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CAMPAIGNING FOR COASTAL SHIPPING
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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.
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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If Section 198 isn’t repealed, the common sense idea of New Zealand ships and crews for our domestic and Trans-Tasman cargos won’t happen.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.
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.
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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’.
