Fisheries agreement a positive step
Transport workers back Korean unions
The Maritime Union says the ratification of a new global fisheries agreement by the New Zealand Government is positive news. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Port State Measures Agreement is designed to fight illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. Maritime Union National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says New Zealand still has a long way to go to fix systemic problems in the fishing sector. “The consistent theme is that illegal fishing is often linked to exploitation of crew members and other abuses.” He says the full enforcement of current laws and regulations was still required. New Zealand is the ninth country to ratify the agreement, which requires 25 ratifications to come into force. Despite the Government announcement in 2012 that Foreign Charter Vessels (FCVs) in New Zealand waters would have to be reflagged to the New Zealand flag by 2016, bringing them under the full range of New Zealand law, there have been ongoing problems in the industry. Recent examples include a serious injury to a New Zealand Government observer on a FCV resulting in the amputation of an arm in January this year, and raids by authorities on FCVs in Timaru for suspected illegal activity in 2013.
The International Transport Workers Federation has slammed attacks against the Korean Railway Workers’ Union (KRWU). KRWU members went on strike against planned privatisation measures for 23 days in December 2013. Four union leaders were arrested for their part in organising the strike. The ITF welcomed the news that the leaders had been released on bail on 20 February, but was alarmed to hear that they will be tried later this month. Employer Korail has announced that it will discipline 404 KRWU officers involved with the strike. Of these workers, 130 have been sacked – some with reduced severance pay – and 251 have been suspended. Korail has also filed a lawsuit 15.2 billion won (USD14.5) against the union and its leaders, while a union bank account has been frozen. Korail’s actions have been met with international condemnation. The ITF, International Trade Union Confederation and Public Services International have all asked the Korean president to intervene.
$150,000 costs for rogue trawler A seized Korean deep-sea fishing trawler has cost taxpayers $150,000 since being laid up at a Dunedin wharf over a year ago. The Melilla 201 had to be professionally fumigated after being found to be infested with rats and lice. The vessel has been investigated for illegal fishing, human rights and employment abuse after being seized in May 2013. It has a long history of problems over the years, noted by the Maritime Union. The Melilla 201 is the subject of an application to the courts to be sold. The vessel was seized by authorities under section 207 of the Fisheries Act. The Ministry for Primary Industries says the vessel was involved in unlawfully discarding quota species fish into the sea. Charges relate to two fishing trips during 2011, the same year the vessel and its sister ship, Melilla 203 which is also berthed in Dunedin - became embroiled in claims from their Indonesian crews of unpaid wages. The trawlers are owned by Taejin Fisheries, which is based in Pusan, South Korea.
12 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2014
New laws an attack on workers The Employment Relations Amendment Bill passed its second reading in the New Zealand Parliament in March. New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly described the changes to employment law as “very significant.” Ms Kelly says the rights of workers to collectively bargain will be fundamentally compromised and as a result wages will be lower. “This Bill weakens protections for workers at the times they are most vulnerable: when they are trying to get a new job and when their jobs are at risk. Removing the right for workers to have a tea break is evidence that the Government doesn’t care about workers.”
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