The Issue 43 • Spring 2013
Maritimes Magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand
ISSN 1176-3418
1913–2013: A century of struggle www.munz.org.nz
The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 1
Ports of Auckland dispute update Since the last Maritimes we have attended two facilitation meetings during the week of 23 July 2013. The union has found it extremely disappointing and frustrating that the Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson chose not to attend so no progress was made in settling the outstanding issues between the company and the union. The union is committed to the facilitation process and will continue to endeavour to achieve a result on behalf of its membership. The message the company has delivered at the facilitation meetings was simply that there will be no negotiation on the shift rosters because the company has a position and it would not be moving from it. It was good to have the membership turn to at the recent stopwork meeting to hear a full and comprehensive report on the Ports of Auckland dispute from President Garry Parsloe which was ticked off with full knowledge of the current position and an endorsement to continue to negotiate with a view to conclude on their behalf. Early in November is the commencement of a number of court cases which our legal team is currently preparing for. We are reasonably confident of having strong cases to put before the courts. Shuttle trucks not manned by Stevedores but by the wholly owned subsidiary Conlinxx are moving containers between the container terminals. This is something the union is looking closely at.
For secure jobs and public ownership
Maritime Union Online for the latest news and information www.munz.org.nz
Under threat?
In this issue
Editorial by Victor Billot
On 21 August, Parliament voted to pass the Government Communications Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment Bill by 61 for to 59 votes against. This National Government law permits the GCSB to spy on New Zealanders’ private communications for the use of other state agencies. The Prime Minister, Mr Key, says the new laws were necessary to protect New Zealanders. The Maritimes magazine now puts forward its own list of the (real) threats to the safety, wellbeing and security of New Zealanders. 1. Mass unemployment. In August 2013, unemployment rose to 6.4%. On 7 August, CTU Secretary Peter Conway said, “with 153,000 people unemployed, a total of 245,400 jobless and 63,900 workers wanting extra hours of work, it is very tough time to be looking for work”.
Ports of Auckland update page 2 National Secretary’s Report page 4 News page 6 International page 7 The Great Strike 1913 page 10 Health and safety page 11 Fairness at work rallies page 16 ITF page 18 Port Roundups page 20 NZ Shipping history page 32 CAFCA interview page 34 War on the wharves page 35 MARITIME UNION BA
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2. Not enough money in pay packet. “Research by [Living Wage] campaigners shows that $18.40 an hour is the pay a New Zealand couple with two children need for a basic standard of living, with one parent working full time and the other half time. Yet, the adult minimum wage is currently only $13.50 an hour.” (NZ Herald, 17 February 2013) (NB The minimum wage has now gone up to $13.75) 3. Your job. New Zealand has one of the highest workplace fatality rates in the OECD - an estimated 102 work-related deaths a year between 2008 and 2010 (NZ Doctor newspaper, 8 May 2013) 4. Mouldy, over priced houses and rental accommodation. “Unlike the more advanced countries in the developed world, New Zealand seems to have lost sight of the principle that housing is a key part of our social and physical infrastructure … as a result, many of our buildings are of poor quality – they often leak, and are damp and cold.” (Public health researchers Philippa Howden-Chapman, Sarah Bierre and Chris Cunningham in ‘Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis” p.105) 5. Child Poverty. The Salvation Army is giving the Government a ‘D’ for child poverty, housing supply and youth employment in its latest State of the Nation report. Child poverty has been hovering around 21 percentJOB: for 34984 the past five years, while youth v2.0 employment has fallen to its lowest level in more than 10 years. (NZ Herald, 13 February 2013) PLATE DEPTH: 2mm
FITTING: 1 PIN (9mm) AND CLUTCH
The Maritimes Magazine
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Published quarterly by the Maritime Union of New Zealand. Authorized by Joe Fleetwood, 220 Willis Street, Wellington. ISSN 1176-3418 Editorial Board: Joe Fleetwood, Garry Parsloe, Ray Fife, Carl Findlay Editor: Victor Billot Mobile: 021 482219 Email: victor.billot@munz.org.nz Mail: PO Box 8135, Dunedin 9041, New Zealand Deadline for Summer 2013/2014 edition: 1 December 2013 Cover photo: Local 13 member Larry Tito at the Fairness at work rally in Auckland, August 2013 The Maritime Union of New Zealand is affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation www.itfglobal.org NICKEL ContactELECTROPLATING: the Maritime Union
6. Gambling and booze industries. National Office PLEASE ENSURE ALL DETAILS ARE CORRECT BEFORE GIVING APPROVAL TO PROCEED TO PRODUCTION A Government report “showed harm as a result of 230 new pokie machines and 52 Telephone: 04 3850 792 Fax: 04 3848 766 Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141 tables could include relationship breakdowns, depression, suicide, family violence, Office administrator: Ramesh Pathmanathan increased money laundering, job losses and financial problems.” (NZ Herald, 9 Email: ramesh@munz.org.nz July 2013) 7. Getting involved in wars. “… The First World War achieved only massive waste and destruction and, like the Afghanistan and Iraq wars in our time, it sowed the seeds of ongoing hostility and war.” (Nicky Hager, 2012 Bruce Jesson Memorial Lecture, Auckland) 8. Disagreeing with the Government. This is nothing new. Supposed “emergencies” or “threats” are used by a cynical ruling elite to manipulate and attack their own population. During the 1951 waterfront lockout, it was made illegal by the National Government’s “emergency regulations” to provide food to the families (including children) of waterside workers. Fortunately many New Zealanders ignored the law. 9. Bad driving. Road fatalities in NZ in year to 21 August 2013: 299 (NZ Transport Agency). 10. Natural disasters.
General Secretary: Joe Fleetwood Direct dial: 04 8017614 Mobile: 021 364649 Email: joe.fleetwood@munz.org.nz National President: Garry Parsloe Direct dial: 09 3034652 Mobile: 021 326261 Email: garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz National Vice President: Carl Findlay Direct dial: 09 3034652 Mobile: 021 760887 Email: carl.findlay@munz.org.nz Assistant General Secretary: Ray Fife Direct dial: 03 2128189 Mobile: 0274 475317 Email: ray.fife@munz.org.nz ITF Inspector: Grahame McLaren Direct dial: 04 8017613 Mobile: 021 2921782 Email: mclaren_grahame@itf.org.uk Communications Officer: Victor Billot Mobile: 021 482219 Address: PO Box 8135, Dunedin Email: victor.billot@munz.org.nz
The National Government is a leading cause of problems 1–8 above.
www.munz.org.nz
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RESIN
National Secretary Joe Fleetwood addresses Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch stopwork meeting, August 2013
Building our Union’s future By National Secretary Joe Fleetwood
Stopwork meetings
In the last several months I have attended stopwork meetings at most branches throughout New Zealand to meet with members and to discuss some important union business. The new Union Rules have been approved by all but one branch, following the endorsement of the National Conference in 2012. These new rules are the first major overhaul of our governance since the formation of the Union in 2003 and have brought us up to speed with the many changes in our industry since that time. We have also been considering issues around moving to a central funding model as per previous resolutions of the National Conference. This issue will be looked at further by the National Council, which meets in Wellington on 30 and 31 October, if branches agree to having the debate.
Rank and File Conference
Following the commitment of the National Conference 2012 to organize a national industry conference for rank and file MUNZ members, the National Officials are pleased to announce the confirmation of this event. The first MUNZ National Industry Conference will be held in Wellington on 27 and 28 November 2013. Invitations have been sent to all branches asking for delegates. The purpose of the Conference is to bring together members off the job to discuss the big issues that affect them in their part of the industry. The goal is to come out with some new ideas and plans about the way forward in the current difficult economic and industrial setting. If there are any questions, please contact me, or Assistant National Secretary Ray Fife, who is overseeing Conference arrangements.
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1913 centennial commemoration
One hundred years ago almost to the day, New Zealand was in the midst of a major struggle led by maritime workers and allies to advance the position of the New Zealand working class. The “Great Strike” is an amazing part of our history that has been neglected and indeed forgotten to some degree. 1913 has been overshadowed by the 1951 Waterfront Lockout, but the 1913 dispute was of a similar scale and seriousness. This edition of the Maritimes features an article about the 1913 General Strike by two leading New Zealand historians, Jim McAloon (Chair of the Labour History Project) and David Grant, author of the definitive history of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union “Jagged Seas” published in 2012. The Maritime Union is working with the Labour History Project and the Wellington Museum of City and Sea to support a major exhibition and series of public events about the 1913 General Strike. More information later in this edition of the Maritimes.
Casualization
One issue that the Maritime Union has been fighting for many years is casualization. This is a trend in the modern globalized economy, driven by the unregulated capitalist system that seeks to extend private profits at any cost, even at the expense of the wellbeing, health and security of the wealth producers – the wage earning working class (US). Casualization is an always feeding parasite on our industry and many other industries and has become the focus of a renewed campaign by the union movement, under the new terms of “insecure” or “precarious” work. The CTU Conference later this year will be based around this theme. Whatever the words used to describe this problem, casualization has been behind many of the battles of our Union, right up to the ongoing Ports of Auckland dispute. www.munz.org.nz
Under the guise of “market flexibility”, workers are denied the basic rights of dignity in labour – the basic right of secure hours, regular wages and a family life outside work. All of this is to pump up the disgraceful mega profits of the owners of business. Enough is never enough for the profit driven mentality at any cost. The strange thing is these profits forged out of the working class’s hard work, seem to disappear straight into the pockets of the wealthy class, who then blow all this precious cash on their extravagant lifestyles.
Health and safety
We urge all branches, and members, to report any incidents not just locally, but to the National Secretary. An easy to use form can be filled in on our MUNZ website. There have been a number of recent incidents. During the recent Wellington earthquake, a section of the port’s waterfront collapsed into the harbour, taking a container that contained methyl bromide into the water. In other incidents, there was a serious fire onboard a logging ship at Port of Nelson and an oil spill into Tauranga Harbour. Two contractors at Port of Tauranga have been ordered to pay $85,000 in fines and reparation to a Tauranga worker after a winch wire severed his foot at the Port of Tauranga. The Maritime Union is concerned that port companies do not avoid their responsibility to providing a safe workplace by hiding behind contracting out arrangements. We will continue to watch Port of Tauranga especially closely. This is one port where management likes to boast about its fantastic business success. It’s also a port where over the last few years there have been several fatalities and serious injuries and other incidents that they fail to highlight. One would think the shareholders in Port of Tauranga would be screaming about where these blood money profits are coming from. Who are the shameless shareholders that think blood money is OK, profits before health and safety?
Training
We have held our first training course of the year in Port Chalmers in August, with members attending from both the local branch and Bluff and making use of EREL (Employment Relations Education Leave). The two day course was run by MUNZ trainer and Local 13 member Craig Harrison who brings a wealth of experience to the education programme. ITF inspector Grahame MacLaren also provided members at the course with information about the role of the ITF and led an inspection of a Hong Kong flagged log vessel in the port. The course was a great success and enjoyed by all who attended, who went away with a better grasp of key union issues, including the role of the delegate, health and safety on the job, and our union’s history. The uptake from branches needs to improve and all branches need to book in a course for their members by talking to Craig Harrison or me. An informed and educated membership is the key to a safe and successful future.
Local body elections
The local body elections are being held soon. These are the elections that are held throughout New Zealand for councils. There is one very important reason why all Maritime Union members should vote in these elections. All ports in New Zealand are either completely or partly owned by local Government – that is by City, Regional and District Councils. The mix and ownership model changes from port to port, but the elected councillors have a great deal of say on the future of our ports. www.munz.org.nz
Many politicians like to hide behind corporate business model of ports and other public assets, saying they have no control over how these businesses operate. However, at the end the buck stops with our elected representatives. For example, any future decisions about privatizations of ports would be made by the elected Council with the greatest shareholding. Some ports now have shareholdings in other ports, which complicates things even more. Thus we need to get out and vote for candidates who are committed to looking after our public assets and those who work in them. If you have enrolled, you will get a voting pack mailed to you. If you have not yet enrolled, you can still apply for a special vote through your local council’s returning officer. Voting closes on 12 October. More information at www.elections.org.nz
Interport and War on the Wharves
Two sporting events are coming up on the MUNZ calendar, one a great tradition, and the other an exciting new development we hope will become another tradition. Interport 2014 is being held in Whangarei and registration is now being called for by Russell Mayn at Local 13 (see advertisement later in this magazine.) Interport is a great tradition for the Maritime Union and is a great opportunity for some friendly competition and socializing for members from one end of the country to the other. A new event is in the pipeline as well. “War on the Wharves” is a charity boxing function to be held 8 April 2014 in Sydney. Preparations are well underway and our National Vice President Carl Findlay together with our MUA comrades in Sydney have done a great job in pushing things along and setting up the event to very high standards. This event has been run previously with great turnouts but this is the first time the “War on the Wharves” has gone trans Tasman. A number of MUNZ members have already registered their interest in this event and we will be looking at a good supporting crew in attendance. Proceeds from the night will go to the Randwick Children’s Hospital. Any queries contact Carl Findlay or me.
National Government attacks working conditions
The Maritime Union is joining with the CTU and other New Zealand unions to defend against attacks on working conditions by the National Governnent. The National Government intends to push through major and radical changes to employment laws. It will mean employers can opt out of negotiations with the Union, or opt out of industry pay agreements like MECAs. There will be more restrictions on the right to strike and employers will be able to dock pay for partial strike action. Vunerable workers will lose protections, new workers can be paid less and employers will be able to deny you meal and
rest if they decide a break would get in the way of work.
Why? Because this Government is dedicated to undermining wages and conditions of workers to pump up the super profits of big business. New Zealand is becoming a more unequal society. More wealth is being sucked out by employers, many of whom are overseas owned. Most working families have to have their incomes supplemented just to survive from week to week while our wages drag further and further behind comparable countries. The National Government must be thrown out of office before more damage is done to the working people who make up the backbone of New Zealand.
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MUNZ members from Port Chalmers and Bluff attended a joint training course in Port Chalmers on 15 and 16 August 2013. The MUNZ training programme is led by Local 13 executive member Craig Harrison (pictured on left). Members also took part in an ITF ship inspection led by New Zealand ITF inspector Grahame McLaren (centre front) during the two day course.
The Maritime Labour Convention and the future Steve Cotton, ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) acting general secretary, looks at why the coming into force of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 is so important for seafarers. We’ve been waiting over a decade to say this, and now we can: as of August 20th, a seafarers’ bill of rights exists. The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) has come into force. The MLC lays out your minimum rights as a seafarer and promotes good employment practices across the shipping industry. It incorporates and builds on 68 existing maritime labour conventions and recommendations to ensure decent working and living conditions. The convention also stipulates that everyone working on board a cruise ship making international voyages is a seafarer and entitled to the protections it guarantees. These include the right to a safe and secure workplace; fair terms of employment; decent living and working conditions; access to medical care, health protection and welfare. The MLC has been described as the fourth pillar of shipping regulation, alongside Solas, Marpol and the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping), and is intended to be strictly enforced by flag states and port state control. It should provide a ‘one stop shop’ for labour standards. This will mean that all seafarers should be able to enjoy comprehensive protection of their fundamental rights, and it should also ensure good employment practice across the industry, creating a level playing field in which good ship operators are not put at an economic disadvantage by bad ones. 6 | The Maritimes | Spring 2013
The MLC addresses a range of matters, including the obligations of shipping companies with respect to seafarers’ contractual arrangements; the responsibilities of manning agencies; working hours; health and safety; existing ILO maritime standards; and accepted good employment practice. Under it, every ship over 500 gross tonnage operating in international waters or between ports of different countries will have to have a maritime labour certificate issued by its flag administration following an inspection. There will also a requirement for ships to complete and maintain on board a declaration of maritime labour compliance. There are also significant provisions on welfare. States will be invited to set up welfare boards, as well as to consider the upgrading of existing seafarers’ welfare facilities and the establishment of new ones. It has taken over a decade to reach this point, but this is no time to relax. The MLC must be supported and successfully implemented. It must be applied without fear or favour, to all vessels, regardless of whether their flag state has ratified or not. The challenge now is to make it work and to make it universal. Each and every one of us has a job to do to put pressure on those countries which still haven’t ratified. Ratification and clear implementation will give this convention the force it deserves and help ensure that seafarers everywhere finally get the rights and recognition that they need and deserve. The ITF is committed to making the MLC a success for seafarers. To find out more about how it can help you please visit www.itfseafarers.org/ILOMLC.cfm
www.munz.org.nz
Fairness at work under threat The National Government is making radical changes to employment law that will cut Kiwis’ pay and remove some of our most basic rights at work. The new laws will give employers the power to refuse to negotiate pay increases, deny workers meal and rest breaks and pay new workers less than the going rate. The result will be to cement New Zealand as a low wage economy and increase the exodus of Kiwis to Australia. Under National’s changes:
Employers won’t have to negotiate a collective agreement
It’ll be harder to negotiate a pay rise when your employer can refuse to deal with the union
New workers can be paid less
Your employer will be able to take on new workers at a rate lower than the collective agreement
Employers can opt out of industry pay agreements
Your employer will be able to refuse to be part of an industry pay agreement, or MECA. Bad employers will be able to reduce wages to undercut their competitors, creating a race to the bottom across the industry.
Vulnerable workers will lose protections
Many vulnerable workers like cleaners will lose employment protections when their employer loses a contract. That means they could lose their job or have their wages cut every time a cleaning contract changes.
You’ll lose your right to a meal or rest break
Your employer will be able to deny you meal and rest breaks if they decide a break would get in the way of work.
Your employer can dock your pay for partial strike action Your employer will be able to dock your pay with a 10% ‘strike tax’ if you discontinue part of your work, for example with a paperwork ban.
More restrictions on the right to strike
There’ll be stricter rules around giving written notice for strikes. Employers will be able to kill time and drain union funds by challenging strikes on technicalities. New Zealand workers are fighting back. See pages 16 and 17 of this edition of the Maritimes for photos of rallies to defend our rights held in some of the main centres in August 2013.
For more info check out www.workrights.org.nz
www.munz.org.nz
National rank and file industry conference 2013 A national conference for rank and file members of the Maritime Union is being held in November this year. The Conference will provide an opportunity to rank and file members to discuss the on the job issues that affect them. The goal is to build our union by developing delegates and future leaders who are informed and have a strong understanding of the union and our industry on a national basis. Following the adoption of remits 10 (Bluff) and 13 (Napier) at the 2012 Triennial Conference for a national conference or forum for rank and file members around port issues, the Committee of Management was tasked to oversee the development of the proposal. The Conference was approved following discussion by the National Council and extended to cover all four sectors of the Union. The Conference will be held on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 November 2013 at the Abel Tasman Hotel, Willis Street, Wellington. Each branch has been requested to nominate their rank and file delegates with at least one delegate per company represented by that branch. It is intended that branches find delegates who have not had the opportunity to attend national meetings before including younger members. Costs, including accommodation and transport, are to be met by the branch.
Special voting in local elections Postal voting for local body elections is taking place from 20 September to midday Saturday 12 October 2013. These are the elections for local Government (councils) and District Health Boards. If you’re not enrolled in time – by Friday 16 August 2013 – you won’t get your voting papers sent to you in the mail. If you enrol after August 16, and before October 12, you can still vote, but you will have to request special voting papers from your local council electoral officer. In New Zealand the law says that you must be enrolled on the electoral roll. You must enrol if you: are 18 years or older, and have lived in New Zealand for more than one year continuously at some time in your life, and are a New Zealand citizen, or are a permanent resident of New Zealand. More information at www.elections.org.nz
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The 30th Electrical Trades Union and CEPU Electrical Division Branch Conference, 21-23 May 2013 By Garry Parsloe National President The National Vice President Carl Findlay and I attended the above meeting which was held on the Gold Coast, Australia. The meeting opened with a welcome and credentials. This was followed by the election of the Agenda Resolution Committee. The opening address was given by the Australian Labor Party President. Then there was an address to the Conference by Jorgen Tull Rasmussen from DEK (Denmark). The next address was from Eamon Devoy of the TEEU (Ireland). After morning smoko we had a presentation from National Secretary ETU Peter Tigue. The following speakers then addressed the Conference – Assistant National Secretary ETU Andrew Hicks, Speakers from the IBEW (USA), National President of the ETU Bob Donnelly, and the Western Australian Secretary of the ETU.
All the international and local speakers in the morning session spoke on International Solidarity and the need for workers and their unions to step up and defend their hard won conditions. In the afternoon the first speaker was Joe Gallagher from the EPMU. Joe gave an overview of the Industrial situation in New Zealand. I was the next speaker and in my presentation I took the opportunity to thank the ETU for their solidarity and support in our dispute with the Ports of Auckland. Following speaker was MUA Assistant National Secretary Ian Bray. Ian spoke on International Solidarity. He stated that workers in each country must support each other by doing what they can to support each other. West Australian State Secretary Chris Cain MUA was the next speaker. Chris spoke on the Political situation in Australia. He talked about the need to be more involved in political issues. The last agenda item was an International panel discussion around International Solidarity and the way forward in defending workers’ rights. It was an interesting and positive Conference.
A delegation of Chinese trade unionists including representatives of the Hunan Provincial Trade Union Federation and Transport Union, the Zhuzhou Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, and the Shaoyang Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, visiting Auckland Branch Local 13 MUNZ in August 2013
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www.munz.org.nz
International Transport Workers' Federation meets in Chicago By Garry Parsloe Convenor, New Zealand ITF Affiliates On Sunday 7 July Joe Fleetwood and I attended the Global Network Terminal Meeting in Chicago, USA. There was a full discussion on all the dangers of automation to workers job security, with delegates giving reports on all the attacks on workers from all around the world. The ITF gave a video presentation on the importance of building strong unions. You can’t protect workers on the docks without strong unions. The introduction of automation onto the docks needs to be managed with strong unions. MUA Deputy National Secretary Mick Doleman gave a report on Health and Safety issues on the waterfront. The level of accidents and deaths on the docks all around the world is unacceptable. There was a session headed “The Dockers Ports Intelligence Data Base” – knowledge is power. This was all about gathering information and sharing it in cross-regional cooperation. On day two Monday 8 July I attended the Seafarers’ Section. The first item under discussion was around Piracy and Hostage Taking. What is happening now is vessels are getting taken over by pirates and the owners and the companies are disowning the seafarers and giving no assistance at all. The second issue was regarding the behaviour of Maersk. Maersk seems to be misbehaving all over the world. After morning smoko I was called to the Dockers’ Section to report on the Ports of Auckland dispute where both Joe and I gave reports. ITF International President Paddy Crumlin spoke after our presentations by giving full support to our dispute and spoke on how best to go forward and secure an agreement with the Ports of Auckland. ILWU International President Bob McEllrath gave a report on the ILWU dispute in the grain silos on the west coast of North America. This is a disgusting dispute where unions are crossing the ILWU pickets and doing Dockers’ work. This dispute, along with the Ports of Auckland dispute, must be resolved in the interest of organised labour with the correct union coverage. In the afternoon I returned to the Seafarers’ Section where we had reports on Safety at Sea and Port Safety. The final session was to discuss and endorse the remits that were before the Seafarers’ Section. On day three I attended the second day of the Seafarers’ Section.
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ITF Acting General Secretary Steve Cotton gave a report on the present financial situation of the ITF. The issue raised some debate with Steve replying to the questions from the delegates. Steve then gave an overview of developments within the ITF and expanded on the pathway forward to build the ITF in the regions. In the afternoon session we discussed Seafarers’ training and regional developments. On Thursday 11 July we had the first day of the Fair Practices Committee. There was a progress report on the Mexico City Policy Implementation Update and the Inspectorate Review. The above reports were followed by a financial review report. In the afternoon the first report was on the Maritime Roundtable evaluation. In this section, issues of Seafarers doing Dockers’ work, education and campaigning were reported on. At the end of the day we had a discussion on the International Bargaining Forum (IBF). The International Bargaining Forum (IBF) is the forum that brings together the ITF and the international maritime employers that make up the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG). There was a report on the composition of the International Bargaining Team and on the claims that were to be put forward. The second and last day of the Fair Practices Committee was held on Friday the 12th of July. The Fair Practices Committee (FPC) is an ITF body, comprising seafarer and docker trade union representatives world-wide. The FPC manages the FOC (flags of convenience) campaign policy and oversees ITF minimum collective agreements for seafarers which ensure decent salaries and conditions for FOC seafarers, thus helping to prevent unfair wage-based competition, which contributes to the tendency for vessels to be flagged out. The first part of the morning was used up with discussions around the makeup of the International Bargaining Team and what was contained within the claims. Next we had a report on the Cruise Ship Task Force. This was a lengthy report which touched on all the problems that the ITF face in getting access to crews and in resolving their problems. Next was the Offshore Task Force report with speakers addressing some of the improvements in remuneration that have been achieved in the Offshore industry. After morning smoko we had a report back from both the Seafarers’ Section and the Dockers’ Section. In the Dockers’ Section there was a motion of support for the Ports of Auckland dispute. The motion contained a strategy that would assist in bringing closure to the dispute. Our dispute, along with motions around other disputes, were carried unanimously. This brought another positive and productive conference to a close.
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THE GREAT STRIKE 1913 By David Grant and Jim McAloon
The Great Strike of October to December 1913 saw thousands of workers out across the country, machine-guns placed on the Wellington waterfront, hundreds of batonwielding special constables in the major ports, and it had a powerful influence on the shape of the labour movement, political and industrial. The strike was triggered by two separate disputes. At Huntly, on 6 October 1913 the Taupiri Coal Company sacked 16 union activists, and three days later 500 miners voted to strike until the 16 were reinstated. The Wellington shipwrights had been negotiating a wage claim for several months and on 17 October, the employers rejected the shipwrights’ claims. On 18 October the shipwrights struck, and on 22 October the Wellington watersiders, to whose union the shipwrights were affiliated, held a stopwork meeting to discuss the shipwrights’ case. While they were meeting the employers put other workers on; the watersiders demanded reinstatement and refused to work until they were reinstated. The employers said that the stopwork meeting amounted to terminating the industrial agreement, and that the watersiders had gone on strike. The watersiders themselves regarded it as a lockout.
A quarter century of great change The dispute was the culmination of a quarter-century of great change in the economy, in the workplace and in the union movement. By the end of the 1880s workers in many occupations had formed unions. In the winter of 1890, seamen, miners and watersiders on both sides of the Tasman, federated in the Maritime Council, struck to enforce their demands for formal recognition by employers, and were defeated in a bitter struggle. In the New Zealand election at the end of that year a reformist Liberal government emerged, broadly supported by smaller farmers, would-be farmers, many small business people, and most urban workers. The government’s legislation included the 1894 Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which enabled unions to register and through the new Arbitration Court secure legally binding agreements, or awards, on wages and conditions. Unions – regionally and occupationally divided – proliferated, and for some years most unionists accepted the tradeoff which usually prevented them from striking during the life of an award. Increasingly dominated by farmers however, the Liberals’ reformist zeal faded and by 1905 there were rumblings within the union movement. 10 | The Maritimes | Spring 2013
Some activists advocated an independent labour party, and others, particularly a younger generation, began to challenge the arbitration system. This challenge was most visible among coalminers, labourers, and watersiders, and these activists espoused industrial unionism, based on mass organisation, direct action and direct negotiation with employers. Industrial unionists also advocated larger, industry-based unions and followed through their rejection of arbitration by withdrawing from the arbitration system and registering their unions under an 1878 Trade Union Act which did not prevent them from striking. In 1909 these formed the first New Zealand Federation of Labour, the ‘Red Federation’. Many skilled workers were becoming radical as well, although skilled radical activists believed that for many unions direct action was not practical. The skilled radicals argued that New Zealand’s political democracy made it possible to build a Labour Party and work for a parliamentary majority which could then enact radical legislation. The Red Feds, however, tended to treat parliamentary politics with a certain contempt, either arguing that organising at the point of production would lead to the revolution, or that parliamentary politics without a radical and mass union movement was a waste of time. The industrial unions delivered some important gains through direct bargaining before 1912. Unsurprisingly, employers sought ways to blunt the advance. Having for years resented arbitration, the employers’ and farmers’ associations now discovered its virtue.
Flashpoint: Waihi In May 1912 an industrial dispute in the goldmining town of Waihi became the flashpoint. The Waihi Miners’ Union had withdrawn from the arbitration system in 1911. Early in 1912 a small number of engine-drivers formed a separate union registered under the Arbitration Act. The miners saw this as a bosses’ ploy, and struck in May, demanding that the arbitration union be disbanded. For some weeks there was essentially a standoff, but in July the Liberals were defeated on the floor of Parliament and William Massey led the conservative Reform Party into power. The employers had already informed the Waihi miners they would only be allowed back if they registered under the Arbitration Act. From September, strikebreakers began working the mine, now protected by armed police. On 12 November Waihi reached its crisis; strikebreakers and police attacked the union hall and in the fighting some shots were fired and a striker, Fred Evans, was beaten to death. In the next couple of days the strikers were driven out of town. Suddenly the contours of the labour movement changed. www.munz.org.nz
A protest march in Auckland during 1913 Waterfront Strike. (Price, William Archer, 1866-1948: Collection of post card negatives. Ref: 1/2-000186-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.) Many activists in the skilled arbitration unions were appalled at what had happened. The Red Federation, for its part, drew the lesson that a divided labour movement was a weak labour movement and invited all unions of whatever allegiance to a Unity Conference in January 1913. This conference, and a much larger Unity Congress in July, formed a new United Federation of Labour ‘to organise systematically upon an industrial union basis, in order to assist the overthrow of the capitalist system, and thus bring about a Co-operative Commonwealth, based upon industrial democracy’. In parallel, the new Social Democratic Party advocated ‘the socialisation of the collectively-used means of production, distribution and exchange’. Faced with a significant level of support for a more radical labour politics, employers and farmers prepared for a confrontation. In advance of any actual strike, employers’ associations planned to recruit strikebreakers and set up fighting funds. The Massey government moved to force all unions to register under the Arbitration Act.
The Strike begins On the morning of 22 October 1913 the Wellington watersiders held their stopwork meeting to discuss support for the shipwrights. That very afternoon, over a dozen representatives of shipowners met and rapidly agreed that they regarded the watersiders’ industrial agreement as now null and void, and that they would form a committee to deal with ‘all matters arising’ from the situation. This became the Wellington Strike Committee, later rebranded as the Citizens’ Defence Committee. www.munz.org.nz
On 23 October the shipowners indicated that they would insist either on what we would now call individual employment agreements or at most registering the waterfront union under the Arbitration Act. The New Zealand Employers’ Federation urged the strike committee not to meet any labour organisation which was not registered under the Arbitration Act, and not to waver. Pickets went up on the Wellington waterfront on 23 October, and on 24 October there was some violence between watersiders and strikebreakers. The employers offered a return to work on individual contracts under the same conditions as previously, which the union rejected. On 26 October the Commissioner of Police, John Cullen, began to enrol special constables. On 29 October the Auckland and Westport watersiders came out in sympathy and the next day mounted specials arrived in Wellington, armed sailors from a Royal Navy ship paraded in Wellington and machine guns were placed on Buckle St, and the specials attacked massed unionists around Post Office Square and Lambton Quay. All watersiders in New Zealand were now called out on strike and all major ports were out by 31 October. More and more specials came into Wellington, and employers, farmers and others set up ‘defence committees’ to organise and supply the specials and strikebreakers. By the first week in November most coalminers across the country were on strike. On 4 November the UFL leadership met with the New Zealand Employers’ Federation; the meeting was very brief as the employers demanded the watersiders submit to the arbitration system.
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The Battle of Featherston Street, during the 1913 New Zealand Waterfront Strike. Ref: 1/2-160127-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. [continued from previous page]
This news spread rapidly; two thousand angry strikers and supporters demonstrated and when mounted specials charged them, the strikers responded with stones and gunfire. On 5 November, 800 mounted specials forced the Wellington wharves open, were stoned by the crowds, and charged several times. On the sixth, 2000 special constables moved into Auckland and occupied the waterfront on the seventh. This provoked a general strike in the city and within a few days 10000 Auckland workers were on strike and many stayed out for nearly two weeks. If the watersiders were at the centre of events, the Federated Seamen’s Union was much less engaged. Indeed the events of 1913 threatened to divide the FSU. Many seamen, remembering the Maritime Strike, had no wish to experience another defeat. The union’s leadership had been resolutely committed to arbitration since the 1890s, and each major port was dominated by powerful organisers who emphasised matters of immediate concern to seamen. A key point of controversy within the FSU was the split between the Wellington branch leader W. T. (Tom) Young, and the Dunedin-based president, William Belcher. Belcher believed that the FSU should stick to its own concerns, while Young supported wider engagement, and had been elected first president of the UFL. In Wellington, seamen voted to walk off the ships as soon as they encountered strikebreakers on the wharves, and Auckland and Lyttelton seamen followed suit in the first week of November and soon seamen in many ports were on strike. The Auckland general strike led the UFL to call for a one-day national general strike but this call fell flat. 12 | The Maritimes | Spring 2013
Most damaging to the UFL cause were the decisions by the railwaymen and shearers to stay at work. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants had entrenched a number of privileges in successive agreements with the government, and enjoyed government recognition only so long as it did not affiliate to other organisations; in any case, the union leadership was unsympathetic to the new militant tone. The shearers had reasonable grounds to fear being sidelined by farmers’ sons and other unorganised rural workers. Seamen faced a similar problem when the government moved to allow unqualified workers to take their place on board ship.
Division amongst unions and the end of the strike
By late November the strikers’ position was weakening. Strikebreakers were working most ports and arbitration unions had been established; many strikers began drifting back to work. With a new seamen’s union threatening the FSU position in Auckland, Young began to negotiate a return to work for his members without victimisation, and, keen to get the ships moving again, the shipowners agreed. Already the FSU was threatening to break up; Auckland and Dunedin were making it clear they would return to work regardless, although Wellington was not happy at deserting the watersiders and miners. Nevertheless, Young reluctantly accepted that preserving the organisation’s unity was paramount and secured a return to work on 19 December. On 12 December the Supreme Court ruled that the Arbitration Act forbade unions to contribute to the strike funds of other unions – solidarity was outlawed. Once the seamen went back, the watersiders had no choice but to follow, and to accept arbitrationist unions. www.munz.org.nz
On 22 December watersiders returned to work at most ports, but only on 29 December did the miners go back. In the aftermath of the strike, the miners and watersiders took over the new arbitration unions within months, except in Auckland where the waterfront employers were pretty vicious in blacklisting for a couple of years. Some of the strike leaders were prosecuted and received shorter or longer terms of imprisonment. The heaviest sentence went to Harry Holland, the journalist and socialist agitator, who got 12 months for seditious language in Wellington, in urging the police and troops to come over to the strikers’ side – apparently he said that the troops should remember where their class interests lay and point their guns accordingly. Holland would go on to lead the Labour Party in parliament from 1919 until his death on Taupiri Mountain in 1933.
Legacy of 1913
The strike had demonstrated both the power of solidarity and the difficulty of challenging a determined state. Certainly the experience of 1913 shifted the labour movement sharply to the left, although it also reinforced arguments about the importance of parliamentary approaches as well as industrial organisation. An early sign of this occurred in the dying days of the strike. There was a by-election in the port seat of Lyttelton, which since 1899 had been represented by the radical Liberal George Laurenson. Laurenson had supported the strikers. He died in November 1913, and a thousand striking watersiders joined his funeral procession in Wellington. The ensuing by-election was won in a convincing victory by the Social Democratic Party’s James McCombs. Lyttelton remained a McCombs family fiefdom until 1951 when, ironically, James and Elizabeth’s son Terence lost the seat in the wake of another great waterfront dispute. A few weeks before the by-election, when the special constables took over the Lyttelton wharves the watersiders’ union issued a manifesto (published in the Lyttelton Times of 18 November 1913) which related the strike to years of dissatisfaction with the Arbitration Court and the Liberals. The union asked, “if arbitration fails workers in matters upon which politicians are diffident to legislate, is it any wonder that confidence in the scheme is supplanted by criticism? And when arbitration fails, what other means can be adopted to protect the workers’ interests but the strike, particularly when a Government is in power whose only effort at labour legislation has been along the lines of coercion and repression?” The manifesto ended with an appeal to the workers to be loyal to their class and to show their reprobation of a Government whose law and order is a semi-military display of batons and firearms, and whose whole attitude towards a constitutional and peacefully-conducted strike has been destitute of any sense of moral purpose in the world and empty of any understanding of the facts of the workers’ lives. “A response to this appeal will ensure victory, and, what is essential to greatness in any country, an independent and selfreliant working class.”
Further reading The strike is dealt with from various perspectives in a collection of essays entitled Revolution: The 1913 Great Strike in New Zealand, edited by Melanie Nolan. Erik Olssen in his book, The Red Feds, also deals with the strike. David Grant’s history of the Seamen’s Union, Jagged Seas, discusses the strike from seamen’s perspectives, and Len Richardson does the same for miners in his Coal, Class and Community.
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1913 Strike: Centennial events During the later months of 1913 New Zealand society was rocked to its foundations by a bitter industrial dispute involving some 16,000 workers, massive demonstrations and a wave of violence on a scale that arguably, has yet to be matched. The series of spontaneous strikes, known as the Great Strike of 1913, stretched across New Zealand and reached almost all corners of society. When work returned to normal in December and January, the strike had cost employers around £1,000,000 and labour relations in the country had been changed forever. To mark the centenary of the Great Strike, the Maritime Union of New Zealand has contributed to a number of events. The Labour History Project has worked with a number of organizations to bring together a programme that includes Wellington guided walks of the key sites of struggle; an interactive website featuring digitised archival records and photography; People’s History walks on the strike and other aspects of New Zealand’s past; an exhibition at the Museum of Wellington City & Sea; as well as talks by prominent labour historians. For more information see http://1913greatstrike.org/
People’s History Series 2013 A series of talks and events celebrating the lives of Wellington workers. This is the annual series being launched to mark the centenary of the 1913 Great Strike. Talks will explore; The Maoriland Worker, What Happened to Savage, Fraser, Freyberg and Cullen, and launch of the People’s History Walk. Also, on 5 November, Massey’s Cossacks will once again confront the workers at high noon on Queens Wharf. Every Tuesday, 1 October to 19 November, Koha entry. For details see www.museumswellington.org.nz or call 04 472 8904.
1913: still relevant after all these years? Of special interest to MUNZ members will be “1913: still relevant after all these years?” on 19 November 2013, 5.30pm, at the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Queen’s Wharf. Introduced by LHP Chair Jim McAloon, the session features a a talk by leading labour historian Melanie Nolan, and presentations by MUNZ officials.
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CTU womens’ conference Report on the CTU Women’s Biennial Conference, 26–27 July 2013 By Marian Lesslie, Wellington branch 0918 MUNZ National Women’s Rep
This was the one of the most powerful conferences I have been to and really enjoyed been part of it and helping run the conference. This year the conference theme was Union women leading. The day started off with a welcome from Katerina Daniels. New Zealand Council of Trade Unions’ President Helen Kelly was the first speaker of the day. She talked about key issues and their impact on the union movement locally, nationally and internationally. These key issues were deaths in the workplace, the living wage, and the outcome of Pike River. And of course the changes to the employment laws and how this would affect the work place, and the importance of getting involved to stop this law change. This was followed by an interesting roundtable discussion on what Helen had talked about and how it would impact on your union. This was followed by a quick fire presentation on the following issues: 26 for babies (26 weeks paid parental leave), Employment Relations Act changes, the equal pay case, Health and Safety, and the living wage campaign. This was followed again by round table discussions on the above.
In the afternoon we had two panels, the first was “What makes a woman trade union leader of today” and the second was “Challenges for young women.” The speakers on both panels gave a great insight into their experience. The rest of the day was spent in workshops. These included running a campaign (Living Wage), social media for women leaders and unionists, our rights, domestic violence as a workplace issue, equal pay case, and the campaign around changes to the Employment Relations Act. Delegates chose one to attend and get in-depth information on the issues. There was great feed back from all the workshops. Day one ended with meet the MPs and presentation of the signed 26 for babies postcards to Sue Moroney. This was followed by dinner and guest speaker Robyn Malcolm. What a great person and speaker she is. Day two started off with speakers talking about issues for Maori and Pasifika women leaders at work, unions and communities. Yet again some great speakers. This was followed by table discussions on the above. This was followed by “Leading women in male dominated workplaces”. I was asked to give a quick overview of what it is like within MUNZ along with Ruth Blakely (RMTU) and Laura Boynton (DWU). This was the lead up to our international speaker Max Adlam from the Australian Services Union. She was a strong speaker and she talked on what it had been like for former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the things she went through. She talked on her own personal experiences. Max has done a lot of work, not just with women in male dominated workplaces but also women in precarious and or low status employment, from different cultural backgrounds just to name a few. The afternoon was spent going through the Women’s Council report 2011-2013 and Remits and priorities for 2013-2015. The conference ended again by Katerina Daniels. What a great woman, she spoke from the heart. Last of all a huge thank you to the staff of the CTU whose work went into a great conference.
Branch and local contacts Whangarei Mobile: 021 855121 Fax: 09 459 4972 Address: PO Box 397, Whangarei Email: ben.hathaway@munz.org.nz Auckland Local 13 Phone: 09 3034 652 Fax: 09 3096 851 Mobile: 021 326 261 (President Garry Parsloe) 021 760 886 (Secretary Russell Mayn) 021 670002 (Walking Delegate D. Phillips) Address: PO Box 1840, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140 Email: garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz russell.mayn@munz.org.nz dave.phillips@munz.org.nz Mount Maunganui Phone: 07 5755 668 Fax: 07 5759 043 Mobile: 0274 782308 Address: PO Box 5121, Mt. Maunganui Email: selwyn.russell@munz.org.nz Gisborne Local 38 Mobile: 025 6499697 Address: 5 Murphy Road, Gisborne Email: dein.ferris@munz.org.nz 14 | The Maritimes | Spring 2013
New Plymouth Mobile: 027 468 0050 Address: PO Box 6084, New Plymouth Email: npmunz@yahoo.com Napier Phone/Fax: 06 8358 622 Mobile: 027 6175441 Address: PO Box 70, Napier Email: bill.connelly@munz.org.nz Wellington Phone: Fax: Mobile: Address: Email: Nelson Fax: Mobile: Address: Email:
04 3859 288 (Secretary Mike Clark) 04 8017 619 (Asst. Secretary John Whiting) 04 3848 766 0274 538222 (Secretary Mike Clark) 021 606379 (Asst. Secretary John Whiting) PO Box 27004, Wellington mike.clark@munz.org.nz john.whiting@munz.org.nz 03 5472104 027 6222691 PO Box 5016, Nelson ken.knox@munz.org.nz
Lyttelton Local 43 Phone: 03 3288 306 Fax: 03 3288 798 Address: PO Box 29, Lyttelton Email: lwwu@xtra.co.nz Timaru Phone/Fax: 03 6843 364 Mobile: 021 2991091 Address: PO Box 813, Timaru Email: tony.townshend@munz.org.nz Port Chalmers Dunedin Local 10 Phone: 03 4728 052 Fax: 03 4727 492 Mobile: 0274 377601 Address: PO Box 44, Port Chalmers Email: phil.adams@munz.org.nz Bluff Phone/Fax: 03 2128 189 Mobile: 027 4475317 Address: PO Box 5, Bluff Email: ray.fife@munz.org.nz
www.munz.org.nz
Health and Safety Update Roof fall death at Port of Tauranga
The Port of Tauranga has been the scene of yet another death of a sub-contracted worker. A 70-year-old driver is dead after falling through the roof at Ballance Agri-Nutrients on Hewletts Road in Mount Maunganui on 15 August 2013. An ambulance was called to the scene at 10.30pm after the man fell 3.5 metres through the roof of a storage building onto concrete. It was understood he fell after stepping on a clear panel, police said. He had been delivering a load of fertiliser to the warehouse. He was taken to Tauranga Hospital in critical condition with “traumatic” head injuries and later died. The man was employed by contractors to take fertiliser from the Port of Tauranga to the fertiliser works nearby. Police and Occupational Safety and Health are investigating.
Two dead on NZ loaded log ship
Indian media have reported the deaths of two port workers aboard the log ship Amyntor in the southern Indian port of Tuticorin in August. The two workers were asphyxiated by poisonous gases while aboard the vessel, according to the Times of India. The Marshall Island-flagged bulk carrier Amyntor was loading logs at Marsden Point (Northport), Whangarei, in the last week of July 2013. Maritime Union National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says initial reports from India say the fatalities were due to fumigant gases. He says the poisonous gas methyl bromide is used to fumigate logs. In May 2010, two foreign seamen died after suffocating in the timber hold of the vessel TPC Wellington at Marsden Point. The cause in the 2010 case was found to be the “combined effects of an oxygen-depleted atmosphere and the likely
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presence of toxic gases, both consequences of the organic decomposition of the logs in the closed cargo hold.” Mr Fleetwood says the apparently similar incident this week is of great concern and he would like New Zealand authorities to investigate procedures aboard the vessel and of any operators who loaded the vessel or fumigated it.
Crush Injury in Auckland
A member of Auckland Branch Local 13 employed by Wallace Investments suffered a crush injury when removing bulldozer from hold on 11 August 2013. A possible crane failure is suspected as the cause.
Lyttelton casual injured
A C3 casual worker at Port of Lyttelton suffered a leg injury recently discharging a cargo of steel. A report into the incident is being awaited.
Need for corporate manslaughter law
The miners’ union is calling for a corporate manslaughter law in the wake of Pike River Coal Ltd’s sentencing in Greymouth in July. EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O’Connell says a law change is needed to ensure those responsible for workplace deaths can be held to account. “It is a matter of public record that the people running Pike River Coal put production over the safety of their workforce, leading directly to the deaths of 29 men. Given the gravity of the offence and the very real impact on families, a hefty penalty and reparations was the only appropriate sentence. “However, there is little justice in sentencing a shell company that is now in receivership. Families of the men who died at Pike River have every right to demand those responsible for this tragedy are held to account. “Pike River Coal’s directors should not be able to hide behind shabby legal structures and carry on as if nothing ever happened. It’s time we had corporate manslaughter laws and personal liability for directors so they can be held accountable for their actions.” “This case shows why we need stronger mining regulations, an independent and well-resourced health and safety inspectorate and worker-elected check inspectors. Companies like Pike River Coal Ltd simply can’t be trusted to put safety first,” says Ged O’Connell.
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EPMU National Secretary Bill Newson addresses the 5000-strong Auckland rally, Manukau Events Centre, 28 August 2013 (photo by Simon Oosterman)
Fairness at work Wellington Branch flies the flag at the Wellington Rally, Petone, 20 August 2013 (photo by NZCTU)
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www.munz.org.nz
Lyttelton Branch Local 43 members and supporters represented at the Christchurch Fairness at Work Rally, 29 August 2013, Branch President Brad Fletcher, Rob Winder, Mike Thorpe, Julian Stewart and Jeremy Winder
The National Government is making big changes to our employment laws that are designed to cut our pay and remove some of our most basic rights at work. Unions believe Kiwis deserve better. We can have a country where there are enough jobs for everyone, we’re paid fairly and our young people have hope for a better future. In August 2013, Maritime Union members were among thousands of New Zealand workers standing up for fairness at work at rallies in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. More info at www.workrights.org.nz Auckland Branch Local 13 President Garry Parsloe, Vice President Carl Findlay and Secretary Russell Mayn at the Auckland Rally
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Port automation in action at Port of Rotterdam, 2008 (photo by Russell Mayn)
ITF Port Automation Conference Sydney 29–30 April 2013 By John Whiting Delegate from Wellington Branch MUNZ
This important conference was convened by the International Transport Workers’ Federation with the organisational support of the Maritime Union of Australia. The opportunity was made for delegates from ports in West Coast USA, Australia and New Zealand with container terminal operations to gather with senior Union representatives from International affiliates who have already encountered the impact of automation in their own ports. New Zealand ports represented were Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers. Extensive presentations were given by the international visitors on countries where fully automated terminals already operate. These included Holland (2 sites), Germany, Japan, and Brisbane, Australia (1 site). Most of these sites are using automated (driverless) container movement vehicles and yard stacking gantry cranes. A much larger spread of ports that are semi-automated includes countries such as USA, Belgium, UK, Spain, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.
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These ports are operating with auto yard gantries, and also auto straddles, shuttles (trucks), and tractors. Current developments planned or underway include London Gateway, Rotterdam Gateway, several major ports on both coasts of the USA, Spain, and Italy, and much closer to home, with planning by terminal operators in both Brisbane and Sydney to introduce automated gantries, straddles, and shuttles, in varying combinations. Clearly, from the above information members will see that the big multimillion box terminals are already heavily into automation and the process is now flowing onto the next tier of ports, including Australia, and potentially New Zealand. Some of the reasons driving the introduction of automation include: 1. Reduction of Labour costs. This is offset by the initial outlay on technology. 2. Increased Asset Utilisation. Again offset by costs of new technology. 3. Efficiency/Productivity Improvements. This is pushed by the equipment manufacturers. Auto terminals are as yet not matching large manned terminals in box rates and other productivity statistics. 4. Health and Safety. Claims that with fewer staff there is a lessened risk of harm/ accident. Yet to be proven. 5. Environmentally Friendly/Lower Emissions. Battery/Electric powered low emission machinery is being promoted as the eco-friendly future.
6. Auto Technology. The constant development and upgrading of high-tech equipment. Big resources are being put in by the major equipment suppliers. Costs of technology will mean take-up will occur at the larger sites, e.g. 1—2 million plus TEUs per year. 7. New Terminals. At greenfields sites operators are incorporating the new technology into their designs. 8. Scale of operations. Internationally the scale of the industry is changing. There are now ships that carry 14,000, 16,000, and recently 18,000 TEU. These shipowners want the latest technology to move the increased volumes in the shortest time possible. Notwithstanding all of these reasons, when we look at the list of countries where automation is already being applied, or is in the pipeline, the common denominator is well organised Unionised Labour with collective agreements, enjoying the best possible terms and conditions. The opportunity for international shipping and terminal interests to use automation to reduce our numbers and our influence is seen by them as a huge bonus arising from the availability of state-of-the-art technology. A common theme from the speakers contributing to the Conference was that we cannot allow the introduction of automation to be used as a union-busting exercise. Full and open negotiations with representative Unions must take place. The full text of the resolution carried unanimously at the conclusion of the Conference is– www.munz.org.nz
Acknowledging that automation in the stevedoring industry is not new. With the introduction of containerisation in the 1960s, thousands of dockworkers lost their jobs. Companies have continuously tried to reduce labour with the introduction of new technology to the point that in some places terminals are almost completely automated. However, human labour is still necessary, even in fully automated terminals. Resolving that while it will be difficult to slow the growth of technology in the stevedoring sector, companies should only undertake automation on the basis of open, frank, and meaningful negotiations with representative Unions. “Automation with negotiation” must include a full understanding of the impact of the planned automation and measures to mitigate against job losses, including but not limited to: 1. The development of a workplace agreement that reflects the maximum possible employment opportunities for the workforce affected by the technology. That includes any contractors or third parties the principal stevedoring company may employ. 2. Training and skills enhancement for the existing workforce so they are able to operate all aspects of the new technology once they are retrained. 3. A reduction of full-time hours of work per week. 4. Full consultation with the Union on the number of workers and gang sizes realistically required to operate the new machinery and all associated stevedore functions. 5. No contracting out of maintenance services for new machinery. Trained workers can perform warranty maintenance. 6. Day-to-day oversight of automated stevedore machinery, and particularly roles which require some manual intervention in the stevedore process, to be covered by experienced and unionised stevedore workers, not management. 7. Expanded union coverage of all workers associated with the container terminal. 8. The opportunity for retrained workers to find comparable work and conditions in other sections of the stevedoring industry, or other industries, including assistance with relocation where necessary. 9. Appropriate separation packages for workers displaced by the technology to assist them in finding other employment. This conference was a timely and valuable occasion for delegates from our part of the planet to learn the up-to-date facts on Port Automation, a process well underway elsewhere and now heading our way. We can and must learn from the experiences of our international comrades. Finally, much appreciation to the Maritime Union of Australia for their hospitality and thanks to Wellington Branch for the opportunity to attend this conference. www.munz.org.nz
MUNZ members join ITF inspection at training course By Grahame McLaren New Zealand ITF Inspector The Hong Kong flagged log ship Victoria Harbour was visited as part of a joint Delegate and ITF Contact training course held at Port Chalmers over 15–16 August. The course attendees were MUNZ delegates from the port of Bluff as well as Port Chalmers. About 12 of us visited the vessel for the inspection. The Chinese Captain was a bit taken aback by the number of people converging on his vessel, but welcomed us into his office all the same. The ITF database lists the vessel as not being covered by an ITF agreement and the Captain was understandably nervous at the ITF’s presence on board en masse. I reassured him that the visit was a training exercise and not to worry too much. I told him what documentation we wanted and, after a phone call to the company in Hong Kong, he agreed to cooperate and give us whatever we required. While the documentation was being collected and checked, some of the delegates went and inspected the galley, mess rooms, fridges, freezers and dry stores where no deficiencies were found. During the inspection it came to light that the vessel is actually covered by a Hong Kong Seafarers’ Co-ordination Committee (HSCC) agreement, and all documentation was in compliance with that agreement. Crew reported no problems and were happy to see the ITF on board. Publications were left on board including, Chinese language ITF Seafarers Bulletin magazines, a booklet containing contact details for all ITF Inspectors globally, Chinese language Maritime Labour Convention 2006 Guide, ITF Seafarers website flyer, MUNZ No Self Loading By Crews flyer and contact cards. The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 19
Port Chalmers Dunedin By Phil Adams Greetings from the South. The weather is warming up even though we have had the mildest winter on record, and it is good to know summer is on its way.
Port Otago/Terminal
The terminal is going through a quiet time at the moment which is common, given the seasonal nature of milk and meat. It is now starting to pick up and, with new straddles arriving, the Terminal should be ready to meet the demands of the peak season. During this time maintenance and training are taking place which can only be good for the company.
Conventional stevedoring
Port Chalmers Cargo Services are being kept busy with logs, fertiliser and fish. Recently C3 have picked up the Wenita contract off Port Chalmers Cargo Services and the branch is wanting assurances they are not going to be using fly in fly out stevedores. If they are to be accepted into our port they must have a workforce of permanents based in the port, as our members at PCCS are local members and their future needs to be assured. The first vessel they will work will be in November, so agreement needs to be reached before then.
National Secretary visit
Recently we had the National Secretary Joe Fleetwood visit the branch to explain new union rules. A good crowd around 70 listened to Joe and the debate was good particularly around the Waterfront super fund. We are now being told a member can withdraw funds towards a new house from the fund. This being passed by the Super trustees meeting in May. Our branch would like a rep from AON and the Chairman of the Fund to visit ports to explain this. Members believe it should have been put to a vote of all who are in the fund instead of just the trustees deciding this important issue.
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Timaru
Tauranga buying into Timaru is being watched closely by our branch as the current practice in Timaru of using a few permanents supplemented by a large number of casuals could have an effect on Lyttelton and Port Chalmers.
New B’s
Recently we have had four new members join us as 3-day guarantee B’s – Kristian Collins, Mike Ingram, Allister Stevenson and Danny Gardener. Welcome to our branch and we hope you enjoy your time with us.
Lynn Barclay
Lynn Barclay the woman’s rep on our Branch executive has resigned from the company to take up a position in Christchurch. Before becoming an exec member Lynn had little to do with unions in a representative role but showed a great will to learn and was keen to represent woman and our branch. We wish her all the best in her new position. With Lynn’s departure Jo Milford has stepped in to take over the executive women’s rep position. Jo attended the recently held delegate training in the port and is also very keen on her new role.
National Government
While a lot of New Zealanders seem taken with the style of John Key, any working person should take a look at the changes being implemented during this term. Collective bargaining is under threat, the 90 day rule is to be extended, youth rates, and one plan that is returning us to the dark ages in some industries is doing away with smoko and lunch breaks. It is important especially in a Union perceived to be strong that we work to get rid of this Government given the type of changes and attacks they are carrying out.
Training
Craig Harrison and Grahame McLaren were in the port in August for delegate training. All members who attended with impressed with the way the training took place. It is encouraging to see new delegates coming through as some of us will leave the industry in the next ten years.
A solid delegate base is important to the success of our branch and our national union.
Veterans’ Association
Recently the President Vice President and Secretary met with around 30 members of the Veterans’ Association. Dave Dick was elected President and the message they gave our branch is that they will be there to support us in any struggles we have. It was heartening to meet with such a good number who sounded pleased to still be involved with our Union as veterans. We can only encourage this as I constantly tell our current members the wages and conditions we currently enjoy were fought for by the veterans who came before us and for that we are truly thankful.
Sponsorship
Our branch has recently sponsored Zoe McBride to represent New Zealand at the World Junior Rowing Regatta in Europe. Zoe performed very well although out of place but the field was very strong and the New Zealand team performed with credit. Also we have sponsored Jade Middleditch to represent Otago in the New Zealand Under 14 soccer tournament. Jade will wear the MUNZ logo on the sleeve of her jersey. We wish her well in the tournament.
Sick list
Ian McDonald is back at work after his long illness which is good to see. Also good to see Ross Abernethy back after an illness. Ryan Olsen and our youth rep Tim Stewart are both off with rugby injuries. Gavin Alderson is off with a back complaint, Bruce Turnbull is back after a shoulder operation and Alister Kemp also injured.
Auckland situation
Our branch is keeping a watchful eye on the Auckland situation and wish them all the best.
Exec dinner
Recently we had the Exec dinner and Cyril McWilliam’s retirement function in Dunedin. A good night and a good send off and Cyril thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. www.munz.org.nz
Deaths
It is sad to note the recent passing of Ike Amos. Ike had been at sea for many years and well liked by all who know him. Our condolences to his family and friends.
New crane drivers
In the terminal they are putting aspiring crane drivers through their paces to select to to join the crane panel. For those that miss out do not give up hope as further opportunities will arise.
New tug
The port company is to purchase a brand new tug from a shipyard in Vietnam. As usual they cannot wait to tell us it will only require 2 men to man it even after we have received information from some countries who have purchased the same tugs that due to safety issues, they have had to add an extra man. A meeting of all parties will take place soon to discuss this issue.
Queenstown unit
Steve Smith reports the lounge suite is damaged and the carpet is wearing out. A visit to the units soon by branch officials will decide on a major refurbishment which would include new carpet and making the outside cladding weatherproof. As the unit is well liked by all who use it, if we need to spend a couple of bob to bring it up to standard then that is what we will have to do.
Change to wash pad, Control and planning
Recently the Port company has come to us wishing to make changes to the wash and control and planning. As far as the wash goes there are possible gains in the proposal although members have to agree to it. Those working in control and planning have turned down the Company proposal and we are now awaiting the response.
ACC
At the last stop work meeting it was reported on the problems with two members in respect of ACC and the non reporting of an accident immediately after it occurs, no matter how serious it is.
www.munz.org.nz
Bluff and Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch members attending the August 2013 two day delegate training course at Port Chalmers
Any accident that occurs at work regardless of the seriousness should be reported to Branch Vice President Stu Crawford before the individual leaves the shift when his or her accident occurred. This is extremely important and everyone should be made aware of this.
Finally, although hurting from losing the Ranfurly Shield, our branch is in good heart and ready to take on the challenges ahead. We ask all members to attend meetings, get to know the executive and finally work with the Union, not as individuals, as individualism weakens us all all and makes us all vulnerable. We all want to be part of a Union that we can be proud of. The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 21
Wellington By Mike Clark and John Whiting
Inequality for Workers
As many of the members remember, the Employment Contracts Act (ECA) implemented in May 1991 established the Employment Court and brought all types of employment contracts under the jurisdiction of the Court. Previous to this legislation covered only employees on collective contracts which were represented by registered unions and excluded employees on individual contracts. In 2000 the Labour Government repealed the ECA and replaced it with the Employment Relations Act 2000 (ERA) which promoted once again mediation to resolve industrial disputes and which is the case up to this point in time. The proposed new law changes introduced to Parliament on 26 April this year and called the Employment Amendments Bill are even more draconian than the ECA of 1991. These new laws will give bosses the power to refuse to settle collective agreements, deny meal and rest breaks and pay new workers less than the current collective. Also there are a host of restrictions including rules on the right to strike. This comes at a time when many vulnerable workers who are already being paid a low wage now. Times are already tough for these workers who are struggling to make ends meet, thus creating more inequality in the work force. Further information can be obtained through the council of Trade Unions www.union.org.nz/whycutourpay or through workrights.org.nz Please take a responsible and social attitude to these problems and attend rallies and meetings where possible as chances are you will have family and friends as well as yourself who will be affected by these changes.
Crisis in the Economy
When the economy is booming there is a tendency to assume the good times will last forever. But as on many occasions we have heard that it is different this time and that we’re in a different era now, yet, when a slump occurs the mood of optimism changes extremely quickly and a mood of pessimism and despair sets in. The most obvious case is the present recession with currently over 150,000 New Zealanders registered as unemployed, over 2.5 million in the UK and so on – levels as bad or if not worse than the depression of the 1930s. Labour supporters in this country, and I mean ones that grew up in a Labour Party environment where in most workers’ kitchens hung a photo of Michael Joseph Savage, believe that there is no point in waiting for capitalism to fade away into the sunset and curl up and die. It just won’t happen. What needs to happen is that a hard-nosed band of Labourites needs to convince the voting public of New Zealand that they have the political strength and nous to move forward by seizing the reins of political power off National and lay the foundation to move the country forward and make New Zealand a better place for all who live here.
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Having the ability to survive the highs and lows of a fluctuating economy, it is interesting to note that the accompanying photo of Michael Savage along with a short history was given the accolade New Zealander of the Century in 1999 by the right wing newspaper of the day, the New Zealand Herald. We need to remember our history to secure our future and the future of coming generations of working class people in this country and that won’t be achieved by selling off the country’s assets.
Industrial scene
The last three months have been very busy around renewal of our Collective Agreements with several rounds of negotiations under way.
CentrePort
A lengthy series of negotiations was finalised when the Port Company Multi-Union Collective Agreement was ratified by the members on 26 August. This agreement will run through to October 2014. Inter-Island Line The Cook Strait Ferry Agreement expired at the end of January. Talks have been underway with the Company, and have proved to be particularly difficult, with the Company seeking to make major changes to the document. Full report meetings have been held on all three ferries and our next meeting with the employer is on 4 September.
Strait Shipping – Picton Terminal Agreement
We have met with the Company in Picton and tabled our claims. The Company has now responded with an offer for consideration by the members. Strait Shipping – Cook Strait Vessel Agreement. The MUNZ negotiation met with the Company on 7 August. An offer has been made which requires some further finetuning before reporting back to our members working in the “Santa Regina” and “Straitsman”.
Offshore Oil Industry.
This Collective Agreement expires on 31 October 2013. We have initiated bargaining on the Companies that are parties to this agreement. All members who work in the offshore are requested to forward remits for the renewal of the agreement to the Wellington Union office not later than 4 p.m. on Friday 18 October 2013. This has been an exceptionally busy period for the Offshore with an upsurge in oil exploration, both seismic and drilling and the required support fleet. With the number of ships joining the local scene, the office has been under real pressure to man all vessels. Currently most of our available labour is utilised.
www.munz.org.nz
Maritime Union of Australia National Lines and Mooring Conference Newcastle, Australia 26–27 June 2013 By Bradley Clifford Wellington Branch
This conference was a very useful opportunity with the attendance of delegates from ports around Australia and New Zealand to share their knowledge and experience in lines handling and mooring of ships. Another important intent of the conference was to establish an agreed minimum standard for lines work based on the Newcastle, New South Wales model. The Port of Newcastle, with its 4000 plus ship movements per year and a lines workforce of 48 permanents and 12 casuals, was an ideal venue and example of worker organisation in the ship mooring industry. The New Zealand delegation was Ray Fife from Bluff and me. We were warmly welcomed by Harold Dunne, delegate for the Svitzer Newcastle linesmen, and the members. Following the opening of the conference a summary of issues for consideration was compiled. This included: • Pursuing a set of terms and conditions nationally for lines work using the Newcastle programme as a template. • Anyone who handles lines should be fully trained to a nationally recognised certificate level.
www.munz.org.nz
• Use of existing 6 module shore based training package. This includes registration, enrolment forms, questionaires, attendance records, evaluations, handbooks, 80% of the course is based on safety. • Also getting rid of bad operators, retention of deckhands, safety on the job, automation, maintenance of wages and conditions, the threat of competition, limiting casualization of the workforce, • Issues around fatigue and overtime, manning scales, safety issues when launches are not used, establishment of industry database. All delegates reported on the lines and mooring work in their home ports. ITF Convenor for Australia Dean Summers reported to the conference from his viewpoint on lines and mooring work. Day Two of the conference was used to develop strategies towards achieving national standards and as to where we take the lines profession in the future. The Conference outcome was to establish a National Lines and Mooring Committee tasked with establishing minimum manning scales, a national certificate across the lines industry, development of elected and trained health and safety reps on all sites, map all lines agreements and set up national templates for the future. Also resolve to fight for permanency and seek to minimise the casualization of the lines/mooring industry. This conference was an excellent opportunity to link with our Australian comrades and examine in depth the everyday issues around lines work. I would like to thank the MUA Newcastle Branch for their hospitality and MUNZ Wellington Branch for being able to attend.
The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 23
White Ribbon campaign Women’s Conference for elimination of Rank and file report violence against women by Hector Thorpe ,MUNZ 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. The White Ribbon Campaign links into the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, originally launched by a group of men in Canada after the brutal mass shooting of 14 female students at the University of Montreal. We all have women in our lives that we love and wouldn’t want to see subjected to violence. However, one in three women will experience partner violence and on average, 14 women are killed by their partners or ex partners in New Zealand each year. With only 20% of abuse cases being reported, there are over 3,500 convictions recorded against men each year for assaults on women. 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. Our first White Ribbon Ambassador was Ruben Wiki, who along with the Breakers, the All Whites and BOP Steamers are using their public profile and support networks to spread the White Ribbon message that violence towards women is never acceptable and that men can be part of the solution to ending such violence. Here are a few simple things that MUNZ members can do to support the campaign, whether you are on a ship, on the wharf, or at home. 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. 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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By Wellington Branch member Gina Calder The welcoming from Katerina Daniels (Whaea) had such love and warmth I knew we were in for the most enjoyable two days. Introductions were made, and what an array of intelligent and beautiful women, from the far north to the deep south and even from across “the ditch.” New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly spoke on her field of expertise. She has been working for many years here in New Zealand on behalf of all women. Helen is responsible for international CTU work through the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). What a leader she is! I thought hopefully she will be our Prime Minister in New Zealand Labour-led Government in the near future. Key issues were discussed and presented, all very close to home. The following three struck a chord with me (but there were many more): 1. The Living Wage $18.40 (current minimum wage is $13.75) 2. 26 for Babies – 26 weeks paid parental leave – children need mothers and carers. 3. Family violence – families and communities are struggling financially. Everyone deserves a wage they can live on, to be able to support, house and educate our families. If families were able to do this, communities as a whole would improve. Children would be safer. Parents and carers would have better quality time with their families. Then we would have a country in better shape than it is now. We need employers (the rich) to support and look after our own first. We also heard about CEDAW which is the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. The organisation has been with the United Nations since 1981. There are 187 countries who have ratified CEDAW. It is recognised as a comprehensive Bill of Rights for women. Individuals and groups of women can complain to the CEDAW committee after all domestic remedies are exhausted. Women do have rights. Equality of opportunity equals access and results. The women who spoke shared their lives, hearts and souls. They have such passion for others who are suffering and their sheer determination is amazing. Most do this work voluntarily while holding down full-time jobs, raising children and sometimes even grandchildren, but still they laugh, love and cry. It was about women leading women, one lady said her way of keeping on track is to seek, accept, learn, trust herself and others, be resilient, purposeful and consistent. We women need to do this for future generations, as did the pioneering women who came before us. Standing together, sisters in arms – in one word – solidarity.
www.munz.org.nz
Bluff By Harry Holland There’s been a bit happening around our busy little port of late with the logs and fertiliser keeping us busy. Thank you to the ports that came and helped us out when we were in need, good to see you here guys. Southport went through some restructuring just recently in the container department which saw two men lose their jobs. This was not a ideal outcome for the men or the Union. We thank those two men for their contribution, both were good supporters of the Union. Tiwai – as we have all heard they have a power deal for the next thirty years and a out clause in 2017 if needed. What can one say except good news for the province and the contractors and staff. Long may it last as the smelter has been keeping us busy for a number of years now and it has been a good income earner for our men. There have been three men who have retired from our port over the last couple of months. Looking at the years of service these three have put in it adds up to 111 years of service. Kerry Gillan (MSC Gillan) was in the industry for 44 years and 6 months, Kevin Bryan also had 40 years in, and Ross Tangney left with 31 years service in, and out of that 31 years he served 13 years on the executive. May I take this opportunity to thank these guys for their years of loyal service to the union. We are sorry to see these kind of men leaving our industry. Ross, thank you for your work as an executive member, you were always there when needed plus. Just recently we had six men travel to Dunedin to do the MUNZ and ITF delegates training course. All our men got a lot out of the courses and enjoyed the host ports’ hospitality. Thanks to Craig Harrison and Grahame McLaren for their time in running the course, they did well. Thank you to Ben George and Port Chalmers branch, our turn next time. I have been attending the CTU meetings down here in Invercargill.
www.munz.org.nz
Bluff marked Merchant Navy Day on 3 September and one of our oldest seafaring members, Bill Slater, was there to pay his respects and share some memories. Bill is a remarkable young man at the age of 95 and he told me that he was in the Merchant Navy in both the North and South Atlantic convoys, and also the Mediterranean. He served from 1936 to 1946 with the Merchant Navy and when I asked if he was ever torpedoed or bombed he replied no, we were running too fast, but there were huge losses all around us. Bill then went onto the wharf in Bluff in 1960 to 1980 when he took retirement and settled down in Bluff. He still enjoys a beer and and good laugh and at the spritely age of 95 he is still going strong. Bill, we wish you the best for the future and hope to see you next year – By Harry Holland, MUNZ Bluff Branch President We are working very closely with the City Council on a Workers’ Memorial for the workers that have lost their lives at their work place. We have had a real good response from Mayor Tim Shadbolt and his council. There is no place to go down here on International Workers’ Day (28 April), so the Unions along with the CTU decided to take it to council and the response has been great. Watch this space. We have our Local Elections for the Branch Executive, President and Secretary happening very soon and it is good to see some young blood standing for positions this time around. I wish them all the best. Well, that is it from the Deep South, I hope all is good with all the ports around the country. In closing, I must say that there is a lot of interest in the up and coming Interport sports tournament in Whangarei 2014 and I wish the organisers all the best and hope to see you all there. Cheers from the Bluff.
Letters ITF Dear Joe, Thank you for your message to David Cockroft and myself expressing your support during this transfer from his leadership to mine. Change can sometimes be difficult in organisations like ours, but with David’s help, we are managing a smooth transition; it is always good to have the support of our affiliates. I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that I am looking forward to working with you more closely in the future to build on David’s foundations to make the ITF a great organisation for all sections and regions. We, the ITF, have a huge task ahead in these uncertain financial times. We rely on the support of affiliates like you to make us strong enough to take on the challenges in the future. I am interested to hear your ideas on the way forward, so that we can continue to win for workers. Yours fraternally, Stephen Cotton Acting General Secretary, ITF The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 25
Auckland Branch Local 13 members represented at Auckland Fairness at Work Rally, 28 August 2013
Auckland Local 13 By Russell Mayn
Ports of Auckland dispute
The Ports of Auckland dispute remains unresolved, the parties have been in facilitation for well over nine months but there is still no agreement on the rostering, contracting out and remuneration. MUNZ membership outside of Auckland can easily be forgiven for thinking the dispute has been fixed and everything is back to normal inside the Red Fence. Nothing can be further from the truth. The issues with rostering have far reaching effects for not only Maritime Workers, but for all workers that are employed on shift work throughout the country. There are a number of issues at stake: * The first being the claim from the company to move from a weekly guarantee to a monthly global hours guarantee. * The removal of set start and finish times for rostered shifts.
26 | The Maritimes | Spring 2013
* The ability for the company to compel workers to work up to sixty hours per week. * The removal of guaranteed days off in a week and guaranteed weekends off. * In summary a totally unregulated shift system that contains very few guarantees and certainty for workers engaged in shift work. In many ways not dissimilar to the chopping block that workers faced in the early 1900’s. Rosters are an extremely complex beast and unless you work them, and have done so on a long term basis, it is very easy to dismiss the harm that working shifts has on individuals and their families. There is very good science existing on how to best design rosters and how to minimise the long term health risks for shift workers. The problem is that adopting the science means that employers cannot have unfettered control on when a worker starts and finishes, and when a worker can have time off for social and family commitments. The ethos from management is that commercial competitiveness outweighs all other considerations.
Union members have rightly placed Health and Safety at the top of the list and want rosters that meet the test, not just in the short term but over the span of a working life. This does not mean that the rosters being sought by the union are unworkable, they are both workable and productive. They afford workers some form of guarantee for planned time off and allow for regular weekends off in order to maintain some semblance of a family life. The social cost that comes with working shifts is real and is definable. If we are to maintain a healthy productive workforce going into the future, this has to be recognised by management and not just paid lip service. Simply in Auckland we cannot make any progress on negotiating a fair and reasonable roster so the option that remains is to test this legally. I believe that there will be a large number of shift workers in New Zealand that with follow the MUNZ legal challenge in November closely especially those in the transport sector.
www.munz.org.nz
Rights under attack by National Government
Under the watch of the National Government numerous employment and individual rights have been attacked and undermined. I read a great article by Gordon Campbell called Nanny National which outlined the changes to Civil Liberties, increased usage of urgency provisions to rush through legislation and the amendments to the Employment Relations Act that have taken place since National has been in power. It was sobering to see the number of changes that have been made. You tend to forget just how many and just how significant they are when they are spread out over a couple of years. You can read the article on http://werewolf.co.nz/2013/08/nannynational/ This is a great article and a must read. With the passing of the GCSB bill and the proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act the National Party and its far right supporters are mounting the most significant attack on workers since the introduction of the Employment Contracts Act. If allowed to pass into law the proposed changes will stifle or reduce the wages for the majority of workers in New Zealand. Like it or not the pass on to nonunion workers following Collective Agreement negotiations is how unorganised workers receive their increases. If the duty to conclude Collective Bargaining disappears wages in New Zealand will stagnate. It will only be the strong well organised unions who maintain wage increases and this will only be achieved through industrial muscle. Bad employers will force and coerce workers onto Individual Agreements, they will champion casual precarious employment and drive wages down to increase profits. The work place in New Zealand will resemble the dark days of the Employment Contracts Act in everything but name. Whilst the political polls at the moment suggest that National will be successful at the next election, I believe the events of the past months and the attack on workers will swing voters to the left.
www.munz.org.nz
Auckland Branch Local 13 Secretary Russell Mayn, President Garry Parsloe and National Secretary Joe Fleetwood at the Local 13 stopwork meeting, Maritime Club, August 2013
Local body elections
Hopefully we will see the start of this swing in the upcoming Local Body Elections in Auckland. It is vitally important for Auckland and all other cities in New Zealand that Local bodies return to the left and valuable public assets are protected for the future. The tools to achieve this lie in our hands. Firstly we have to make sure that we are enrolled to vote in the Local Body Elections and secondly that we cast our vote and of course we have to make sure that it is for the right candidates. Unions Auckland and the Living Wage Coalition are working at forums throughout the Auckland area to canvas prospective candidates on their position regarding the Living Wage, Public Asset Protection and Council Governance. Unions Auckland will pass on the relevant information to all affiliated unions so if you want to know the score contact your union or better still get to the stopwork meeting and get it straight from the horse’s mouth.
Interport
On a totally different subject Interport Sports will be at Whangarei starting on Sunday 16 February 2014 and finishing on Thursday 20 February 2014. This is a great week of Golf, Fishing and Indoor Sports accompanied by numerous tall tales and glasses of amber liquid to soothe the throat. Entry forms will be emailed out to all Locals/Branches and the sooner they are returned, the sooner you will secure a spot in what will be a very popular Sports Tournament. To set competitors’ minds at ease there will be no testing for liquid performance enhancing supplements. “An Injury to one is An Injury to All”
The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 27
CTU President Helen Kelly received a warm welcome from MUNZ and RMTU members at Port of Lyttelton on 12 August 2013. Ms Kelly spoke to union members as part of the national campaign for Fairness At Work.
Lyttelton By Les Wells We have just received the news of Tauranga taking a half share in the Port of Timaru. I cannot say it has been received with a lot of enthusiasm, as it can only be seen as a negative effect on Lyttelton and Port Chambers. As we know, some of Tauranga’s work practices leave a lot to be desired.
C3
C3 has been busy since they picked up new contracts with steel coming back into the port plus logs, and there is a car vessel in every fortnight. It is with regret that we must report that one of our casuals had his leg broken on a steel job.
LSS
Their agreement has expired and the National Secretary is in the process of getting claims for the bargaining process. They still have scrap and fertilising vessels. LPC LPC has just commissioned four new straddles. It has also ordered two more straddles and a new container crane. This is to meet customer requirements. It has been active in recruiting more PRPs with another 10 in the last two to three months. 28 | The Maritimes | Spring 2013
There are still a lot of repairs to be started in the port and the men are still driving in the terminal with earthquake damage. The coal yard is still busy and loading vessels for Solid Energy. Seamen Our seamen are all in work and I believe that there will be an upturn in the offshore very shortly. Tunnel Control We have 10 new members from this area and things are progressing well. SGS The collective contract is coming up for negotiating next year so we will be meeting soon to get remits from the members. I have saved what I believe is the best news till last. We are finally back in our offices after nearly 3 years. It is great to have the building repaired with new bricks, a new roof and new concrete work. It is great to have somewhere to meet again and to have members conducting health and safety meetings once again. The only job that is outstanding is my new flagpole. When it arrives, I will consider the job finished.
Tauranga Mount Maunganui By Selwyn Russell Hi, well the branch seems to be in a constant mode of addressing issues that mean a lot to us all in any place of employment: security, wages, conditions, value and respect. These are all the foundations for any Union movement to stand up and be counted for. It never ceases to amaze us when employees, who have been with companies for many years, and are involved in what we deem as relative minor incidents or issues, are dragged over the coals with stringent penalties that have a deep impact on a persons’ home life. Any person who has this power must look at the relevant facts as they are, and minor incidents mean exactly that – minor. The reason for this paragraph is that there seems a mentality of if the opportunity for reassessing your numbers in the workplace is constantly there, and incidents are blown out of proportion, then the turnover with staff becomes more apparent as a business decision. The result is all that happens is that the staff feel non- valued, wages stay low, and the threat of one’s livelihood is challenged. This creates apathy, which is the recipe for accidents and incidents. www.munz.org.nz
We must be clear that safety and the continuing of ongoing contracts must not be compromised, as they result in what every employee should want: secure, safe, and ongoing employment. But pedantic issues/incidents that in days not so long ago would have resulted with verbal warnings, are now immediately considered final warnings or sackable offences. These issues should not be the reason to pounce upon the chance to restructure or put the boot in just because they can. On a lighter note we have had the National Secretary Joe Fleetwood visiting along with National President Garry Parsloe. They came to the executive meeting and stayed over for the stopwork meeting where we had a good turn out the following day. The new rules were discussed and central funding to be addressed at all meetings until National Council in late October. They were both very informative and although the banter was as humorous as ever, the points of discussion were not lost amongst it.
MUNZ members at C3 Mount Maunganui (photo by Selwyn Russell)
Around the port The Port of Tauranga terminal seems to be slowing down a bit. However the logs are still getting pumped out by all companies. General cargo is down slightly. Wilson Signed off but ongoing issues around costs are rearing their head coming into Council elections. Comvita Signed off. Ballance In negotiations. Te Manu Toroa Signed off. C3 Plenty of work lately for all and doing more logs. NZL Signed off. NZM Seems to be busy every 2 weeks out of 4.
MUNZ members helping out at the Merchant Navy Day commemoration in Tauranga, 3 September 2013 (photo by Selwyn Russell)
UCL Saw the guys here and they are up to date on the issues. www.munz.org.nz
The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 29
Discharging BBC Carolina, New Plymouth, August 2013 (photo by Shane Parker)
New Plymouth By Terry Whitehead
Hi all, well, it’s been feast or famine as usual at our Port. The saying ‘it comes in waves’ is more than appropriate as we are either full on or idle! We do try to use our downtime as best we can and we all recently underwent an excellent First Aid refresher course to keep us up to date with the latest practices and procedures. Log boats have been steady and regular but seem to come all together or one after another. Load volumes have been consistent and we have not had to do any deck cargo since our last Korea bound boat visited. Yeah! PKE (palm kernel) and fertilizer have picked in the last few weeks but the weather has played its part in slowing us down with discharging them. Hopefully with the warmer, more settled stuff coming we will get back to normal. The new hoppers have been a bit of a challenge to sort out but with the assistance of the Port company engineers we have made great progress and the truck and trailer filling rates have increased to a satisfactory speed. To say the conditions have improved is more than a mild understatement. The dust levels and irritation factor have finally become bearable as anyone who has had the pleasure of working with ‘the kernel’ will tell you. We have gone from third world to best in the world. Container volumes are very low and seem to decline every month. Only one Pacifica (Spirit of Endurance) and two rotating MSC boats are calling and it seems to be just a matter of time before it becomes uneconomical for the Port Company to continue. Tender/Supply boat work has all but dried up for us also as Programmed Marine Services has been manning them, a situation we hope to change as the new oil exploration work commences in the next period. Project cargo / Heavy Lifts – we’ve had two vessels visit, the Thorco Atlantic in early July and the BBC Carolina in early August. 30 | The Maritimes | Spring 2013
The BBC Carolina was especially challenging. The cargo consisted of a Twin gas turbine power station and required a lot of re-rigging due to use of different ships and our spreader bars. The 8 point lifts that we had to do were very intense but the smile and look of relief on our Boss’s face as they came out and landed safely was very rewarding! The ship captain and cargo agent were extremely happy with all the hard work and effort we put in completing the discharge. Branch wise, all seems to be in order and our old timers and members are being looked after well. We recently had a stop work meeting to address some of the terms and conditions of our agreement and to air any grievances that had been on our collective minds. I’m happy to report that it went extremely well with our manager more than happy to let us run through all issues and queries, adjust some grey areas and finalize other parts that otherwise seemed to be a mystery to most of us and how it all worked. Finally, I’d like to express an idea I have for our MUNZ web site, or for a new site or web page altogether. The delegate handbook and Health and Safety checklist books we have been given are great. What would be ideal is the ability to post a list of ships and their faults that we can all access to see what dangers or shortcomings some of these vessels have – bad lighting, tripping hazards, loose ladders, oil leaks in crane towers, bad seats, no wipers, creeping cranes etc. Any dangers or hazards we could warn each other of would surely be beneficial to us all. I know we can send any info to head office for addressing but if we could submit our own warning of faults or dangers online, and then be able to confirm whether any action has been carried out or not, wouldn’t that be handy? I realize we can also ring or contact other branches to do this but if the boats finish time is during graveyard hours or you are not working again for a period of time, I feel a central place to record this info could benefit us all. Until next time, take care and keep safe. All the best. Editor’s note – Thanks to Terry for the suggestion regarding a “ship hazard” website or webpage which will be passed on to the national officials for consideration. If anyone else has any thoughts on this or similar concepts, get in touch. www.munz.org.nz
Gisborne
Napier
By Dein Ferris Every month Eastland Port reports record tonnage, the majority of which is logs. James Harvey and Vaun Ferris had a meeting with our manager Dave Milner and CEO Steve Bell. One of the the topics discussed was the prospect of taking on more permanents.This would be subject to the Company retaining its current contracts. We have had a couple of permanents leave in the last year. We now have four with another early next year over the age of sixty five. Our agreement is up for renegotiation next month. We are still transferring to Wellington and Marsden Point on a regular basis.
By Bill Connelly
Whangarei By Ben Hathaway As usual the port is very busy with logs and its associated products. There seems to be an influx of stevedoring companies in the port with even a local trucking firm calling themselves stevedores. Our MUNZ stevedores have just completed the kiwifruit season and are looking forward to loading butter for the Middle East next. Our branch president John Farrow attended a meeting recently for LEGASEA, the recreational fishing lobby. He reported back that it was a very lively meeting, as fishing is the biggest sport up north. We are looking forward to the InterPort sports to be held up here next year. Go the Taniwha!
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Around and about
The tourist season is about to kick off next month and with 74 visits last year, one can only look forward to an increased number of tourist vessels visits to Napier.
C3 (Formerly Toll Logistics New Zealand Limited)
We are currently in negotiations for a new Collective Agreement to replace the one that expired on 1 June 2013.
Hawke’s Bay Stevedoring Services Limited
Their “Local Port Schedule” (Schedule “F”), which is attached to the Multi Employer Collective Agreement (MECA), expired on 30 April 2013 and we are also in negotiations with the Company to get this finalised.
Kelcold Limited
A Collective Agreement expired on 1 August 2013. We have had two meetings with the Company so far and are ever hopeful that agreement can be reached in the not too distant future. We also welcome two new members of Kelcold to the MUNZ ranks and they are Wiremu Halbert and Kallum Kara.
In Conclusion
The Bay is abuzz at the moment with Shield fever. I can remember when I transferred from Wellington in September 1968 and Hawke’s Bay held the Ranfurly Shield; let’s hope we can hold onto it for a bit longer that the Otago boys did? C’mon the Bay! Sorry about that Dunedin and Port Chalmers. Yeah right! (Editor’s note: Unfortunately for the Bay, Counties Manukau picked up the Shield shortly after.) Not many months ago the Hawke’s Bay region had little or no rain as such and was declared, a designated “Drought Region”, but that situation has long since passed and we have now has enough over the past few months to counter any lack of rain over the summer months. Hopefully enough to see us through another spectacular summer.
Seafarers Scholarships Three scholarships for students are available each year as part of the Seafarers Union Scholarship. These are available to current and ex seafaring members of the NZSU and current seafarers of MUNZ. MUNZ National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the trustees of the fund have invited all branches to contribute to the scholarships so all members and their descendants (waterfront and seafarers) may benefit. The National Council will discuss this issue in October. University One $5000 scholarship is available annually for study at a New Zealand University through Universities New Zealand – Te Pokai Tara. The regulations and application form are available from their website http:// www.universitiesnz.ac.nz/scholarships/ seafarers The closing date is 1 December. Polytechnic/Institute of Technology Two $3000 scholarships are available annually for study at a New Zealand Polytechnic or Institute of Technology. A Seafarers Scholarship ITP application form can be downloaded from the MUNZ website at http://www.munz.org.nz/about-2/ seafarers-scholarships/ Application forms should be returned to the Seafarers Scholarship Trustees, c/o Maritime Union of New Zealand, PO Box 27004, Wellington, New Zealand. Closing Date is 4 December 2013.
Interport 2014 The 2014 Interport sports tournament will be held 16 February–20 February 2014 in Whangarei. All inquiries to Russell Mayn at Local 13, mobile 021 760 886 Entries Close 30 September 2013 Payment due with $150.00 entry fee for Golf and Indoor Sports, $250.00 Fishing. Cheques Payable to: Maritime Union of New Zealand, Auckland Branch, Local 13 PO Box 1840 Shortland Street Auckland 1140 The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 31
The Shipping Corporation of New Zealand By Hector Thorpe MUNZ Local 13 Forty years ago maritime unions achieved a huge result for themselves, the labour movement and the country when a hard fought campaign resulted in the creation of the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand.
Foreign domination
In its early years, New Zealand was described as the farm that supplied Mother England with primary products. Such was the patriotism towards Great Britain, it was of no real concern that our export trade was controlled by the British ship owners in the Conference Lines companies (New Zealand Shipping Company, Port Line, Blue Star Line and Shaw Savill and Albion). However this foreign monopoly had an enormous effect on the welfare of our country’s economy. New Zealand’s own shipping company at the time, the Union Steam Ship Company, wasn’t able to keep up with these wealthier rivals and eventually lost majority control to the biggest player of them all, the British Shipping Company P&O. P&O also owned the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Federal Shipping Company once it had amalgamated to it. Port Line, Shaw Savill and Albion were owned by Furness Withy, and Blue Star Line by Vesteys, the British meat company. Although Britannia ruled the waves with those majestic looking cargo ships, veterans like my grandfather William Henry Thorpe reported fairly tough working conditions on board. What was more disheartening for them was hearing of the annual record profits. Nevertheless, seafarers from the United Kingdom were employed and from those hard times militancy grew for leadership and organisation towards better working conditions, particularly from those crew members that jumped ship and settled in New Zealand. As job opportunities lessened, maritime unions along with the Federation of Labour and the Labour Party opposition proposed the establishment of a New Zealand Shipping Line to break the dominance of the Conference Lines and to provide work for local seafarers. This formidable pro worker grouping had already enjoyed success in 1963 by forcing the National government to do a u-turn on their plans to open the coast to foreign-flagged ships and crews. Seamen’s union leaders, Les Barber and Pincher Martin, were prominent in the ten year campaign to establish a New Zealand Shipping Line and eventually leading economists, the Labour Party opposition, the Export and Shipping Council and a broader range of the public and business community agreed with having our own Shipping Line and breaking the stranglehold on our freight charges and keeping profits in New Zealand.
32 | The Maritimes | Spring 2013
Labour Government role
The 1972 election of the Norman Kirk led Labour Government ensured the establishment of a New Zealand National Shipping Line which officially became a reality the following year. However such was the influence of the Conference Lines, Shaw Savill Albion took a stake in the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand from whom the first two ships were purchased the 12,277 tonne Britannic (renamed NZ Waitangi) and the 12,228 tonne Majestic (renamed NZ Aorangi.) I became a direct beneficiary of the union’s National Shipping Line campaign when in 1976 my mother dropped me off at the bottom of the gangway of my first ship, the Finnish roll–on/roll-off vessel renamed Coastal Trader. Mark Renick was my bosun and although I had followed in my grandfather, father and older brother’s footsteps, I had previously assumed that “jobs on ships just appeared out of thin air.” It took some time for me to fully appreciate the enormous long-term doggedness and commitment of purpose displayed by past and current union members that resulted in the creation of the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand. Within ten years the Shipping Corporation was employing over 500 Kiwi officers, engineers, caterers and seamen and it had also taken delivery of the world’s largest refrigerated container ship, the New Zealand Pacific.
Right wing attack
However, political uncertainty and right wing free market ideology from both National and Labour challenged the Shipping Corporation and the trade union movement. There were also asset sales to contend with, the Conference Shipping Lines never went away and another European consortium was established, the NNZECS group (Overseas Containers of London OCL, Hapag Lloyd of West Germany, Lloyd Triestino of Italy, Nedlloyd Lines of the Netherlands and Compagnie des Messagaries Maritime of France). The New Zealand – Japan trade was mostly sewn up by Japan Line and Mitsui OSK Lines, and even competition on the Tasman trade was tough. During the 1980s Seamen’s Union President Dave Morgan maintained the momentum of trying to save our jobs from foreign cross traders by seeking support from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the International Labour Organisation, International Maritime Organisation, the United Nations Commission of Trade and Development and the OECD by seeking adoption of the United Nations endorsed resolution of the 40-40-20 concept, where 40% of a country’s export and 40% of its imports should be carried by a country’s ships, and only 20% carried by cross traders. This was in conjunction with the union’s ‘overseas trade campaign’ where they secured employment on the Shipping Corporation managed, Norwegian owned Kristian Jebsen bulk carrier Bulkness (1974-1983) alongside MUA members, in the Asia trade on the Jebsen Southland 19851988 where we secured jobs alongside German Officers and Engineers, and in the international tramp trade with Gear Bulk on the Cormorant Arrow 1985-1989.
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This was further co-ordinated with the union’s huge national ‘SCONZY’ campaign, ‘Shipping Corporation of NZ, Y not!’ led by Mike Williams and the Wellington branch members. However, in 1983 once the National Government and the NZ Meat Board gave exclusive export rights to a new cross trader, the Belgian ABC Container Line, the Shipping Corporation of NZ effectively began haemorrhaging. The NZ Wool Board and NZ Apple and Pear Board were also influenced. In 1989 the Corporation dramatically sold and renamed the NZ Pacific (Tui) and the Forum New Zealand 11 (Weka). The New Zealand Pacific crew was forcibly evicted at Tahiti and replaced with British Officers and Spanish ratings. The same tactics were attempted on the Forum New Zealand 11 at Port Moresby. However the crew refused to leave, while the crew of the New Zealand Mariner went on strike in protest over in Melbourne. By the time the ‘Tui’ arrived at Auckland from Tahiti she was met by all the leaders of the maritime unions and union leader Bill Andersen alongside past leaders of the FOL, Waterside Workers’ Union and Harbour Board Workers’ Union, all helping to keep it held up for one month alongside the Fergusson container terminal. I do clearly recall one incident when the union barrister John Haigh summoned Dave Morgan and me to his second floor office on the corner of Queen St and Custom St and said “they want your house, they are seeking costs for the delay from the union and you have also been individually named.” Dave Morgan had probably heard that type of threat before, however I was taken aback.
Seafarers’ Union Secretary Gerry Evans and Tony Santamera of the British Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ Union (RMT) met us in Germany where we resolved that those who wished to continue sailing under P&O conditions could do so. I’m not sure how many of us carried on. I expect fewer than six members as we were eventually dispersed as individual Kiwi union members sailing throughout the British manned fleet for the next few years never to meet up again. Then even the British Officers and crews lost their jobs with the sale of P&O, and I had to go with them. My last P&O job was the Botany Bay where I signed off at Genoa 26 April 1995.
Impossible Dream
The establishment of the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand was the creative reality of an impossible dream of the maritime unions. It was a gigantic accomplishment against overwhelming odds, where little old New Zealand took on the might, wealth and long distance monopoly of foreign cross traders. This forty year anniversary reminds us of a small part of our history and a significant moment of the trade union movement.
References
Jagged Seas by David Grant, Seamen’s Journal, Wikipedia, William Henry Thorpe (Seaman and Wharfie)
Sham and Facade
Chief Justice Judge Horn eventually described the actions of the Corporation as a “sham and façade” and “the surreptitious activities of the Corporation had elements of conspiracy and deceit.” That of selling the Tui and Weka to the Hong Kong firms Fuday Ltd and Eckington Ltd which was in fact a wholly owned subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation. He ordered the Shipping Corporation to re-employ the Kiwi crews. However, the Corporation reacted by reselling it, this time to British Associated Container Transport (ACT) which was owned by Cunard Ellerman and Blue Star Line. The union did get New Zealand seafarers back up the gangway albeit on reduced wages and conditions. Nevertheless, it was the first time in an international campaign against ‘flag of convenience shipping’ that the original crew on a national agreement had won a ship back. Now that you were required to do a six month tour of duty, it was relatively easy to get a job on the New Zealand Pacific. I joined her in 1992. The two long serving unionists and bosuns Phil Hughes and Barry Foster were there, Barry who had also been my bosun on the NZ Waitangi, although he was known as Barry Beasley back then. Towards the end of that year P&O signalled they were buying out Cunard Ellerman and we mobilised once again.
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The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 33
Is it correct that CAFCA has had long standing relations with the Maritime Union and previous to that the Seafarers’ Union? Yes. MUNZ/Seafarers’ Union has been a member of CAFCA since 1981. It has always been an active partnership. Personally, I have had links with what was the Seamen’s Union going back to when I first became a political activist in 1969. The first meeting that I attended of the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM) was in the Christchurch flat of Dave Morgan, when he was Lyttelton Secretary of the Union.
What’s the Roger award? Why should I nominate some corporation for a “Roger?”
The annual award for the worst transnational corporation operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The latest (2012) winner was Taejin Fisheries, with United Fisheries and the Government sharing the Accomplice Award. Nominations are currently open (until October 31) for the 2013 Roger Award. It is an empowering part of the fightback against rule by “the market” for individuals to put in a nomination listing the crimes of specific transnational corporations, as they dominate the economy, both of New Zealand and the world.
What are some of the issues that CAFCA has worked with that are of direct interest to MUNZ members? The infamous “Roger” Award, named in (dis)honour of Sir Roger Douglas
CAFCA: a longstanding connection with maritime workers The Maritime Union has often worked with community and political campaign groups to advance our goals. One long standing “friend of the Union” is CAFCA, the Christchurch based Campaign against the foreign control of Aotearoa. We include in this issue of the Maritimes a copy of the entry form they sent us for the annual Roger awards. The Maritimes asked CAFCA secretary Murray Horton to explain some more about CAFCA and the Roger Award.
What is CAFCA all about?
To expose and oppose all aspects of foreign control of Aotearoa. We oppose foreign control, irrespective of which country it involves. CAFCA is not racist. We do not oppose the people of foreign countries, only the transnational corporations (TNC’s) exploiting the people of New Zealand. We are a Leftwing organisation which stands in active solidarity with the workers, both in this country and around the world.
How long has CAFCA been going?
Since the mid 1970s. We plan to hold a 40th anniversary celebration in 2015. We hope that MUNZ will be represented at it. 34 | The Maritimes | Spring 2013
CAFCA has worked loosely with MUNZ on the successful Keep Our Port Public campaign last decade to stop the Christchurch City Council selling Lyttelton Port Company to a Hong Kong transnational corporation. The fact that the latest Roger Award was won by a foreign fishing company and its NZ partner demonstrates our active interest in what happens in NZ’s waters and ports. Going back to the 1990s, we backed the Seafarers’ Campaign stop the opening up of coastal shipping to foreign-crewed vessels and we backed its campaign to keep trans-Tasman shipping for NZ and Australian crews.
What’s Watchdog?
Foreign Control Watchdog is our publication, dating back to the 70s. Without wishing to brag, it is the Bible of the issue. Each weighty issue includes an impressive range of writers, from activists to academics and unionists (MUNZ is a regular writer for it), on a whole range of subjects. It can be read online at www.converge.org.nz/watchdog
How can you join CAFCA?
CAFCA’s annual membership costs $20 (or $15 unwaged). On the internet see http://canterbury.cyberplace.co.nz/ community/CAFCA/join.html for details of how to join.
CAFCA’s contact details are:
Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa Box 2258, Christchurch, New Zealand Email cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Website www.cafca.org.nz Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group. php?gid=117427631610589&ref=ts Blog http://www.watchblogaotearoa.blogspot.com/ Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/NZN4S
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WAR ON THE
WHARVES
2014 Plans are well underway for a trans– Tasman event with a difference. “War on the Wharves 2014” will bring together MUA and MUNZ members for a charity boxing function, to be held 8 April 2014 at South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club,Kensington, Sydney. Previously an Australian only event, MUNZ National Vice President Carl Findlay says the new expanded event has the support of both unions and has attracted considerable interest from the membership. Proceeds from the night will go to Randwick Children’s Hospital. On left, Carl Findlay (left), MUA Sydney Branch member and event organizer Angelo Dymock, and MUNZ National Secretary Joe Fleetwood size up the competition.
KEEP IT SAFE
We welcome your contributions to the Maritimes magazine. Words, photos and ideas are wanted. Contact the Editor on 021482219 or email victor.billot@munz.org.nz
ON THE JOB www.munz.org.nz
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Organizing our future
The Maritimes | Spring 2013 | 35
View from the bridge of the Kakariki, Dunedin harbour, 9 July 2013