Maritime Worker June 2023

The Maritime Worker Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Vale Paul Palmer

By Jim King Wellington Branch Secretary

It is great sadness we received news that former Cooks and Stewards official Paul Palmer passed away on Sunday 11 June.

Paul served as Cooks and Stewards Union Assistant Secretary and Assistant National Secretary (1983 – 1989). The above picture is from 1989.

Paul’s contribution to the Union was noted in the late Gerard Hill’s book The Cooks and Stewards Union: A memoir

“Dave Graham [former National Secretary of the Federated Cooks and Stewards Union] says that when he was National Secretary, he was skilfully assisted by Paul, a Londoner and Chelsea supporter. Paul served as assistant National Secretary for six years. In 1983, Paul Palmer won the Assistant National Secretary position in a contested race. He had been a member of the National Union of Seamen (UK) in 1966. When they voted to strike Paul hit the bricks on day one. Paul retired on 2 February 2015.”

The last vessel Paul sailed on was the rail ferry Kaiarahi. RIP Brother!

CAMPAIGNING FOR COASTAL SHIPPING

By Tony Mowbray #1154 Wellington Branch President

After the move by Maersk to sack New Zealand crews from their two Vessels, after only being in service for eight months, the Nelson and Wellington branches took the initiative to start taking some form of physical action over the dismissals, combining it with our continuing National Coastal Shipping campaign.

We have been taking our message out to the public while also highlighting the need for MUNZ to up the ante with

Government to fully address Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act once and for all.

This has been the latest stunt pulled by one of many obscenely greedy companies that not only mercilessly exploit their foreign crews, but also undercut local companies, eventually leading to unemployment for New Zealand seafarers.

If 60 jobs were overnight replaced, purely for profit, in any other work sector in New Zealand, it would have caused an uproar and certainly some justified public reaction.

Continued on page 2

NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON BRANCH OF THE MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND

Continued from previous page

The Nelson and Wellington branches took the biggest hits out of the total of 60 NZ jobs lost. This prompted the ‘demos’ to start in Nelson, then move across to the Capital about 2 weeks later. Ideally it could have been sooner but at least it was done.

Once momentum increases the plan will be to have more regular actions planned, organised, and fully supported by the members and Veterans just as Nelson, Wellington and New Plymouth have done at time of writing.

Meanwhile, MUNZ Wellington members on the MV Valentine, laid up in Port Chalmers, also supported local Veterans which is the least anyone should do for what they have done for us in the past and for their contribution to the industry.

After 30 years of campaigning, we now simply have to demand a positive result, not just for our employment security but with all the recent events, for the good of all New Zealanders. This includes business groups in guaranteeing movement of their products and ensuring supply chains meet demand for all.

If Section 198 isn’t repealed, the common sense idea of New Zealand ships and crews for our domestic and Trans-Tasman cargos won’t happen. It will increasingly put New Zealand at the mercy of global giants who do not contribute profits, taxes or wages back into the local economy.

Both initial events I attended were well received by the public once the reasoning behind our campaign was explained, with the help of the informative pamphlet.

Every member has a moral obligation to make the the effort to attend Stopwork Meetings and bring family and friends to the rally’s so the message continues to hit its target.

For all who travelled from other regions, the Veterans, our own members, and supporters along with those from other Unions and the public that took the time to listen, I would like to thank you on behalf of all the Wellington Executive.

These will become a regular event and we need you all as MUNZ members to play your part.

Also thanks to Victor Billot our MUNZ communication officer for the media releases and info material for our campaign.

Wellington Branch MUNZ members, national officials and supporters campaign for New Zealand coastal shipping at Wellington Railway Station 20 April 2023

Wellington Branch MUNZ stopwork meeting

KiwiRail

1. Paid Parental Leave (PPL) –addition to pregnancy policy

Fee and I have reviewed the draft PPL Policy. We believe the benefits have significantly improved from the benefits in the current Collective Employment Agreement and in the current KR-IIL PPL Policy.

The current KiwiRail/MUNZ Collective needs to be replaced with the new terms, not added on top of the current terms – so our members will be entitled to the significantly improved terms.

Rather than waiting until bargaining, MUNZ and KR will look at a variation to the Collective, which we would be happy to proceed with.

However, MUNZ has written back to KR-IIL for clarification on a couple of terms before MUNZ signs off new policy.

It’s anticipated the policy is due to come into effect on 1 July 2023. KR want to be able to promote the new policy ASAP, so we will be talking to them to discuss our issues before releasing their policy changes.

The Pregnancy and the Paid Parental Policies are going to be rolled out to all KiwiRail employees, and have coverage for all unions.

It is MUNZ who led the way, all the way. We have fought tirelessly.

There have been massive sacrifices by our women members.

Up to now they have left with absolutely nothing, other than a loss of dignity, respect, and a loss of their employment after the 24 week cutoff date for pregnant staff. This even though they were declared fit by the Kiwirail and Maritime New Zealand doctors to continue working.

Our women members received absolutely nothing, such as financial assistance, after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Equally important to remember, some pregnant seafarers were forced to keep one of the most significant times in their lives secret to their work comrades, as they couldn’t afford to stand down from their jobs at 24 weeks.

Whereby, in comparison, pregnant women in shore-based employment can work right up until they were due to give birth. So, the financial cost to our women members was immense.

Sadly this is because in the earlier days MUNZ National Office, and the Wellington Branch, and thenTranz Rail, TollNZ, and KiwiRail, did nothing about pregnant women seafarers/members, and simply chose to, selectively utilise two or three pages of a twelve-page MLC document, in a way to disadvantage women employees.

MUNZ acknowledges the much-valued contribution that Maryan Street at KiwiRail has made toward to pregnancy policy, also, I’m sure she has something to do with the new revised policy along with Jane Kinder, so hats off to them.

An article regarding the pregnancy policy and Paid Parental Leave will be published in the next Wellington Maritime Worker in August.

2. KiwiRail – InterIsland Line Audit

MNZ conducted an audit of the KR-IIL Safety Management System to renew their Document of Compliance (DOC). The DOC is the equivalent to a WOF and gives KR-IIL a licence to operate for another 12 months.

There were a couple issues which apparently KR-IIL are addressing, but overall, a pretty good result according to KR-IIL.

As part of their drive to be better, they are also tackling several actions and findings from their own internal SMS audit.

3. Kaiarahi Dry Dock – Singapore

Everything appears to be on track with regards to the preparation for Kairahi’s drydocking arrangements. A big thanks to Kaiarahi members, Les Taylor (Bosun), Marian Lesslie (Chief Cook), and Andy Joyce (Chief Cook) for keeping the union posted of events leading up to the dry dock.

4. Valentine

Valentine is currently laid up in Port Chalmers, and KR are not sure what future plans lay ahead for the vessel.

They have stated there are some options available to them such as chartering her out, putting her back on the run, or maybe selling her off. If the Valentine is sold, we have been given an assurance there will be no job losses, as crew will be utilised elsewhere within the fleet. This is good news.

Strait NZ –Bluebridge

Correspondence has been sent to the employer to initiate 2023 CEA negotiations.

We are awaiting to hear from SNZ to finalise dates.

The MUNZ team is Jim King, Fiona Mansell, James Rogers, and Lionel Guyton.

Continued on page 4

Jim King Secretary/Treasurer Wellington Branch

Offshore

5. Australian Offshore Solutions (AOS)

I recently spoke to John Spurway (AOS-NZ). The Q7 campaign is all up and running with a combination of MUNZ and MUA members working on her.

The vessel is scheduled to remain here in NZ until approximately August, when she will depart to Australia for another campaign.

I have been advised there is possible work on the Q7 as there may be a shortage of Australian Seafarers. I have advised the MUA that MUNZ is able to help out with seafaring labour.

In the meantime, if any MUNZ members are approached by either AOS-AUS, or AOS-NZ, please do not accept any work, or submit any applications for employment in Australia.

Only forward your applications for employment for the last month or so of the New Zealand campaign.

Please remember BOSEIT certs are still required, and contact me in the first instance before applying for NZ work.

The MUA will contact us for labour if the need arises. I will update members when there is more information.

NIWA

NIWA has acknowledged receipt of the Personal Grievance submitted by Helen McAra of NZMSG on behalf of all crew members on the Tangaroa NIWA have been advised of all those crew members who were on board the vessel during the time of the hard laying claim.

General

6. Maritime Worker newsletter

Please keep your emails, articles and pictures rolling in, they will be published in the next edition of the Wellington Maritime Worker, space permitting. The next edition of the Maritime Worker is due out in August 2023 and will also have a new look format.

7. Wellington Database

Numbers are high. Offshore Specialist names have been forwarded to AOS-NZ for consideration for employment on the Q7. This is an approximately one cycle contract requiring 36 IR’s/AB’s Wellington, 20 Stewards, and approx. 10 cooks.

8. Stop Work meeting

The next Stop Work Meeting is set down for new date and day, 12 July at 10am to be held at the National Office Conference room, first floor Waterside House, 220 Willis Street.

9. Meetings

The National Finance committee convened on 29 May at National Office, followed by a National Council meeting Tuesday 30 May – Thursday 1 June.

The Wellington Branch Executive held our Executive meeting on Friday 2 June.

Agenda items presented at National Council from the Wellington Branch were:

1) Coastal Shipping/Maersk letter from Tony Mowbray to the MUNZ National Council

2) A recommendation letter from the Wellington Branch Executive for Glenn Wyllie to be considered for Life Membership the National Council, This was fully endorsed at the 10 May branch meeting

3) Feedback/update to the NCM about amalgamation talks with New Plymouth branch

4) Jim King, Russell Mayn, Josh Greer, Ray Fife and Fiona Mansell will give feedback on the sub committee recommendation for the MUNZ Rules.

10. New Plymouth and Wellington Amalgamation talks

The Wellington Branch executive is exploring the options of amalgamating with the New Plymouth Branch.

As the Wellington branch already represents the New Plymouth seafarers, it only makes sense that we can encompass the port workers.

I have been approached by MUNZ New Plymouth Branch Secretary Andrew Gibbs on behalf of that branch who support the concept.

It’s an idea that’s been floating around for quite some time, so it makes sense that we look at amalgamation.

This is a process that has happened elsewhere. Lyttleton has recently amalgamated with Timaru, and Auckland has amalgamated with Whangarei.

National Secretary Craig Harrison and the National Council have given this plan their full endorsement.

There is some work to do before an amalgamation, and it will go to a vote of our members in New Plymouth and Wellington.

As we have very low turnouts at stopwork meetings currently, Fiona and I will simply be putting the vote to our financial members at their workplace site to get a true reflection on what our members are wanting.

11. Branch Meetings to go Bi-monthly

As stated in the amalgamation report, the attendance at monthly meetings has been dreadful.

At the June Executive meeting, it agreed to move the monthly meetings to bi-monthly to see if this will improve turnout.

12. Upcoming Negotiations

• Oil & Offshore Gas – October 2023

• KiwiRail InterIslander – October 2023

• Dutch Dredging – December 2023

13. Current negotiations

• NIWA – second phase of 2022 Terms of Settlement June 2023 – Percentage increase MUCA Claim presented.

• StraitNZ – Wellington & Picton Terminals – 19 June 2023.

• Blue Bridge Ferries – bargaining initiated

• C3 Log Marshalling – to ratification

• C3 Stevedoring – to ratification

Maritime Union Life Membership awarded to Glenn Wyllie (IR/AB)

Longstanding Wellington Branch member Glenn Wyllie was nominated to life membership by the Wellington Branch and elected to life membership of the Maritime Union at the May 2023 National Council.

Glenn Anthony Wyllie joined the Seamans Union on 22 October 1965, and has been a very loyal member of this union.

He played a pivotal role as delegate, President, Vice president and onworking parties, whether in the Offshore Oil and Gas or on other vessels for over 57 years, up until he retired on 28 March 2023.

During Glenn’s career at sea he sailed on many different ships which included 20 years in the offshore and 20 years on the ferries.

While in the offshore Glenn was involved in contract talks and negotiations, to date, the terms and conditions Glenn and others have fought for and gained in the oil and gas industry are regarded as the premier terms and conditions for being at sea.

In addition to this, Glenn has been part of KR-IIL for the past 20 years, and it is here where his dedication to working on the ferries has enabled him along with many other MUNZ negotiators to have cemented some of the best conditions on any vessels anywhere in NZ.

Glenn has also played his part for this union by attending various Conferences both in New Zealand and Australia.

Glenn says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time within the union and the comradeship that it’s brought to him, and he’s been privileged to be part of a fighting union to help gain better conditions and pay for our members and for those to come.

Like his father who got Glenn off to sea at the age of 15, Glenn also played a part in getting his son Drew to sea, which makes him immensely proud, knowing his son is left holding the banner.

“l know Drew is a very proud union member and is very staunch in our union beliefs, I know he holds these principles in very high regard, with which I’m very grateful.”

In closing, Glenn says, “l wish to leave a legacy for all those starting out in the seafaring industry, so they can see what our great union has achieved for the coming generations, and to also let them know, that nothing has ever come easy and that the fight and the struggle will never stop’.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Council, May 2023

OUR UNION HISTORY: BRASS BANDS

TONY MOWBRAY #1154 WELLINGTON BRANCH PRESIDENT

Brass Bands were an important part of popular culture in the early 20th century with strong working class involvement.

The Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union Brass Band, set up in 1912, was funded by a levy on union members.

The band provided musical accompaniment for protest marches and to entertain at mass meetings. Sympathetic bands around the country provided similar support to striking workers.

In Wellington, the Highland Pipe Band joined the Watersiders’ Band in leading a number of marches.

The Watersiders’ Band also regularly performed at the Labour Day Picnic held at Days Bay.

In 1913 Labour Day was held during the strike and Labour Day events were as popular as ever, with the Watersiders’ entertaining more than 2500 people.

Thankfully this important tradition is still alive with The Brass Razoo Solidarity Band continuing to provide entertainment, whether at Labour Day celebrations or at Union events, thanks to the efforts of the Postal Workers Union.

This band needs to be commended as they are, if not, one of the last Bands with a Union affiliation in Australasia.

They are well received at the Wellington Branch picnics and it is worth noting that any Koha they receive for their services is quickly donated to others in need, a kind and solid tradition of Trade Unionism.

A big thankyou to the Brass Razoos from the Wellington Branch.

MICK WILLIAMS NOMINATED FOR VETERANS REP

The Wellington branch would like to thank Mick for accepting the nomination for representing our Branch’s Veterans alongside the other Branch Representatives.

The Veterans play an important role in our Unions structure and we will certainly be in safe hands with Mick in this position.

I also encourage all members, past and present, to assist him where needed in this role. Thanks again Mick.

Wellington Branch MUNZ represented on Workers Memorial Day, left to right, Annie McAuley, Fee Mansell, George McIntosh, Scruff Windsor, Mick Williams, and William Brockway

Mick Williams updates on the coastal shipping campaign at the May 2023 Wellington Branch Meeting

MV Shiling detained

A Maritime New Zealand detention notice prohibits the MV Shiling from leaving Wellington Harbour until a number of conditions are satisfied.

The imposed conditions relate to repairs and maintenance, seaworthiness, sea trials, and arrangements for departure.

These conditions are in place to ensure safety is at the forefront of the next journey the vessel undertakes through New Zealand waters.

Several of the conditions required the flag state and Shiling’s classification society to provide evidence the vessel can safely operate before it is released.

The ship can still be moved to different berths and locations around CentrePort and the harbour which will be managed by the port and the harbourmaster.

The new NIWA vessel Kaharoa II currently under construction in Vigo, Spain

COASTAL SHIPPING PETITION NOW ONLINE

Strengthen our shoresrebuild our coastal shipping

Aotearoa New Zealand is an island nation dependent on trade to survive.

Due to 1990s deregulation, multinational shipping firms dominate our coastal trade, causing job losses, climate harm, and dependence on shipping firms with no loyalty to New Zealand. We urge government action to safeguard our shores, as other nations do, by investing in and strengthening our coastal shipping industry.

Sign our new MUNZ petition (this is an updated version from last year!)

To the Prime Minister Rt Hon Chris Hipkins

With the funding of New Zealand flagged coastal shipping, your government has taken the first steps towards rebuilding a New Zealand shipping industry.

But to make sure that we have the resilient shipping industry we need to ensure our supply chain, lower our carbon emissions, and build the economic resilience of our regions, you still need to return control of our coastal shipping to New Zealand flagged vessels.

Protecting and growing our domestic shipping would mean stronger supply chains, more jobs, less congestion on our roads, and greater national and regional economic resilience.

We are an island nation almost solely dependent on international shipping to trade and to shift our goods between our ports. Over the course of the pandemic, we saw how vulnerable that makes us and how much damage it can do to our economy. Controlling our shipping industry helps us control our destiny as a nation rather than leaving us reliant on international companies with no stake in New Zealand’s success.

We need to control our own shipping industry again. It’s a simple change. Just remove one short clause – s198(1)(c) – from the Maritime Transport Act and leave the carriage of domestic cargo to New Zealand flagged ships.

This is the right thing to do for New Zealand’s people, our businesses, and our economy.

We ask you to make a commitment to strong coastal shipping a key election policy.

Working anchors in the oil field off Taranaki (Pictures submitted by Willie Fraser IR onboard the Skandi Emerald )

Retrieving 140mm cable

Looking astern on the Skandi Emerald

NZ COASTAL SHIPPING: THIS IS THE REASON WE ARE CAMPAIGNING

This article was written after the May National Council meeting where it transpired not all the membership are actually aware of the reason behind our national campaign, especially newer and younger members, which is a worry.

Shipping campaigns are not a ‘new’ issue, far from it, for example as far back as the early 1900’s the New Zealand Federated Seamen’s Union campaigned against New Zealand companies who were attempting to drive wage scales down to the same level as that of the international companies that engaged foreign crews.

Right through our history we have never stopped campaigning to try and ensure we have New Zealand crewed ships, especially in the latter half of the 20th century.

Campaigns in some form have continued right through but the legislative changes of 1994 had the biggest negative impact for local Seafarers and New Zealand shipping companies.

In 1988, we saw the sale of New Zealand’s national shipping line, the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand, sadly, by a Labour Government stacked with Tories.

This was followed closely by the Privatisation era which saw asset sales and the loss of many state-owned enterprises, including our Rail network and Ferries.

This ensured the majority of profit went offshore with little or nothing coming back into the country’s economy.

The National Party then continued into 1990s with the Employment Contracts Act, deregulation and the ‘open coast’ policy through legislation changes, specifically Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994.

TONY MOWBRAY #1154

BRANCH PRESIDENT

This is why we urgently require the Government to amend the Maritime Transport Act to protect and increase New Zealand jobs, safeguard the environment and by provide reliable domestic shipping where money stays in New Zealand and helps local economies.

Seamen’s Union president Dave Morgan, and other members of the Union, occupying the Shipping Corporation’s boardroom, in protest at the sale of the Corporation, 29 September 1988 by Evening Post photographer Ross Giblin

WELLINGTON

New Zealand also had the protection of the Trans Tasman Accord which ensured the carriage of cargo for domestic trade across the Tasman was carried on New Zealand or Australian manned and registered ships on both nations coasts.

This system is known as ‘Cabotage’ and while other countries have continued to retain it, unfortunately New Zealand has not to our great cost.

With consecutive Government since that time (including nine years of the Helen Clark led Labour Government) doing nothing, it is only the work done by the former NZSU now MUNZ lobbying over the decades that we have finally had some success with a long overdue financial boost into our maritime industry.

However, large foreign shipping companies can still take full advantage of the loopholes around Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act, which in turn impacts New Zealand companies and New Zealand seafaring job prospects along with safe guards of reliability in the domestic carriage of cargo.

Our industry and country will remain at risk until such time that Section 198 is finally properly addressed.

Our environment is at an ever increased risk from many vessels of sub-standard condition (MV Shiling for example).

This also includes fuel / product tankers since our domestic tankers have now gone along with the refinery at Marsden Point with large numbers of overseas tankers now working on the coast.

For those of us who worked through the 1990s we remember at least 25 plus New Zealand crewed vessels that slowly disappeared until we were left with the handful we have now.

The Government need to amend Section 198 as soon as possible so foreign vessels bring inports in and exports out, but leave the domestic routes to New Zealand vessels instead of undercutting local New Zealand shippers who just can’t compete financially with the low wages and conditions, lack of local taxes and other advantages given to foreign and Flag of Convenience shipping.

All MUNZ members need to support this next stage of our campaign in your Branch.

Mick Williams and NZSU members street campaigning for the SCONZY campaign (Shipping Corporation of New Zealand)

Raising the Panamanian flag outside the Treasury building, Wellington, in protest against Flag of Convenience shipping and the ‘open coast’ policy

The 2023 General Election will be held on Saturday 14 October.

Make sure you’re enrolled and ready to vote. You can enrol, check or update your details online at vote.nz