The Maritimes Summer 2015/2016

THE Issue 52 • Summer 2015/2016

MARITIMES Magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand

THE UNION THAT DOES THE HEAVY LIFTING

www.munz.org.nz

ISSN 1176-3418

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FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR MUNZ

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s part of our ongoing national strategy, we’re looking at the long term future of MUNZ over the next 5–10 year period. The National Council discussed a presentation about this issue at the November 2015 National Conference.

It’s no secret that we face a number of difficult challenges. Some of these challenges are those faced by the whole union movement.

We are up against hostile Governments representing big business interests, and an aggressive capitalist class that is on the offensive to dismantle workers’ protections and rights in order to feed the insatiable quest for profit at all cost. Legislation is rolled out to hamper and undermine organized labour. The political climate is reactionary and conservative.

Other challenges are those happening at the larger scale economic and technological level. Economic globalization, the development of automation, the instability of the maritime industry and increased insecure work and casualization are problems of our time.

Some challenges are specific to our industry and organization. We need to address an ageing workforce and leadership, the engagement of members, our education and training, and the structure of our Union.

“IT IS OUR ROLE AS A WORKING CLASS UNION OF POLITICALLY AWARE WORKERS TO RESIST THE CALLS FOR WAR AND INTOLERANCE AROUND THE WORLD”

BY JOE FLEETWOOD NATIONAL SECRETARY

Do we need to bring in new groups of workers or consider amalgamation or federation with other like minded unions? Where do we need to concentrate our organizing efforts? Are we doing enough to attract younger members or women members?

These are all big questions and need to be discussed not just at national level but at branch level and amongst the rank and file membership.

CENTRAL COLLECTION OF FEES On this topic, from the discussions at the November 2014, May 2015 and the November 2015 meetings, the National Council recommends that all Branches discuss the issue of central collection of all union fees.

Under this system fees are remitted to National Office by all employers, after the capitation fee is deducted, the remaining will be remitted to the Branch.

There are a number of advantages with this system including a reduction in administration costs and requirements at the branch level.

Recommendations from stop work meetings to be reported on via a National Conference Call in March 2016.

HELEN KELLY The biennial Council of Trade Unions Conference was recently held in Wellington.

Outgoing CTU President, Helen Kelly, gave a strong speech about her experiences and views for our movement going forward.

As many members will know, Helen has terminal cancer.

Despite this condition, she has continued to advocate for working people and progressive social causes, and even now having retired, she has still been actively involved in supporting our movement.

I recently wrote to Helen on behalf of the Maritime Union to thank her for her work and especially for the leading role she has taken in many industrial disputes, including Ports of Auckland.

Helen leads from the front and gained a great level of respect from workers from around New Zealand during her time in the job. (This letter is republished later in this magazine.)

I know all members will share in sending Helen and her family our best wishes and solidarity.

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SUPERANNUATION FUNDS MERGER PROPOSAL In the last month I have been travelling to Ports around New Zealand, accompanied by David Young (Chairman of the WISF) and at some ports by David Scott (Chairman of the SRF).

The purpose of these visits was to explain the reasons behind the proposal to merge both the WISF and SRF funds into a Maritime Retirement Scheme.

Members had a number of questions which we believe were answered.

This proposal has the support of our Union and the fund trustees, and has a number of advantages. It is also necessary to comply with some upcoming changes in legislation governing super funds.

Members of both schemes will have received a letter about these changes, which we have reprinted in this edition of the Maritimes.

GLOBAL CRISIS – WORKING CLASS UNITY THE ANSWER In the last few months we have seen increasing stress around the globe, especially with the continued flow of refugees from the Middle East and the terrorist attacks in Paris (and many other cities around the world which don’t receive as much publicity.)

IN THIS ISSUE National Secretary’s Update page 2 National President’s Comment page 4 National Council November 2015 page 5 Maritime Superannuation page 8 Health and safety page 9 Union education page 10 News page 11 CTU Conference page 12 We Must Protect What We Have page 14 White Ribbon Campaign page 16 The FIRE Economy book review page 19 The Sinking of the Derbyshire page 20 Branch Roundups page 22 Recipes page 31 MARITIME UNION BADGES NICKEL PLATED WITH 3 ENAMEL INFILLS AND RESIN

The clamour at this time is always for more repressive police state measures and military action. We need to take stock of the situation and look at things with a cool head, analyse the problems, not react with emotion and anger.

We must recall that so-called “security measures” have been used before against workers. Consider the 1951 NZ waterfront lockout, the Springbok Tour in 1981 or the Miners in the UK in the 1980s.

All of these are situations when the working class had their rights and interests undermined in the name of “the law.”

Maritime unionists have always subscribed to an internationalist philosophy of “workers of the world unite”, a message that still maintains its original power and meaning today.

We opposed the extremist terrorist attacks on civilians whether in the Middle East or Europe. The goal of the terrorists is to polarize and create a divided society where more hate can flourish. They can only be defeated through unity.

We have opposed the military action of the West in the Middle East for many years, as both wrong and counter productive. The illegal wars and invasions created by George W. Bush and Tony Blair have created widespread JOB: 34984 v2.0 devastation and the loss of many innocent lives.

CONTACT THE MARITIME UNION 26mm

National Office Telephone: 04 3850 792 Fax: 04 3848 766 Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141 National Secretary: Joe Fleetwood Direct dial: 04 8017614 Mobile: 021 364649 Email: joe.fleetwood@munz.org.nz

National President: Carl Findlay Direct dial: 09 3034652 Mobile: 021 760887 DEPTH: 2mm FITTING: PIN (9mm) ELECTROPLATING: NICKEL The only result is the further collapsePLATE of stability in the region, with1civil warsAND CLUTCHEmail: carl.findlay@munz.org.nz and failed states providing a breeding ground for ISIS. PLEASE ENSURE ALL DETAILS ARE CORRECT BEFORE GIVING APPROVAL TO PROCEED TO PRODUCTION Assistant National Secretary: Ray Fife In the Second World War many of our members serving in the forces or Direct dial: 03 2128189 Mobile: 0274 475317 Merchant Navy made the ultimate sacrifice in fighting against fascism and Email: ray.fife@munz.org.nz imperialism. The cost of war is always borne by the working class majority, whatever side they are on.

National Vice President: Selwyn Russell War must be a last resort and violence has a bad tendency to breed violence, which is exactly what has happened in the Middle East.

Direct dial: 07 5755 668 Mobile: 0274 782308 Email: selwyn.russell@munz.org.nz

It is our role as a working class Union of politically aware workers to resist the calls for war and intolerance around the world.

ITF Inspector: Grahame McLaren Direct dial: 04 8017613 Mobile: 021 2921782 Email: mclaren_grahame@itf.org.uk

At this time of year we can all reflect on what we can do as individuals and as union members to make the world a slightly better place.

On behalf of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, I wish you and your families a safe, happy and relaxing summer and festive season.

RESIN

PROCESS BLUE

Communications Officer: Victor Billot Mobile: 021 482219 Email: victor.billot@munz.org.nz National Office administrator: Ramesh Pathmanathan Email: ramesh@munz.org.nz

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BLU

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fter the Labour Day celebrations, I saw a journalist on TV question an employment consultant about unions. The journo asked the consultant if he felt unions were relevant in this day and age. His answer in a nutshell was “that New Zealand society has moved a long way from the industrial battle grounds of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and therefore the trade union movement is not relevant or needed.”

Unfortunately that’s the theory amongst some working class people and most of the ‘would be if they could be’ crowd. Improvements to our standard of living and lifestyles are a direct result of the campaigns of struggle based unions and, to be fair, advances in technology.

Maybe we are victims of our own success, but the message needs to be clear that the struggle has not ended. Yes, we have come a long way in some areas, but scratch below the surface and you will find a real and pervasive inequality in today’s society.

Growing up in working class West Auckland in the 1970’s, there was some poor families, but there was certainly no need for a charity like the ‘Kids Can 50 cent a day’ running today.

“STRONG ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND HAVE A DUTY IN THE BIGGER PICTURE”

BY CARL FINDLAY NATIONAL PRESIDENT

If a neighbour needed a hand, the local families would help out until they were back on their feet. A real sense of community lasted into the late 1980’s and only started to break down at the start-up of the era of National’s Employment Contracts Act. From here the middle class worker started to forget but even worst sit in judgement on those in worse situations. Until we win back the hearts and minds of all workers the gap will keep growing.

Strong organizations like the Maritime Union of New Zealand have a duty in the bigger picture and must stay at the front line of our local and international labour movement.

Good leadership is key and a special mention must go to National Secretary Joe Fleetwood. Joe has his finger on the pulse and is continually lobbying Government in Wellington on behalf of workers, chasing Labour Party MPs and pushing social and MUNZ issues to the forefront.

On the international scene, MUNZ is held in high esteem. Joe holds a seat on the ITF Dockers section, and is the first President of the Maritime International Federation. These are not small achievements. Moving into the future with unprecedented attacks on workers we will need those important roles as well as all hands on deck to get things done.

Finally I would like to wish all members and their families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Travel safe if you are going away, but if you are like myself and are rostered on at work keep your mind on the job and be safe.

Proud to be union.

THE MARITIMES MAGAZINE

Published quarterly by the Maritime Union of New Zealand.

Authorized by Joe Fleetwood, 220 Willis Street, Wellington.

ISSN 1176-3418

Editor: Victor Billot Mobile: 021 482219 Email: victor.billot@munz.org.nz Mail: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141, New Zealand Deadline for Autumn 2016 issue: 12 February 2016

MARITIME UNION ONLINE

Website www.munz.org.nz Facebook www.facebook.com/maritime.union Twitter www.twitter.com/maritimeunion Flickr www.flickr.com/maritimeunion YouTube www.youtube.com/maritimeunionnz

FRONT COVER PHOTO

Heavy cargo lift carried out by Timaru Cargo Services on 8 November 2015.

Conrad Stevens of Timaru Cargo Services says “full credit goes to Tony Townshend as he was taking charge as foreman of the whole operation from start to finish. Peter Dixon, Peter Tee also with over 30 years’ experience each with Tony helped make the heavy cargo lift go really smoothly. Peter Dixon was on the crane and did extremely well. It is good to have that much experience on our side when a project cargo lift needs to be done or any other sort of job.”

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www.munz.org.nz

At the November 2015 MUNZ National Council, from left, MUNZ Assistant National Secretary Ray Fife, MUNZ National Vice President Selwyn Russell, MUNZ National Secretary Joe Fleetwood, MUA Deputy National Secretary Will Tracey, MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin and MUNZ National President Carl Findlay.

From Fremantle to Bluff all bases covered.

NATIONAL COUNCIL NOVEMBER 2015 www.munz.org.nz

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Founding leadership: national officials from the creation of the Maritime Union of New Zealand were in attendance at the November 2015 National Council.

From left, Joe Fleetwood (first National Vice President of MUNZ), Trevor Hanson (first General Secretary of MUNZ), third from left, Dave Morgan (first National Joint President MUNZ) and right, Les Wells (first National Joint President MUNZ), who were followed by the first MUNZ National President Phil Adams.

Pictured here with MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin (second right.)

Delegates and observers at the November 2015 MUNZ National Council, from left, Alf Boyle (Napier), Isaac McIndoe (New Plymouth), Andrew Alexander (Bluff), Steve Beets (Tauranga), Hector Thorpe (Auckland) and Steve Thompson (Lyttelton)

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www.munz.org.nz

The MUNZ National Council met at the Union’s national office at Waterside House, Wellington, on 4–5 November 2015.

Coastal shipping

The meeting opened with a welcome and update from National President, Carl Findlay. This was followed by a National Strategy report from National Secretary, Joe Fleetwood.

After a report on the pending removal of the Spirit of Endurance from the New Zealand coast and the possibility of the Spirit of Canterbury next year, with the loss of New Zealand seafarers’ jobs, it was resolved the Maritime Union of New Zealand take firm action in highlighting the plight of coastal shipping through media, legal and political avenues.

International guests

Superannuation funds

Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary Paddy Crumlin and Deputy National Secretary, Will Tracey, both attended and contributed their thoughts on the issues for maritime unions today.

A progress report was also provided on the proposal for a merger of the Seafarers’ Retirement Fund and Waterfront Industry Superannuation Fund into the one Maritime Superannuation Scheme, and the benefits this could bring.

This was an important meeting for the Union which was well attended.

The attendance of the two senior officials of the MUA was appreciated and welcomed, especially taking into account the heavy demands on their time.

One topic discussed was the proposal for the MUA to merge as a sector with the CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union). The CFMEU is a large union with well over 100,000 members and shares many of the core values of the MUA.

After a lengthy debate, the National Council endorsed the the draft document of the proposed merger.

The proposed new Trustee structure would be made up of 4 MUNZ trustees, 4 employer trustees, 1 independent chairman and 1 licensed independent trustee as required by the FMCA.

The MUA (like MUNZ) is facing multiple attacks from hostile employers and aggressive right wing Governments who want to remove organized labour from the picture.

The two independents will be elected by the 8 trustees at the first inaugural meeting of the new fund, the four MUNZ trustees were elected by National Council from the existing 7 MUNZ trustees.

This discussion fed into a presentation on the future of MUNZ over the next 5-10 years.

Four nominations were put forward, all nominations were agreed, these being Joe Fleetwood, Mike Clark, Russell Mayn and Alan Windsor, all duly elected to represent the Union.

There is a need to adapt our approach to the changing nature of our industry and workforce, while keeping our distinctive maritime culture, and strong progressive values.

CTU President Richard Wagstaff welcomed On day two, National Council was addressed by the incoming President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, Richard Wagstaff.

Richard previously held the Vice President of the position with the NZCTU and was Joint National Secretary of the PSA. He brings extensive experience to the position and provided a thoughtful and well received presentation to the National Council.

The National Secretary and WISF Chairman, David Young, accompanied by SRF Chair, David Scott, and Trustee, Mike Clark, would be visiting all ports to talk about the merger of the two funds.

Updates on the merger were sent to branches prior to National Council, a schedule of port visits has been sent to all branches and a further report will go out before the port visits start.

All branch secretaries are to notify their branch members of the times, dates and venues where the meetings are to be held.

Central Collection of Fees

Given that it was only his second day in his new job, it is obvious that the NZCTU is in good hands going forward with Richard, and NZCTU Secretary, Sam Huggard.

Arising from the discussions on central collection at the November 2014, May 2015 and the November 2015 National Councils on the central collection of union fees, the National Council recommends that all Branches discuss the issue of central collection of all union fees.

They are both building on the exemplary work of previous NZCTU leaders who have navigated their way through tough and testing times for the working class.

Under this system fees are remitted to National Office by all employers, after the capitation fee is deducted, the remaining will be remitted to the Branch.

Also in attendance at the National Council were two respected former leaders of the Union, Dave Morgan and Trevor Hanson, whose input was welcomed and who both congratulated the Union on its continuing progress.

Sector reports Our national officials presented reports on our four key sectors Terminals/ inland ports, Bulk and general stevedoring, Coastal shipping, and Offshore oil and gas industry.

Recommendations from stop work meetings to be reported on via a National Conference Call in March 2016.

Changes at National Council It is worth noting that several long time faces were not at the meeting, due to retirement from the industry, and this focussed us on the importance that branches develop their younger members and have in place a transition plan to bring through new leaders.

Further reports were received on union training, health and safety, political and campaigns/communications, women, veterans and ITF inspectorate.

We also welcomed a number of new delegates and observers, as well as Women’s Officer, Marian Lesslie, and newly elected Youth Delegate, Josh Greer, from Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch.

Support for Meatworkers

Branch officials will report back on the National Council meeting at upcoming stopwork meetings at the branches.

A motion of financial support for the Meatworkers’ Union members engaged in the struggle with the Talleys owned AFFCO meatworks was passed unanimously.

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MARITIME RETIREMENT SCHEME PROPOSED MERGER OF THE WISF AND SRF Members will likely have heard of a proposal to merge SRF and WISF to form a new maritime industry retirement scheme to be called the Maritime Retirement Scheme (MRS).

Branch Meetings and Further Communications The National Secretary of MUNZ, Joe Fleetwood, and the Chairman of WISF, David Young, attended branch meetings in November and December with a presentation to members. The Chairman of SRF, David Scott, and Mike Clark were to attend meetings.

Reasons for a Merger A merger of SRF and WISF will fulfil a longstanding aim of the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) to merge the two existing schemes covering members of MUNZ. Remits have been passed unanimously at the last two conferences of the union requesting such a merger.

Contributions and Benefits The merger of WISF and SRF will not affect the rates of contribution by members and employers, or member benefits. These will be unchanged except in respect of the pension option available to new waterside workers.

The pension option to convert retirement benefits into a pension will still be available to existing members but it will not be available to new waterside workers who join the scheme after 1 April next year. WISF currently has only 6 pensioners and it is many years since any retiring member converted their benefits to a pension.

Waterside Worker and Seafarer Funds The funds of waterside workers and seafarers will be kept separate in the MRS. There will be a Waterside Workers’ section and a Seafarers’ section.

The existing reserves of WISF will be transferred into the Waterside Workers’ section and similarly the existing reserves of SRF will be transferred into the Seafarers’ section. These sections will then be used to receive member and employer contributions and pay benefits to waterside workers and seafarers respectively. The WISF reserves for paying death benefits and pensions will be transferred into the Waterside Workers’ section.

Administration and Investment Management The MRS will be administered by a single administrator and the sections will be amalgamated for investing, similar to the arrangements that apply currently to the WISF and SRF KiwiSaver schemes.

Investment Options Initially the existing investment choices will be retained. Members of the Waterside Workers section will still be offered the options of a Balanced and a Conservative Portfolio and members of the Seafarers’ Fund will still be offered the Market Linked Fund.

The Balanced Portfolio of WISF and the Market Linked Fund of SRF are very similar and it is envisaged that eventually these will be rationalised so that the same option will be offered to both groups of members. Similarly, it is envisaged that consideration will be given to offering a Conservative Portfolio to seafarers.

The enactment of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 (FMCA) which came into force on 1 December 2014 (subject to a number of transitional arrangements) has created the catalyst for such a merger. The FMCA requires significant changes to be made to the existing schemes’ governance arrangements, trust deeds and disclosure documents. It also imposes significant extra compliance and other costs. These additional costs can be significantly reduced by merging the two schemes as part of the process of transitioning the two schemes to the new FMCA regime.

KiwiSaver Scheme

Small schemes of less than $50 – 100M are not expected to be viable under the new FMCA environment and SRF is currently less than $70M. By merging WISF and SRF, there will be significant administration and investment management cost savings with the result being that the MRS is expected to be a costeffective superannuation fund for members to save for retirement.

The aim is for the new merged scheme to take over on 1 April next year. DLA Piper, a legal adviser, has been engaged and a new trust deed has been drafted It will soon be submitted to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) for its review and approval. It is expected FMA will complete its review and approve the new trust deed by the end of December. Without the FMA’s approval, the merger will not proceed.

Approval in Principle

An Establishment Board comprising the trustees-elect of the new scheme will then be formed to appoint an administrator for managing the merger. The trustees elect will then be formally appointed and takeover the trusteeship of the MRS and MKS from 1 April next year.

The concept of a merger of SRF and WISF has been approved, in principle, by the trustees of SRF and WISF and has been endorsed by the employers who are party to the existing schemes, as well as by MUNZ. As part of this approval process, the parties have agreed to a governance structure where MRS will be governed by a board of 10 trustees, comprising 4 trustees each from MUNZ and the employers, an independent chairman trustee appointed by the other trustees and a Licensed Independent Trustee (LIT), also appointed by the other trustees. A LIT is required by the FMCA.

The WISF and SRF KiwiSaver schemes are also being amalgamated to form a new maritime industry KiwiSaver scheme (MKS). This new KiwiSaver scheme will invest solely into the MRS and will be managed and administered on similar terms to the MRS. Progress to Date

The information above was circulated to all WISF and SRF members in a letter in November 2015 from Joe Fleetwood (National Secretary, MUNZ), David Young (Chairman, WISF) and David Scott (Chairman, SRF).

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Methyl bromide incident: A tarpaulin was blown off logs undergoing fumigation at the Ports of Napier on the morning of Tuesday 13 October 2015.

HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE

FUMIGANT INCIDENT IN NAPIER A tarpaulin was blown off logs undergoing fumigation in Napier on the morning of Tuesday 13 October 2015.

MUNZ members at C3 were loading the log vessel Green Tec when they witnessed the event.

Workers were stood down after the release of methyl bromide, and several workers were tested at hospital for exposure to the poison gas.

WORKER FALLS INTO TRAWLER HOLD A crew member on the Sanford scampi trawler Drysdale was badly injured after falling into the hold on 5 October 2015.

The 25 metre vessel was in port at Bluff when the man fell three metres while a hatch cover was being lifted back into place.

He was taken to hospital after spending half an hour in subzero temperatures in the hold, and was treated for a cracked collarbone and concussion

CHEMICAL FIRE CLOSES POAL Wharves at the Ports of Auckland were briefly closed on 21 November after a fire involving aluminium phosphide broke out.

A canister of the fumigant aboard a wheat ship was identified as the cause.

Fire and ambulance services attended the incident and there were no injuries.

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

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UNION EDUCATION Local 13 MUNZ member, Nick Calwell, is pictured at the MUA picket at Hutchison Terminals in Sydney. Nick recently attended a three day Maritime Union of Australia delegate training course, along with Andy Horler and Sharon O’Neil, at St Georges Basin, south of Sydney. Nick has recently been elected to the Auckland executive along with Sharon. All three members are stevedores at Ports of Auckland, and have recently completed the MUNZ based delegate training.

BY CRAIG HARRISON MUNZ UNION EDUCATOR The Auckland Branch recently completed a two day delegate education course in Auckland for seven members. Unfortunately, we had a couple withdraw at last moment, dropping the numbers.

Three of the members went on to Australia at the start of November, with the help of the ITF, for a three day delegate training course.

Our Australian comrades are more than happy to accommodate our members and are enthusiastic to develop this connection even more. The support of the ITF is targeted at building capacity in the Port of Auckland.

But country wide any delegate willing to undertake further Union education would be most welcomed by our Australian comrades.

Three of the delegates have recently been elected to the Auckland Executive, and it was a good cross section between Seafarers and Dockers. I will be looking to see if we can get more out of Fullers to come to the training, and promote the education to members outside of the docks, such as Ballance Fertilisers.

The delegates started off a little hesitant on the two day course but by the end of it were all involved in the process and asking questions and relating their employment issues with the relevant legislation.

Once members start to get an overview of the legislation, they then tend to get the understanding on why it is not always possible to deliver what is expected or desired in some situations.

The interesting comments coming out of the course show how the communication chain is shifting in the work place.

The comments centred on the use of social media on the internet such as Facebook as first point of contact for a new worker entering the work place.

With some of the big employers having their own Facebook pages, new workers in the industry join the company pages as friends, that in turn link them into other workers in the workplace.

What we are seeing is that the likes of Port Pro in Auckland are very active on social media, and as some people have commented, act more like a social club than a Union. The unfortunate thing is that a portion of the young new workers will gravitate to this form of connection in the workplace.

Looking forward, young workers are saying we should be thinking about how and if we use the same tools to connect with young workers coming into the industry.

It’s the steady stream of up to date and relevant information that needs to be fed to new workers by officials and delegates alike.

The tools of communication for new workers are the internet and the use of Facebook on smartphones.

The main issue around this form of communication is eliminating the ability of someone getting up and having a rant on the site.

Over the next few months, I will be reviewing and updating the content of the course with the help of our MUNZ communications officer, Victor Billot, and in the New Year I hope to connect a lot more members and Officials with Health and Safety delegate training.

Going forward, Health and Safety will increase to become a significant part in the employment relationship. I hope to spark some interest around the country. I have had couple of members contact me from around the country, and I have directed them to the local branch to initiate contact, and then go from there.

If this interest and desire by members at a local level are not acted on or followed up in a timely manner, the interest will evaporate and be lost.

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MUA AND CFMEU MERGER TALKS UNDERWAY Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch representatives at the November 2015 MUNZ National Council, from left, Tim Camp (observer), Steve Smith (Branch Vice President and National Council delegate) and Josh Greer (National Youth Representative.)

In an historic moment for Australian trade unionism, the Maritime Union of Australia and Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, have commenced discussions on a possible merger.

CFMEU National Officials, Michael O’Connor, Dave Noonan and Tony Maher met in October 2015 in Sydney with the MUA’s National Council to begin formalising a merger, which will be taken to the membership of the MUA at the union’s National Conference in February 2016.

NATIONAL YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED

MUA National Secretary, Paddy Crumlin, said the potential merger would create Australia’s most powerful union, which would better serve the membership of both unions.

Josh Greer of Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch was recently elected as MUNZ national youth rep, a position previously held by Byron Cumming of Local 13.

“The MUA is no stranger to mergers and since the Waterside Workers’ Federation and the Seamen’s Union of Australia amalgamated in 1993 the MUA today is here to stay and can only grow in strength in this new union.

Josh is a cargo handler who has worked for Port Otago for almost seven years.

He says he got involved in MUNZ because he understands the protection the Union provides working for good terms and conditions, and he felt obligated to help out fellow members to maintain those good terms and conditions.

Some of the workplace issues Josh thinks are relevant for young people at the moment are the long term impact yellow unions will have, and how younger workers could be distracted by how they present themselves.

He says it is important to understand what it means to be a member of our Union with its proud history.

One way to do this is for each branch to invest time and resources in education, so younger members understand what we have is thanks to those that have given so much for our gain.

He says that younger and newer members should attend their local branch stopwork meetings, be involved and have their say.

“Be a part of the solution going forward.”

Josh says he thinks some of the biggest issues that are affecting younger workers today are the cost of living, coupled with the fact there’s not a lot more good jobs out there, which puts pressure on employees.

“We have been presented with a monumental opportunity to represent working men and women in the Australian workplace without losing the long and proud history of our union,” Mr Crumlin said.

“This is a huge decision that hasn’t been taken lightly, but discussions to merge with the like-minded CFMEU will help us fight the ever-pervasive anti-worker and anti-union attacks on workers and their entitlements and job security.

‘We will continue to work through the issues with our members to ensure any merger is in their absolute best interest and have their total support.

CFMEU National Secretary, Michael O’Connor, said his union would welcome a merger with the MUA. “The opportunity we’ve been presented with will bring great strength to the national and international union movement,” Mr O’Connor said.

“The MUA offers us a chance to strengthen our politics within the CFMEU, because the struggle isn’t just about increasing wages, or creating a safe work site, there is also a bigger and important political struggle.

“We’re very conscious of the MUA’s identity and we want to make it clear that this is a merger of equals.

“This move will be hugely beneficial to not just the members of the MUA and CFMEU but will lead the way for all working men and women.”

Understanding health and safety, and the implications it has on workers when something goes wrong, is also important.

The recent battle of Talleys meatworkers with their employer was a warning sign about how aggressive employers can act.

All MUNZ branches are in the process of identifying and electing youth delegates at a branch level.

Josh is happy to talk to any younger MUNZ members about their ideas or concerns, his email is joshuapaulgreer@yahoo.co.nz

www.munz.org.nz

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THE WORKERS UNITED

2015 NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS CONFERENCE

BY MARIAN LESSLIE MUNZ 0918 NATIONAL WOMEN’S OFFICER

I was also reappointed as the MUNZ delegate to the CTU women’s council for the next two years 2015–2017.

Prior to the NZCTU Conference, I attended the 2015 CTU Women’s Biennial conference held on 10–11 July, along with Elizabeth Copper and Annette McCauley from the Wellington Branch. The theme of the conference was “Inspiring union women.”

I also attended the CTU Biennial Conference on 14–15 October 2015. The conference was opened by CTU President Helen Kelly who talked on campaigns and their value and why we are campaigning to improve the lives of the working class in New Zealand.

There were around 170 delegates at the conference. Over the two days there were workshops and presentations on key issues that affect women in the work place today.

As this was Helen’s last conference as CTU President, she talked about the people, and campaigns she had been involved with, including Ports of Auckland, meat workers, 90 days act, health and safety, just to name a few.

International speaker, Wil Stracke, Campaigns Officer at Victoria Trades Hall in Australia, spoke on how unions ran the Equal Pay campaign in Australia.

There then was a presentation on the CTU pay campaign. CTU Secretary Sam Huggard, talked on their three year plan to lift wages in NZ.

Dr Jess Hutchings, Manager at Te Wahanga New Zealand Council for Educational Research, spoke on inspiring Maori in the work place and to become union leaders.

This included a presentation from David Talbot from UMR Research who talked about how they have been doing research on households (only in Auckland at this point) on what people think on unions, and why join or not join a union.

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Jackie Blue, was also a speaker.

I was asked to be part of a panel around Union Women in the workplace and was asked to talk about working at sea, along with the meat workers, FIRST Union and PPTA. This was a very good session and went down well with the delegates, and got some great feedback.

It would be great to see more branches send delegates to this conference as I’ve only had positive feedback from the delegates who have attended.

The next speaker was Anat Shenker-Osorio, a US Communications expert, researcher and political pundit.

Anat was a great speaker who engaged the delegates, talking on how people see things and how we all don’t see things in the same way (I.e. good or bad in a union sense.)

We need to change the information we give out to get the public on our way of thinking and seeing the issues.

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Labour Party Leader, Andrew Little, addressed the conference on the situation in New Zealand with important issues such as unemployment, and how workers’ rights have been removed.

He went on to say under a Labour Government, workers would get safety at work, good wages, union representation and workers’ rights.

I was asked, along with three others from the CTU leadership course, to run a workshop on the leadership programme. The workshop theme was Leading Change in our unions. Yet again, great feedback from this has given me some great ideas for MUNZ. Day two started with reports from the Runanga and Out@work sectors.

Co leader of the Green Party, James Shaw, spoke on his party and why they are pushing for 50% male and 50% female representation in their party, and talked on the gender pay gap.

There was a panel on Public institutions, which was comprised of Helen Kelly, author Nicky Hager, former Greens co-leader Russel Norman and TVNZ reporter Andrea Vance.

The main points made were that New Zealand is an institution and people who do speak up get shot down, bosses think they have the power, and employers like younger workers as they don’t have the skills or training, and can be paid lower wages.

There is a need to get people to stand up and talk on the issues around us and a need to use new methods of communication, like social media. In the end the message was how important the power of speech is.

The international speaker was President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Ged Kearney. Ged spoke on the changes to our employment laws.

She spoke about how we need to use social media to organise workers, face to face is better but in this day and age it’s getting harder to do so, and in this day we need to use anything we can to communicate to our members.

The other topics she talked on were the Australian and China free trade, the leadership change for Prime Minister, and the union election campaign.

The final session of the day was workshops and I attended one on bringing young people into our movement.

Yet again a great workshop and very interesting, and has given me more ideas and plans.

If any members wish to contact me, they can email at marian.lesslie@munz.org.nz

HELEN KELLY STANDS DOWN NZCTU PRESIDENT, HELEN KELLY, RETIRED AT THE 2015 CTU CONFERENCE. THE MARITIME UNION SENT HER THIS MESSAGE OF THANKS. Dear Helen On behalf of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, please accept our very best wishes and thanks on the occasion of your retirement as NZCTU President.

In the time since you took on the job, the Maritime Union has experienced a number of industrial disputes, two of which have included the Ports of Napier dispute and the Ports of Auckland dispute.

In both cases, you took an active interest in the progress of these disputes to help obtain the best possible result in difficult circumstances.

In your time as NZCTU National President and as a high profile leader of our movement, workers throughout New Zealand have benefited from your principled leadership and consistent work to represent working class New Zealanders.

Your tenacity around issues including health and safety, secure jobs, and the right to be respected in the workplace, have made a real difference.

Your massive contribution is deeply appreciated. Once again, on behalf of New Zealand maritime workers, please accept our thanks and best wishes.

In Unity Joe Fleetwood National Secretary, Maritime Union of New Zealand

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WE MUST PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE

BY TONY MOWBRAY MUNZ 1154 We all enjoy and are fortunate enough to have permanent jobs in coastal shipping, with good conditions that have been hard fought for over many years at great cost.

This is one example of the complacency mentioned before – “I’m OK because I have got a job at present.” This is also under threat, as we know that by the time our current agreement is up for renewal, the company has no legal obligation to enter into collective bargaining.

In other words, everything in our red book has the potential to become null and void, with the individual being pitted against his or her fellow worker, for not just conditions, but for what everyone holds dear – a job.

Over the last hundred or more years, the Union has been the members themselves, speaking for all, so as to keep a moral and principled stance.

Just speak to the older members, or better still the “old timers”, to hear about just how harsh it was and how difficult to improve.

Many of our Tuvaluan members will remember and be happy to tell of the conditions, wages and time on the job they endured without equal time, before Interislander.

Every negotiation is difficult, as so many labour laws have been designed to limit our legal options of action to gain anything. One can only imagine the difficulty of an individual to gain anything, let alone job security.

Every time an individual contacts the company directly, to satisfy an individual choice, it undermines the Union’s efforts in maintaining the collective ideal.

This of course is encouraged and enjoyed by management. So every individual member needs to show self discipline. We must protect what we have to pass on to the young entrants into our industry, just as it was for us, or risk losing it.

With an obvious shortage of labour, the company has suggested using overseas manning agencies. Current laws allow this. With the management we have, it would be opening doors for a flood of overseas workers, who through no fault of their own, would be thankful for entry into the country.

Through struggle and sacrifice, we have been able to maintain these.

The current 100% membership would be under threat, as new overseas workers for obvious reasons would be fearful of questioning any directive from the company.

In recent times, we have been under more and more pressure from antiUnion Governments, corporates and, for whatever reason, complacency even amongst our own ranks.

On this issue, it is up to us to stop and think about what we can do to educate one another, and use the delegate system to maintain discipline and unity amongst ourselves.

The main problem is lack of attendance at Stopwork meetings. For a couple of hours every month, members can be informed about the relevant laws affecting our workplaces.

All we have to do is the job we were employed for, and give no reason for mates/skipper/the company to gain total control and implement a class system that they would love to exist. Divide and conquer is what they strive for.

Along with an insight into the fish hooks buried in the TPPA/free trade agreements, which affect our industry as well as all industries, and our education and health systems. This affects not only us personally but our families and all those around us.

Since 1991 we have slowly developed an “I’m all right Jack” attitude that leaves those less fortunate than us vulnerable.

We have to be fully aware that at any time our role and future can change with the stroke of a pen in Parliament. This has been proven outright with the loss of many ships and companies through the loss of cabotage in the 1990s.

Why help them do this?

Any internal issues, in all departments, must be dealt with through our processes at a shipboard level, before involvement of others dictates outcomes.

At the end of it all, it is for our own good, as it gives everyone of us the freedom to do the things we enjoy in life outside of the job. But what everyone must remember are the efforts of all who have been before us, that allow us to have what we now seem to take for granted.

As it stands now, one only has to see how many New Zealanders cannot afford their own home, and probably never will. Workers have already noticed the onslaught of savage blows to what conditions we have left, for example, no rights to smoko break, zero hour contracts and so forth.

Three hundred MUNZ members are employed in Interislander Line, yet we are often lucky to scrape up thirty for a stopwork meeting.

I would like to ask the membership how much they know about the recent and ongoing changes to employment legislation, a lot through stealth.

Always remember who we ask to help when things turn bad.

Maybe this can be a chance to stop the fault being everyone else’s – except those who don’t care but take what is gained.

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MUA MEMBERS BACK ON DOCKS AFTER MASS SACKINGS Dockers sacked by global network terminal (GNT) operator Hutchison Ports Australia (HPA) are set to return to work after an agreement was reached between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and HPA management on 17 November 2015.

It was 103 days since 97 workers were terminated in Brisbane and Sydney, many via text and email. It was strongly felt that the company was using automation plans as a union busting tool.

Now, following several rounds of intense negotiation, an agreement has been made which includes a substantial voluntary redundancy package for workers.

ITF president and national secretary of the MUA, Paddy Crumlin, led the talks with HPA at the Fair Work Commission. He said the new agreement was testament to a more functional and mature approach to industrial relations than the company’s initial attempts to restructure their operations.

Crumlin said: “Workers are essential to the productivity and good health of any successful enterprise, and have a social and legal right to be treated with respect and decency, regardless of commercial cycles.

“Large multi national companies have a particular responsibility, due to their scale and inherent power, to have special regard to their treatment of their workers, and should meet the highest standards of meeting those moral responsibilities.”

Crumlin thanked members of the ITF family and also IDC (International Dockworker Council) unions for their demonstrations of solidarity for the sacked workers over the past three months. A global campaign has seen action from hundreds of thousands of transport workers worldwide.

ARRESTS OF GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS ON TANGAROA

VICTORY FOR TALLEY’S AFFCO WORKERS The Meat Workers’ Union (MWU) gained a victory for Talley’s AFFCO workers in the Employment Court in November 2015.

The Court unanimously decided that the lockout of workers across the North Island earlier this year was illegal, and Talley’s AFFCO had breached Section 32 of the Employment Relations Act 2000, by not acting in good faith while negotiations were going on.

MWU National Secretary, Graham Cooke, said the decision was fantastic for Talley’s AFFCO workers and their families.

“With everything the company has put these communities through, they really deserve this brilliant outcome,”Mr Cooke said.

“Talley’s have tried just about everything to stop these workers from being able to bargain for a fair deal. They’ve forced some workers onto individual agreements, they’ve tried to undermine the union behind closed doors.

But today Talley’s have lost. We’ll be looking closely at the decision tomorrow, and the union will be going for full remedies, including compensation.”

“This is a victory for all Talley’s workers.”

Police arrested two Greenpeace protesters who boarded the Niwa vessel Tangaroa on 24 November.

The activists climbed aboard the ship near the Interislander terminal in Wellington and chained themselves to it.

Three activists got onboard the vessel and locked themselves to the top of its mast, while a further two were secured to the deck.

They had unfurled a sail-shaped banner from the mast, reading: “Climb it Change”, while the remaining activists attached other banners all over the boat with the same message.

Greenpeace claimed the Niwa taxpayer-funded climate and ocean research boat, Tangaroa, had been refitted at a cost of $24 million for oil and gas exploration, and was surveying for oil on the East Coast of the North Island on behalf of Statoil and Chevron.

A Niwa spokeswoman said Tangaroa was not “searching” for oil. “We are a sea research vessel. We do have clients we work for on various things.”

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Crew members on Torea at Bluff “taking the pledge” – see story next page.

From left to right, Ch/Eng – Nick Hoefhamer, 2/Mate – Holly Clayton, 3/Mate – Steve Andrew, 3/Mate – Mel Morgan, AB – Hector Thorpe, Caterer – Mike Burke, AB – Luke Foster, AB – Timau Sapele, Mate – Tristan Neate, Cook – Paul Gradiska, Bosun – Paeroa Johnston.

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WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN WORKING FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

BY HECTOR THORPE PRESIDENT LOCAL 13 Trade Unions are the voice for workers and their main principles include improving conditions for themselves and for society. As a natural extension of this, MUNZ is fully supporting the White Ribbon Campaign that seeks to stop violence against women.

With the goal of eliminating men’s violence towards women, White Ribbon “aims to change men’s attitudes and behaviours, predominantly through men talking to men”. It asks individual men to “make it clear to other men that you do not tolerate violence towards women”. White Ribbon is a deliberate attempt to undermine the social norms of men who support violence, and strengthen male norms that are non-violent.

White Ribbon is officially recognised as a symbol of hope for a world where women and girls can live free from the fear of violence. The goal is to challenge the acceptability of violence by getting men involved, helping women to break the silence, and encouraging everyone to come together to build a better world for all.

Take the online Pledge “To never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence towards women and to challenge sexist, violent, emotional or verbal behaviour by speaking up about it.”

The White Ribbon Ride is New Zealand’s most exciting initiative to tackling this country’s crippling domestic violence record.

Violence destroys families, sets our children on a destructive journey and affects one in three women. This week-long motorcycle tour happens every November during – White Ribbon Month, so plan ahead for the next one as it’s a powerful and inspirational voyage for all involved.

A lead group of riders steers convoys through towns in the North and South Islands, picking up support riders in every region along the way. In many regions local riders will lead the White Ribbon into their town and this year we are encouraging scooters and bikes under 250cc’s to join in when the event is within city and town limits.

Please contact the White Ribbon website if you would like to support the kaupapa by leading the riders in your local region. Events are organised in every town, ranging from school visits, marches and breakfasts, to fashion parades, quiz nights and Dads’ and Lads’ days. Every event is an opportunity to bring this issue into the open and get people talking.

Here are a few other things MUNZ members can do to support the campaign whether you are on a ship, on the wharf, or at home.

Take the online pledge Visit www.whiteribbon.org.nz Use Twibbon to change your Facebook and Twitter profile.

Change your Facebook cover photo using white ribbon images.

Post white ribbon graphics on your timeline and tag your friends

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HARD HITTING BOOK DETAILS THE TAKEOVER OF NEW ZEALAND’S ECONOMY MUNZ members The Settlers representing Local 43 Lyttelton

BY VICTOR BILLOT Professor Jane Kelsey has played a unique role in New Zealand political debate over the last twenty years.

She has provided a consistent and rigorous critique of the policies of “neoliberal” capitalism that came out of the Rogernomics and Ruthenasia era in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

This was a time when New Zealand’s political system was hijacked by a small group of ideologically driven politicians and unelected bureaucrats.

They had a programme to transform the country in line with the conservative economics and politics that were then sweeping through the English speaking developed countries of the world.

Their goals neatly coincided with the interests of a new generation of capitalists in the expanding finance sector.

The fallout from that time still affects New Zealand today. The central legacy is a destruction of the egalitarian ethos that developed over New Zealand’s history, to be replaced by a one dimensional view of people as self-interested individuals obsessed with personal gain and devoid of any social or community values.

Unemployment has blighted the lives of a generation and poverty has re-established its hold in struggling communities. Vast wealth has accumulated in the hands of a local minority, and a steady river of profits flows out of the country to overseas shareholders.

Although the promised free market nirvana never arrived for most, many of the central policies of this New Right counter-revolution have been locked in over time.

The role of organised labour has been under constant attack as an informed and confident working class is seen as a threat to the powers that be.

The FIRE economy is an acronym for the new economic system that emerged from the deregulated, neoliberal economic policies. FIRE stands for Finance, Insurance and Real Estate – the driving service industries in the globalized economy. These “financial services” and the economy built on them serve the interests of financial capital, while creating an unstable economy and multiplying social problems.

There is a growing international opposition to the FIRE economy and the neoliberal capitalist politics behind it.

The final blow to the credibility of the deregulated global economy was the Global Financial Crisis that developed in 2008, the after effects of which are still reverberating around the globe.

The FIRE Economy is a timely book. Professor Kelsey draws together a diverse and comprehensive set of arguments. She systematically moves through the interlocking structures of the FIRE economy, explaining how the private finance sector works hand in hand with Government and the upper sectors of the State bureaucracy to lock in policies of benefit to this sector.

This book works on several levels. While providing a conceptual theory of the current economic system, it underpins this with a strong empirical base that is grounded in the New Zealand experience.

Many aspects of the FIRE economy are well known to all of us. The overheated metropolitan property market, and the collapse of finance companies, are examples of the kinds of negative effects that a deregulated and “financialized” economy visits on the majority.

A culture of self-centred individualism also grows up around this type of system.

Benefits accrue to the minority, but when excessive risk taking leads to a bad outcome, the taxpayer is expected to step in and pay for the clean up.

Excessive private sector and consumer debt is another feature of the FIRE economy, in which complicit Governments seek to extend the power and profitability of capital by privatisation, attacking and outsourcing public services, and reducing the social benefits of the general population.

Professor Kelsey provides a thorough historical perspective of how and why these changes occurred, and the current situation of increasing social dysfunction and economic insecurity.

Unlike many academics, Professor Kelsey has played a leading activist role in the campaign against free trade deals, most prominently the recent Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.

These anti-democratic and secretive agreements are a way that right wing Governments and their big business backers can cement in unpopular policies and prevent resistance or change.

Armed with an deep knowledge of the arcane details of these negotiations, she has provided a cool and lucid antidote to the boosterism and rhetoric of the free trade lobby and its apologists in the National Government.

In the final section of the book, Professor Kelsey provides a case for “Transformation” – for throwing out the dominant neoliberal ideology in favour of a more balanced, democratic and egalitarian economy and politics.

She does not underestimate the difficulty of this process.

It is here that unions and organised workers can make a difference. We are still New Zealand’s largest democratic organisations with strong roots in our communities.

It is essential that unions back the work of Professor Kelsey and others who are providing the intellectual framework which we can use to rebuild New Zealand and the rights of the working class majority here and internationally.

This book provides a comprehensive analysis and suggests alternative paths to the current system. The power of ideas to change the world can never be underestimated.

The FIRE Economy: New Zealand’s Reckoning by Jane Kelsey is published by Bridget Williams Books and is available from all good bookstores.

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Major casualties Traditionally, safety at sea regulations have not seen much innovation except for the response to major maritime casualties. Some of the high profile examples over the last 30 years include the Herald of Free Enterprise, the Scandinavian Star, the Estonia and, most recently, the Costa Concordia.

However, the worst statistics now seem to be with the smaller domestic passenger ferries where more than 1000 lives have been lost in 20 accidents worldwide over the last couple of years.

When I first went to sea there was lots to like about bulk carriers. However, they had the worst safety record with 279 sinkings between 1975 and 1990, and 700 seafarers’ lives being lost. Regulatory safety measures are normally actioned via the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) after a formal inquiry into such losses.

The Derbyshire Sinking One loss that took years before a formal inquiry was granted was that of the bulk carrier, Derbyshire.

THE SINKING OF THE DERBYSHIRE

BY HECTOR THORPE PRESIDENT LOCAL 13

The Derbyshire was built by Swan Hunter at their Haverton Hill yard on Teeside for Bibby Line.

Many senior members will recall they are a Liverpool-based shipping firm originally established in 1801 as Bibby & Hall. Now they are a large diversified business called Bibby Group.

The loss of the Derbyshire has always held my interest as she went into service the same year I shipped out.

She sank just four years later in 1980 without ever sending a mayday distress call, while on route from Sept-Îles, Canada, to Kawasaki, Japan, loaded with 157,000 tonnes of iron ore. All 42 crew and 2 wives were killed.

The search for Derbyshire commenced six days after it went missing as it was believed she had been hove-to in Typhoon Orchid some 230 miles from Okinawa, but no trace of the vessel was found during the search.

Derbyshire Family Association campaign What stands out most about the Derbyshire was the dogged and unrelenting campaign by relatives of the disaster victims. They organised into the Derbyshire Family Association and along with the maritime unions they lobbied for a formal inquiry into what was and remains the largest British ship ever to have been lost at sea (the Derbyshire was three times the size of the Titanic).

One of their first hurdles was to get Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government to launch a formal inquiry into the loss. However, the government’s refusal just added salt to their wounds, particularly as rumours of crew negligence and poor seamanship continued circulating in the maritime industry.

Two years into their campaign, one of the Derbyshire’s five sister ships, the Tyne Bridge, encountered severe weather in the North Sea and her deck plating started to crack just forward of the bridge in an area known as frame 65.

Evidence presented to the Department of Transport of similar issues with the other sister ships was dismissed as the Tories still believed the Derbyshire could have sunk due to various other reasons.

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When in 1986 another sister ship, the Kowloon Bridge, broke her back near frame 65 in the South Irish Sea and proof was provided that the Derbyshire underwent repair cracks on weld fractures next to transverse bulkhead 65 just months before she sank, the Tory Government immediately indemnified Swan Hunter against any past claims when it was sold as part of their privatisation sale of state-owned companies.

An inquiry was granted, but the wreck commissioner refused to consider evidence about the sister vessels, and in concluding stated the Derbyshire was probably overwhelmed by the forces of nature in typhoon Orchid, possibly after getting beam on to wind and sea.

The outcome was that evidence available did not support any firmer conclusion and no recommendations about steps to prevent any future similar losses were forthcoming.

ITF involvement This white wash prompted the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to launch a search for the wreck which helped propel a momentum of change.

The discovery of the wreck in 1994, was followed by a change of Government in the UK in 1997, and Labour’s John Prescott, a former merchant seafarer now Transport Minister, ordered a full inquiry.

I was working with P&O by this time alongside British seafarers and there was an air of optimism throughout the UK shipping industry that after years of Tory policy neglect, the merchant fleet might be saved after all.

Conclusion The new inquiry concluded that a combination of design faults in the ship and the atrocious weather conditions were responsible for the sinking, and no blame should be attached to the crew.

Following that formal inquiry, Britain’s transport department advanced 22 recommendations to bolster shipping safety, subsequently adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

In appreciation of their 20 year fight for the truth, the Derbyshire Family Association was awarded the Marine Society’s Thomas Gray Silver Medal in 2004 for campaigning for better safety regulations regarding bulk carriers.

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 Secretary: Russell Mayn Mobile: 021 760 886 Email: russell.mayn@munz.org.nz Asst. Secretary: Craig Harrison Mobile: 027 422 5238 Email: craig.harrison@munz.org.nz President: Hector Thorpe Mobile: 027 777 7162 Email: hector.thorpe@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 2645, 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 New Plymouth Secretary: Terry Whitehead Mobile: 027 468 0050 Phone/Fax: (06) 751 5514 Address: PO Box 6084, New Plymouth Email: terry.whitehead@munz.org.nz 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 Email: ken.knox@munz.org.nz

027 6222691 Address: 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 Address: PO Box 44, Port Chalmers Bluff Phone/Fax: (03) 2128 189 Secretary: Ray Fife Email: ray.fife@munz.org.nz

Address: PO Box 5, Bluff Mobile: 027 447 5317

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AUCKLAND

BY RUSSELL MAYN A number of Collective Agreements have been settled since the last National Council meeting.

These are Fullers Marine, Fullers Maintenance, Winstone Aggregates, Sanford’s Electrical, Pelican Dredge, Ballance Fertilisers, Pacifica Shipping, and Wallace Stevedoring.

Settlements over 2% per annum are rare as the companies are very conscious of the current CPI and inflation rates.

We have managed to settle all of the above at 2% or over but this has meant that some considerable time has been spent in achieving this.

CHRIS MCDONALD: RETIREMENT Both crews of the Golden Bay presented Chris with this painting of the Golden Bay sailing into Auckland Harbour as a retirement gift along with a financial koha.

However, it was the wish of Chris and his lovely wife Prenna that the koha, along with their own contribution, be donated to Ronald McDonald House, the registered charity with the simple mission to improve the health and well-being of children.

Chris is one of the many remaining old salts, he first shipped out in October 1958 on the Union Steamship Company vessel Konini which had arrived in New Zealand just one year earlier, and Joe Hodge was the bosun. Members will recall the first vessel named Konini wreaked off Bluff on her delivery voyage in 1924.

Chris has spent the last fourteen years attached to the cement carrier, Golden Bay. I have also had the pleasure of sailing with Chris when we were both on the Rail Ferry, Aratika. Chris had not long returned from a USA holiday where he had taken a cruise. I still recall him telling us, as soon as he got aboard the cruise ship and while in his cabin a steward passed his door, Chris asked him if he was in charge of the beer. The steward replied that he was, so Chris slung him a US$100 and said “ok always keep my fridge full”!

As another indication of how long ago that conversation took place, I also recall another member saying well “in the future you won’t need cash, you will just pay by plastic card” and we all turned around and said to him, yeah right!

Chris is unwell and we all send our best wishes to him and Prenna on behalf of the crew members of the Golden Bay and MUNZ members throughout the coast.

– Hector Thorpe

Elections in the Local have just been concluded following the retirement of Garry Parsloe and the three year term for the Secretary Treasurer being up for election along with the Vice Presidents and the Executive Committee.

The Local has undertaken a review of its structure and the fulltime officials now comprise a Secretary and an Assistant Secretary.

The Local 13 Office Administrator, Fay Glassford, has also retired from her permanent role in the office and is now just undertaking work for the Local on a part time casual basis for a short period whilst the full time officials learn a few more skills.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Fay for all the work that she undertook over many years in the Auckland Branch.

The Local faces some very large challenges over the next two years following the Ports of Auckland dispute.

Much has been reported regarding this dispute so we will not cover old ground, but the task ahead is to rebuild the level of union membership at the port, and the Union is working on several projects to advance towards this important goal.

There are a number of challenges in the Seafaring Sector as we move closer to 2016.

Golden Bay Cement is moving to a charter service from China Navigation and removing itself from vessel management.

Holcim Cement is looking to reduce to a one vessel operation mainly servicing the South Island and lower North Island, and the recent announcement from Pacifica Shipping that they may well exit the Coastal Shipping sector are just some of the issues that Local 13 faces.

As part of the restructure for Local 13, the building in Anzac Avenue will be sold, but this does not mean that Local 13 will be moving out of ownership of office space.

Part of the deal that has been agreed is that Local 13 will buy back carparks, retail space, office space and apartments for rental purposes.

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The Northern Region meets on a monthly basis and to date this has been nothing but beneficial to the Branches and Locals.

The Local has been very proactive in supporting the ITF through inspections and dealing with the issues that international Seafarers face under neo liberal legislation and agendas that we are facing under globalisation.

Health and safety is still a focus for the Local given the change to rosters at the Ports of Auckland and the push from all companies to increase production through higher productivity.

The Port Company is trying to remove all union influence in this area to give them a free reign going forward.

Apart from the issues mentioned above we face the introduction of automation into the Auckland Container Terminal. This will lead to a huge reduction in wharfies in the terminal and the targets will be unionised workers to further reduce the union’s influence.

The ramifications of the introduction of automated cargo machinery will not be confined to Auckland. As the bugs are ironed out other ports will consider moving in this direction to compete.

On another subject the Past and Present Christmas function will be held on 11 December at the Okahu Bay Bowling Club with all MUNZ members welcome to attend.

On a final note, thanks to the assistance that the Veterans have provided with the Local elections and keeping past members involved in the union movement.

BY BYRON CUMMING YOUTH REP, LOCAL 13 As the youth delegate for Auckland MUNZ and for a while the national youth delegate, it has been an interesting couple of years.

I have seen and learned that other unions in New Zealand and Australia are doing more than MUNZ in this area. I saw this at the Stand Up conference that I attended. Stand Up is the youth section of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.

I’ve also researched on the internet (Facebook) and been in touch with people from the ITF working on youth campaigns.

I feel we should learn from other unions and try what they have put in place.

For example, the MUA in Australia has a Facebook page specifically for their youth, and have meetings for youth delegates under 35 years of age.

I believe doing two or three things like the other unions are doing in New Zealand and Australia could be a great help for our union and building up young members through long term training, they will be a great asset to MUNZ as future leaders.

When I was at the Stand Up Conference this year, the big thing I took away from it is to start with small goals.

These are some goals we should try to achieve in 2016 for the youth of MUNZ. A MUNZ youth page on our website and Facebook, and an Auckland youth meeting for members under 35 and maybe one day a national youth meeting for MUNZ. The ITF got in touch with me earlier this year and asked if they could put one of my articles on their youth internet page, which I was very pleased to do.

They also asked if MUNZ would consider having a Youth delegate to the ITF for the Asia Pacific region.

I hope one day a young member for MUNZ has the chance to represent MUNZ on this.

As I said, it has been a interesting couple of years in this role as youth delegate, I am learning as I go along. But I am 31 years old and I would like to have things in place so when the next young person takes over, he or she will have things to work with and improve on.

I hope everyone has a great and safe Christmas and New Year.

JIMMY MCNEIL: RETIREMENT Jimmy McNeil (centre) with the crew of the Kakariki. Jimmy has just retired as cook after nine and a half years on the Kakariki before which he spent many years in the British and New Zealand merchant navy. The crew of the Kakariki wish him a happy retirement.

–Byron Cumming

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The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016 | 23

MUNZ Wellington Branch provided several marshals at the TPPA demonstration in Wellington, 14 November 2015 (photo by Alan Windsor)

WELLINGTON

BY MIKE CLARK With the Wellington branch elections behind us we can once again focus on the core business of running the Branch and concentrate on the many issues we are involved in.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Branch members who took the time to return their voting papers on time, it is comforting to know we have a number of people who care about the Union and its activities.

Our percentage rate was around 57% which was very good. It would be better still to aim for a greater percentage at the next General Election to allow us to gain a more worker-friendly Government, we have some challenging times ahead but also some exciting times to take us forward.

Ferries On the local front, we are close to signing a new CEA with Strait Shipping with the “Strait Feronia”, and Kiwirail have their new purchase the “Kaiarahi” up and running.

Both are larger vessels than the vessels they have replaced, the “Sante Regina” and the “Arahura”.

There are issues that have to be worked through as is the case with any new tonnage, and we will continue working with the delegates and the company to sort these problems out.

Offshore The Offshore Oil and Gas industry is somewhat slower this year and it is a direct result of the world-wide over supply of crude and the low price per barrel.

The major reason is the new supply that is being generated by fracking in the United States and also by Saudi Arabia producing larger quantities than normal. Fracking is an alternative that is achieved by drilling around existing wells and injecting fluid at a very high pressure to fracture shale rock which then releases the oil and gas.

This is one of the reasons the USA is predicted to become the world’s leading oil producer in the coming years as there over half a million oil wells in the country.

According to sources available to us, this summer will see a downturn in exploration but an upturn in prospecting around New Zealand as oil companies have a long term view determining where their future supplies are.

The best place to store it is where it lies and then to commence exploration when the oil prices improve which is the same as the other core commodities such as food, grains and metals.

From our union’s point of view, work in this industry is welcome for our unemployed Seafarers as for most it has been a longer than normal winter.

There is also some remedial work to be carried out on the mooring system on one of the FPSOs. Waterfront On the Wellington waterfront there has been some encouraging news with the introduction of a new container service which will call to the Port fortnightly to supply the North American and North European market.

Centerport CEO, Blair O’Keefe, says that the call adds weight to Wellington’s position as the “Port of Choice” for central New Zealand importers and exporters. Centerport has also announced plans to deepen the channel for shipping in Wellington Harbour to accommodate larger vessels and to ensure on-going direct access to international markets for central New Zealand customers.

24 | The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016

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NEW PLYMOUTH

BY TERRY WHITEHEAD Hi and Season’s Greetings to all from the Naki.

Workload Things are slowly on the improve for our branch with a steady stream of vessels and even the need for some out of Port labour. As usual though, the ships all come in groups rather than spread out to keep us constant.

Thank you Nelson for the members who followed a Urea boat up here that we had some of our members go down to your Port to work, and even staying on to help with some PKE and log vessels we had. Much appreciated.

Bulk Cargo Palm kernel continues to pour in despite the doom and gloom forecast for the farmers in our region. New, bigger storage facilities here at the Port site (ex Power Station) and on the outskirts of New Plymouth city mean that the volumes we discharge have increased, so good news all round.

MUNZ New Plymouth Branch President, Isaac McIndoe (left) presents long serving member Graham Roberts his retirement gift from the Branch

Fertilizer Steady and seasonal with volumes seemingly normal which is better than decreasing. Urea, Potash and DAP, in that order, are all in good demand and provide a welcome relief to the taste of the kernel.

Logs A big shift in this area, volumes are up which is a good sign that the demand is on the increase. Unfortunately, with ISO now on the scene they have managed to snare the Summit contract which at first was just the marshalling (taken from C3) but is soon to be followed by the Stevedoring side. We have retained our other contracts at present and hope to keep on top of any other hostile moves they have planned.

With our impeccable safety record and good load rates, we hope to stay in front of our competition.

Oil and Gas

MARITIME UNION ONLINE WEBSITE WWW.MUNZ.ORG.NZ

The ENZCO rig that was berthed in Port has now left to be used by Shell as a support platform for the Pohokura gas field.

FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARITIME.UNION

Some welcome work for an otherwise quiet industry especially the engineering firms and support people who gained some employment from it. No other exploration or associated work has been heard of but it’s hard to know what’s around the corner.

TWITTER WWW.TWITTER.COM/MARITIMEUNION

Grahame Roberts Retirement Function Held on 17 September at The Treehouse Bar, we had great turnout of past and present co-workers, friends and family, with nothing but praise and gratitude during our speeches. Grahame was also presented with gifts and honoured in the best way we know how, by raising our glasses and toasting all his accomplishments – for everything he has done for our Union and especially our branch and local conditions that we have and enjoy.

FLICKR WWW.FLICKR.COM/MARITIMEUNION YOUTUBE WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/MARITIMEUNIONNZ

A great night was had by all and capped off by presenting Grahame and Robert (Bob) Surrey with lifetime memberships which were well received and deserved.

Take care over the festive/holiday season, enjoy Christmas and keep safe.

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The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016 | 25

Port Chalmers watersiders take a moment from loading the log ship “Montrose” to express their pleasure at the announcement that Port Chalmers is to be the second South Island container terminal, 16 June 1975

PORT CHALMERS

BY STEVEN SMITH Greetings from the Port Chalmers Dunedin branch.

Straddle accident

Although the number of cruise ships visiting has declined, the passenger numbers have increased due to the larger size of the vessels.

Around port In the container terminal we are starting to see higher ship exchanges, with the usual influx of MT reefer and dairy boxes for upgrade, flooding the place in readiness for the busy period leading up to Christmas and beyond.

As you will be aware on 1 July, there was a serious accident involving a four high diesel electric straddle toppling over in the Terminal.

Over on the logs, however, things have come to a bit of a halt with a drop off in export orders reducing shipping to only one or two arrivals between now and Christmas.

We would like to acknowledge all the support and well wishes received from around the country and also from our MUA brothers and sisters

Stopwork

I am pleased to inform that our man involved is making an amazing recovery, and although he still has a way to go before running any marathons, he is now back at work and has resumed light duties.

This incident has really put the wind up both the port company and workers alike. We have been working hard going through how we can improve our driver training with refresher courses and working groups to ensure we eliminate any chance of a straddle tipping over again.

Cruise ship season The cruise ship season has now started with around 73 visits expected over the summer.

Our last stop work meeting was held on 15 October with a really good turnout of around 50 of our members.

We had robust discussion on rules around the company doctor regarding shared information with the company and also the members’ personal GP. There are always trust issues when an employer seeks historic medical records not pertaining to work related injury or illness and we don’t want to see our members persecuted in any way.

The meeting adjourned with all our members enlightened and invigorated (hopefully).

We wish all our brothers and sisters around the country a very merry and safe Christmas.

26 | The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016

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Members at Timaru Cargo Services carrying out a heavy lift project at the Port of Timaru, November 2015

TIMARU

BY TONY TOWNSHEND The past few months have been busy with fertilizer and palm kernel, and a few out of port transfers to Dunedin and Christchurch.

Timaru Cargo Services has taken on four permanent employees with two more coming to replace our ageing workforce (of which there are only four members left from the WIC days!)

Our Timaru branch of Southern Cross Stevedoring has a new manager and supervisor foreman settling in and going well.

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.

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The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016 | 27

NAPIER

BY BILL CONNELLY Around and about The first tourist vessel has been and gone, but we are expecting at least another forty-nine vessels to arrive before the end of March 2016.

The Port of Napier has been spending up with building of a new administration block on the western side of number 5 berth, close to where our container terminal is situated. A new Crane Simulator is also a recent purchase by the port.

From left, AB Robbie Williams (age 81), Capt. Tom Rowling (ex AB, age 73), Capt.

Gilbert Inkster (ex AB of the Pamir, age 92), AB Bob Howard (age 84, formerly of the Pamir, NZ sailing ship that sailed around Cape Horn), Paul Saggers (AKA Staggers) (age 50?)

On the local scene the people have spoken on the referendum on amalgamation for the whole of Hawke’s Bay, which includes constituents in the following areas of Central Hawke’s Bay, Hastings, Napier, Rangitikei, Taupo and Wairoa. There was a good return on the postal vote, with 68% of the voters electing to stay with the status quo. A victory for democracy!

C3, Formerly Toll Logistics New Zealand Limited Ratification of the Agreement was completed on 31 August 2015 for a year.

Hawke’s Bay Stevedoring Services Limited (HBSS) Negotiations have concluded for a consolidated agreement in the port, which used to include the Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) and the Local Port Schedule F, which pertained to the Port of Napier. The documents have now been ratified by our members at HBSS and expire on 30 August 2016.

Kelcold Limited The new agreement is in place until 2018, with minimal increases on the anniversary of the signing of the agreement on 18 May 2015. The agreement expires on 18 May 2018.

Back row, from left MUNZ members Bill Lewis, Neil More, Pedro Fox, Terry Nolan, Staggers, Jacko, Barry Jackson, Richy Tidmarsh, Dave Lawes, at front is ex NZSU member and President of the Nelson Merchant Navy Society Capt. Tom Rowling

NELSON MERCHANT NAVY DAY

BY PAUL SAGGERS MUNZ NELSON BRANCH VICE PRESIDENT Nelson MUNZ members and seafarers of many bygone years celebrated two ceremonies for Merchant Navy Day this year.

The first was at the Seafarers Memorial on Wakefield Quay at Sunderland Pier to unveil a plaque for merchant seamen, remembering their services in World War One and World War Two.

NZL Containers Limited Their employment agreement expires on 1 February 2016.

Annual General Meeting and a Delayed Xmas Function The Branch is still trying to get an AGM for last year and a belated Christmas function for the membership. This is proving to be difficult, even with only two stevedores in the port. We will continue to try and hopefully both will come to fruition in the not too distant future.

Old-timers’ Christmas Function at Taradale RSA The Old-timers never have that problem of trying to get a date, because their date is set in concrete on the first Saturday in December at the Taradale RSA.

The other ceremony at Anzac Park was a wreath laying to commemorate the sacrifice of merchant seamen during these Wars to keep vital food and other supplies moving. They often paid the ultimate price for their efforts.

The Branch has pledged a significant contribution to the Old-timers’ get together on an annual basis. The Branch would like to express a vote of thanks to some of our past members who make the effort to see that older and retired ex-wharfies get a little bit of Christmas cheer.

Captain Gilbert Inkster, ex AB of the Pamir, presented the Nelson Provincial Museum a telegram thanking crew for their efforts received on VE (Victory in Europe) Day in 1945. He said he never took the telegram from politicians too seriously at the time but knew it would be a valuable document in years to come.

The Branch wishes to thank Frank McCleland and Eddie Russell, without whose input this function would still be on the drawing board. Terry Bernstone and Tim Richards are now stepping up to give Frank a well needed hand. Well done boys, your assistance is greatly appreciated.

A lot of these old sailors helped to gain the conditions we enjoy today. So our current members, especially younger members, should remember and recognise these old kaumatua seamen for what they did for us including their service in the times of war.

As this is the last issue of the Maritimes for the year, the Napier Branch would like to take this opportunity to wish all members and their families, throughout the country, all the best for the festive season and a prosperous 2016. Well done the All Blacks!

28 | The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016

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TAURANGA

BLUFF

BY SELWYN RUSSELL

BY RAY FIFE

Terminal update

The port has gone through a relatively quiet period over the past couple of months which is normal for this time of year. We will be facing an uncertain few months ahead as China experiences a slow down and the low payout to Dairy Farmers could see a slowdown of fertiliser and PK through the port.

It will come as no surprise that C3 seems to be getting less work on straddles and lashing within the Port of Tauranga after selling their stake in C3.

True to form, the work now is going to Quality Marshalling who bought 50% shares in them. It just seems like they’ve got their finger in all the pies.

Logs We are seeing a slow reduction in work for the logs and people are gettting less work.

Busy seasonal freight activity has produced a record cargo volume for South Port in the 2014-15 year and the highest tax paid profit result in the ports operator's history.

The reported after tax profit of $7.74 million which is a 15.5% increase on the 2014 year.

It also seems the new outfit Qube are going to be very aggressive in securing contracts. Now ISO have been picked up by Qube this is a serious concern.

Over the next 12 months South Port plans to develop around 0.8ha of land in lnvercargill, adjacent to the Kiwi Rail area where containerised cargo is transferred to and from rail.

C3

Targeting primarily containerised import cargo growth in the region, the venture will service freight forwarders, plus transport-operators.

We have exchanged claims with the company and are about to go into talks.

The Branch sees this development has the potential to grow the union.

They have put out a statement declaring possible redundancies. After organising a date for the negotiations, they pulled the pin stating they did not have enough coverage for the 4 delegates to be released,(which seems incredulous in itself.

Considerable media commentary was generated about the future viability of the Rio Tinto NZAS Tiwai Aluminium Smelter.

It should be noted that some members have been going to disciplinary meetings alone without a support person.

This has to be addressed as the company is doing many more disciplinary meetings than they did in the past, and some of them seem somewhat pedantic. Ensure you take a union representative if you are attending a disciplinary meeting.

NZM It was good to see the numbers growing here. However, they have recently lost a contract which could have a dramatic effect on many companies and ports.

NZCSL Quiet here at the moment following quite a few regular disciplinary meetings.

We have a new delegate who is committed to the task and is looking forward to negotiations next year.

Ballance

Electricity supply negotiations were concluded on 3 August 2015 with a varied contract resulting between NZAS and Meridian Energy. This announcement has provided greater certainty of employment for our membership.

The Branch has been involved in a number of disciplinary matters in the past few months.

Members must realise that some rules are there for a reason and if you push the boundaries you must be prepared to suffer the consequences. Members need to keep their heads down, work within the collective, do their job and go home safely.

The Branch elections were held recently with all positions filled.

The Branch has a new President in Andrew Alexander. Andrew is a relative novice, but with guidance and support from the current Officials, Executive and Rank and File members, will fill the position just fine.

It is good to see that we have members who are prepared to stand for these positions and it bodes well for the future of the Branch going forward.

Vice President is Barbara Shaw, Secretary Ray Fife, and on the Executive we have Terry Osborne, C. Ryan, G. Brown, A. Ailan, C. Fife and J. Davidson.

The agreement is finally signed off and I believe all relevant backpay updated and received. However, we have had another unjustified dismissal that we are addressing.

Wilson’s Parking The Route K toll booths have been automated. To our members who are about to enjoy their retirement we thank them for being loyal MUNZ members, and also that we wish all our best going forward.

Bakel’s Oils We have got five members here now and it’s looking good for quite a few more. I believe there is real opportunity here with potential.

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The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016 | 29

The Real Deal: Recently E Tu Union and Manufacturing and Construction Workers’ Union members Phillip Gundersen, Tim Lawrence and Ben Williams from Lyttelton Engineering sailed on the MUNZ crewed oil tanker Torea to fix the vessel’s auxiliary boiler.The Chief Engineer described these Fitters and Boiler Makers as the “real deal” in completing this critical and challenging job within the restricted time frame available. And as far as MUNZ members and all those on board, they were a pleasure to sail with. – Hector Thorpe

LYTTELTON

WHANGAREI

BY LES WELLS

BY BEN HATHAWAY

The port is in a downturn currently, with a drop in cargo in the terminal and I believe other areas as well. This seems to be the trend at the moment.

Marsden Point is very busy at this time with logs predominantly exporting to India.

We have just initiated bargaining with SGS. We are still in talks with C3 and this I hope will be concluded very soon.

On the ship SBI MAIA 52,000 JAS was loaded. It is the largest log ship to arrive at the port.

Our members at the Tunnel seem to be going along quietly.

Up until June 2015 2.46 million tonnes of logs have passed through the port (source Northern Advocate).

LPC is wanting change – they want what “other ports have”.

I have always found that when you look under the Christmas Tree you don’t always get what you want.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Jimmy McCrum and Ross Mitchell all the best in their retirement, after more than 40 years in the industry.

We are now in possession of a multi purpose ‘shore crane’ with another one being ordered for the new year. Container areas are being formed.

Union wise, we are holding our own with increasing competition from several Stevedoring Companies (non union).

On behalf of all the Lyttelton members, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

30 | The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016

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MC11 SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN 2kgs free flow chicken thighs 1kg free flow chicken drums 1 large tray of seasoned flour (at least 8 cups of flour) Seasoning: ½ cup dry sage, ¼ cup oregano, ¼ cup Cajun spice ¼ cup each of smoky paprika and sweet paprika, ¼ cup garlic salt, ¼ cup each of ground black and white pepper, 1 tblspn of crushed fennel seeds, ¼ cup chilli flakes (optional).

Pre-heat oven to 240°C. Fill a large bowl with 1 litre of canola oil or oil of choice. Dip the chicken pieces into the oil, then roll into the seasoned flour.

Fry the chicken in a large hot frying pan until brown on each side, place into a large roasting tray. Cover with tin foil, poke at least 8 holes in the foil and cook for 35 minutes. Remove the tin foil and cook for a further 10 minutes until golden and crunchy.

RECIPES

Finger licking fantastic served with chips and a fresh salad.

BY DONNY HOOPER

UPSIDE DOWN PINEAPPLE PUDDING 3 eggs

2 cups of plain flour

1 cup castor sugar

3 tblspns of baking powder

2 tblspns of ground almonds

Pinch of salt

150gms softened butter

¾ cup of milk

2 tspns of vanilla essence

6 tblspns of golden syrup

1x 450gm tin of pineapple rings

Cherries

Pre-heat oven to 160°C, grease and line a 22cm springform cake tin. Pour the golden syrup into the base of the prepared tin and arrange the pineapple rings on top. Place a cherry in each of the pineapple rings.

Mix the butter, sugar and vanilla till light and fluffy, add the eggs one at a time. Sift the flour, baking powder, ground almond and salt into a bowl, gently combine with wet mixture, add milk slowly until a soft drop consistency is formed. Pour entire mixture over the pineapple rings and place in the oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a metal skewer comes out slightly moist.

Cool in the tin for 10 minutes and turn out onto a large serving plate. Dust the cake with icing sugar and serve with Chantilly cream and vanilla icecream.

A huge hit and divine! www.munz.org.nz

The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016 | 31

Keep it safe.

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

32 | The Maritimes | Summer 2015/2016

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