The Maritime Worker Te Whanganui-a-Tara NELSON DEMO BACKS NZ COASTAL SHIPPING

Members,

Firstly, thanks to the Nelson Branch for organising the demonstration to highlight the need to continue pressure on the government in regard to Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act.

After 30 years this negative legislation is still affecting both coastal shipping and the trans-Tasman trade ending with our domestic supply chain.

This overall situation along with the seafarers who recently lost their jobs on the two Maersk ships Maersk Nansha and Maersk Nadi in the Coastal Connect service shows the need for the Government to act.

We need job security for New Zealand Seafarers and secure domestic supply chains.

These massive global shipping corporates prefer to exploit cheap foreign labour rather than employ New Zealand seafarers in their own coastal industry on decent wages and conditions.

Congestion in ports is a real issue but by dumping New Zealand crews is not the answer!

Maersk have removed two New Zealand crewed ships only to replace them with three ships manned by foreign crews and trading to Australian ports.

This does not fix the port congestion issues, instead it is all about exploiting the loophole in Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act to allow foreign ships to carry coastal cargo between New Zealand ports.

What is now needed, more than ever, is further pressure to continue on the Government with any form of action similar to Nelson being essential for the campaign by continuing to get the message across in the public domain.

This is where all members have to play their part in their respective ports when any action is organised. Even though it wasn’t a massive turn out I think it was effective in once again getting our message out there.

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Once again thanks to the Nelson branch especially the Veterans and retired members for their ongoing support, the delegation from the Ferries, the Wellington Branch exec delegation, Victor Billot for the pamphlets and media work, and to national officials Craig Harrison (National Secretary) and Ray Fife (Assistant National Secretary) for attending.

At the conclusion of the rally two resolutions were presented and passed unanimously:

• that MUNZ leadership reaffirm the Trans-Tasman accord with the MUA (Moved–Mick Williams, Seconded–Tony Mowbray)

• For the Minister of Transport to change Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act (Moved–Mick Williams, Seconded–Ian Barker)

In Unity

Deane Hogg (President, Nelson Branch)

Hollianne Payne (Secretary, Nelson Branch)

Tony Mowbray (President, Wellington Branch)