The Maritimes Autumn 2015

The Maritimes Issue 49 • Autumn 2015

www.munz.org.nz

Magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand

ISSN 1176-3418

The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 1

Call for a national inquiry into port health and safety The Maritime Union has called for a national inquiry into the port sector. Like forestry, many of our ports are now dangerous work environments and we need to confirm why this is happening and change it.

In the meantime, we cannot rely on employers or the Government to look after this area. Workers must take control of health and safety on the job.

Please inform your branch officials and the national office of any health and safety incidents, whether resulting in injury or not.

There is an easy to complete form on our website, or if pressed for time a phone call is better than nothing.

This is a confidential system and we will protect your privacy if this is your wish.

The Union has been building a database of incidents which allows us to track progress and respond to any serious situations.

Ports of Auckland

National Secretary’s Report

By Joe Fleetwood Centreport prosecution The death of long time MUNZ member Mark Samoa in a workplace accident at Centreport in January 2013 affected many people.

A Wellington court ruled in January 2015 that “Centreport failed to take all practical steps to ensure the safety of Mr Samoa while at work.”

Improved work safety measures are now in place at Centreport and the Union is working with management to ensure there is never a repeat of this tragedy.

Health and safety breaches, major or minor, cannot be tolerated.

Lyttelton Port Company to be charged We also note that LPC has been charged under the Health and Safety in Employment Act in respect of the death of Brad Fletcher in August 2014.

Brad was a long time employee of the port company and a respected President of the Lyttelton Branch of MUNZ. We await further details as to the nature of the charges.

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The ratification and signing of a new Collective Employment Agreement between MUNZ Local 13 and Ports of Auckland Limited is good news.

These members had been without a collective agreement since late 2011.

The ongoing dispute has come at a great cost to the Union and its members, but it was a fight that we had to take on to stop jobs being contracted out. It was never just about Auckland but about holding the line throughout the country.

The goal now is to get through the lock in period for the new agreement and work hard to rebuild and recharge.

It is not a perfect situation but given the original agenda, we have survived and achieved a base to work forward from.

It goes without saying that the hard work and sacrifices of the branch officials and membership are appreciated by all members of the Maritime Union.

In addition, the solidarity of the CTU and affiliated New Zealand unions, the ITF and our international affiliates, and the families, friends and union supporters who added their support will never be forgotten.

Offshore mining One area where potential employment has evaporated is the offshore mining industry.

This relatively undeveloped industry in New Zealand has recently hit two major roadblocks, with consents for iron sand mining by TTRL offshore of Taranaki, and phosphate mining on the Chatham Rise, being declined on environmental grounds.

The future of offshore mining is looking dim at this stage. However at the same time major block offers are opening up large areas of New Zealand’s maritime zones to exploration and potential drilling for oil and gas.

This is a fraught area with questions of environmental impact, health and safety, jobs, wealth for local communities, the profits received by corporates, and the royalties received by New Zealand.

www.munz.org.nz

The focus of the Maritime Union is to maintain an organized, unionised industry with the highest standards of health and safety.

We are also pressing for the need for a dedicated fast response vessel and the investigation of a national fund along the Norwegian model to ensure the benefits of this industry are widely spread for all of New Zealand.

This is not an unlimited resource and in future decades perhaps New Zealand seafarers will be engaged to assist with the construction and maintenance of tidal, wave and offshore wind power projects.

These technologies are all under development around the world. The New Zealand Government needs to be part of the development or be left behind.

Ports facing changes Ports around New Zealand are going through a period of great change. The growth of inland ports has been an ongoing feature with projects in Rolleston, Palmerston North and Ruakura (Waikato) all in various stages of being rolled out.

The expansion of existing ports is now becoming a major issue as well.

The growth of container trade and challenges of scale and space in New Zealand sea ports are causing problems in many cases.

In Auckland, the proposed expansion of the port into the Waitemata Harbour has become a hot political debate.

Centreport in Wellington has surprised many by announcements of expansion plans after some years of reduced volumes, which is great for the country’s capital.

In the bulk and general stevedoring sector, change is also afoot with the purchase of ISO by the giant Australian logistics operator QUBE. These developments are discussed elsewhere in this edition of The Maritimes.

Global crisis – war and austerity threaten working class Internationally, the outlook for working people is concerning.

Maritime and transport workers throughout the world continue to face hostile and aggressive employers, often backed by the complicity or open assistance of reactionary governments and state agencies.

On the west coast of the USA, the ILWU is facing down a concerted attack by port employers which has resulted in slow downs in this critical part of the US economy.

Meanwhile, in Australia, the political agenda of the Liberal Government is in disarray after a series of disastrous blunders by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

As a result, the Labor Party has returned to power in the State Governments of Queensland and Victoria.

In Europe, there is now a mass revolt against the failed policies of free market capitalism and the “austerity” forced on working people to pay for the Global Financial Crisis.

www.munz.org.nz

The Greek Government has stood up against austerity and popular movements elsewhere are joining this resistance.

The ongoing fallout from the Western world’s military adventures in the Middle East has now resulted in the growth of a rogue state controlled by violent religious fundamentalists ISIS. The instability of this part of the world has been caused by ill thought out interference. We must make sure New Zealand is not drawn into supporting another war in the Middle East that will only make things worse for New Zealand.

Within New Zealand, we are seeing the cracks begin to open up in the National Government with issues such as the sale of State houses, and the crony capitalism of the Sky City casino subsidy beginning to undermine the credibility of the Key administration.

MUNZ must continue to engage in constructive political work locally and internationally and play our part in creating a safe and secure world for our children and grandchildren.

Paul Robeson In the 1930s through to the 1960s, the American singer Paul Robeson was one of the world’s most well known and well loved entertainers.

Robeson was also an outspoken activist for civil rights and a great supporter of the labour movement.

Paul Robeson travelled to New Zealand in 1960 as part of his last concert tour and during this time he visited striking waterside workers in Wellington. Robeson’s visit to Wellington, the fiery speeches, and the uplifting songs are still remembered by retired watersiders to this day.

He addressed the Waterside Special Stopwork Meeting and accepted life membership of the Watersiders’ Union, now the Maritime Union.

This proud part of our union history was brought back to life during the recent visit of UK actor and writer Tayo Aluko who brought his award winning production of songs and speeches of Paul Robeson to Wellington.

The Maritime Union was pleased to support this important reminder of our history. We are very lucky to have such a great history to draw on with so many working class iconic events. More on this later in this magazine.

National Council The National Council of the Maritime Union will be meeting at the National Offices of the Union on the 27 and 28 May 2015, with the Finance Committee meeting on 26 May.

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MUNZ trainer, Craig Harrison, leads the training course at Waterside House, Wellington

Union training course in Wellington attracts interest MUNZ Wellington Branch members attended a two day union training course on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 March 2015 at the Union’s national office at Waterside House, Wellington.

Those attending were – Fleur Bishara, Lisa Repia, Annette McCauley, Drew Ordish, Paul Baggott, Kitesa Panapa (Interisland Line) Brendon Gage (Strait Shipping) Epa Soro and Jason Penny (Centreport) Dan Johnston (TSL Wellington) Rex Mihaere, Dave Moke (C3 Wellington) Vince Wall (SGS Wellington) All attended under the paid EREL (Employment Relations Education Leave) provisions of their respective Collective Agreements.

The course was led by MUNZ trainer and Auckland Local 13 executive member, Craig Harrison.

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Some of the topics covered included understanding employment laws, the role of the delegate on the job, dealing with disciplinary processes, and the structure and the history of the Union.

The participants have gone back to the job much better equipped with the knowledge to lead and assist their fellow members into the future, says Wellington Branch Assistant Secretary John Whiting.

He says the Branch is committed to holding another course as soon as possible for a similar number of applicants that have already registered their interest.

MUNZ trainer Craig Harrison says any branch interested in holding a training course, or with any questions, can contact him or National Secretary Joe Fleetwood to discuss.

www.munz.org.nz

Collective employment agreement signed at Ports of Auckland

In this issue National Secretary’s Report page 2 News page 4 ITF News page 8 Voting page 10 National officials contacts page 11 New Zealand ports feature page 12 Health and safety update page 18 Branch contacts page 21 MUA West Australia Conference page 22 Paul Robeson page 26 Port Roundups page 29

Timaru’s waterside poet page 39 MARITIME UNION BADGE MUNZ members at Ports of Auckland unanimously NICKEL PLATED WITH voted in favour of a new collective employment 3 ENAMEL INFILLS AND RE agreement at their stopwork meeting on 18 February 2015.

Following the ratification, the new agreement for a two and a half year term was signed by both parties on 20 February.

MUNZ National Secretary Joe Fleetwood said a resolution to the dispute was important for the workforce.

“This four-year dispute put enormous strain on workers and their families at Ports of Auckland and I’d like to congratulate them for their strength and resolve,” Mr Fleetwood said.

“I’d also like to thank the ITF and the international trade union community, as well as the support of the New The Maritimes Magazine Zealand Council of Trade Unions and local affiliates.

26mm There were rallies and actions of solidarity and support Published quarterly by the Maritime Union of New Zealand. from right around the globe, including outside NZ Authorized by Joe Fleetwood, 220 Willis Street, Wellington. embassies and consulates in support of the MUNZ ISSN 1176-3418 struggle.”

MUNZ national president Garry Parsloe, who played Editor: Victor Billot a leading role in resolving the dispute and retired at Mobile: 021 482219 Email: victor.billot@munz.org.nz Mail: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141, New Zealand the end of March 2015, said: “The new agreement is a positive step for workers at the Ports of Auckland and it Deadline for Winter 2015 edition: 1 June 2015 should ensure the continued success of the port going forward.”

Maritime Union online The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) joined in celebrating the signing of a new collective Website www.munz.org.nz agreement.

Facebook www.facebook.com/maritime.union ITF president, chair of34984 the ITF JOB: v2.0 dockers’ section and Twitter www.twitter.com/maritimeunion national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia Flickr www.flickr.com/maritimeunion Paddy Crumlin said: “This dispute goes way back to YouTube www.youtube.com/maritimeunionnz PLATE DEPTH: 2mm PIN (9mm) AND CLUTCH ELECTROPLATING: NICKEL 2011 and I congratulate the MaritimeFITTING: Union 1of New Zealand and its members for sticking to their guns and RESIN The Maritime Union of New Zealand is affiliated to the ALL DETAILS ARE CORRECT BEFORE GIVING APPROVAL TO PROCEED TO PRODUCTION staying strong inPLEASE their ENSURE quest for a collective agreement.”

International Transport Workers’ Federation www.itfglobal.org

Front cover photo

MUNZ Wellington Branch members attending union training at the national office of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, Waterside House, Wellington.

www.munz.org.nz

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National President Garry Parsloe retires Maritime Union of New Zealand National President Garry Parsloe is retiring after 55 years in the Union.

Garry stepped down as National President on 25 March, and retires as Auckland Branch Local 13 President on 10 April 2015.

It has been a long journey that started when the then teenager shipped out of Dunedin in 1960 as deck boy on the Union Steam Ship Company’s Karitane.

Garry joined the New Zealand Seaman’s Union, serving as ships delegate, and by the 1980s had become a national councillor for the NZSU. After assuming the full time position of Auckland Branch Secretary of the NZSU, he then began over three decades as a full time union official.

The Seamen’s Union amalgamated with Cooks and Stewards in 1989, forming the New Zealand Seafarers’ Union, which Garry continued on with as Auckland Secretary.

In the early years of the formation of MUNZ in 2002, Garry served as Auckland Branch Local 13 Secretary before moving on to the President’s job for Auckland Branch Local 13 for the rest of his term in office.

Garry served as National Vice President, and was elected in 2011 as National President of MUNZ. In addition to these busy roles, he has served on a number of other trade union organisations.

He has been a trustee of the Seafarers’ Retirement Fund for around 35 years.

This has included being New Zealand Convenor of ITF for around 10 years.

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He has served as Convenor/Chairman of the local Council of Trade Union affiliates for a number of years in Northland, Tauranga and Auckland. For a period in the 1990s when the trade union movement divided into two national groupings, he represented the Trade Union Federation in official capacities, then returned to CTU duties when TUF and the CTU merged back together.

He has also served on the Auckland May Day Committee and Trades Hall Trust.

Garry says one of the things he was happy about his time with the Union was that the Union achieved some good conditions such as superannuation which had been held onto.

However, he says the high point was the recent unanimous ratification and signing of a new collective employment agreement at the Ports of Auckland, following the lengthy and bitter dispute.

In his view the dispute’s origins lay in the anti working class legislation which gave employers the opening to launch attacks on organised labour.

“If there had been some decent legislation, and a different Government, they would have not taken us on.”

The dispute had been resolved with the help of all branches of MUNZ, CTU affiliates and the ITF international, but Garry reserved his highest praise for the Local 13 members who had endured several years of difficult times but who had stuck loyal to union principles, and in the end had stopped their jobs being contracted out.

www.munz.org.nz

Maritime Union members joined a large march in Wellington against the TPPA (photo by Alan Windsor)

Thousands march against TPPA Thousands of New Zealanders turned out in protests across the country against a Pacific-wide free trade deal claimed to be “selling out” the people’s future.

Protesters took to the streets on Saturday 7 March in rallies in 22 towns and cities against the unpopular Trans-Pacific Partnership being pushed by Prime Minister John Key’s government against widespread opposition.

More than 3000 people marched in Auckland alone with a symbolic “Trojan horse” representing the TPPA being pulled along by corporate groups and an “Uncle Sam” character representing United States’ interests.

Many New Zealanders claim the TPPA will undermine the country’s sovereignty.

“It is about old-style imperialism. An Anglo-Saxon corporate ‘Old Boys’ club’ with modern technological toys,” said one rally organiser.

Groups of doctors opposed to the consequences for the New Zealand health system if the TPPA goes ahead were among those prominent in the march.

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Trade block The TPP aims to create a regional free trade block involving 12 Asia Pacific countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States and Vietnam.

The Auckland rally gathered in the central city Myers Park and then marched down Queen Street.

Radio New Zealand reported that in Wellington hundreds of people marched from Midland Park to Parliament.

In Christchurch, almost 3000 people were reported to have gathered in Shand’s Crescent in Addington before a march to Hagley Park.

– article courtesy of Pacific Media Centre, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 New Zealand Licence http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/articles/pacific-scoop-thousandsprotest-nz-against-pacific-wide-free-trade

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ITF Asia/Pacific ITF Inspectorate Seafarers’ Regional report Committee

By Garry Parsloe I attended the Asia/Pacific Seafarers’ Regional Committee meeting in Manila, The Philippines, on 10 — 12 February 2015.

On the first day we dealt with issues from the Sofia Congress in 2014.

1. Attacks on the fundamental rights of Seafarers 2. Shipboard workload fatigue and manning 3. Fair treatment of Seafarers 4. Employment scams 5. Advancing working and safety standards 6. Assisting unions with building capacity/organising On the second day Wednesday 11 February at the opening address, ITF Asia Pacific Regional Secretary Mahandra Sharma was able to say that the Ports of Auckland Collective Agreement was going to ratification on Wednesday 18 February 2015 after a long and protracted dispute.

Paul Goulter then spoke on how best to implement the decisions taken at the ITF Sofia Congress in 2014.

Paddy Crumlin then spoke on the retirement of Mahendra Sharma and how he will be missed within the ITF. The meeting then spent the rest of the day on the vision and areas of focus adopted by Congress.

1. Moving towards aligned ITF 2. Focus on Political momentum 3. Highlighting importance of regions in delivering results On the final day Thursday 12 February we heard reports regarding activating affiliates in the Asia/Pacific region.

After these presentations we had discussions on structure needs which encompassed the membership changes, mapping and the current financial situation.

Once again we had a positive and productive Asia/ Pacific Committee meeting.

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By Grahame McLaren New Zealand ITF Inspector Sofrana Joinville

I was contacted by the Seafarers’ Centre in Tauranga who had been approached by the Filipino Bosun from this Cyprus flagged FOC vessel, who was seeking help with repatriation.

As the vessel was due to sail shortly for Auckland, New Zealand ITF Convenor Garry Parsloe was contacted and kindly arranged for someone to look into the situation on the vessel’s arrival in Auckland.

It transpired that the Bosun’s family home had been destroyed in recent earthquakes and his family were now living under a tarpaulin, so he was understandably anxious to get home.

The problem was that his contract still had some time to run; due to this he had been told that if he wanted go home early he would need to pay his own fare, and possibly that of his reliever.

The Bosun was also worried about the possibility of being blacklisted which would leave him banned from shipping out.

I forwarded a letter of indemnity absolving the Bosun from any blame and repercussions to Auckland, but the Master was unwilling to sign.

I phoned the Master and explained the situation to him more fully, then after consultation with his company he relented and signed. We also told them that there was no way the Bosun would be paying for his reliever’s fare, and in the end this was reluctantly agreed to, but unfortunately the Bosun would still have to pay his own fare. The Bosun readily agreed to pay and flew home the same night.

He was told to contact us if he had any problems on arrival home. To date we have heard nothing more from him.

Miss Benedetta

While on board this Maltese flagged FOC vessel it came to my attention that a crew member was being paid as a trainee seaman when clearly he was performing the role of an Ordinary Seaman.

This was reflected in the STCW hours of work and rest records on board.

There was only one Ordinary Seaman on the crew list but the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate stated there must be two on board, so if the trainee seaman was not the second Ordinary Seaman then the vessel was in breach of this official document.

This was pointed out to the company and a claim was lodged for wages and excess overtime owed from the trainee seaman’s joining date in April up to the end of November.

It was also requested that he was to be issued a new contract as Ordinary Seaman, and that they amend his rate of pay to that set out in the ITF agreement, from the month of December and onwards. www.munz.org.nz

Sea Amity

An email was received from the company to the effect that the backpay had been paid and a new contract issued, but rather than take their word for it Branch Secretary and ITF Contact Selwyn Russell was contacted at the vessel’s next port of Tauranga.

Selwyn kindly agreed to go on board to talk to the Ordinary Seaman to make sure the payment, amounting to US$6,164.54 had been made, and also to collect the signed receipt and a copy of his new contract.

Selwyn reported that the newly made up Ordinary Seaman was very happy, and thankful for our intervention.

Sea Amity The Captain of this Chinese crewed, Liberian flagged FOC vessel was very cooperative.

Most documentation appeared in compliance with its ITF agreement, except it came to my attention that the payroll for January was still at last year’s rate.

I informed the Captain that a backpay claim would need to be lodged and the wages adjusted to this year’s rate from the February payroll onwards.

When asked, the Master confirmed that he had enough cash on board to cover this relatively small claim. I then contacted the company lodging the claim, asking that the outstanding amount be paid at the vessel’s next port of Tauranga.

A day or so later I had an email from the Master informing that the company had instructed him to pay the claim and adjust the payroll to the new rate from February onwards. I contacted Branch Secretary and ITF Contact Selwyn Russell in Tauranga, who along with Branch President and ITF Contact, Peter Harvey kindly attended the vessel and collected the signed claim forms.

They report the crew was very happy with the back pay and wage adjustments.

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Polaris Ace Once again the Captain of this Filipino crewed, Panamanian FOC vessel was very cooperative.

The documentation presented appeared in compliance with the vessel’s ITF agreement, except I noted that the monthly working hours were listed as 191 without overtime.

I pointed out that the agreement stated 40 hours per week, this equates to 173 hours monthly and that any hours over 173 must be recorded as overtime.

The master and Radio Officer understood my point and promised to make the appropriate changes. I then went through all the overtime records to ensure no one was owed any unpaid overtime. Fortunately no one was.

I also noted that the Captain and Radio Officer had been on board the vessel for a full year. They assured me that they were to be repatriated when the vessel reached its next port in Japan.

Some of the ratings were also over, or at the end of their 9 month contract periods and were to be repatriated in Japan as well. Apart from that the crew reported no problems and were happy to see the ITF on board.

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Getting the people of New Zealand to vote

By Byron Cumming Local 13 I would like to start this article off with a quote that I saw on the internet recently.

“If voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it,” said the nineteenth century American writer Mark Twain.

When I first read this quote I laughed to myself and saw the funny side to it, and I thought to myself, the people in suits and the so called “one percent” do rule the world.

Then after some time passed I started to really think about the quote, and all the people that didn’t vote at the last elections.

This makes me ask why so many New Zealanders did not go out and vote.

Is it laziness? Do people truly believe their vote doesn’t make differences? These are big questions and I think there are many reasons why so many New Zealand people didn’t vote last election.

This last election I signed up to groups on the internet, such as RockEnrol and Get Out and Vote.

I also got on the front cover of the Maritimes magazine with another MUNZ member on my ship holding a Get Out and vote card. I have voted in every election since I turned eighteen.

So how can we get more people in New Zealand to vote?

We all saw the ads on TV saying we all have a voice, and get out and vote.

I live in downtown Auckland and I saw the ads at the bus stops around Auckland, saying get out and vote.

This campaign would have cost a lot of money and still after all this was done, nearly one million people who were eligible to vote didn’t.

This brings me to the point of how we can improve voter turnout.

There is a group called RockEnrol - they have a website http://www.rockenrol.me and also some YouTube videos.

One of their goals is having online voting set up for the next New Zealand election.

This could be a good thing to try.

I know that there will be people worried is this a secure thing to do? What’s stopping the online voting system from being hacked?

There is no perfect voting system which cannot be tampered with or corrupted.

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If we get online voting, it will need the right care and security put into place.

I ask all members that read this to look up RockEnrol, and support this group.

I believe that New Zealand is and can be the “land of milk and honey.”

But I feel sad that so many New Zealanders choose not to vote and this brings me back to this quote “if voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it”.

There are people throughout history that have died or been imprisoned for the right to vote.

Here in New Zealand every citizen over the age of eighteen years has the right to vote and so many choose not to and I ask why?

When I go out to vote I think not just about myself but also the people around me. People need wage increases and a rules change so they can get into their first home.

People who do not go out and vote should ask how they want New Zealand to look in the future and what could the Government of the day do to make life better for them and their family and friends.

We would then have a true reflection of how New Zealand should be governed.

How to enrol to vote: elections.org.nz ENROL ONLINE Fill out an enrolment form online, then sign and return it OR use your verified RealMe® account to do it all online at www.elections.org.nz VISIT A POSTSHOP Pick up an enrolment form at your nearest PostShop.

DOWNLOAD AN ENROLMENT FORM Download an enrolment form to print, complete, sign and return from www.elections.org.nz FREETEXT 3676 You can Freetext your name and address to 3676 to receive an enrolment form in the mail.

CONTACT US ON 0800 36 76 56 Use the 24 Hour Freephone to have an enrolment form sent to your home to complete, sign and return.

www.munz.org.nz

Changes to parental leave

Workers’ share of income drops

The Government announced changes to parental leave provisions as part of the 2014 Budget: The current 14 weeks of paid parental leave will be increased in two stages - from 1 April 2015 paid parental leave will increase to 16 weeks and from 1 April 2016 leave provisions will be extended to 18 weeks.

From 1 April 2016 parental leave payments will apply to more workers - in particular to people who have recently changed jobs, seasonal and casual workers, and workers with more than one employer.

From 1 April 2016 primary carers, Home For Life parents and other carers with similar permanent care arrangements will be able to access paid parental leave For babies born on or after 1 April 2015, the Government will increase the parental tax credit from $150 a week to $220 a week, and extend the payment period from eight weeks to 10 weeks.

For more information see http://www.dol.govt.nz/ppl/

Workers’ share of total income has declined since the late 1970s, while real wages have not kept up with productivity gains, according to a recent study by the Productivity Commission.

The study “Who benefits from productivity growth” found that labour’s share of total income fell from about 65 per cent in 1978 to 57 per cent by 2010.

“This is an important part of the story of growth in income inequality in New Zealand. The fall in the labour income share is well known and has been happening in most countries around the world.

However it was particularly strong in New Zealand,” said CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg.

He said the Commission’s work is important in that it finds that a large part of the fall in the labour share of income was due to the high unemployment, the introduction of the Employment Contracts act in the early 1990s and other factors that “led to a loss of bargaining power for employees.”

Labour’s spokesperson on Labour Issues Iain LeesGalloway agreed that “good labour laws mean everyone gets their share of a stronger economy.”

Zero Hours

Contact the Maritime Union

New Zealand unions are calling attention to the spread of “zero hour contracts,” where workers have to be available for work, but have no hours guaranteed, particularly in the fast food industry.

Unite Union National director Mike Treen, for example, reports that zero hour contracts are now the norm in the industry. “McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Burger King, Wendy’s – all of the contracts have no minimum hours, and so people can be – and are – rostered anywhere from three to 40 hours a week, or sometimes 60 hours a week, and it depends a lot on how you get on with your manager,” he recently told the news media.

According to First Union, zero hour contracts are beginning to creep into the retail, finance and transport sectors.

“This is happening even in some of our well-known stores and supermarkets in the country and a zero hour contract means that you are at the whim of that employer,” said General Secretary Robert Reid.

The Council of Trade Unions has warned that the contracts can be illegal in certain circumstances, but few make it to court. “It’s a big step for workers to take their casual contract to court and say ‘hey, I don’t think this is fair.’

So they’re very unusual, and they’re not classified as zero hour contracts under case law because that’s a new term,” said CTU lawyer Jeff Sissons.

www.munz.org.nz

National Office Telephone: 04 3850 792 Fax: 04 3848 766 Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141 Office administrator: Ramesh Pathmanathan Email: ramesh@munz.org.nz National Secretary: Joe Fleetwood Direct dial: 04 8017614 Mobile: 021 364649 Email: joe.fleetwood@munz.org.nz Acting National President: Carl Findlay Direct dial: 09 3034652 Mobile: 021 760887 Email: carl.findlay@munz.org.nz Assistant General Secretary: Ray Fife Direct dial: 03 2128189 Mobile: 0274 475317 Email: ray.fife@munz.org.nz ITF Inspector: Grahame McLaren Direct dial: 04 8017613 Mobile: 021 2921782 Email: mclaren_grahame@itf.org.uk Communications Officer: Victor Billot Mobile: 021 482219 Email: victor.billot@munz.org.nz

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The Dock of the Bay: the coming shakedown of the New Zealand port sector

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Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ comes Watchin’ the ships roll in Then I watch ‘em roll away again, yeah I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay Watchin’ the tide roll away . . .

(Otis Redding, Sitting on the dock of the bay)

By Victor Billot Ports in a storm The New Zealand ports sector has entered a new unstable phase, driven by changes in shipping, increasingly aggressive competition, and takeovers and alliances between outside operators and bigger industry players.

The business press provides a largely uncritical and promotional view of these developments, which are often described as “port rationalisation.”

This is a vague term that seems to mean many things.

Rationalisation can refer to adjusting the number and the role of New Zealand ports, or resolving the lack of any clear strategic direction for the sector on a national level. Intense competition between port operators, the ownership model (privatization is still on the agenda) and attacks on unions are also part of this heady mix.

The instability in the sector reflects a wider international malaise.

The ongoing unresolved global financial crisis, and the political and economic stability of major export markets such as China, are threats for New Zealand.

There is a somewhat naive assumption that continued growth in trade is almost guaranteed.

The reliance on a small number of export commodities makes this country vulnerable to any downturn in the markets for these exports.

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New Zealand has been described as having a “hollow society” in the past, but it also has in some aspects a hollow economy.

On the surface New Zealand is a developed nation, but is reliant on an unusual and limited range of goods and services. Our economy is dependent on sea ports for the vast majority of its imports and exports.

Despite this, the stability and effectiveness of the port sector has been left to chance.

There is no sense of any direction to ensure parochial interests of individual operators don’t override the stability of the overall system.

Shipping companies, such as the Danish based multinational Maersk, change their schedules on a regular basis, which in the case of smaller ports can destroy a large part of the business and create problems throughout the supply chain.

Port management, left to their own devices, have engaged in a series of competition-driven strategic moves based on the parochial interests of individual ports and employers, attempting to secure a dominant position.

Inland ports and strategic alliances The development of inland ports was a notable feature of 2014, along with the building of complex strategic alliances between ports and other logistics operators, shippers and exporters.

Port of Tauranga’s 50% investment in Port of Timaru was complemented by a logistics deal with Kotahi (the logistics arm of Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms) and Maersk.

Maersk vessels are now calling at Timaru again, after the terminal was mothballed after Maersk withdrew a previous service several years ago. In February 2015, the logistics partnership took another step with the announcement of a new company being formed, extending the relationship further.

The 50/50 venture between Kotahi and Port of Tauranga is called Coda, and will include Tauranga’s Tapper Transport unit, container packing firm MetroPack and 37.5 per cent stake in MetroBox, which stores empty containers, and take in Dairy Transport Logistics from the Kotahi side.

Coda is forecast to move more than 5 million tonnes of containerised and bulk cargo a year to and from ports and freight hubs.

Ports of Auckland has moved into an alliance with the Port of Napier and Icepak to build an inland port at Longburn in Palmerston North.

Auckland has also combined with Netlogix to form Nexus Logistics, an container logistics and distribution services provider. It has also created a partnership with logistics operator CHH Lodestar to set up facilities for handling and packing forest products.

The new Lodestar facilities will be located at Ports of Auckland’s Wiri Intermodal Freight Hub and Waitemata sea port.

Another area where competition is increasing in the inland port sector is at Rolleston, south of Christchurch.

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Both Port of Lyttelton and Port of Tauranga are rolling out container terminals.

Port of Lyttelton finalised purchase of a 27-hectare site in Rolleston, in December 2014.

LPC’s Rolleston site will be fully operational with a rail service early in 2016, with a non-rail based service planned by mid 2015.

However, the largest of the proposed developments – a long term multimodal freight hub at Ruakura, near Hamilton – appears to be looking more shaky.

The Ruakura development was independent of ports, and is a joint project led by the Tainui iwi through Tainui Group Holdings (TGH).

TGH and its partner Chedworth Properties had a decades long timescale for the the project that would feature an industrial park, housing and an 80-hectare inland port and freight hub directly in the heart of the Auckland–Waikato–Tauranga triangle.

The inland port was the first phase, due for completion by 2021. But the resignation of Mike Pohio, the CEO of TGH in January 2015, has led to some uncertainty about where the development is at.

The Ruakura development had received the go ahead after changes to Hamilton City zoning were approved by a board of inquiry in September 2014.

TGH chairman Henry van der Heyden told media while Ruakura would remain an important land holding for Waikato-Tainui, the TGH board was considering other ways of developing the property and with what partners.

Terminals prepare for larger vessels The anticipated arrival of larger container vessels to the New Zealand trade is also driving changes.

Port of Tauranga and Port Otago have gained consent for dredging projects in order to prepare for new generation vessels, some of which are 8000 plus TEU capable.

In February 2015, Centreport Wellington announced plans to seek resource consent for channel dredging in Wellington harbour. Centreport CEO Blair O’Keeffe said New Zealand requires a three hub structure, focussed on the north, central and southern regions of New Zealand.

Centreport is 76.4% owned by Greater Wellington Regional Council (via its subsidiaries WRC Holdings Ltd and Port Investments Ltd) and 23.6% owned

by Horizons Regional Council (via MWRC Holdings Limited).

Tauranga is also purchasing two new gantry cranes, and Southport at Bluff is adding a second mobile crane, to deal with an expected upturn in container numbers.

Ports of Auckland is meanwhile in the thick of a debate in the Super City about plans for expansions. The port’s location in the heart of Auckland’s downtown business district is causing friction between factions of local capitalists.

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Some want to reduce the role of the port in the city or even remove it altogether as a major terminal, thus freeing up space for residential and business development in the most valuable real estate zone in the country.

Other business interests are backing the proposal to increase the size of the port through reclaiming land.

There are of course other interests at play, such as the recreational and environmental lobbies, who don’t want to see the port expanding further into Waitemata Harbour. The owners of the port, Auckland City, are in the middle of the stoush.

The City commissioned a report from economic consultancy NZIER which recommended extending the Bledisloe Container Wharf into Waitemata Harbour, as the port would otherwise run out of space in the next two decades.

Auckland City made changes in its draft unitary plan in 2014 that would make it harder for the Port to gain permission to reclaim land in this way.

The Ports of Auckland then took legal action against its owner, Auckland City, to try to overturn the decision and have been engaged in mediation.

The Council changed direction in February 2015 when a secret vote of the Development Committee narrowly changed the Council position on the status of the port zoning.

This will mean the Ports can apply for resource consent, which will be publicly notified, but may well lead to approval for the reclamation plan.

The Ports of Auckland has permission to extend two wharves by 100 metres, with work on Bledisloe Wharf beginning in April 2015.

The port says the extensions are an operational matter, and not something it needed to tell its owner about. The Mayor of Auckland Len Brown did not know the extensions were being sought until asked about it by media.

Local iwi Ngati Whatua’s commercial arm Whai Rawa Ltd is seeking legal advice over the decision.

The Mayor then summoned the POAL Board’s chairman Graeme Hawkins and CEO Tony Gibson to a meeting in February after not being notified about another sensitive project the Ports carried out – the demolition of a segment of Marsden Wharf.

Global operators looking at New Zealand The bulk stevedoring industry is also facing a change with the entry of Australian logistics giant Qube who purchased International Stevedoring Operations (ISO) at the end of 2014.

Tauranga-based ISO has a long history of anti-union activity and casualization in the stevedoring industry.

It was the focus of Union action during the Mainland dispute in the late 1990s and early 2000/2001, and the Port of Napier dispute in 2007.

Qube has left the current ISO management in place, according to statements, but whether this is a long term plan is not yet clear.

Qube is a major corporation that is one of the three main terminal operators on the Australian waterfront (the others being DP World and Hutchison.)

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It also has extensive interests in road and rail transport, warehousing and distribution, container parks and related services, and intermodal logistics hubs including rail terminals and international freight forwarding.

Some of the key figures in this company were involved in the Patricks dispute on the Australian waterfront in 1998, including Chairman of the Board of Directors Chris Corrigan.

The bulk and general sector is not the only area where overseas operators are showing an interest.

The spectre of privatisation has been hanging over New Zealand terminals for some time.

Some ports are already part-privatized including Tauranga, and Southport in Bluff, which are listed on the NZX. Northport in Whangarei has shareholding from Tauranga and smaller shareholders. Timaru is now part owned by Tauranga.

Ports of Auckland has been the subject of an ongoing campaign over the last several years to be considered a candidate for privatisation. The finance sector and allies who are pushing this barrow see privatisation as a solution for everything, perhaps because they benefit as the handmaidens of the privatisation process. They are the main cheerleaders for this course of action, together with some of their allies on the political right.

Infrastructure is an in demand asset that can be pumped for profit and when any social considerations or even strategic goals for the national economy can be ignored, the rewards are greater still for the owners. Responsibility is not the strong point for finance capital in the 21st century.

However the Ports of Auckland is a huge asset for Auckland City – despite all the screaming about inefficient wharfies, the port makes money hand over fist. The Government prefers a hands off approach and has not involved itself in the debate. There seems to be little groundswell outside the usual circuit of ACT Party enthusiasts and trucking company directors to head down the privatization path.

But a change in local Government and a further swing to the right could elevate this threat.

On another tangent, there have been calls for the winding down of the Port and its freight operations.

The astronomical value of the down town real estate, and the perception by some that a “working port” has no place in the heart of a sophisticated metropolis, has led to calls for Auckland’s port to be abandoned in favour of apartments and harbourside sushi bars.

Combined with the concerns about the port’s expansion and environmental footprint, this is another ongoing debate.

These issues came to a head in March 2015 with the launch of a campaign against the port’s expansion plans that has drawn in an unlikely mix of support from the upper echelons of the Auckland yachting fraternity with environmentalists, CEOs and musicians.

It appears that the Ports of Auckland may have finally over reached itself in what is evolving into a public relations disaster.

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The port plays a central role for local industry, and the majority view of the business establishment (until recently in any case) seemed to favour expansion of the port rather than mothballing.

The Port of Lyttelton is the more interesting target for privatisation. It had two major issues to contend with in the last decade that have set its future direction.

In 2006 it was the subject of an attempted privatisation. GNT (global network terminal) operator Hutchison was lined up to take majority ownership of the port operations while majority ownership of land and infrastructure would have remained with Christchurch City.

The plan was derailed when Port Otago purchased a block of shares to prevent the sale from proceeding, driven no doubt by their reluctance to see a major well-connected global player engaged in the only other major terminal in the South Island.

The other big impact on the future of the Port was the 2011 and 2012 earthquakes.

The port was extensively damaged but has played a major role in both the immediate relief efforts to the stricken city of Christchurch, and the ongoing reconstruction of the city.

A massive insurance payout and the influx of work due to the rebuild have meant that the port is busier than ever and has expanded its size and operations.

In late 2014 the city came to an arrangement with Port of Otago to buy back its share and bring the ownership of the port under 100% control of Christchurch City Holdings Limited. www.munz.org.nz

But rather than this being a move to return the port to the full control of the local community, it is the first step towards a new privatisation gambit.

The Council voted in late 2014 to put up asset sales for public consultation as part of a plan to plug a claimed $1.2 billion shortfall for the city’s reconstruction.

Christchurch mayor and ex-Labour MP Lianne Dalziel announced in December 2014 that up to 34% of the port could be sold off as a part of these asset sales.

Given the rapid moves in the Port sector to establish dominant terminals, this would be an ideal opportunity for a global or regional operator to gain a foothold in the New Zealand port sector.

Lyttelton is the largest port in the South Island and is a main contender for terminal hub status in the ongoing shakedown of the industry.

Working on the waterfront The final part of the waterfront equation is the labour question.

This in some ways is a testament to maritime workers who have maintained a level of organization in their industry that allows them to resist attacks on their terms and conditions.

The strong historical roots and distinctive culture of maritime industries have forged a collective and strong minded mentality amongst workers.

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The dangerous and difficult nature of work has demanded this approach, and, over time, conditions were improved in the industry.

The major industrial disputes in New Zealand of 1890, 1913 and 1951 have all had maritime workers playing a central role.

Despite the effects of technology reducing the size of the waterfront workforce, and the effects of casualization and deunionization since the right wing economic agenda was rolled out in the 1980s and 1990s, the waterfront remains a major site of resistance by workers to the power of capital.

Ongoing disputes in Australia and in the United States are driven by the same pressures.

Employers are seeking a compliant and docile workforce which can be made to do more work for less cost. This goal has been successfully achieved in many industries but the waterfront is proving a difficult case.

Major disputes have continued to be a feature of the New Zealand industry, with settlements reached in February 2015 between MUNZ and the Ports of Auckland after a massive dispute over several years, and between the RMTU and Port of Lyttelton.

The Government is well aware of this situation, despite keeping its distance from the port sector. It is playing a long game by locking in incremental changes to employment law that wear down the ability of unions to organise.

The introduction of changes to the Employment Relations Act in 2015 features the so-called “Ports of Auckland” clause that allows an employer to walk away from negotiations.

This is directly aimed at undermining the ability of workers to engage in effective collective bargaining.

Despite these ongoing struggles, New Zealand ports remain one industry where unions still play a strong and effective role.

The US socialist journalist Joe Allen identifies the modern logistics industry – the distribution sector of the economy – as being the logical place for the working class to rebuild their organisations in developed economies.

In an article published in Jacobin magazine in February 2014, he writes that the emergence of the modern logistics corporation has created a new industrial working class with potentially enormous economic power.

“Organizing this workforce, which is mostly part-time and often short-term, is both essential and incredibly difficult.”

16 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

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NZ adopts Maritime Labour Convention The Maritime Union of New Zealand has welcomed news that New Zealand will be ratifying the Maritime Labour Convention.

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) is an international treaty adopted by the International Labour Organisation and lays out minimum rights for seafarers and promotes good employment practices across the shipping industry.

It has been described as a “seafarers’ bill of rights.”

Maritime Union National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the Union has been advocating New Zealand become a signatory to the MLC for some time.

“Most developed nations including Australia are signed up to the MLC and it was an anomaly that New Zealand was not.”

Mr Fleetwood says the MLC has a number of implications for New Zealand.

“The Maritime Union works with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to recover wages and deal with crew welfare issues. We note that this work is done by the unions, not by the Government, and we deal with constant issues on flag of convenience vessels on the New Zealand coast.”

Mr Fleetwood says that ships that have problems with crews often had multiple issues, including safety and seaworthiness.

“The deregulated approach to this and other aspects of the maritime industry has been recognised as a failure, so now the move is back towards proper oversight of the industry by Government.”

New employment laws will harm workers New employment laws that went into effect March 6 will leave workers worse off, warned union leaders.

They said provisions of the controversial Employment Relations Amendment Act, which affects collective bargaining, will increase the opportunity for exploitation of workers. Among other changes, strict rules over breaks are eliminated and employers and workers can agree on the timing or duration of breaks and receive compensation for not taking a break.

“This Government should be ashamed of itself. They do not care about New Zealand workers and they are determined to drive wages down in this country and removing their tea break and their lunch break is an absolute attack on every working person in this country,” said New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly.

The legislation also removes the requirement for new staff to be employed under the collective agreement for the first 30 days and allows employers to walk away from collective bargaining. Others unions such as the NZ Nurses Organisation expressed similar concerns. www.munz.org.nz

ITF welcomes hard-fought deal for ILWU workers on US West Coast The international Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has welcomed a tentative agreement struck between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) on a new five-year contract covering workers at all 29 West Coast ports of the USA. Negotiations had been underway since June last year in what had become an increasingly bitter dispute.

The PMA earlier this week ratcheted up their side of the bargaining by banning loading and unloading on nights, weekends and holidays.

The deal was reached with assistance from US Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez, and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Deputy Director, Scot Beckenbaugh.

“This is great news for workers at all 29 West Coast Ports, who can now get on with the job and their lives without a protracted negotiation hanging over their heads,” ITF president and dockers’ section chair, Paddy Crumlin, said.

“I’d like to congratulate ILWU President Bob McEllrath and his negotiating team.

“The ITF and its affiliates have been offering their support and solidarity with the ILWU workers on the West Coast from right around the globe.

“This is a win for dockers the world over.”

A joint statement from ILWU President Bob McEllrath and PMA President James McKenna said that parties will not be releasing details of the agreement at this time and that it is still subject to ratification by both parties.

“After more than nine months of negotiations, we are pleased to have reached an agreement that is good for workers and for the industry,” the joint statement said.

“We are also pleased that our ports can now resume full operations.”

Big ships with capacities of 8,000 to as much as 14,000 20-foot containers call regularly now at West Coast ports.

Some industry experts predict that by 2020 vessels with capacities of 18,000 TEUs will be serving the West Coast.

Vessels of that size are already calling in the AsiaEurope trades, and ports in those regions are struggling to cope with the cargo surges that are created by big ships.

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CentrePort found guilty in Wellington port death case CentrePort has been found guilty of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure employee Mark Samoa, 47, was not exposed to hazards arising from his work at the port when he died on 20 January 2013.

The decision was handed down in February in the Wellington District Court by Judge Bill Hastings.

A long time Maritime Union member, Mr Samoa was pasting labels on four-tonne stacks of pulp bales when a 24 year old forklift driver pushed two of the stacks together, trapping and killing Mr Samoa.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment took CentrePort to court over the death, saying it found seven areas in which its workplace safety was wanting.

The company fought the allegations at a judgealone trial in May, saying the forklift driver, who no longer works for CentrePort, broke several rules and procedures. He was not charged with any offence.

The seven alleged failings were whittled down to four in Hastings’ verdict, and he sided with the ministry on two of them, which was enough to prove the overall charge.

In his findings, Judge Hastings said CentrePort failed to provide enough space for the forklift driver and Samoa to safely carry out their tasks of stacking bales with a forklift and placing labels on them.

The judge also found there was no clear, detailed and documented procedure for employees required to perform those tasks.

Mark Samoa’s sister Rhonda Samoa told The Dominion Post she was delighted with the verdict.

“We didn’t want Mark’s life to end and no one be held accountable. Something good had to come of this.”

While CentrePort had treated her family well since the incident, she was disappointed the company had fought the charge rather than accept its failings.

“I know human error was involved here, but there were not enough measures in place to protect against that,” she said. “Unfortunately it’s taken this [court case] to give [CentrePort] a good boot up the arse.”

Almost two years after the death, the family was still grieving and seeking closure, and yesterday’s verdict would help with that process, Rhonda Samoa said.

But with her partner of 14 years also a CentrePort employee, she wanted the company to ensure changes were made to prevent another death happening.

“I’ve been through enough. They need to pull their socks up.”

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Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says that good work safety measures had now been put in place at CentrePort but added it was a pity there had to be a tragedy for those positive changes to come about.

ITF international president Paddy Crumlin said that the tragic death only “hardened the resolve’ of the ITF family to ‘make sure every maritime worker comes home safely.”

Speaking following the verdict, Crumlin said: “Ports are among the most dangerous work environments in the world. That’s why we continue to advocate the need for management to engage with unions to ensure the best possible health and safety conditions for the workforce.”

“This is a tough lesson to swallow but we hope it will act as a reminder to operators that they have a commitment to protect their workers and if they shirk that commitment they will be held accountable.”

CentrePort chief executive Blair O’Keeffe issued a statement saying the company would consider the verdict and continue its “unwavering commitment” to health and safety in the workplace.

“Our thoughts and support continue to be with Mark’s family.” He declined further comment.

CentrePort is awaiting sentencing.

Mark Samoa

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More accidents follow calls for inquiry into port safety Two serious port accidents have occurred so far this week since the Maritime Union renewed its calls for a national inquiry into New Zealand’s port safety.

A Port of Lyttelton worker suffered a broken arm on Tuesday morning 3 March 2015 after a fall aboard a vessel.

Two C3 employees in the Port of Timaru were taken to hospital after an incident aboard the container vessel Patricia Schulte on the early morning of Wednesday 4 March 2015.

One of the workers was transferred to Christchurch hospital with serious back injuries.

In both cases, the workers were Maritime Union members.

Maritime Union National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the ongoing and regular accidents in the port sector showed there were “systemic and deep rooted problems” that needed to be brought into the open.

Mr Fleetwood says he was concerned other incidents were happening in ports but had gone under a “cone of silence.”

He says the relevant Government agencies and port companies should be being proactive about notifying all interested parties immediately as health and safety incidents occurred, including unions and media.

In some cases, such as the Port of Tauranga last year, a worker had suffered fatal injuries but many workers in the port were unaware of the incident.

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It took days for the full details to emerge after media inquiries to the employer were left unanswered and the port company tried to distance itself.

“There seems to be a reluctance to front up when incidents happen. It’s almost as if there is an attitude that the problem is the employers and port companies looking bad.”

“The real problem is that maritime workers are being maimed or killed.”

Mr Fleetwood says that port companies had an overall responsibility for what happened in the port, and had a duty of care to all workers in their port, not just those directly employed.

He says contracting out, casualization, irregular and long shifts, reduced manning, and increasing pressure for speed up of work were all contributing to the crisis in port safety.

New figures show high number of incidents New figures released to Radio New Zealand by the Government agency Maritime New Zealand show there have been 130 non-fatal health and safety incidents and three deaths aboard ships at port from 2011 to October 2014.

The figures, combined with those of Worksafe which were released last year, show an unacceptable level of harm in the industry.

Mr Fleetwood says national initiatives towards port health and safety were long overdue, but input needed to be widened out beyond employers.

A full and independent investigation into industry health and safety was required to “shine a light on dark places.”

“To be effective, the relevant Government agencies Worksafe and Maritime New Zealand must be involved, and the workers themselves must be represented by their Union.”

The maritime workers on the wharves and ships must have a voice because it is their lives and wellbeing at risk, he says.

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Health and safety news

Timaru stevedore injured A Maritime Union member was seriously injured in a fall on the container vessel Patricia Schulte on 4 March at the Port of Timaru. The C3 employee was taken to Burwood unit at Christchurch Hospital.

Lyttelton stevedore injured

Lyttelton Port Company charged over death

A Port of Lyttelton worker suffered a broken arm on the morning of 3 March 2015 after a fall aboard a vessel.

The Lyttelton Port Company has been notified by WorkSafe New Zealand “that it would be charged under the Health and Safety in Employment Act in respect of the death of Brad Fletcher”.

The 40-year-old father-of-three and President of the Lyttelton Branch of the Maritime Union died when the scissor lift he was operating toppled over on August 28 last year.

The charge has not been specified.

Three deaths occurred within nine months over 2013 and 2014 at the port of Lyttelton.

Bill Frost died when he was pinned between a logging truck trailer and a forklift in November 2013.

Warren Ritchie was killed a month later when he was struck by a crane grab while unloading urea in the hold of a ship.

The deaths prompted LPC to review its health and safety policy.

It admitted there were “serious gaps” and new safety measures have been introduced.

Maritime Union of New Zealand Lyttelton branch secretary Les Wells said court action over Fletcher’s death was an important part of improving safety.

“It’s a matter of going through the process and making sure that same accident cannot happen again.”

Family and friends were still badly affected and a court case would be difficult, he said.

“There is still a lot of healing to be done. It’s still having a major effect on a lot of people.”

The port’s new safety measures had led to improvements in the last six months, he said.

Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly welcomed the charge being laid.

“Lyttelton is a very dangerous port and it has an unacceptable record of accidents. In my view it is in denial about its safety systems and it’s good to see WorkSafe being proactive.”

Bluff incident A worker was injured on the Tiwai Point wharf on 20 January 2015. A fall resulted in a knee injury following an equipment accident.

Pile driver topples A pile driving machine toppled over at the Port of Lyttelton in January 2015, leaving the operator, who worked for contracting company HEB Construction, with minor cuts and bruises.

HEB refused to comment on the incident.

According to its website, HEB Construction began a $56 million project in February 2014 to demolish and replace the Cashin Quay No 2 wharf at the Lyttelton Port. A WorkSafe NZ spokesman confirmed it had been notified of the incident but was not investigating further.

Talleys charged over death Talleys Group is facing a charge of failing to ensure the safety of its employees more than two years after a man died on one of its tuna boats.

Cain Adams died after falling 6.9 metres through a hatch on the deck of Talley’s tuna boat Captain M J Souza on 12 May 2012.

Adams was a crewman on the boat, which was undergoing maintenance at Port Nelson at the time.

Maritime New Zealand is prosecuting Talleys on the grounds that it failed to take practical steps to ensure the safety of its employees.

Crane driver stuck inside toppled crane in Wellington A crane driver was stuck inside a toppled container crane at Centreport Wellington on the early morning of 5 December.

The 59 year old driver was a Centreport employee and MUNZ member. He was uninjured and now back at work.

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Ports of Auckland to pay $80,000 after stevedore injury Ports of Auckland Ltd (POAL) has been fined $55,000 and ordered to pay $25,000 in reparation to a stevedore who suffered serious injuries unloading a container ship at the port in January 2014.

POAL admitted a charge laid by Maritime New Zealand under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of employee, and was sentenced in Auckland District Court today on 20 March 2015.

The stevedore, who was a member of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, was injured while attempting to dislodge a twist-lock that was stuck in the top of a two-high container stack on board the Lica Maersk.

The man was using a 5m unlocking pole which, with the weight of the twist lock, pulled him from the top of a container 15m down to the water.

During his fall, he hit a crane beam, and then the wharf, before landing in the water where he spent approximately 15 minutes due to difficulties in rescuing him from the narrow space.

The man suffered multiple injuries including breaking both legs, three fractured vertebrae, 10 fractured ribs, fractures to his sternum, a lacerated lung, and two fractured tendons in his left hand.

The man was hospitalised for three months after the accident.

The investigation by Maritime NZ found that no safety rail was in place in the area the man was working because it was covered by container lashing equipment.

POAL management had identified that use of unlocking poles to remove twist-locks was hazardous in mid-2013 but stevedores were not told they should not be used. The company failed to provide adequate training in relation to ship inspections and health and safety procedures and failed to adequately monitor employees to identify and prevent unsafe work practices.

Maritime NZ Director Keith Manch said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the incident and ramifications for the stevedore involved.

“There were multiple failings of procedures and communication in this case and the long term effects for the injured man have been devastating,” he said.

“Health and safety must be taken seriously. All workers have the right to safe workplaces and to go home healthy at the end of the day.”

Branch and local contacts Whangarei Secretary: Ben Hathaway Home: (09) 4343152 President: John Farrow Mobile: 021 855121 Address: PO Box 397, Whangarei 0140 Email: ben.hathaway@munz.org.nz

Auckland Local 13 Phone: (09) 3034 652 Fax: (09) 3096 851 President: Garry Parsloe Mobile: 021 326 261 Email: garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz Secretary: Russell Mayn Mobile: 021 760 886 Email: russell.mayn@munz.org.nz Vice President: Carl Findlay Mobile: 021 760 887 Email: carl.findlay@munz.org.nz Vice President: Patrick Honan Mobile: 021 293 9156 Address: PO Box 1840, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140

Mount Maunganui Phone: (07) 5755 668 Fax: (07) 5759 043 President: Peter Harvey Mobile: 027 5501 566 Secretary: Selwyn Russell Mobile: 0274 782308 Email: selwyn.russell@munz.org.nz Address: PO Box 5121, Mt. Maunganui 3150 Gisborne Local 38 Secretary: James Harvey Mobile: 027 508 4470 Address: 21 Titoki Place, Elgin, Gisborne 4010 Email: james.harvey@munz.org.nz New Plymouth Secretary: Terry Whitehead Phone/Fax: (06) 751 5514 Email: npmunz@yahoo.com

Mobile: 027 468 0050 Address: PO Box 6084, New Plymouth

Napier Secretary: Bill Connelly Mobile: 027 6175441 Phone/Fax: (06) 8358 622 Address: PO Box 70, Napier Email: bill.connelly@munz.org.nz Wellington Secretary: Mike Clark Mobile: 0274 538222 Email: mike.clark@munz.org.nz Phone: (04) 3859 288 Fax: (04) 3848 766 Asst. Secretary: John Whiting Mobile: 021 606379 Email: john.whiting@munz.org.nz Phone: (04) 8017 619 Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141 President: Alan Windsor Mobile: 021 148 3771 Vice President: Jimmy King Mobile: 027 363 0194 Nelson Secretary: Ken Knox Mobile: Phone/Fax: (03) 547 2102 Address: Email: ken.knox@munz.org.nz

027 6222691 PO Box 5016, Nelson

Lyttelton Local 43 Secretary: Les Wells Mobile: 027 432 9620 Phone/Fax: (03) 3288 306 Address: PO Box 29, Lyttelton Email: les.wells@munz.org.nz

Timaru Secretary: Tony Townshend Mobile: 027 4324134 Address: PO Box 813, Timaru Email: tony.townshend@munz.org.nz

Port Chalmers Dunedin Local 10 Phone: (03)4728 052 Fax: (03) 4727 492 Secretary: Phil Adams Mobile: 0274 377601 Email: phil.adams@munz.org.nz President: Ben George Mobile: 021 472 021 Email: ben.george@munz.org.nz Address: PO Box 44, Port Chalmers Bluff Phone/Fax: (03) 2128 189 Address: PO Box 5, Bluff President: Harry Holland Mobile: 027 228 4315 Email: harry.munz@xtra.co.nz Secretary: Ray Fife Mobile: 027 447 5317 Email: ray.fife@munz.org.nz

www.munz.org.nz

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Fighting from the front:

Maritime Union of Australia West Australia Branch State Conference

By Alan Windsor MUNZ Wellington Branch President Day one was the Women and Youth Conference.

This was opened by President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Ged Kearney. She outlined the ACTU campaigns to empower women and youth activists.

Delegates discussed issues on the ready to work campaign, with further debate on how to engage educate and empower members.

MUA West Australia Branch secretary Chris Cain thanked the delegates for their contribution and commented on the number of women and youth attending the conference as a good indication of members prepared to fill leadership roles in the union.

The meeting then adjourned to attend a demonstration at the office of Liberal senator Michaelia Cash (the Liberal/National Party is the Australian equivalent of New Zealand National Party.)

This was over the LNP policy of using “457 visas” to bring in foreign workers to work on local job sites.

Big multinational corporations are trying to drive down wages and conditions and are not offering apprentice/ trainee jobs to young Australians.

This was a great effort by the women and youth committee to organise the demo and highlight this vital issue.

Change has to be brought about by workers Day Two had the conference theme of Active members make strong unions.

The main conference and stop work meeting began with a welcome to the country from the Red Spear indigenous group, with magnificent singing and dancing, telling the tales of the people of the land.

22 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin then addressed the meeting and introduced Secretary of Australian Council of Trade Unions Dave Oliver.

Dave Oliver opened the conference with an empowering narrative about the role of working class organisations in determining the political future of Australia.

Change has to be brought about by the working people and to create the change, a certain type of organisation must exist.

The past determines the future, and lessons of mistakes must be learned and reversed.

Dave cited the Organising model of trade union action that was instrumental in the campaign to remove the right wing government of John Howard.

After the win the union movement changed to a service model of operating. This model was found wanting in the last election.

Dave outlined the change back to the organising model for the ACTU, and the assistance to the Labor party in the Victorian and Queensland victories, and also what is to be done in the upcoming New South Wales election.

The conference was attended by fellow international trade unions, in addition to the Maritime Union of New Zealand contingent.

These included the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) from the west coast of North America, Rail and Maritime Union (RMT) from the UK, the Papua New Guinea Maritime Transport Workers Union (PNGMTWU), the Indonesian Seafarers’ Union (KPI), the Singapore Organization of Seamen (SOS), United Steelworkers (USW), and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

Australian trade unions the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), Electrical Trades Union (ETU), Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), and Transport Workers’ Union (TWU).

The attendance at the MUA WA Branch conference by the movers and shakers of the working class world is a testament to the policies and activity undertaken by the MUA and in particular the WA branch.

MUNZ National Secretary Joe Fleetwood addressed the conference with his analysis of the industrial and political situation in New Zealand.

There was a need to make change politically in New Zealand with MUNZ involving itself in the New Zealand Labor Party. He also spoke about the role MUNZ plays in the new Maritime International Federation.

The address to the conference by RMT (UK) National Secretary Steve Todd about the sad and unexpected death of RMT General Secretary Bob Crow last year was most moving.

The football mantra Bob Crow borrowed from Millwall FC to state his defence of working class policies become the slogan of the conference: “They don’t like us, we don’t care!”

International finance and multinational corporations do not resile from pushing their wishes and neither should we as the working class.

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Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Joe Fleetwood presents a gift on behalf of the Union to Maritime Union of Australia State Secretary Chris Cain at the MUA West Australia State Conference, February 2015

The need for internationalism Day Three featured panel discussions on the subjects of local activism, political activism, and internationalism.

The day kicked off with a report from ILWU Tacoma (Washington, USA) Local 23 Secretary Dean McGrath on how he was impressed with the activism of the youth and women in the MUA, and how this could be expanded and taken back to his branch.

He also discussed the nature of trade union politics in the USA and how some unions are more intent on raiding members from other unions than taking on the employers.

He also noted how union density (membership levels) had been falling, which brought about a general lowering of the living standard of all workers, whether union or non-union.

The new Maritime Co-ordinator of the Seafarers section of the ITF Jacqueline Smith comes from the Norwegian Seafarers’ Union.

She discussed the role of the ITF in organising support for affiliates, and highlighting common issues faced by seafarers and dockers the world over.

MUNZ National President Garry Parsloe spoke on the Ports of Auckland dispute where after four years the Union has secured a collective employment agreement.

It has been a long hard battle to achieve the agreement and we are proud of the Maritime Union of New Zealand members who stood solid all the time of the dispute.

www.munz.org.nz

Garry also thanked MUNZ National Secretary Joe Fleetwood for his help and all of the internationals who offered support and solidarity to MUNZ Auckland Branch Local 13 in their struggle.

At this time Garry also announced that he was retiring as President of MUNZ and as the President of Auckland Local 13.

He received unanimous acclaim from the conference for his contribution of over 50 years as a seafarer and union offical.

Chris Cain then took the podium to introduce President of KPI Indonesia Hanafi Rustandi, and thanked him for his support in gaining work for the MUA members in the Impex project in the Northern Territory.

Hanafi talked about the need for internationalism when dealing with multinationals. “No MUA no pipe” – this had the desired effect of getting the employers around the bargaining table.

The KPI is a founding member of the Maritime International Federation and this is the type of solidarity workers can show when united over common interests.

The next panel was made up of Australian unions and discussed political activism.

National Secretary of the TWU Tony Sheldon, National Secretary of the AWU Scott McDine, and Queensland State Secretary of the ETU Peter Simpson discussed issues such as the Abbott government attack on workers’ rights, and the on going attack on unions by the ABCC.

The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 23

The Australian Building and Construction Commission is a government agency with draconian powers such as standing outside stopwork meetings and asking members what went on at the meeting.

If you refuse to say you can receive massive fines or jail time. The Abbott Nat/Liberal government is like being in police state.

All panellists agreed the only way to deal with this was talk to each other, identify how the bosses were trying to divide and rule, and stop unscrupulous employers playing workers off against each other.

The political support for the Labor party was crucial in fighting the onslaught of anti-worker legislation being fostered by the big business lobby groups.

Also like in New Zealand the sale of state assets is a big issue.

There has been some success in Victoria and Queensland in rolling back the right wing LNP Government and the next political battle to be won is the New South Wales state elections.

Day Four was the State Committee meeting. This was taken up with sector reports and delegate reports.

The West Australian branch of the MUA is the biggest in terms of the vast area they cover and numbers of members. Just down the road can be a couple of hundred kilometres.

The logistics of keeping everyone singing from the same song sheet is a challenge but one which the WA executive manages efficiently with union officials, organisers and delegates sharing the work load.

Reports were given for industry sectors such as Stevedoring, Towage, Offshore, FPSOs, Diving, Dredging, Women and Youth.

Active members need resources to campaign effectively On day five the Conference resumed with the resolutions from the State Committee.

There was then a panel discussion with CFMEU National Secretary Dave Noonan, CFMEU WA Secretary Mick Buchan, and ETU WA Secretary Les McLaughlan.

Points taken from this session include that members need the resources to be able to campaign effectively and achieve results.

The ability to target issues like unemployment, zero hours contracts, and the selling out of industries like car manufacturing in Australia.

Whole work sectors are up for grabs with the exploitation of 457 visa that allowed workers to undermine local workers terms and conditions of employment.

These are political and social issues that need to be dealt with and active members need the resources to deal with these issues.

CFMEU WA Secretary Mick Buchan stated that we need to focus on common issues and all unions need to respond to attacks through a united front.

The final report for the conference was from youth, women and indigenous members.

It was impressive to hear how and what got them to want to be active members, and the benefit of trade unionism in their lives.

MUNZ national women’s representative and Wellington Branch executive member Marian Lesslie addressed the conference with congratulations to the WA branch and the presentation of the MUNZ Wellington flag to MUA/WA, reinforcing our link as MUA/WA sister branch.

The workers united will never be defeated.

Chris Cain brought the conference to a close and remarked on the nature of the press with its role in the attacks on working men and women while the lackeys for the multinationals get applauded.

So what is our response? Organize, organize, organize.

In the words of Bob Crow “They don’t like us and we don’t care.” MUA – here to stay.

The meeting then adjourned to the gala ball, but that is another story.

Has your address changed?

If you are not receiving the Maritimes magazine in the mail, you need to update your address details.

Email membership@munz.org.nz or write to PO Box 27004, Wellington and remember to advise your branch officials as well.

24 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

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Real wages didn’t keep up with productivity growth over 30 years of trickledown economics

By Bill Rosenberg Council of Trade Unions Economist For over three decades, New Zealand workers have been through upheavals in their working lives in order, they were told, to raise productivity. But workers aren’t getting a fair share of the rewards of their improved productivity.

This was confirmed in a recent study by the Productivity Commission. It showed that real wages fell significantly behind labour productivity growth in a large part of the economy between 1978 and 2010.

Wages, salaries and the labour income of selfemployed people received a falling share of the income the economy generates (the labour income share). The remaining income goes to owners of wealth, such as in dividends and interest.

This contributed to the steep rise in income inequality in New Zealand. The labour income share has been falling in most countries.

However it fell particularly strongly in New Zealand and other ‘Anglo’ economies that enthusiastically adopted neoliberal or ‘trickle-down’ economics.

Best-selling French economist Thomas Piketty demonstrated this in his research on centuries of income shares and inequality.

I calculate that wages in the 60% of the economy studied by the Commission would have been 12% higher on average by March 2011 if they had kept up with productivity since 1978. For almost the full market economy, I estimate wages would have been 16% higher in 2012 if they had kept up with productivity growth since 1989. Annual earnings of $60,000, around the current full-time average, would be $70,000.

The Commission’s study is important in that it finds that a large part of the fall in the labour share of income in the 1990s was due to high unemployment created by the radical restructuring of the economy that began in the 1980s and the Employment Contracts Act passed in 1991.

Australia underwent similar restructuring during the period but its labour income share fell only slightly. Its labour market is underpinned with an award system and other protections.

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This is consistent with international findings. Just this month, International Monetary Fund researchers published findings that deunionisation is associated with greater inequality and a growing share of top incomes.

The International Labour Organisation has found that loss of employee bargaining power, deunionisation and falling government spending are strongly associated with falling labour income shares.

Other large impacts come from the increasing size and deregulation of the financial system, and globalisation.

Technology plays a lesser role. Because wealth is even more unequally distributed than income, a falling labour income share – which means a growing share of income for those with wealth – generally reflects a growing share of income going to the richest and wealthiest in society.

Most people are highly dependent on wages and salaries and Statistics New Zealand’s Household Economic Surveys show increasing dependence since the late 1990s.

Salaries and wages make up around three-quarters of average regular and recurring household income, and were 83% of average market income in 2014.

Thomas Piketty concludes that ‘in every country the history of inequality is political’.

Government policies do matter. The labour income share rose from about 2002 to 2008 after the repeal of the Employment Contracts Act, strong rises in the minimum wage, low unemployment and a union pay rise campaign, but is still well below the 1980s.

Since 2009 it has levelled off, and fell across the economy in the March 2014 year.

Weakening of employment legislation and continuing relatively high unemployment are likely contributing factors.

Despite the Commission’s assertion, the fall in labour income share and the trailing of real wages behind productivity growth cannot be reversed by more education and training, which only changes people’s place in the queue for good jobs.

Bargaining power, regulation, technology, industry structure, globalisation and political direction are what determine income shares.

It is little consolation to wage and salary earners that their rates of pay have risen over these decades, even if they haven’t kept up with productivity growth, as the Commission and employer groups were keen to emphasise. Rising productivity, if fairly shared, is a key to rising living standards.

But if by far the largest group contributing to the productive power of our economy is not getting a fair share, why should they support productivity improvements that often put their jobs and livelihoods at risk?

The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 25

Tayo Aluko as Paul Robeson

Union History: Maritime Union supports UK Award-Winning Play About Paul Robeson

26 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

Paul Robeson is a name that would be known to most trade unionists of an older generation.

One of the most famous artists and activists of the 20th Century, the African American was an international superstar whose name has sadly been all but buried from history because of the threat he posed (through his words and music) to political and commercial elites worldwide.

Paul Robeson had a special connection with Wellington waterside workers, and was awarded life membership of the Waterside Workers’ Union, now the Maritime Union of New Zealand, during his visit in 1960.

His life story was portrayed on stage in Wellington in February 2015 as one of the highlights of Fringe NZ in an award-winning play.

Written and performed by UK-based actor/singer Tayo Aluko, Call Mr Robeson depicts Paul Robeson’s remarkable life, with live piano accompaniment. It features many of his famous songs, including the iconic Ol’ Man River, some of his most famous speeches and his defiant testimony to McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee.

Aluko teamed up with Wellington musical legend, Julian Raphael, renowned Musical Director of many Wellington ensembles, as piano player for this production.

The writer and performer of the play, Tayo Aluko, is based in Liverpool, England, and sent out a request for support to New Zealand Trade Unions.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand and the Public Service Association stepped up to the plate and provided some assistance for Mr. Aluko’s trip.

Aluko, who has performed the play around the UK, USA, Canada, Jamaica and Nigeria but comes to New Zealand for the first time said, “It is quite humbling to realise that there are people round the other side of the world from me who like me consider Robeson’s story so important to be told today that they are willing to lend a hand in such a generous way. It is a testament to Robeson’s legacy that such international solidarity can be demonstrated to such good effect. I look forward to meeting MUNZ and PSA members and other trade unionists in the coming weeks.”

Robeson in New Zealand Paul Robeson travelled to New Zealand in 1960 and stayed here for two weeks and four days. During this time he visited dockside workers in Wellington and spoke out bravely in defence of Maori and working people.

Robeson’s visit to Wellington, the fiery speeches, and the upflifting songs that were exchanged between the great man and the striking dockside workers are still remembered vividly by former dockside workers in Wellington.

He addressed the Waterside Special Stopwork Meeting and accepted life-long membership of the Maritime Union. This was to be his last ever concert tour.

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Paul Robeson (right) with Wellington watersiders, October 1960. At left is Jimmy Napier (General Secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Federation), third from left is Chip Bailey, fourth from left WWU member Pat Heffron, second from right Tommy Wells (Wellington Branch President of the WWU). Reproduced with permission, F- 179679-1/2, R Bailey Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.

‘Bugger the contract, I’ll sing!’: Paul Robeson in New Zealand

By Ciaran Doolin In 1960, Paul Robeson, the famed American singer, actor and activist, toured Australia and New Zealand.

On the New Zealand leg of the tour he played shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and visited Dunedin. During his time in the country, in characteristic style, he sang, and spoke principally of the ideals he passionately held to: socialism, internationalism and racial equality. The recent tour of Tayo Aluko’s Call Mr Robeson: A Life In Song, a one-man performance that chronicles Robeson’s life and work, marked a welcome return of the voice which captivated New Zealand audiences 55 years ago. 1 The son of a minister who had been a slave, Paul Robeson, born in 1898, experienced from an early age the racial discrimination which was to dog him for much of his life – and which he tirelessly opposed. A talented scholar, he won an academic scholarship to Rutgers University where he excelled as an athlete, debater, actor and singer. After graduating from Rutgers he attended Columbia Law School. However, the racial prejudice he encountered in practice put an early end to his legal career and he decided to become an entertainer. www.munz.org.nz

He appeared in a number of films and was one of the first singers to introduce Negro spirituals to a wide audience. His fame reached its height during the 1930s and 1940s.

In the turbulent milieu of the 1930s his political beliefs began to crystallise. He visited the Soviet Union in 1934 and remarked, “Here I am not a Negro but a human being for the first time in my life”. 2 He spoke out against colonialism in Africa, supported anti-imperialist struggles around the world, and expressed solidarity with workers involved in the British class struggle. He became a vocal opponent of fascism during the Spanish Civil War and later supported the American war effort against the Axis powers. While he was honoured for his latter contributions during the war, afterward his continued advocacy of racial equality, workers’ rights and decolonisation proved less popular with the authorities. During the McCarthy era, Robeson was silenced, with concert hall bookings and recordings denied, and he faced constant harassment by the FBI. Finally, his passport was withdrawn from 1950 to 1958.

When he arrived in New Zealand he was treated with suspicion by the establishment – the Herald concluding, “He is a man who quite openly wears a chip on his shoulder”; while the U.S. Consul in Auckland gleefully reported to the State Department, “no civil reception or other formal type of welcome was tendered to Robeson during his stay.”3 However, he received a warmer welcome from peace groups, workers and Maori. As the late Rona Bailey recalled, 4 continued next page

The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 27

So we got together [Eslanda – Robeson’s wife – and Rona] to arrange this reception after the concert in the [Wellington] town hall in the Green Room.

And there were some, a few qualms about… who should be invited… because of the time, McCarthyism was still there and there was still this anti-communist flavour…. But I said this to Robeson and I told him about this and he said ‘Well if the workers and the trade unionists aren’t there I won’t be there either!’ You know it was just straight out. And then I said I wondered whether you’d be willing to come down because the watersiders would really like you to come and speak to them, is that at all possible? And he said ‘Yes of course I’ll come’. And I said there’s a further request…would you be willing to sing to them? Because, I said, I’m a little bit afraid of asking you or a little bit nervous of asking you that because it may break your contract, because I gather the contract said he was only to do the concerts. And so he said ‘Bugger the contract, I’ll sing!’

Ken Douglas, who was responsible for driving Robeson around Wellington, described the performance for the watersiders as “packed out”: …[The audience was] so electrified, so stimulated by this person’s presence and the words that he spoke in such a gentle but commanding way. He was in this great big meeting, in our terms I guess well over a thousand people there, and everyone was convinced [Robeson] was speaking to him.

Part of the working class In a remarkable address to workers at the Addington Railway Workshops in Christchurch, he spoke of his humble origins and his belief in the right of workers to receive a just share of the product of their labour: ’Cause I come today not as any sort of distinguished guy, I come as a guy who has struggled…. Coming up in pretty much dire poverty and having to work my way through school. And I’m proud to stand before you today as one who is a part of the working class of his country, and the working class of Great Britain, and I feel the working class of the world. I feel that folks like us or you, we create the wealth, it’s also necessary we get some part of it.

He also spoke of the necessity of racial equality for a peaceful world: Yes, I was a famous singer, but the Welsh miners, I was down in the valley and they had made me understand as a black man I was their friend and I belonged to them. And I will always be thankful for them making me understand that it’s just not a black world, and just not a white world, and just not a yellow world, brown world. That we all belong to one race, one family – the human family. I want my grandchildren to walk this Earth with their shoulders back as full human beings. You who understand here in New Zealand, you the white workers, you have all got to understand this and help this come about. There’s got to be peace in the world, there’s got to be friendship.

28 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

You’ve got to look at your coloured brothers here and coloured sisters and see, not just in words, not just on paper, somewhere they’ve got to feel full parts here, of your life here in New Zealand. Full citizens, full citizens.

His Australasian tour was to be one of his last major public appearances. The following year his health deteriorated and he was beset by bouts of severe depression. He lived quietly for the remainder of his life, passing away in 1976. However, he left a proud legacy.

Wellington writer Giovanni Tiso appraised Call Mr Robeson as “a fitting tribute to the great man: a fully rounded study that doesn’t gloss over the problematic aspects of his life and politics… and revives his art through the performance of some of his best-known songs.”

The choice of theatre – The Moorings (an old villa in Thorndon) – Tiso continued, “re-localises Robeson’s life, setting it in the colonial South Pacific” reactivating “a largely hidden past of social upheaval and activism.”

This observation is apposite in light of the profound influence Robeson had on a number of New Zealand activists, in particular Rona Bailey: “I would think that the concerts I attended and meeting Robeson…was really the highlight of my life…. He has influenced me and been a support, if you like, in times of sort-of crisis, in times of struggle for human dignity.… [He helped me] to stay staunch and firm.”

Footnotes 1 Call Mr Robeson was performed between February 20 and March 1 this year as part of the Wellington Fringe Festival.

The play is written and performed by Tayo Aluko, directed by Olusola Oyeleye, and designed by Phil Newman. The piano accompanist in Wellington was Julian Raphael.

2 Smith, Vern. ‘I am at Home,’ Says Robeson at Reception in Soviet Union, Daily Worker, January 15, 1935. Quoted in Foner, Philip S., ed. Paul Robeson Speaks: Writings, Speeches, Interviews, 1918–1974. Larchmont: Brunner/ Mazel, 1978, 94-96.

3

New Zealand Herald, October 18,1960; James P. Parker, American Consul in Auckland, to State Department , November 7, 1960, FBI New York 100-25857-4294. Quoted in Duberman, Martin B. Paul Robeson. New York: New Press, 1988.

4 The following recollections of Rona Bailey and Ken Douglas, and excerpts from Robeson’s speech at the Addington Railway Workshop are quoted from Russell, Marie.

Spectrum: Remembering Paul Robeson, retrieved from http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/spectrum/ audio/20169062/spectrum-remembering-paul-robeson, April 12, 1998. This programme also interviewed Cath Kelly and Ted Thompson for their memories of Robeson’s 1960 tour.

This article is reprinted by permission from the Bulletin of the Labour History Project, no. 63 April 2015 www.lhp.org.nz

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Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch made a strong showing at Interport 2015 in golf, winning the Kerekere Memorial Canoe for the fifth year in a row. From left Dwayne Lewis (winner Norm Fisher One Day gross), Fraser Adams (Rare Cup 54 hole gross), Rick Richan (Chapman Plate), Cyril McWilliams, Graeme Donaldson, and Graham Waugh (54 hole Stableford George Waller Memorial).

At front, Carol Donaldson, winner of the Credit Union Cup for ladies. Lyttelton was the host port for this year’s tournament.

Lyttelton

By Les Wells We are very busy with C3 having log ships increase up to nine ships per month.

There has been an increase in steel coming in for the rebuild of Christchurch from Korea with the AAL line.

Swires bring more from Australia.

They are also getting one car vessel per week.

Lyttelton Stevedoring Services have trained up some of our members to cover foreman positions when required.

Tunnel road members have been quiet with everything ticking along at the moment.

I have not heard from my man at SGS for some time so need to check up on them.

There has been a lot of activity going on at the Lyttelton Port Company with the start of random saliva testing.

They are always taking on new staff with seven new PRPs starting recently.

As some of you may be aware the Lyttelton port company is being prosecuted for the death of Brad Fletcher last year.

This I hope will bring closure in some way to the family.

There was another injury in the Port with a member suffering a broken arm on board a container vessel in early March. www.munz.org.nz

We welcome contributions to the Maritimes magazine.

Articles, letters, photos and other suggestions are all considered.

Contact the Editor mobile 021482219 email victor.billot@munz.org.nz post PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141

The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 29

Auckland Local 13

By Russell Mayn

Maritime Union of New Zealand national women’s representative Marian Lesslie addresses the MUA West Australia State Conference, February 2015

International Women’s Day International Women’s Day (8 March) is recognised, celebrated and supported by thousands of organisations and individuals across the world.

For the ITF family it is about helping to secure rights for women, and raise their visibility and participation in the union movement.

It’s an opportunity for unions all over the world - men and women - to stand together, support their female members and address the issues facing women transport industry workers in every sector.

This year, alongside the other activities taking place, the ITF is calling on union members to stand in solidarity with trade union leader Jimena Lopez, sacked from her cabin crew job for her union activities.

Jimena Lopez is general secretary and founder of SITA (Sindicato de Trabajadores de Aerolane) representing cabin crew at LAN Ecuador. Jimena is one of the women union leaders around the world fighting tirelessly for the rights of her members, women and men. She is an example of the extensive role women can play in their unions when they have the means and opportunity.

Jimena was dismissed from her position after a successful union organising drive in LAN Ecuador, part of the LATAM holding group. This is blatant anti-union action which can’t be tolerated.

There has already been widespread action in support of Jimena Lopez and it’s having an impact.

To support the campaign, visit: http://www.itfglobal.org/en/campaigns-solidarity/ campaigns/international-womens-day-2015/ 30 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

No doubt everyone would have heard the news that the Ports of Auckland Collective Agreement has finally been signed off.

The settlement will allow our members in the Port to work under the terms and conditions contained in the Collective Agreement and move forward after a long struggle to retain their jobs in the Port.

The strength of the membership has been the driving force behind the settlement so congratulations to those who stood fast and remained loyal throughout the dispute.

Our thanks to all the MUNZ Branches and Locals who supported us during the dispute and to all the unions throughout New Zealand and internationally who also supported our struggle. Without your help we would be in a different position today.

A number of other Collective Agreements have also been settled and there are a number that are very close to a settlement.

The settled Collective Agreements are Sanford’s Electrical, C3 Stevedoring, and Awanuia Fuel Tanker.

Those that are close to settling are Pacifica Shipping, Holcim Cement, First Security and Fullers Maintenance.

One new agreement up for negotiation in the Port is the Wallace Investment Stevedoring Collective Agreement. Wallace is our largest employer in the conventional port, so this is a very important agreement for a large number of our permanent stevedores.

Outside of the negotiations we have been dealing with the day to day issues arising within the Local.

The number of disciplinary meetings are generally increasing; whether this is a trend across the country or just symptomatic of a few aggressive employers, only time will tell.

On a different note both the Seafarers Retirement Fund and the Waterfront Industry Superannuation Fund are enjoying good returns to our members.

If you are not a member and require information on the funds and how they operate, don’t hesitate to contact the office and we will try to assist in any way that we can.

Both funds are there to make provision for a dignified retirement and are one of the best conditions that we have within our Collective Agreements.

By the time the next issue of the magazine is out the new changes to the Employment Relations Act will have become law. There is no doubt the changes will impact on workers across all walks of life.

It will be interesting to see which employers choose to try to take advantage of the changes and which decide that they are unwarranted and choose to maintain a sensible pragmatic approach to Collective Bargaining.

“An Injury to One is an Injury to All”

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Garry Parsloe: an appreciation from Local 13 rank and file

By Hector Thorpe Local 13 With the pending retirement of Garry Parsloe, the National President and Auckland Branch President of MUNZ, it’s an opportune time to reflect on some of his leadership.

During much of that leadership, some in the media have portrayed unions as relics of a bygone era, and that workers should be more accepting of reduced conditions or job losses for the advancement of profit margins, boardroom bonuses or to satisfy shareholders.

The media term "union boss" often used to describe an elected union official, conjures up a negative image as opposed to the positive spin “captain of industry" they give to the management counterpart.

This implies one is a responsible individual, and the other an unreasonable iron fisted standover merchant who misleads his or her membership for self interest and personal gain. Or maybe I just read too much into what the media says!

Garry’s leadership style does not reflect that media image. He has a relaxed, humorous and positive approach to union business. You won't see him banging his fist in frustration at the negotiation table, rather he's more the cool, calm and collected type.

He's a kind hearted man who has over many years nurtured and gained a trusted working relationship with the membership, his peers and many ship owner representatives. www.munz.org.nz

His many years as an elected union official have not been marred with unreasonable action or controversy, rather it's been smooth sailing. However, just before his pending retirement he was confronted with a huge curve ball in the form of Ports of Auckland's 2012 strategy of restructuring which included contracting out jobs.

Many other organisations sympathised with the plight faced by MUNZ as the global push for enhanced margins and reduced job security is a business phenomenon faced by many workers both locally and globally.

There have been a few light hearted moments throughout the struggle and one such example was regarding an upcoming executive meeting. Garry would often refer to the date selected for that meeting on the 1st of April as April fools day, the birthday of one of the executive members. As he had joked so often about this imaginary birth date it was he who got the surprise come that meeting.

A large birthday cake with tall colourful candles sparkling away was presented to him at that executive meeting as we all heartily sang happy birthday to him.

It was the first and only time I've seen Garry lost for words. We all got another laugh as the candles were the non blow out type which eventually freaked out Russell who rushed outside with said cake, concerned it would set off the fire alarm and sprinklers ensuring a hefty bill from the fire brigade.

These laughs however, were few and far between as losing one’s job is a serious situation. The union is open to business strategy change if it contains a balance of social responsibility.

Now the Collective has been settled, and signed off by Garry in February 2015, this is a fitting conclusion to a long career working for maritime workers and we all wish him well on his upcoming retirement.

The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 31

Auckland Seafarers’ Old Timers’ Christmas Party

By Garry Parsloe, President Local 13 We held the Old Timers’ Xmas Party at the Maritime Club in Anzac Avenue, Auckland, on Friday 12 December 2014.

I welcomed all the Old Timers along to their party on behalf of the Auckland Branch Executive.

Local Officials representing the Auckland Branch Executive were President Garry Parsloe, Secretary Russell Mayn, Vice President Patrick Honan, and Craig Harrison, Wayne Wolfe, Hector Thorpe, Ronnie Bell and Craig Marsh from the Executive.

I welcomed past Executive members including John O’Neill who had retired after more than 50 years in the Maritime Unions.

In those 50 years John had been Lyttelton Secretary of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union, Auckland Assistant Secretary of the New Zealand Seafarers’, a National Councillor of both the Seamen’s Union and Seafarers’ Union, National Vice President of the New Zealand Seafarers’ Union and until his retirement was the Branch Vice President of Local 13 MUNZ. Other past executive members including Terry Ryan (ex National Assistant Secretary and ex Local 13 Secretary of MUNZ) and Gerard Hill (ex Auckland Secretary of the Cooks and Stewards Union and ex Auckland Assistant Secretary of the New Zealand Seafarers’ Union).

Ray Bianchi, ex Northern Secretary of AWUNZ, was in attendance along with Joe Gallagher from EPMU. Also in attendance from other ports were Jimmy Rosser and John Broughton from Tauranga, Colin Wilson from New Plymouth and Duncan Montgomery from Dunedin.

I must also acknowledge Tommy Cavanagh who had come all the way from Liverpool to be at our party along with Danny Glozier. Tommy and Danny were a couple of the best boxers to grace a boxing ring in New Zealand. I also must acknowledge Michael Halloran.

In opening the speeches I gave a brief overview of the Ports of Auckland dispute which was hopefully on track to be settled and also reminded the meeting of all the conditions that the Old Timers had secured for the youth of New Zealand, and how proud I was that these conditions have been held onto even in the face of the current draconian industrial legislation.

Other speakers were Secretary Local 13 Russell Mayn, Auckland City Councillor Cathy Casey and friend of the union Carol Beaumont.

After the speeches Tommy Cavanagh sang “Keep the wheel a turning”, a great song that was enjoyed by everyone.

The food was excellent, thanks to Patrick Honan and Wayne Bell.

As always it was an excellent day out for all the Old Timers and on behalf of the Auckland Branch Executive I want to thank all those individuals and ships’ crews for their donations which made the Old Timers’ Party the success that it was.

Garry Parsloe has retired from the Seafarers’ Retirement Fund after 30 years as a Trustee of the scheme. Pictured here with good friend employer trustee Andro Besich.

At the MUNZ Wellington Branch Christmas Party, MUNZ Wellington Branch Secretary Mike Clark, Auckland Branch President Garry Parsloe, Wellington Assistant Secretary John Whiting and National Secretary Joe Fleetwood 32 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

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Maritime Union Tauranga Mount Maunganui branch members at their presentation for retiring National President Garry Parsloe (photo by Selwyn Russell)

Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch Old Timers’ Function, 19 December 2014 (photo by Victor Billot)

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The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 33

Bluff

By Harry Holland We’re back into the New Year with a bit of a bang. It started slowly and then took off. Prior to Christmas we were very busy and had men from all over the country helping us out. Thank you guys.

We have finally got our Collective Employment Agreement at Southland Stevedoring Services signed off and feel quite happy with it.

The company is looking at putting more men on very soon. Our log trade in Bluff is set to double so the word goes which will be good for all.

To the boys in Lyttelton who were the host port for the Sports Tournament thank you from our men who attended. They came home very happy and said it was a very well run tournament.

We had a very successful Old Timers’ function late last year. It was good to see all the old timers there and remembering that these are the men that set this Union and job to where we are today.

Good to see Auckland has settled their agreement.

Well done to all and hope we can all move successfully ahead.

Sorry that this report is smaller this time from Bluff, but I’m on the injured list and haven’t been around for a while. The boys are busy and moving the cargo well.

Keep up the good work.

I would also like to welcome the new delegates who stood at the branch last elections and got in and I look forward to working with them.

To all the ports around the country we hope you all have a great year and stay safe. Cheers from the Bluff.

Bluff community campaign success Maritime Union members are involved at many levels in their community.

MUNZ Assistant national secretary Ray Fife also serves as the Secretary for the Bluff Branch, as well as being a full time watersider working for Southland Stevedoring Services.

A long time Bluff resident, Ray was previously on the local school’s Board of Trustees and is now Chair of the Bluff Community Board.

Bluff residents recently got active after being told of a plan to reduce staffing at the local Police Station from three officers to one officer.

As spokesperson for the campaign, Ray chaired a meeting where 200 locals turned up to express their concern to Police representatives and community leaders.

34 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

The issues raised by local people included Bluff’s status as a port and fishing community, the number of tourists in the town, and the security and peace of mind of elderly people.

After extensive coverage in the local media, Police announced in February 2015 they had reviewed the decision, and would be keeping two full time officers in Bluff.

Ray says although that wasn’t the ideal outcome, it was a lot better than the initial proposal.

He says that his experience as a unionist has helped him understand how to organise to achieve goals, whether they are union related or to do with wider community or political issues.

Ray says the role of a community board member is similar to that of a union official.

The role of a community board is: • Represent, and act as an advocate for, the interests of its community • Consider and report on all matters referred to it by the territorial authority (in this case the Invercargill City Council) or any other matter of interest or concerns to the community board.

• Maintain an overview of services provided by the Invercargill City Council within the community • Prepare an annual submission to the Invercargill City Council for expenditure within the community • Communicate with community organisations and special interest groups within the community • Undertake any other responsibilities that are delegated to it by the City Council “When asked to stand for the community board I gave it great consideration and decided to stand as I felt that it was time to give something back to the community which I was brought up in.”

He says it has been the skills and experience he gained from being a union official that has given him the platform to be involved in community affairs.

“If it had not been for the union I probably would never have even given this type of role any consideration what so ever.”

“It’s important that younger union members get involved and pick up these skills.”

Ray says with the police issue in Bluff, local people based their campaign around similar campaigns that are carried out by the union – the use of national and local media, a community petition, lobbying members of parliament and relevant officials, and a public meeting.

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New Plymouth

By Terry Whitehead Hi all, I hope you all survived the festive season and managed to get a break over the holiday period. The weather has been exceptional this summer with near drought conditions all over the country.

It has had a positive influence on the importation of fertiliser and palm kernel volumes so this has been good for the port.

End of an Era I’d like to take this opportunity to announce the retirement of the New Plymouth Branch President, Graham Roberts at the end of January 2015.

After four decades of staunch Union membership, leadership and continuing to work for a few years after retirement age, Graham has finally decided to spend more time with family and friends which he well deserves.

Our branch and local contract conditions are all due to his efforts and negotiations over the years.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to him and we are all extremely grateful that he has offered to stay on as an “on call” casual. He will also help out with our Branch’s day to day running and attend stop work meetings we hold.

Thank you Graham, it has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with you. While there will be a loss of power so to speak, with your ongoing guidance and input I’m sure our Branch will continue on and stay strong and true to the ideals you have taught us all. Cheers.

AGM We held our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in early December 2014.

This was followed by a Health and Safety – Management meeting that was well attended by our membership. Isaac McIndoe and I gave an overview of what went on at National Council in November 2014 and discussed all issues that needed addressing as well as future plans and goals for our Branch.

Bulk Cargo As I mentioned earlier, volumes are steady and on the increase every year.

PKE (Palm Kernel) is still our main discharge commodity but a steady seasonal rate of fertilizer is coming through as well.

Urea, DAP and Potash are still in high demand for our region and will no doubt increase with the dry weather we have experienced this summer.

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Scrap Boats Work continues on the demolition of the old New Plymouth power station but as yet, we haven’t had a scrap boat to collect any more product.

Hopefully in the near future we will benefit from its demise. Word is the chimney will come down as well now, so it will be interesting to see how and when that gets done.

Logs Good news with the load volumes increasing. We are now doing 20,000 and 25,000 Jaz (five hatch fill ups) load ins. While the frequency of boats coming hasn’t really changed yet, doing those amounts is welcome work for our Branch.

Unless we have other boats in port at the same time, we can man the entire boat with operators and digger drivers, which is great.

We have also picked up a new client who will be railing in cargo so that should boost our workload also.

Out of port As always, Bluff is our most common destination.

Timaru and Port Chalmers are also frequent calls so thanks for the opportunity to travel, much appreciated.

Safety news According to the latest (February 15) Southern Cross Stevedoring Company Safety news letter, our branch has the lowest injury rate and incident reported accidents – a 0.4 average, which is something we are extremely proud of.

We take great pride in our safety record, something other operators at our port should aspire to.

Old Timers’ Picnic Day Our Old Timers’ Picnic Day was held on the last Monday of January as it is every year. Unfortunately, attendance by our full timers was disappointing but the turnout by our old timers was sensational.

A great time was had by all there and plenty of camaraderie was enjoyed by all.

Plenty of laughter and stories of days gone by were shared and I personally loved the time spent together in that environment.

We will push for a better attendance rate for the next one with more notice to everyone.

As always, let’s take care of each other where and when possible and let’s keep safe.

Have a good one.

The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 35

MUNZ Wellington Branch members Peter Renwick and Doug Makinson aboard the Arahura during Auckland dry dock, August 2014 (photo by Alan Windsor)

MUNZ Wellington Branch members at the rally against the TPPA in central Wellington, 7 March 2014 (photo by Alan Windsor) 36 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

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Wellington

By Mike Clark It has been a busy summer in the offshore oil and gas industry which has grown stronger in recent years.

This year we have seen a number of offshore vessels operating around the coast; this has resulted in employment for most of our existing members.

With a number of our people exiting the industry over the last twelve months we have had to recruit a number of our MUA comrades to fill the gaps.

This is a direct result of our inability to train enough new entrants into the industry which is a problem as most vessels are only here for a short stay but also there is nowhere to place them when contracts are terminated.

With the current Government aiming to increase the value of petroleum exports from the present $3 billion a year to $35 billion a year by 2025, there is going to be more opportunity for ongoing work for New Zealand workers.

We will have to increase the pressure on the Government and operators for more training.

It is interesting to note that crude oil is now our fourth largest export behind dairy products, meat products, wood products and logs, with our four largest trading partners being China, Australia, USA and Japan.

Political On the political front, judging by the latest report tabled in Parliament by the GCSB the increase in the amount of phone and electronic spying has skyrocketed over the previous year.

Yet they can’t get a handle on the “eco-terrorists� who are threatening our milk export business to our largest trading partner.

We then have the debacle over the design of our national flag. The writer has a solution the Silver Fern in the right hand top corner with the good old Jolly Roger in the middle.

This would be welcomed by the low and middle income earners who are being robbed by their employers and the Government.

Cook Strait Strait Shipping is upping the ante with the purchase of the 186-metre Stena Feronia. This will replace the Santa Regina which has been on the Wellington / Picton run for the last 14 years.

The Feronia was built in Italy and launched in 1996 and is capable of carrying up to 500 passengers, 150 cars and 60 trucks.

When commissioned it will be the largest local vessel operating on the Strait. She is 186 metres long and has a service speed of 18 knots.

The Interislander has purchased Stena Alegra to replace the aging Arahura.

Both vessels are expected to come into service around July/August this year.

The Arahura was the pride of the fleet when introduced and there are still seafarers on her who have been there since her delivery voyage more than thirty years ago.

With the introduction of the Alegra there will be changes to sailing times and rosters which we will discuss with the company and crews.

Stopwork Meetings Once again I have to report that our local Stopwork meetings are suffering from a lack of attendance.

These forums are the place for members to discuss any issues that may arise.

It is disappointing to receive anti-official feedback about the officials not visiting ships. This type of complaint is why the stopwork meetings were originally set up to ensure members have the opportunity to have their say.

It is not always easy for officials to visit vessels at turnaround as most members are working, or if living on board, members may be sleeping after working night shifts.

MUNZ officials continue to work on wages and conditions for their members and they would like to remind members it is only through negotiations that the company agrees to these, they are not just handed to members.

It is disappointing to get negative feedback from our members and we urge you to join us at our stopwork meetings.

Come and have a voice and allow us to discuss any issues you may have. We need to be united in everything we do.

Thank you A huge thank you to all the delegates who took the time to attend our delegate training session led by Craig Harrison recently.

It certainly was pleasing to see so many members putting their hands up to take an active role in our great union. I have said many times you have to have a strong foundation to build on, Union means unity and unity means strength.

www.munz.org.nz

The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 37

Napier

By Bill Connelly Around and about The tourist season is well upon us and already we have had numerous tourist vessels in the port. One of the cruise liners, the “Celebrity Solstice” at 317 metres in length and a beam of 36.88 metres is the largest vessel to call at Napier, as well as being the largest cruise vessel to be sailing in New Zealand waters.

It’s Art Deco weekend this weekend and the city of Napier will be inundated with an extra 30,000 visitors for the event.

Hotels and motels are full and rest assured Napier will be putting its best foot forward to accommodate all the visitors and show them a good time, over what is one of the biggest weekends in the Bay every year.

C3 (Formerly Toll Logistics New Zealand Limited) The National Secretary Joe Fleetwood attended Napier for the recent round of negotiations.

Four days of negotiations took place at the Union Hotel. Negotiations have been adjourned, with no agreement being reached.

The Union Hotel is one of the older hotels in Napier and has been frequented by many watersiders over the years.

I remember I used to call the numbers for Housie there for the Wharfies Rugby Club, when we used to raise funds for our trips away to mostly other ports around the country. Those were the good old days.

The Union Hotel has now been fully modernised, although some remnants of the old pub have been incorporated into the new complex.

In January 2015 the Company supplied a copy of the ratified agreement, but had included two new clauses, which related to the legal action being undertaken by the Union against the Company.

The Secretary sought a legal opinion, because he thought that with the amendments, it would necessitate a further ratification meeting with the membership.

This meeting was held on 28 January 2015 and the membership discussed the two new amendments and the additional wording “full and final settlement” and was disgusted at the Company’s attempt to change the document, without any negotiation with the Company Delegates and the Union.

As a result of these discussions the following motion was carried unanimously by the members in attendance.

Motion reads as follows: “That because the Company have seen fit to add further wording, namely, “full and final settlement”, that the Company are once again not acting in “good faith” and that the Secretary be instructed to contact our legal representative to seek an urgent hearing on the two problems before the ERA, as per the information received in the e-mail from Lara Blomfield, dated 14th January 2015. Further that the Company’s “Final Document” is rejected in its entirety.”

A disappointing outcome for our members, after eighteen months of negotiations and mediation, but the Union are adamant that the Company must negotiate in Good Faith in future rounds of negotiations, otherwise nothing of value will be achieved by either party.

Kia Kaha Kelcold.

NZL Containers Limited Their contract of employment expires on 1 February 2016.

Hawke’s Bay Stevedoring Services Limited The Local Port Schedule expires on 30 April 2016.

Kelcold Limited Their agreement expired on 1 August 2013.

After numerous rounds of negotiations, including two of mediation, we have achieved nothing.

At the mediation meeting held on 15 January 2014 negotiations got bogged down over the question of the payment for our members of their Relevant Daily Rate of Pay as legislated under the Holidays Act 2003.

This is currently a claim lodged by the Branch with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).

After mediation we instructed our lawyer to add an additional claim to the ERA, because of an anomaly found in the Hours of Work clause.

The Union agreed to get back into negotiations after mediation, but after numerous rounds of meetings we have achieved little that would benefit our members in the years ahead.

We did reach agreement for a new agreement under the terms of settlement on 18 December 2014 and this was ratified by the membership at a meeting held on 22 December 2014.

38 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

Timaru

By Tony Townshend Timaru port has been rather busy with fertiliser and palm kernel, with half a million tonnes coming in the last six months. Hence we have had a lot of men coming in from out of port to help us.

C3 has had an increase in containers with Pacifica now coming into the port once a week.

Southern Cross Stevedores are taking on another five workers to replenish our dwindling numbers.

Timaru is holding our old timers function on 14 March.

Unfortunately we had an accident in the port with a C3 employee and MUNZ member badly injured on board the container ship Patricia Schulte on the morning of 4 March 2015. This incident is currently under investigation.

www.munz.org.nz

Odd Ode: The Bard Mudguard Just a note this morning Kev, not for publication It might set the dog alight, but not with jubilation.

‘Gather round,’ the seadog said, ‘I’ll tell you a yarn or two, You know I never stretch the truth every story’s true.’

We were steaming up the river Thames the fog as thick as gravy.

We passed a hundred cargo ships and half the British Navy.

The pilot said we’d have to stop, ‘It’s hopeless to go on, We’ll have to put the anchor out and wait till the fog’s all gone.’

Timaru’s waterside poet remembered in new book Timaru wharfie Rod Donald, known to his workmates as “Mudguard”, passed on in 2011.

He spent many years working on the Timaru waterfront, and was known (amongst other things) as being a keen poet who would often write verses on the job.

Family members have now put together a collection of his poems, entitled “The Old Hands Understand.”

The hardbound book is a genuine insight into the life and times of a working man in provincial New Zealand from the 1940s through to the modern day.

Many of the poems deal with Rod’s early life, his school days, rural life, his time as fisherman, and latterly his years as a watersider. It’s laced with humour and affectionate portraits of the characters he worked alongside over the years.

It’s a great tribute to a working “Kiwi bloke” with an unusual talent.

The book is illustrated with some fine pencil drawings by Sally Louise Hill, and some interesting photos of Rod and friends over the years.

This is a strictly limited edition.

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The captain said, That’s no good, relax and have no fear.

Tell the mate to shake a leg and get the seadog here.’

The skipper said, ‘Now listen Frank, we’re really in a stew I want to berth this ship tonight, so I’ll leave it up to you.’

‘Aye aye sir’, the old dog said, ‘I’m off to the old crow’s nest I’ll tell you where to point this ship and you can do the rest.’

So he climbed up the forward mast without a hint of fear and as They slid beside the wharf the crew gave out a cheer.

The fog was really thick that night, correct me if I’m wrong But when the seadog went to climb back down The bloody ship was gone!

Another story comes to mind. While berthing in Dunedin I can’t recall the captain’s name, but it wasn’t James Onedin.

We knocked the clamps from the anchor chain, to drop the Anchor quick when a sudden gust of flaming wind Grabbed the flaming pick.

The wind picked that five ton–anchor up, The anchor it took off.

And it dropped that bloody anchor boys, In an L.A. on the wharf.

It’s a sight you never see too much and I’ll never see again, A ship moored to a railway truck with a hundred feet of chain!

But now I’ve got to leave you boys, there’s a busy time ahead.

Catching those little leprechauns who swing those lights in the Loader shed.

The Maritimes | Autumn 2015 | 39

Health and safety is everyone’s responsibility.

If any health and safety incidents occur in your workplace, alert your branch officials and fill in the online incident form at www.munz.org.nz 40 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2015

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