bill.connelly@munz.org.nz

Wellington (Seafarers) Phone: 04 3859 288 Fax: 04 3848 766 Mobile: 021 481 242 Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington Email: mike.williams@munz.org.nz Wellington (Waterfront) Phone: 04 3859 288 Fax: 04 3848 766 Address: PO Box 2773, Wellington Email: john.whiting@munz.org.nz Nelson Phone/Fax: 03 5446 886 Mobile: 025 844 148 Address: PO Box 5016, Nelson

Lyttelton Phone: 03 3288 306 Fax: 03 3288 798 Mobile: 0274 329 620 Address: PO Box 29, Lyttelton Email: les.wells@munz.org.nz

Timaru Phone/Fax: 03 6843 364 Mobile: 021 2991 091 Address: PO Box 813, Timaru

Port Chalmers (Dunedin) Phone: 03 4728 052 Fax: 03 4727 492 Mobile: 027 437 7601 Address: PO Box 44, Port Chalmers Email: phil.adams@munz.org.nz Bluff Phone/Fax: Mobile: Address: Email:

03 2128 189 0274 475 317 PO Box 5, Bluff ray.fife@munz.org.nz

31

Colin Wilson and Mike Cla oldest serving members rk, two of our aboard the Ocean Bounty (photo by Bob Thorpe)

nd, 19 July 2003 Bluff workers picket Mainla

Wellington mem bers get to grip s with delegate training

a, Glyn Davies and Smoko time: Joe Tairu d Delegate Training lan Antony Brown at Auck n) so en ph Ste b Bo by (photo

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