THE Issue 53 • Autumn 2016
MARITIMES Magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand
www.munz.org.nz
ISSN 1176-3418
The Maritimes | Autumn 2016 | 1
A big year for MUNZ MUNZ will hold its national conference in November 2016. Previously, the national conference was held three yearly, but following a change in the rules, conferences are now held four yearly. The National Conference is the supreme decision making body of the Union, where the main policy decisions are debated and the course set for the years ahead. It’s a time to come together and review where we are going and where we have come from. Remits will be called for from all branches in due course and members can engage in this process through branch stop work meetings. We hope to include a greater focus on youth and women at this Conference, as we need to ensure our union is looking carefully at securing our future by bringing in a new generation of members to take us forward. So it is important we ensure that a good number of delegates and observers attend from all branches. It is also an opportunity to get a wide range of national and international guests from the labour movement to meet with our Union and provide us with that important bigger perspective on what is going on in the outside world.
“THE MARITIME UNION IS A DEMOCRATIC UNION ... MAKE SURE YOU USE YOUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT, GET INFORMED AND HAVE YOUR SAY” BY JOE FLEETWOOD NATIONAL SECRETARY .
As per usual, the regular six-monthly national meeting of the national council of the Union will be held in May 2016. In addition, the national union elections for the four national officers of the Union will be held around this period. It is important to confirm your address details are up to date with your branch as voting forms will be sent out by post. The Maritime Union is a democratic union where members, through their branches, can contribute to union policy, and through direct ballot, choose the national leadership of the Union. Make sure you use your democratic right, get informed and have your say. Maritime and industrial law changes There have been a number of important changes happening in maritime and industrial legislation recently. The new Seafarer certification process is underway and all seafarer members are advised to check on the Maritime New Zealand website about the requirements. We have included an article in this edition of the Maritimes on the process and members are advised to discuss with their branch officials if they have any concerns. The new health and safety laws come into effect in April 2016. We need to ensure we use them to their full potential, especially making the most of worker representation in the workplace. Information on the changes is included in this edition of the Maritimes. On the international front, the Maritime Labour Convention has been ratified by New Zealand and comes into force in March 2017. This brings New Zealand into line with international best practice and gives stronger powers to enforce minimum conditions on international shipping in New Zealand waters. However we still have to ensure these new powers are used by the authorities. The Maritime Union recently commented on the fact that Maritime New Zealand had not been carrying out enough ship inspections. We hope this situation will improve and are monitoring it. In addition, we continue to register our concern at the number of near misses occurring in New Zealand waters with shipping. It is only a matter of time before another serious incident occurs and we are concerned that measures such as the use of shipping lanes have not been more seriously considered.
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There have been renewed calls for greater support for New Zealand coastal shipping. Both the Maritime Union and the New Zealand Shipping Federation are pressing for the Government to acknowledge the uneven playing field that New Zealand shipping faces compared to land transport. Ports of Auckland automation MUNZ has engaged with management at POAL and is working towards achieving the best outcome for workers in terms of jobs. We are looking at a move to an automatic straddle operation in the stacking area that has the ability to stack higher. After a good discussion on vocational retraining for workers that may wish to leave the waterfront it would be fair to say our suggestion was met with a very favourable response from senior management, they assured us the company would investigate further into on-site training if possible. To be fully briefed going forward, we are working with the company to minimise redundancies to ensure the skills of the long serving workers are retained and passed onto the next generation. No one likes change, more so Maritime workers as we have been on the cutting edge of technology all our working lives: hand loading now self loading, break bulk packed now containerisation, tuggers and forklifts now 3 and 4 high stacking straddles, single boom cranes and swinging derricks to massive container cranes, and on and on.
IN THIS ISSUE National Secretary’s Update page 2 National President’s Comment page 4 News page 5 Changes in seafarer certification page 7 Health and safety update page 8 MUA Conference page 12 TPPA campaign page 16 Flag of Convenience page 19 Interport 2016 page 20 Pacifica Shipping page 24 Branch Roundups page 28 Branch contacts page 31 Letters page 33 Recipes page 39 MARITIME UNION BADGES NICKEL PLATED WITH 3 ENAMEL INFILLS AND RESIN
We were part of those changes as we will be part of Automation through Negotiation, and that will only happen if we are at the negotiating table. Zero hours contracts ended It’s good to acknowledge that our movement is still making progress. New laws have been passed with the support of most of Parliament that have removed the ability of employers to use zero hour contracts. The Labour Party played an active role in negotiating these changes along with other opposition parties. The groundswell of support that built to remove zero hour contracts came from the Union movement, in particular the UNITE Union which ran a high profile campaign in the fast food sector and engaged with the young workers in this industry. A good win for the movement. MUA conference
CONTACT THE MARITIME UNION 26mm
National Office Telephone: 04 3850 792 Fax: 04 3848 766 Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141 National Secretary: Joe Fleetwood Direct dial: 04 8017614 Mobile: 021 364649 Email: joe.fleetwood@munz.org.nz
National President: Carl Findlay A good delegation from our Union attended the Maritime Union of Australia JOB: 34984 v2.0 Direct dial: 09 3034652 Mobile: 021 760887 Conference in February 2016. It was especially good to see younger members Email: carl.findlay@munz.org.nz DEPTH: 2mm 1 PIN (9mm) AND CLUTCH ELECTROPLATING: NICKEL there, getting a sense of the unity thePLATE international maritimeFITTING: workers movement can call on. PLEASE ENSURE ALL DETAILS ARE CORRECT BEFORE GIVING APPROVAL TO PROCEED TO PRODUCTION Assistant National Secretary: Ray Fife We watch with interest the progress with the proposed amalgamation of the Direct dial: 03 2128189 Mobile: 0274 475317 MUA with the CFMEU in Australia. Email: ray.fife@munz.org.nz Local body elections
RESIN
It’s important that all members ensure they enrolled to vote in the 2016 local body elections this year.
National Vice President: Selwyn Russell Direct dial: 07 5755 668 Mobile: 0274 782308 Email: selwyn.russell@munz.org.nz
We need to ensure that working class candidates get elected to councils to promote worker friendly policies and oppose privatization. Branches need to identify the candidates which support our cause and offer them our support.
ITF Inspector: Grahame McLaren Direct dial: 04 8017613 Mobile: 021 2921782 Email: mclaren_grahame@itf.org.uk
Interport
Communications Officer: Victor Billot Mobile: 021 482219 Email: victor.billot@munz.org.nz
Finally a note of congratulations to the Wellington Branch organizers of the Interport sports tournament 2016. A good turnout and the usual good Wellington weather ensured a successful event, which is part of a long tradition for the Union. Thanks to all who participated.
PROCESS BLUE
National Office administrator: Ramesh Pathmanathan Email: ramesh@munz.org.nz
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BLUE 2
T
he date 20 December 2015 signalled the last page in the final chapter of the bitter dispute between Local 13 and Ports of Auckland. This was the last date for severance payments to members who were due to retire and others who did not wish to stay employed under the new terms and conditions at the Auckland terminal. In my view this was a significant date as all members left at the terminal either want to be there or had no choice as they had nothing better on offer. Either way, our energy and focus needs to go into delegate training, health and safety training and rebuilding and with help from MUNZ National office, ITF, MUA and Local 13 officials that is exactly what we are doing. Another significant date is 16 February 2016, as 12 months will have passed since then branch President Garry Parsloe signed off our collective agreement with POAL. 12 months on we are still ironing out issues around rostering and skill allocation but health and safety issues, rostering issues and money (in that order) will always be at the forefront of worksite debate with both employer and work mates. It certainly makes for interesting times.
“OUR ENERGY AND FOCUS NEEDS TO GO INTO DELEGATE TRAINING, HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND REBUILDING” BY CARL FINDLAY NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Labour party leader Andrew Little must have one of the toughest jobs in the New Zealand. John Key has support amongst much of the New Zealand public, and has a corporate owned media ready to spread his spin at a drop of a hat. So it has been aggravating to see current senior Labour spokespeople (and ex Labour party leaders) who can only think about their own careers, grandstanding against the Labour Party position on the TPPA. MUNZ has strongly opposed the TPPA and other so called “free trade” deals which are less about trade and more about locking in corporate control of the economy. That is why there is an international movement against these “free trade” deals, with maritime workers in Australia, the United States and Asia also actively campaigning for fair trade and workers’ rights. Someone needs to remind Labour Party MPs who are going against the wishes of the party that when they behave like that not only do they aid the National government, they also add fuel to the media fire. Worst of all, they are leaving workers without a voice and unrepresented at the highest level, and that’s not on. In my view Andrew Little has done a good job to date and deserves a fair crack at the real enemy without the interference of others who have had their opportunity to lead, and should now support the movement that provides them with a platform. Proud to be Union.
THE MARITIMES MAGAZINE
Published quarterly by the Maritime Union of New Zealand. Authorized by Joe Fleetwood, 220 Willis Street, Wellington. ISSN 1176-3418 Editor: Victor Billot Mobile: 021 482219 Email: victor.billot@munz.org.nz Mail: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141, New Zealand Deadline for Winter 2016 issue: 12 May 2016
MARITIME UNION ONLINE
Website www.munz.org.nz Facebook www.facebook.com/maritime.union Twitter www.twitter.com/maritimeunion Flickr www.flickr.com/maritimeunion YouTube www.youtube.com/maritimeunionnz
FRONT COVER PHOTO
The long serving Cook Strait inter island ferry Arahura was recently decommissioned and was sent to the ship breakers in India in 2015. The Arahura came into service in 1983. Pictured here are “A” crew making their farewells.
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CONCERN WITH REDUCTION IN SHIP INSPECTIONS The Maritime Union of New Zealand is concerned about the reduction in monitoring of international shipping by Maritime New Zealand, the Government agency responsible for ensuring a “safe, secure and clean” maritime environment. Less than half of “Priority 1” vessels (49%) coming into New Zealand were inspected in the 2014/2015 year, according to Maritime New Zealand’s annual report. That is well beneath the target of 70% inspections for the year, and the 82% of inspections achieved in the 2013/2014 year. Maritime Union of New Zealand national secretary Joe Fleetwood says the monitoring and investigation of compliance by international shipping was a key role of the agency. While the rollout of the new Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) was an understandable focus for resources, as outlined in the report, this could not get in the way of the basic responsibilities of the agency.
If there was a resourcing problem, then that needed to be dealt with by appropriate resourcing by the Government, not simply set aside, he says. According to Maritime New Zealand, a greater emphasis is being placed on “engaging” with international partners to lift the quality of shipping and reduce the level of risk before ships enter New Zealand waters. Mr Fleetwood says the Maritime Union did not agree with this emphasis. While the Union supported working with international partners and strengthening international maritime agreements, the ability of New Zealand to engage with “Flag of Convenience” shipping registries such as Liberia or Panama was limited or possibly non-existent in a practical sense. Stringent inspections as part of Port State Control should remain the bedrock of maritime compliance, he says. The deregulated nature of the global shipping industry meant a stick was required as well as carrots to ensure standards were maintained. Mr Fleetwood says the lessons of light handed regulation in issues of safety and compliance in recent New Zealand industrial history could be summed up by the Pike River Mine disaster and the Rena grounding. In addition, the problems in the fishing industry over many years went back to New Zealand allowing industry to regulate itself with disastrous results as the lowest common denominator set the standard of “global worst practice.” Mr Fleetwood says there are frequent and regular issues with international shipping in New Zealand waters, and the Union together with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), often had to step in to resolve issues on behalf of foreign crews. The Maritime Union would be seeking assurances that inspections of vessels by Maritime New Zealand would be a top priority.
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ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS UNION YOUTH OFFICIALLY HISTORY
Josh Greer of Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch was recently elected as MUNZ national youth rep, a position previously held by Byron Cumming of Local 13. Josh is a cargo handler who has worked for Port Otago for almost seven years. He says he got involved in MUNZ because he understands the protection the Union provides working for good terms and conditions, and he felt obligated to help out fellow members to maintain those good terms and conditions.
On 10 March 2016 the Government, along with its support parties, and those in opposition, voted in agreement to end the ability of employers to use corrosive zero hour contracts. “As a society we are changing. Modern work means treating working people with more dignity and respect. The fact that this legislation has received cross party support is testament to a new vision; a better working life for all kiwis,” said CTU President Richard Wagstaff. “This better law would never have happened without those that lead the forward charge in articulating an alternative.” Special acknowledgement is made to Unite Union members who have, for a number of years, told their very personal stories about what it means to have no security of hours or income from week to week. “Thousands and thousands of working people participated in creating a sea change. They wrote letters, lobbied politicians, attended rallies, talked to their friends and families. Today’s win is their win, it is a win for us all,” Wagstaff said.
Some of the workplace issues Josh thinks are relevant for young people at the moment are the long term impact yellow unions will have, and how younger workers could be distracted by how they present themselves. He says it is important to understand what it means to be a member of our Union with its proud history. One way to do this is for each branch to invest time and resources in education, so younger members understand what we have is thanks to those that have given so much for our gain. He says that younger and newer members should attend their local branch stopwork meetings, be involved and have their say. “Be a part of the solution going forward.” Josh says he thinks some of the biggest issues that are affecting younger workers today are the cost of living, coupled with the fact there’s not a lot more good jobs out there, which puts pressure on employees. Understanding health and safety, and the implications it has on workers when something goes wrong, is also important. The recent battle of Talleys meatworkers with their employer was a warning sign about how aggressive employers can act. All MUNZ branches are in the process of identifying and electing youth delegates at a branch level. Josh is happy to talk to any younger MUNZ members about their ideas or concerns, his email is joshuapaulgreer@yahoo.co.nz
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BY HECTOR THORPE PRESIDENT LOCAL 13 SeaCert changes meant that some certificates were deemed as equivalent to a new certificate and some certificates have to transition to a new certificate. At the time of writing certain requirements from Maritime New Zealand were not confirmed. Please find below my best endeavour to interpret the transition requirements. Members will be notified ASAP once final confirmation is confirmed from Maritime New Zealand. AB ticket
Old IR ticket Your old IR is deemed to be the same as holding both DWR and EWR. They are regarded as deemed until they expire or, if they currently have no expiry date they will now expire on 31 March 2019. You can “transition” to the new higher level IR Certificate if you want to do this as long as you meet a specific set of requirements. The higher spec New IR Cert allows you to serve as Able Seafarer Deck and Able Seafarer Engine. From 1 January 2017 you must have completed a training course (either a full course or a refresher) within the last 5 years for the ancillary certificates below and will need to attend a refresher course every 5 years :
You are required to “transition” to the new Able Seafarer Deck certificate by 31/12/2016. Maritime New Zealand are currently looking at any changes that could be made to make the transition as easy and as quick as possible and will inform us if they are able to make any changes as soon as they can; this is likely to be in the next month or so.
• Personal survival techniques
Once we know what they are we will publicise. You can still transition now if you want to. All seafarers who want to transition to Able Seafarer Deck are required to have STCW basic training and PISC.
Some Shipping Companies may require certification training over and above those levels.
From 1 Jan 2017 you must have completed a training course (either a full course or a refresher) within the last 5 years for the ancillary certificates below and will need to attend a refresher course every 5 years :
• Fire fighting If you transition to the new IR certificate you will need to do refresher training in PISC not personal survival techniques.
Catering: Cook NZ vessels only require a cook on-board if the vessel is over 1000GT and operates in the unlimited area.
• Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boat other than Fast Rescue Boats (PISC)
Maritime NZ requires the cook to have a certificate in Hospitality (Cookery) to level 3 or equivalent, STCW Basic training and PISC.
• Fire fighting
Shipping companies may require levels above that.
Some Shipping Companies may require certification training over and above those levels.
Catering: Steward
Deck Watch Rating and Engine Watch Rating These are regarded as ‘deemed certificates’ until they expire or, if they currently have no expiry date they will now expire on 31 March 2019.
Maritime NZ have no requirements. Shipping companies may require levels above that. Maritime Schools
From 1 January 2017 you must have completed a training course (either a full course or a refresher) within the last 5 years for the ancillary certificates below and will need to attend a refresher course every 5 years :
Maritime Schools have begun to post course dates for ancillary courses and refresher courses for basic STCW, Fire Fighting, PISC etc.
• Personal survival techniques
More information on website maritimenz.govt.nz
• Fire fighting Some Shipping Companies may require certification training over and above those levels.
CHANGES
IN SEAFARER CERTIFICATION www.munz.org.nz
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ANOTHER SEAFARER DEATH IN PORT OF TAURANGA A Chinese deckhand fell 10 metres overboard while securing logs on a Flag of Convenience log ship while it was berthed in the Port of Tauranga on Saturday 27 February 2016. The seafarer fell into the ocean and his body did not resurface. It was found by navy divers three hours after he disappeared around 9.15am. Pacific Basin Shipping (HK) Ltd, operators of the Hong Kong flagged bulk carrier MV Mount Hikurangi, said the man fell overboard between the pier and the ship while helping to secure the vessel’s deck cargo of logs.
HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE CORONER FINDING ON TAURANGA GRADER DEATH
Inquiries would be made into the death by police and WorkSafe.
Fulton Hogan contractor Walter Crosa was crushed to death, an inquest in Rotorua has found.
President of the Mount Maunganui/Tauranga branch of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, Peter Harvey, told news media that for a long time there had been a trend at the Port of Tauranga of serious injuries and deaths of workers.
A fellow worker had his back to Crosa on the morning of August 15, 2011, when the death occurred. The reversing beeper of a grader could not be heard over the din of other machines, the colleague said.
“It seems to be happening every couple of years there is a serious injury or death in the port, whether it is on the wharf itself or on a ship attached to the wharf.
Crosa was setting string lines across a large area of sandy ground to be levelled at the port when he stumbled backwards two or three metres into the path of the reversing grader, the inquest heard.
“Without putting any blame on anybody, it has happened again. It’s very sad.”
The coroner’s findings, released in January 2016, said Crosa had “severe crush injuries he sustained with associated blood loss”.
A Port of Tauranga spokesman said they were aware of the incident but referred all inquiries to police and said they did not have anyone specifically involved in the search.
Crosa was part of a large group of Fulton Hogan contractors working on a large outdoor site at the port being prepared as a container storage area. “The area in which Mr Crosa was at the time of the accident was in a bay that was ‘live’ and they were not supposed to be stringing in that area. “But it is the court’s view that he would not be there if he did not think he was supposed to be. The coroner had no recommendations to make following the inquest, but noted radios and ear pieces would be used in similar circumstances in the future. Witnesses said there was a lack of eye contact between Crosa and the unnamed grader driver.
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SERIOUS LEG INJURY AT GISBORNE An Eastland Port worker on board the harbour dredge Pukunui suffered a leg injury on 9 February 2016 when a 200kg steel ring fell on him in an accident in the vessel’s engine room. “The 59-year-old suffered a broken leg,” a St John spokeswoman said. The injured man was admitted to Gisborne Hospital. Eastland Group chief executive Matt Todd said the three-person dredge crew were working in the engine room. “Two members of the crew were moving the large steel ring and it appears the third person tripped and ended up with the 200kg ring on his leg, which was broken in two places.”
CRUISE LINER INVESTIGATED
RANDOM DRUG TESTING FOR AVIATION, MARITIME SECTORS It will soon become mandatory for those in commercial aviation and maritime sectors to undergo random drug testing, following a government announcement in February 2016. Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says by 2017, operators will need drug and alcohol management plans which must include testing.
Damage has been found to the hull of the Azamara Quest, a luxury cruise ship that is being investigated following an incident in the Marlborough Sounds.
Each operator's plan will need to be approved by either the Civil Aviation Authority or Maritime New Zealand.
The ship, owned by Azamara Club Cruises, entered Tory Channel on 27 January 2016 with a Port Marlborough pilot on board.
The move is being welcomed by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission which says alcohol, cannabis and other performance-impairing substances has been a recurring theme in a number of their inquiries.
Investigations by Maritime New Zealand and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) were launched after reports the ship came into contact with Wheki Rock, immediately west of the entrance to Okukari Bay, the route the Azamara Quest took entering Tory Channel, in the Marlborough Sounds. A Maritime New Zealand spokesman said police divers from the Wellington Maritime Unit had found paint on the side of the rock. The investigation also found damage to the hull of the ship, he said. The pilot who was guiding the ship had been suspended, pending further information about the incident. A passenger said the incident occurred about 9.20am and the ship docked at Waitohi Wharf, in Picton, about 11am. The ship, which was carrying 652 passengers and 394 crew members at the time, departed Picton about 7pm on the same day for Napier.
FULLERS ADMITS HEALTH AND SAFETY BREACH
Mr Foss says the random testing will "further strengthen the culture of zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use in our transport sector". The directors of Civil Aviation and Maritime New Zealand will also be given the power to authorise testing of safety sensitive staff. The Maritime Union is concerned that fatigue is not being treated with the same level of attention as drug and alcohol use in the new safety regime.
BUT WHY IS FATIGUE NOT GETTING THE SAME ATTENTION? Maritime Union National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the Union supports a drug and alcohol free workplace.
Auckland ferry operator Fullers has pleaded guilty to health and safety charges in February 2016.
The main concern about any new drug and alcohol regulations would be to ensure testing was not abused to discriminate or victimise against individuals.
Maritime New Zealand took the company to court over its ferry Kea colliding with Devonport Wharf.
Privacy protection was also important.
The 17 February 2015 crash left several passengers injured.
The major concern of the union, that it had pointed out in its submissions on the new regulations, was the issue of fatigue.
More than 60 passengers and crew were aboard the Kea when it slammed into the wharf.
Mr Fleetwood says fatigue management is just as important as drug and alcohol testing in providing a safe workplace.
Fullers faced a single charge in the Auckland District Court of breaching section 50 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
“Our concern is there appears to be a lack of interest in dealing with fatigue, perhaps because this would mean hard questions being asked about work practices of some employers.”
Maritime New Zealand said the company failed to comply with the duty in section 15 of the act to “take all practicable steps to ensure that no action or inaction of any employee while at work harmed any other person”. The company faces a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is on 8 April.
“Long, irregular and night shifts have all been identified as health and safety risks, which are compounded by casualization and insecure jobs.” The Maritime Union also questioned why a heavily subsidised transport mode, road transport, was not being exposed to the same level of scrutiny and regulations, with the random testing of truck drivers. The health and safety dangers of drug and alcohol use, and fatigue, on the nation’s highways were probably greater than other modes due to the number of operators and vehicles in use on public roads.
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NEW HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT REQUIRES INCREASED WORKER ENGAGEMENT
• Engage with workers on health and safety matters, and
The new Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) that came into force on 4 April 2016 includes new provisions for worker participation.
How workers participate will vary depending on the type of operation and the people involved. The duty to engage extends to any worker who is directly affected by the operation even if they are not employees - for example a self-employed electrician working on a ship must also be included in health and safety matters.
“The Act is intended to ensure there is one system for managing workplace health and safety across the whole of New Zealand. Workers across all sectors play a key role,” says Maritime NZ General Manager of Maritime Standards, Sharyn Forsyth. “The core objective of the HSWA is to manage risks to health and safety and ensure everyone gets home from work unharmed,” says Sharyn. The new Act makes important distinctions between workers, the business controlling the workplace and senior leaders. The business in control of a workplace is known as a ‘PCBU’ – or the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking. The PCBU is not necessarily a ‘person’. Typically the PCBU is a business such as a maritime operator or port company. If the workplace is controlled by a self-employed person or a government agency then they would be the PCBU. Under the new law, senior leaders in the business, known as ‘officers’, must make sure that the PCBU meets health and safety requirements. An officer is usually a company director. In a bigger enterprise officers are likely to be the chief executive and members of the board.
• Have effective, on-going ways for workers to participate in improving health and safety in their operation. The requirement to engage with workers is broad and workers must have reasonable and on-going opportunities to improve health and safety. “When workers actively engage and everyone in the workplace shares their knowledge and experience, better decisions are made and the workplace is healthier and safer,” says Sharyn. Workers’ views on health and safety must be taken into account. Suggestions don’t have to be adopted but the business should explain when suggestions are not taken up.
“The goal is to get an approach that works, rather than to impose any particular system,” Sharyn says. The Act and health and safety regulations set out requirements for health and safety representatives, work groups and health and safety committees. The Act also gives Maritime NZ responsibilities well beyond taking action when something goes wrong. “As the regulator, we’re here to help businesses and workers understand how to meet their obligations under the new Act. We’re training 35 Maritime NZ staff to become warranted health and safety inspectors. Initially these inspectors will focus on helping people know what they need to do, we won’t be wielding a big compliance stick,” says Sharyn. Initial guidance on the new requirements under the HSWA has been published on the Maritime New Zealand website. More guidance will follow by 30 June.
The new Act also requires that workers be provided opportunities to be involved in health and safety management and developing safety procedures and systems. Businesses must:
The above article was contributed by Maritime New Zealand.
MARITIME UNION WELCOMES RATIFICATION OF MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION
The Maritime Labour Convention will enter into force for New Zealand on 9 March 2017.
The Maritime Union of New Zealand has welcomed the ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention by the New Zealand Government.
Mr Fleetwood says that ships that have problems with crews often had multiple issues including safety and seaworthiness.
The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) is an international treaty adopted by the International Labour Organisation and lays out minimum rights for seafarers and promotes good employment practices across the shipping industry.
“The deregulated approach to this and other aspects of the maritime industry has been recognised as a failure, so now the move is back towards proper oversight of the industry by Government.”
The MLC will apply to about 890 foreign commercial cargo and cruise ships visiting New Zealand annually, and about 30 New Zealand ships. The MLC covers commercial vessels of 200 gross tonnage or more, that operate outside the in-shore limits. It does not apply to fishing vessels. It has been described as a “seafarers’ bill of rights.” Maritime Union National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the Union has been advocating New Zealand become a signatory to the MLC for some time. The Maritime Union is an affiliate of the ITF which works to ensure the safety and wellbeing of seafarers globally.
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GET ON BOARD WITH THE NEW
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT The new Health and Safety at Work Act comes into effect on 4 April 2016. Maritime New Zealand is helping maritime operators understand and meet the new requirements. FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.maritimenz.govt.nz/hswa
www.worksafe.govt.nz
for guidance on the new requirements and how they are being integrated with MOSS.
for general information on the new Health and Safety at Work Act.
NoÂŻ te rere moana Aotearoa
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Sam Ioane, Sharon O’Neill and Joe Fleetwood representing MUNZ
MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE 12 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2016
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INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS HIGHLIGHT VALUE OF SOLIDARITY ACROSS BORDERS More than 100 international guests attended the MUA Quadrennial Conference in Queensland from 7–11 February, and a handful of them spoke on a panel about International co-operation and solidarity. MUA WA Branch Assistant Secretary Danny Cain opened the session and welcomed the panel. “We will do whatever it takes to improve lives of working people around the world,” Cain said. “You have seen the importance of international solidarity in our disputes and campaigns. We have to build the ITF, and build the ITF youth movement. We need to be able to look back in five years and be able to say that we did everything we could.” Marc Loridan, Federal Secretary Ports of Belgium in the BTB told delegates it was an honour to attend the Conference on behalf of the 10,000 dockworkers in Belgium. “Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe. In all Belgian ports, only recognised port workers can perform port work in recognised port areas, and there is a union hiring hall. However, this law has been under attack from the European Commission for the past 12 years through Ports Package 1 and 2, which were defeated,” Loridan said. “Now they are taking us on one by one, starting with Spain. They say our hiring hall is a closed shop, and they want to take us to the European Court of Justice. They want to destroy our working conditions and our strong unions.” Loridan explained that the union is facing three bad options and it is likely there will be industrial action in the near future. “We will need your solidarity again,” he told Conference delegates. Severino Almeida, General Secretary of CONTTMAF in Brazil described the struggle to save national shipping fleets in Brazil and elsewhere in the world. “The Brazilian national fleet has been under attack for 20 years but we have survived and I believe you can save the merchant navy in Australia. MUA here to stay!” Ken Riley led the Charleston dockworkers through the many attacks and struggles of the Charleston 5. He is now vice-president of the International Longshore Association, which represents dockworkers on the east coast of the USA and Canada. He brought greetings from the ILA and its President Harold Daggett, and from Jordi Aragunde, General Coordinator of the International Dockworkers’ Council. “The reason there is a war on maritime workers is because they are the most strategic and powerful group of workers in the world, and are the biggest obstacle for globe-trotting capitalists looking for a profit,” he said. “We stand on the side of justice, and that is why we are at war. This war will last all our lives. We are talking in military terms. This is not a game. This is real and serious.” But Riley said it was not good enough just to survive this war, but that we needed to get stronger. International solidarity should be a top priority for the labour movement.
Riley encouraged delegates, saying that “when we fight we win. When we win and win decisively, we have fewer fights because our strength will deter them from attacking us. We must fight while we have an army. MUA, I am happy that you are here to stay!” Joe Fleetwood, National Secretary of the Maritime Union of New Zealand gave a sobering address to delegates on the attacks on workers in New Zealand. “Globally, employers are on an offensive because they believe they can beat us,” he said. “In New Zealand, employers are bringing in zero-hour contracts, copied from the UK. Many workers are subject to a 90-day trial period, where they can work for 89 days, but can then be dismissed with no rights. Over the course of a year, 4 people can be in one job, for 90 days each, and this all comes off the unemployment statistics. “Some young people even have a 3-hour notice period in their contracts. Outrageously, the outcome of the Pike River mine disaster inquiry may water down health and safety legislation. 29 people died in that disaster, and there have still been no convictions of the mine operators. “In New Zealand we have a Tory government now going for its fourth term. Maritime New Zealand is the safety regulator, but they refuse to regulate unless employers tick off on it. Safe work codes are not signed off unless the employers approve of them. As a result, there is no mention of a hatchman anywhere in safety regulations, only in our union agreements. “We are all fighting the same struggle,” Fleetwood concluded, “and we must fight it together”. Willie Adams, Secretary Treasurer of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union brought greetings on behalf of 40,000 working men and women of ILWU in Canada, the US and Panama. He discussed the meaning of solidarity. “If you are not leading you are just walking,” Adams said. “Solidarity means telling your friends they are not doing quite enough. Solidarity means going to Fremantle for a week to campaign for Adrian Evans’ election campaign. I donated $1000 because I wanted to see my friends step up.” “Solidarity is Harry Bridges,” continued Adams, talking about the longstanding Secretary of the ILWU. “In the 1930s, when the ILWU was an all-white union, the bosses started to send black workers from the south to scab. Harry Bridges went to the black churches and promised to integrate the union if they did not scab. He got called all kinds of names by people in the union who did not want to see that happen. But he did it, and he made our union into the great union it is today. Unions are for every worker, no matter what their colour or sexual orientation is.”
“The reason there is a war on maritime workers is because they are the most strategic and powerful group of workers in the world, and are the biggest obstacle for globe-trotting capitalists looking for a profit.”
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MARITIME INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION “A FORCE FOR CHANGE” Maritime unions of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and East Timor formally joined forces last year to establish the Maritime International Federation (MIF) to forge closer ties within our region. The new federation is already shaping up as a powerful campaigning organisation, with projects underway in East Timor and Papua New Guinea. MIF Executive Officer Mick Doleman told the conference about the fight for workers’ rights and justice. “The objectives of the unions in this federation are to work together, within the ITF,” Doleman said. “We all have something to add, from occupational health and safety to political and industrial militancy. It’s about helping unions those countries in the region that need our help and support.” National Secretary of the Maritime Union of New Zealand Joe Fleetwood said the Maritime International Federation is about organising across borders. “Helping, supporting, bringing like-minded unions together as equals. We’ve got a big work plan underway”, Mr Fleetwood said. “With the global shift of corporate capital implementing an anti-working class agenda, an attack on workers, the Maritime International Federation is important, very important. “The Pacific is the ocean of the future and we must organise.” National Secretary of the Papua New Guinea Maritime and Transport Union Reg McAllister said his country deals with many of the same maritime and resource giants as Australia. “We’re all experiencing the same industrial struggles, the same industrial disputes. So we came together,” McAllister said. Hitting the ground running MIF is already making its presence felt, with Doleman outlining the federation’s campaign to protect jobs and safety on the waterfront in PNG. “The PNG Government has called for tenders for the major ports in Port Moresby and Lae,” he said. “Existing port operator Swires, which has good union relationships, has been locked out of the tender process. The new tendering companies include DP World and the ICTSI.
“The Maritime Federation is meeting with ICTSI right now to seek a commitment about dignity, certainty and jobs for the workers in these ports.” Fighting for better safety Doleman outlined a detailed plan to establish better safety, access to training and jobs, and a stronger union voice for maritime workers in East Timor. “The maritime union in Timor Leste has had five members tragically killed in a 12 month period. Occupational health and safety will be a critical area of work for the Maritime International Federation,” he said. Doleman said MIF has also raised thousands of dollars to assist unions in Vanuatu with building and reconstruction in the wake of Cyclone Pam in 2015. Union growth a top priority McAllister reported on the massive growth that has been achieved by his union in Papua New Guinea. “During the last 5 years, organising has been our priority. With assistance from MIF, the MUA, Mick Doleman and Shannon O’Keeffe, we have doubled our union membership in Papua New Guinea.” The Timorese maritime union SMET-TL reported on their plans to grow the maritime union in Timor Leste. Maritime and Transport Union of East Timor (SMET-TL) National Secretary Paulino Da Costa, addressed delegates through his interpreter, Luzinha Gomes. “Our vision is to build union membership and density so our members can achieve better conditions of employment and security,” they said. Without unions these workers have no protection ITF Australia Campaign Director Shannon O’Keeffe, paid tribute to the PNG union. “In Papua New Guinea, two organisers have generated 2,000 new members two years,” O’Keeffe said. “Without a union contract, in these developing countries, workers have no protection. The oil companies come in, strip the wealth and resources, and the workers, who were promised a once in a generation opportunity to lift out of poverty, are left with nothing.” “The Union organising matters. Those workers want what we want. Those workers want to enjoy, and have the right to enjoy, the benefits of resource development in their countries. Just as we do. “In 2020 our region will produce more than anywhere else in the world. It’s a fight for justice and a fight for power.” The conference also acknowledged the work of APHEDA, the overseas arm of Australian Unions, which has been instrumental in building strong fighting unions in East Timor and other countries in the region.
“ICTSI, a Philippines-based outfit, are also setting up an automated container terminal in Melbourne. They have a questionable record of human rights abuses in the ports they operate around the world.
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IDC AND ITF MEET TO DEFEND DOCKERS’ RIGHTS Representatives of the International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC) and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) met in Barcelona, Spain, in February to explore how to work together to defend dockers’ jobs and rights. The one-day meeting agreed the following statement of intent: Representatives of the International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC) and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) meeting in Barcelona today 5th February 2016 have agreed to find ways of working more closely together with the aim of strengthening solidarity between dockworkers globally and supporting each other in fighting back against attacks on their working terms and conditions, and job security. These common challenges faced by our members are the result of significant changes in maritime transport, and some employers and governments pursuing a neo-liberal agenda characterised by union busting including through automation, the casualisation of jobs and deregulation of labour standards and protections. Collective agreements are increasingly being violated and we are concerned over health and safety conditions in ports, as well as attempts to limit dockworkers’ ability to exercise their trade union rights. We have established a joint committee to develop a strategy and plan actions urgently to tackle the key challenges and issues faced by dockworkers globally. In particular, our organisations will cooperate on: Campaigning and solidarity support to secure and maintain dockworkers’ rights internationally, especially in the global terminal operating companies (GNTs); and Managing the impact of automation, securing lashing work and respect for dockworkers’ jurisdiction. We anticipate an active and fruitful collaboration between our two organisations to build dockworkers’ power around the world. Paddy Crumlin, ITF president and chair of its dockers’ section, commented: “This has been a landmark event. Both organisations are now best placed to promote and defend the rights of international dockworkers.” Jordi Aragunde, IDC general coordinator, added: “Today’s meeting was designed to further our joint efforts to aid and represent dockers worldwide. It is a pleasure to see it result in such concrete outcomes.”
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Thousands of protesters marched against the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in Auckland on 4 February 2016.
If the US or Japan don’t ratify, it doesn’t go ahead (and the TPPA is looking shaky in the US, with substantial opposition from many political figures).
Estimates ranged from 15,000 to 30 000 people who marched down Queen Street in one of the biggest protests in a decade.
Even if they all do ratify it won’t come into force until early 2018, after the next general election.
During the day, activists undertook rolling blockades of traffic across the city centre around the Sky City casino where the TPPA was signed.
Unions internationally are fighting against the TPPA.
Supporting demonstrations were held around New Zealand. Prime Minister John Key was hosting a symbolic signing of the so-called “free trade” deal with politicians from around the Pacific region. The irony of holding the signing ceremony at a casino was apparently lost on the Government. The 12 countries involved include New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Mexico, Japan, Peru, Canada, Vietnam, United States, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia.
International Transport Workers’ Federation president Paddy Crumlin said: “We, like our fellow global unions and everyone who protested in Auckland today, are clear about one thing: the TPPA – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – offers nothing to workers in the Asia-Pacific region except job insecurity and exclusion.” “TPPA has been characterised by secrecy and lack of consultation. Unless resisted, as, thankfully, unions and other organisations have done and continue to do, it threatens to usher in a free trade free-for-all where anything goes – except for protections for ordinary citizens.”
However, the anti-TPP campaign group It’s Our Future notes that the deal doesn’t come into force until it is ratified, not only by New Zealand, but by enough of the eleven other countries to add up to 85% of their combined national income (GNP).
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TPPA – WHAT’S AT STAKE? The government talks about the TPPA as if it is a trade agreement, whereas most of the TPPA is actually about limiting governments’ powers to regulate. New Zealand got a bad deal on sectors like dairy and beef and has locked in continuing tariffs and quotas for years to come. The trade benefits have been vastly over-stated and are tiny. By contrast, the costs are high and the risks far higher.
Copyright laws. Copyright laws will be extended from 50 years to 70 years and more harshly enforced, restricting internet freedom and access to information, costing libraries, schools, and businesses, and stifling innovation. Privatization locked in. Privatisation of state assets would be effectively locked in, and the formation of new state enterprises (as we did with Kiwibank) would effectively be ruled out.
We would lose sovereignty.
Threat of legal action by multinational corporates.
Foreign corporations would have the rights to take the New Zealand government to an unaccountable international tribunal and claim compensation if new laws or regulations reduce the value of their investments (under Investor State Dispute Settlement ISDS). The judgements of the international tribunal would take precedence over our Parliament and our courts.
Regulation of business would be undermined by the threat of foreign investor challenges. The threat of legal cases, and the high costs of defending cases, would make government reluctant to regulate.
Environmental protection would be undermined. Around two thirds of the 696 ISDS cases under similar agreements have challenged environmental laws, such as mining, fracking , oil and gas production, toxic chemicals, waste dumping and renewable energy. Te Tiriti would be undermined. The TPPA creates new constraints on the ways that the State can honour te Tiriti obligations, affecting Māori tino rangitiratanga, culture, indigenous knowledge, biodiversity and opportunities for economic development. Medicines will become more expensive. Big pharmaceutical companies gain more influence over PHARMAC, and restrictions are placed on generic medicines.
Local business undermined. Local business would lose out in competition with large multinationals, that are already able to get away with competing unfairly and avoiding paying taxes. The TPPA makes it harder for governments to support local business development and the local economy. Workers lose out. Economic analysis predicts that the TPPA would mean 5000 fewer jobs in New Zealand and increased inequality. ISDS cases have been used to challenge social protection and the minimum wage. Financial stability would be threatened. Foreign banks, insurance companies and money traders will gain more powers to challenge laws designed to prevent another financial crisis. Government would not be allowed to tackle property speculation and the housing bubble through a ban on foreigners purchasing residential homes.
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Maritime Union and Meat Workers Union members together at a recent rally against the TPPA in Gisborne
TALLEYS LOCKOUT LIFTED BY COURT Members of the New Zealand Meat Workers Union began returning to work at the Talleys/AFFCO Wairoa plant on 22 February following a court decision ordering the company to end the 5-month lockout of union workers. The court also determined that fixed-term seasonal workers must be regarded as employees during the off-season and found the company guilty of employing replacement workers during a lockout. Talleys has been ordered to provisionally reinstate two workplace union leaders at the AFFCO Rangiuru plant who were dismissed last year on bogus charges. In a separate case involving the Talleys-owned South Pacific Meats, the company was fined NZD 144,000 for refusing access to the Meat Workers Union. A court decision is scheduled for March 5 in the government case against AFFCO initiated last year following a serious accident at the plant. However Talleys continues to use the legal system to pursue its anti-union agenda and resist collective bargaining; a number of company appeals are still pending. Continued pressure will be needed to ensure that Talleys/AFFCO respects the rights of its employees, recognizes the union, negotiates in good faith and addresses the serious health and safety issues in its operations.
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE NOT ENOUGH An increase the minimum wage in February 2016 from $14.75 to $15.25 per hour “is treading water” CTU President Richard Wagstaff said. “Increasing the minimum wage by $0.50 to $15.25 an hour, or $610 a week (which is what a 40 hour week gross earnings would be), is simply not enough to sustain a family on.” “The minimum wage should be enough to take your family to the doctor, buy nutritious groceries, replace your washing machine if it breaks down. The minimum wage should be a wage you can live on, not just exist on,” The CTU is calling on employers to pay working people a minimum of a “living wage” of $19.80 per hour.
WIN FOR HOME SUPPORT WORKERS Home support workers will get better recognition for the crucial work they do for some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people, with legislation and a settlement package finally signed off. The Home and Community Support Settlement Act confirms workers will be paid for the time they spend travelling between clients and receive compensation for mileage they accrue. In addition, a settlement agreement between unions, the Ministry of Health, DHBs and providers will provide for a transition to guaranteed working hours, training and wages based on qualifications. The new arrangements will affect 23,000 people working in the sector nearly all of them are women, and almost half are on the minimum wage.
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BY HECTOR THORPE PRESIDENT LOCAL 13 With the flag referendum upon us there are often reports of loyalty. Loyalty to one’s country and flag, or patriotism as love of one’s country, as opposed to the nationalist view of our loveable country as different and superior to others. At sea flags have always played a critical role, not only as a symbol of pride but also as a means of communication and regulation. For the corporate juggernaut that is the global ship owner, loyalty and patriotism for their country and flag is often dismissed for the financial rewards of using some other country’s flag throughout their fleet. This corporate rort is known as using a “flag of convenience”.
FLAG of
CONVENIENCE
Ship-owners from developed countries register their fleet to underdeveloped countries and fly the flag of that country (flag State) as it is termed, which enables the global ship owner to operate under the laws of that flag state, as these flag states set their own regulatory control of vessels, including the inspecting and certifying the ships’ equipment and crew and issuing safety and pollution prevention documents. Thus overheads can be reduced and profits can be gained by selecting a flag state that has deficient regulations in these areas. A consequence of this strategy is often directly attributed to maritime disasters, environmental pollution and human hardship. ‘Flag of convenience’ flag states also allows immunity from prosecution as some ship owners create corporate structures that are often multi-layered, spread across numerous jurisdictions, and make the beneficial owner almost impenetrable to law enforcement and taxation officials. If the flag state cannot identify the ship-owner, they can’t hold the owner civilly or criminally responsible for a ship's actions. This was evident with New Zealand’s latest maritime incident, the container vessel Rena which was German built, American Bureau classed, under Ciel Ship management South Africa, owned by unknown persons in Daina Shipping, a subsidiary of Greek Shipping Company Costamare Inc, chartered by the Mediterranean Shipping Company, unknown manning agency, crewed by Philippine nationals, registered under a ‘flag of convenience’ Monrovia, Liberia and the largest polluter of the territorial waters of New Zealand. It’s a legal mine field sorting out culpability, so it’s no wonder Prime Minister John Key stated the New Zealand taxpayer will face the $20 million short fall between the cost of the Rena accident and settlement. “As liability was limited we’ve done a lot better than the legal advice we had which was that if we pursued the matter through the courts it would take a long time and cost a lot of money and not necessarily be very successful.” Nevertheless ‘flag of convenience’ ship owners continue to enjoy an open arms policy from the National Government who allow them huge financial advantages over Kiwi shipping companies that choose to do the right thing and register their ships in New Zealand, fly the New Zealand Red Ensign and employ New Zealanders. However, we all look on in dismay as the National Party exclusively exempt global ship owners from the emissions trading scheme on purchases of bunker fuel, exempt them from income tax, exempt them from GST on supplies taken on by ships and exempt them from New Zealand labour laws including the right to employ foreign crews at wages and salaries significantly below New Zealand levels. The National Party have done nothing but weaken the position of New Zealand shipping while supporting the flag of convenience global ship operators, so I certainly will not be supporting the John Key change the flag referendum. Celebrating Merchant Navy Day raising the Red Ensign over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo by Bruce Jarvis.
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INTERPORT SPORTS TOURNAMENT WELLINGTON 7–11 FEBRUARY 2016 BY RAY FIFE ASSISTANT NATIONAL SECRETARY The annual Interport Sports Tournament for 2016 was held for the first time since 1991 by the Wellington Branch. Competitors from throughout the New Zealand got together for four days of golf, held at the Wainuiomata Golf Club, and fishing out of Wellington Harbour. Wellington could not have asked for better weather as the fisherman were able to fish for the four days, and golfers enjoyed four days of fine weather with very little wind. Those of us from out of port noted this was very unusual while the Wellingtonians said it was the norm. The Sunday evening was where everyone got together for a few drinks and a meal, catch up and to tell a few stories amongst old friends. The bar manager made mention later in the week that it was the clubs biggest bar takings for quite some time. Always knew that maritime workers could put a few away. The golf was played in hot dry testing conditions, but played in good spirits with the boring golfers playing down the middle, while those of us who played our shots into the rough did so because we wanted to look at the local flora and fauna. All competitors got together again on Wednesday evening for a meal at the Hutt Valley Workings Men’s Club where the main trophy for golf, the KereKere Canoe, was presented to the winning team from New Plymouth. Going by reports, the fisherman struggled for a couple of days but on the last day enjoyed a bountiful supply of fish. All in all it was a very good tournament and thanks must go to the small committee from the Wellington Branch who put up their hands to organise the event. Special mention must go to Wellington Waterfront Branch President John Whiting and committee members Jason Newman and Pat Pikari who ran a well organised tournament. It was a hassle free week for all visitors. We also need to acknowledge the two van drivers Phil Awarangi and Kevin Taylor who went out their way to pick up and drop off all out of port competitors at the drop of a hat. See you all in Port Chalmers February 2017.
2016 INTERPORT A SUCCESS BY JOHN WHITING WELLINGTON BRANCH ASSISTANT SECRETARY Wellington has had the pleasure of hosting the 2016 interport sports. The last tournament held in wellington was in 1991 – a long time between drinks. Over recent years Wellington entrants have enjoyed port hospitality all around the coast, and they determined that we should step up and once again host this event. The Tournament began on Sunday 7 February with a practice round at the Wainuiomata golf club, followed by a welcome for all 70 entrants in both golf and fishing, plus family members. The catering was a magnificent hangi meal prepared and served up by our hard-working duo of Pat Pikari and Jason Newman, assisted by a volunteer team of our members from the port workforce. The weather was fine with minimal wind for all four days. Some visitors were commenting on the heat, and the course was very dry and presented a challenge to the golfers. Nonetheless, many favourable comments were made regarding the hosting of the Wainui club. Their bar income received a substantial boost as thirsts were quenched. Our fishing entrants were able to enjoy Cook Strait fishing over all of the four days arranged. They sailed with local fishing charterer, Pete Lamb, on his 62 foot vessel “Daniel 11” from Seaview marina, close by the Hutt river mouth The fishing was a bit patchy early in the week, but by Thursday they were catching plenty. Many of our visitors stayed at the Hutt Top 10 Holiday Park in Gracefield and others arranged their own accommodation in both the Hutt valley, and Wellington City. Our hard-working shuttle drivers, Phil Awarangi and Kevin Taylor, did a sterling job, ferrying our visitors from airport, to and from golf and fishing venues, to social venues, and finally to airport when homeward bound. The tournament dinner for all entrants and partners was held on the Wednesday evening at the Petone Workingmen’s Club. Around 100 guests enjoyed a quality meal right up to the Petone Club’s high standards. Our lady visitors enjoyed a bus trip to the Wairarapa town of Martinborough, where they quality-checked the produce of local vineyards. Acknowledgements and thanks go to: Russell Mayn (Auckland), Troy St. John (Lyttelton), Graeme Waugh (Port Chalmers), and Ray Fife (Bluff) for the interport experience and knowledge they willingly offered. This was invaluable to us. Centreport (Wellington port company) for sponsorship. Strait Shipping for assistance with Cook Strait travel. MUNZ Wellington Secretary, Mike Clark, and National Secretary, Joe Fleetwood, for their continuing support and encouragement. Our hard-working organisers, Pat Pikari and Jason Newman (golf), and Bradley Clifford (fishing). Also the local port company workforce for support of fund-raising via raffles that took place over the previous year. And of course all our visitors, who made it possible. Our object in taking on the organising of this tournament was to have our visitors going home having enjoyed a week comparable with the best of other Interprets they had attended. We believe that this was achieved.
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FISHING PICTURES
FISHING www.munz.org.nz
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GOLF
Representing Bluff: (front left to right) – T. Morgan, T. Osborne, P. Waddel, R. Fife. Back row – N. Irwin, W. Isiah and C. Ryan
New Plymouth winners of the KereKere Canoe (left to right): D. Manu, N. Rowlands, C. Sole, G. Hindley, D. Williams and R. Whitmore. 22 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2016
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INTERPORT GOLF RESULTS Interport Cup 54 Hole Nett
Norm Fisher 1 Day Gross
1st Troy St Johns
Brett Souter
2nd Graeme Waugh Chapman Plate Interport Cup 54 Hole Agg. Nett 1st Neville Rowlands
Bill Brown Memorial Net 54 Hole 1st Terry Osborne 2nd Graeme Donaldson
FISHING RESULTS BY RAY MUNCE Wellington, boy, did they turn the weather on. 23 fisherman, for 4 days aboard Daniel with skipper Pete Lamb. Day 1 Off to a great start, we hooked onto two bluenose first drop, then as many hoki as we could catch after lunch. We went and tried our luck on blue cod and snapper – not so good on the snapper on this trip just a lot of small cod.
Tareha Cup 4 Ball
Day 1 ended with Richard Flintoff of Lyttelton with a 4kg bluenose, and Hank Elliott of Wellington with a 5kg bass.
Rare Cup 54 Hole Gross
1st James Presland
Day 2
1st Cyril McWilliams
2nd Chris Ryan
Same again – a little slow today. Steve Conroy of Auckland got the largest blue cod at 1.75kg.
2nd Kevin Laredo
2nd Fraser Adams Flett Black Memorial 54 Hole Par 1st Stephen Seckold 2nd Arthur Peke George Waller 54 Hole STB/FD 1st Graham Hindley 2nd Terry Hermanson Crockett & Lewis 18 Hole STB/ FD 1st Merv Hill 2nd Danny Manu Visitors 54 Hole Nett Arty Pitcher Cup 1st James Presland 2nd Chris Sole Visitors 54 Hole Gross Ray Dobson Trophy
Wallington Trophy 1st Fraser Adams 2nd Russell Mayn Most Honest Golfer Mike Myers Credit Union Cup Ladies 1st Carol Donaldson 2nd Jenette Hill Visitors STB/FD any day Graeme Butler Kerekere Canoe 36 Hole 3 Gross and 3 Nett 1st New Plymouth (N Rowlands, D Manu, R Whitmore, G Hindley, D Williams, C Sole) 2nd Port Chalmers (G Waugh, C McWilliams, F Adams, G Butler, G Donaldson, T Osborne)
Day 3 Back into the bluenose. Gary Gallagher of Port Chalmers got the largest bluenose at 6.70kg, also Lenny Hannah of Port Chalmers getting the tallest tale prize for kicking Ray Munce’s large blue cod over the side. This was watched by all his team who were standing behind him. Day 4 To start with our numbers were down to 14 and we went for bluenose catching 34 with Rex Philpot unable to catch any – but did he make tip for it on blue cod when we shifted, only to be bettered by Ray Munce of Auckland and Clive Giles of Port Chalmers. We were unable to separate these two large cod and it became a draw at 2.55kg so they had to share first prize. Clive Hinton of Auckland caught the largest bluenose at 6.89kg. On day three we gave Phil Simonsen of Port Chalmers a prize for sleeping all day, no fishing at all and when it came time to leave the boat he asked where his share of fish was and he got some. We hope you will be better when we come down to Port Chalmers next year. If Port Chalmers had not caught so much fish and all of Auckland were on deck they had a good chance of taking out the overall prize. Results are as follows: Wallace Investments Shield: Port Chalmers/Dunedin
1st Ross Whitmore
Largest Fish: Clive Hinton, Auckland
2nd Darren Johnson
Unluckiest fisherman: Rex Philpot, Bluff Longest Tale Award: Lenny Hannah, Port Chalmers (Results courtesy of the Port News)
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Spirit of Canterbury foreground, Hapag Lloyd background. Photographer Chris Mackey (nzshipmarine.com)
PACIFICA SHIPPING OVER THE YEARS
BY HECTOR THORPE PRESIDENT LOCAL 13 The Pacifica Dream Back in the early 1980’s Christchurch businessman Brook McKenzie announced plans to commence a new shipping service between Lyttelton and Wellington. This was welcomed by the locals and industry, however it was greeted with a degree of scepticism because the Union Steam Ship Company (USSCo) had abandoned that service a decade prior. Nevertheless Brook McKenzie’s shipping company Pacifica, became a reality in 1983 with the inaugural voyage of the aptly named Spirit of Free Enterprise (affectionately known as Sofe). However, rumours of financial instability continued as half the shares in the new company were held by Norwegian ship-owner Andresen Finne & Co, and the ship was chartered from her owners, Balmoral Shipping of Panama – she was Panamanian flagged if I recall. Fly by your pants Initially it was very much a fly by your pants type of operation. As an example when a couple of suits arrived on board, the Captain calls the bosun Brian Prisk and myself, being the crew’s delegate, into his cabin to listen to their promotional presentation. They wanted the crew to paint the letters R on one funnel to represent Robbie the Captain and P on the other funnel to represent the other skipper, the theory being as the Sofe is sailing in and out of Wellington harbour this curiosity of a different letter on each funnel would invite inquisitive inquiries from “little old ladies” which would generate promotional coverage for the company.
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With that Brian jumps to his feet and yells, “What the **** do you think this is, Play School!” and we stormed out. Later, second mate Rod Grout was offered a shore based office position and under his leadership established Pacifica Shipping as a leading industry player. USSCo & Skeggs buy Pacifica USSCo started buying into Pacifica via their subsidiary South Sea Shipping, eventually securing a majority shareholding the following year. They were to on sell those shares to Clifford Skeggs the Director of (USSCo) via his company Skeggs Food and he registered the company as Pacifica Shipping (1985). Brooke McKenzie may have only had the company for one year, nevertheless, he had started a positive venture that we are thankful for. He later went on to terrorise NZ Rail by introducing the high speed ‘Top Cat’ on the Cook Strait which forced NZ Rail to counter with their own fast catamaran alternatives, the Lynx series. Jobs for all Shipping companies need supporting capital and Skeggs Pacifica Shipping (1985) was able to supply this as they went on to create employment for seafarers, engineers, catering, stevedores and shore base related industries in logistics, dry dock repair yards, maritime schools, electronic servicing companies, wire companies, rope companies, paint companies, Port companies, heavy machinery companies, shipping agents, ship charterers and many other businesses who benefited over a thirty year period.
SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE (2000-2003) Pacifica Shipping directly attribute the effects of the National Government’s open coast policy of deregulation for the withdrawal of the Spirit of Enterprise. She had been working on the East Coast Auckland-Lyttelton-Dunedin service, with an alternating weekly service on the West Coast calling at the Port of Onehunga. Also making intermittent calls to the Port of Timaru chiefly for breakbulk goods such as grain and other special cargo assignments. SPIRIT OF ENDURANCE (2008-2015) The Endurance renewed the weekly East Coast container feeder route linking the ports of Auckland-Lyttelton-Dunedin-Tauranga however, she is another casualty of the Government’s Open to All Foreign Shipping Companies Policy. China Navigation purchased Pacifica Shipping in early 2014 and gave the Captain and crew notice ‘you’re gone before Christmas 2015’ which was later extended to 5 January 2016. SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE (2012-2014) The Spirit of Independence was introduced in late 2012 to replace the Spirit of Res. on the scheduled weekly service of Auckland-Lyttelton-Nelson and New Plymouth. SPIRIT OF CANTERBURY (2015-current) “The Spirit of Canterbury would provide greater capacity for customers including reefer cargo and replace the Spirit of Independence whose charter ended in December 2014,” says Steven Chapman, CEO of Pacifica. The Spirit of Canterbury will offer a dedicated weekly service from Auckland to Lyttelton to Nelson to Tauranga and back to Auckland.
The Fleet
A huge mistake
SPIRIT OF FREE ENTERPRISE (1983-1985) The (Sofe) serviced the Lyttelton-Wellington route and as she was not part of the assets taken over by Clifford Skeggs when he acquired a majority holding in 1985, she was sold to a Fijian interest and renamed Sofe!
The main benefactor of the Pacifica Dream it could be argued was the Government through employment opportunities and taxes gathered through that entrepreneurial endeavour. However, against all advice from independent shipping industry reviews, the National Government opened coastal shipping to foreign operators.
SPIRIT OF COMPETITION (1985-2007) The Competition continued the Lyttelton-Wellington service for a whopping 23 years. Cargoes included transformers weighing 108 tonnes for Benmore, animals from Orana Wildlife Park to North Island zoos, large earthmoving equipment for the mining industry and hospital gases on a regular basis. SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (1987-2000) When the Shipping Corporation of NZ’s vessel Coastal Trader exited the Lyttelton-Auckland service the Freedom took up that trade for the next four years before being replaced by the Spirit of Progress and teaming up with the Spirit of Competition on the daily service between Lyttelton-Wellington. SPIRIT OF PROGRESS (1991-1998) Pacifica’s first container vessel to serve Auckland, a weekly service LytteltonNelson-Auckland via Onehunga. A Lo/Lo Ro/Ro vessel with two 25-tonne ship cranes and a stern ramp. SPIRIT OF VISION (1995-2003) The Vision was mostly on a weekly two-ship service with sister ship Spirit of Progress between Lyttelton-Nelson-Onehunga with one vessel ex-Onehunga on Friday each week and one vessel ex-Onehunga on Tuesday of each week. SPIRIT OF RESOLUTION (1999-2012) This long serving vessel worked with Spirit of Progress on the LytteltonNelson-Onehunga service. Then for a couple of years with Spirit of Enterprise on an East Coast-West Coast Auckland’s two ports with Nelson-TaurangaLyttelton service, with periodic links to the Port of Otago. From 2012 she worked the weekly Lyttelton-Nelson-New Plymouth-Onehunga run.
This gives global shipping operators a huge financial advantage over Kiwi companies like Pacifica. They are exempted from the emissions trading scheme on purchases of bunker fuel, exempt from income tax, exempt from GST on supplies taken on by ships and exempt from NZ labour laws, giving them the right to employ foreign crews at wages significantly below New Zealand levels. Call for action MUNZ National Secretary Joe Fleetwood recently stated “despite New Zealand being a maritime nation, there is no leadership from central government ... The ongoing problems with flag-of-convenience shipping in New Zealand waters and international crews and vessels in both fishing and freight needs to be taken seriously by the Government.” He said other transport modes were subsidised by the taxpayer but New Zealand shipping competed against foreign shipping where wages and conditions of crew members were far below New Zealand standards. “We have one of the largest maritime economic zones in the world with vast resources that can be used in the future for our common benefit, but there is no plan, no strategy and no vision from the Government for our coastal shipping sector.” The NZ Shipping Federation (NZSF) has also made a plea for cross-party consensus to get coastal shipping back on track. One of the “biggest impediments” to coastal ship operations was the lack of Government interest, because it has “no skin in the game” – with no port ownership but 100% ownership of both rail and road infrastructure. References: Pacifica Shipping, NZ Ship Marine, Swire, MUNZ, NZSF
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CNCO BUYS PACIFICA BY HECTOR THORPE PRESIDENT LOCAL 13
When New Zealand shipping company Pacifica Shipping was recently acquired by the China Navigation Company (CNCo) it rang alarm bells throughout the industry. CNCo is a well-known foreign shipping company, however, they’re certainly not known for employing crews from the developed nations they trade with, preferring instead to source cheap labour crews from elsewhere. David Skeggs, Managing Director of Skeggs, the Kiwi owners of Pacifica Shipping, had no concerns about the sale saying he is “delighted to see CNCo purchase the business as they respect the history of Pacifica and its contribution to coastal shipping in New Zealand over the last 28 years.” CEO of Pacifica Shipping, Steve Chapman, (possibly more guarded) said, “that the management and all the sea and shore based staff are committed to working closely with CNCo to ensure that the company continues to play an important role in the important development of coastal shipping as a key ingredient of the transport and logistics mix in New Zealand.”
A novel by Booker Prize winner author Kazuo Ishiguro linking Swire to the drug trade has been on the UK bestseller list since it was published describing Swire as making vast profits in the lead-up to World War II by importing opium through Shanghai and turning millions into addicts. “Swire had nothing to do with the opium trade,” said David Gledhill, a former director of Swire. “It is those rascally Dents and Jardines who did that.” Indeed Swire’s fulsome corporate governance statement says the company’s early success was in the Chinese “beancake” trade, a fertiliser. Swire Group Swire is now a diversified conglomerate, a privately owned company started by John Swire & Sons from Liverpool. Swire Group’s core businesses today are grouped into Property, Aviation, Beverages, Agribusiness & Food Chain, Trading and Industrial, and Marine Services. Marine services If we disregard Swire’s five other core groups and concentrate on Marine Services, it is broken down into seventeen divisions. China Navigation Company (CNCo) is the Swire brand name covering their Liner shipping fleet, their Bulk multipurpose shipping fleet, their Bulk Logistics supply chain and tugs and barges, plus Consort Express Lines. CNCo interests in the New Zealand markets hinged on its shareholding in Tasman Asia Line and Tasman Orient Line. They had consolidated Bank Line, Chief Container Service, Crocodile Line, Indotrans, Indotrans Pacific and New Guinea Pacific Line, Orient Line and Greater Bali Hai then acquired Pacifica Shipping in 2014.
Brodie Stevens, Country Manager of CNCo, said the acquisition was an “exciting opportunity” for Pacifica Shipping to continue to invest in and to contribute to the sustainable development of the New Zealand maritime sector working closely with valued customers and partners in the region.
Offshore Support Services Ltd has one of the largest offshore energy support fleets in the world, comprising more than 88 vessels includes Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels, Platform Supply Vessels, Ice-breaking Supply Vessels, Anchor Handling Tugs and Seismic Survey Vessels. SPO’s salvage operations, offshore construction support.
He added that “CNCo is committed to being a leading provider of sustainable shipping solutions and our customers’ partner of choice.”
Altus Oil and Gas Services Ltd supplies management support of oil and gas industry, to vessel engineering and supply chain management.
As feared
Offshore Solutions Ltd – members will be familiar with Swire’s joint venture company, in the offshore marine and logistics out of New Plymouth.
As feared all those weasel words proved to be empty, as no sooner had the first charter come up for renewal on Pacifica’s vessel Spirit of Endurance than they laid off the Kiwi crews at Christmas 2015. Under CNCo ownership Pacifica Shipping is now a one ship operation for the first time in 30 years. Who is China Navigation Company (CNCo)? To answer that, you must first go back to the parent company Swire at the time of the Opium Wars. The opium traders steered Britain into the Opium Wars forcing China to accept opium imports. In losing the war, the Chinese ended up with what they called ‘the unequal treaty’ requiring them to grant indemnity to Britain, the opening of five treaty ports, and the cession of Hong Kong Island. Under the protection of British administration the elite British Trading Houses prospered – Matheson, Keswick, Swire, Dent, Inchcape, Baring and Rothschild. The Keswicks and William Sutherland Matheson formed Jardine Matheson (Swire’s legendary business rival) and families launched the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC) directly after the second Opium War. These families have dominated the board of directors at HSBC since that time. In December 2012, HSBC was fined $1.9 billion for violating four U.S. laws, having allegedly laundered at least $881 million in drugs proceeds through the U.S. financial system for international cartels, for processing an additional $660 million for banks in US sanctioned countries, failing to monitor more than $670 billion in wire transfers, and more than $9.4 billion in purchases of physical dollars from its Mexico unit.
Pacific Towing (PNG) Ltd – Swire subsidiary, Steamships Trading Company, harbour towing, offshore support and salvage operations. Swire Pacific Offshore Ltd – Ice-class Platform Supply Vessels in Sakhalin, in the Russian Far East. Swire Blue Ocean A/S is a provider to the offshore wind energy market. Swire Emergency Response Service Ltd – offshore oil industry, consultancy, training and response from Dubai, Cameroon and Singapore. Swire Oilfield Service Ltd – transportation equipment to the offshore oil industry. Headquartered in Aberdeen, operates throughout the North Sea, West African nations, the USA, Australia, Singapore, Brazil, India and the Russian Far East, Asia and the Arabian Gulf. Swire Salvage Ltd – salvage, wreck removal and emergency towage services to ship owning and insurance interest. Swire Seabed A/S – state-of-the-art multipurpose support vessel and high specification subsea remotely operated vehicles. Ship Repair and Engineering – Swire’s Hong Kong United Dockyards and mechanical and electrical engineering and steelwork. Marine Engineering Service Ltd – Swire subsidiary, Steamships Trading Company, provides ship repair services at Port Moresby in PNG.
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Shipping Agencies and Stevedoring agencies – for its liner shipping trades at six ports in OZ, four ports in NZ and four ports in China, as well as in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and New Caledonia. Tradco Shipping Ltd and Guadalcanal Travel Services Ltd provide shipping and travel agency services respectively in the Solomon Islands. Quadrant Pacific Ltd – a 67% shareholding in Quadrant Pacific, shipping agency in NZ. Third party agency to the forestry and oil industries, husbandry services for Swire Shipping in NZ. Freight forwarding and brokering services in Tauranga. Pacific Agencies (Fiji) Ltd, Cubic Transport Ltd, a non-vessel operating common carrier for domestic shipping in NZ, is a jointly-controlled associate of Quadrant Pacific. Joint Venture Port Services Steamships Trading division of stevedoring companies. Manning Swire Pacific Ship Management Ltd provides crews to Swire’s CNCo multipurpose and bulk fleet, Swire Pacific Offshore, and for the seagoing and harbour tugs owned by HUD Group. Headquartered in Singapore, with a register of over 2,000 officers and ratings from around the world. SPSM has a managing shareholding in Anscor Swire Ship Management, a joint venture based in Manila that provides Filipino crews also. Reference: Swire Group, CNCo, Pacifica Shipping, Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Dean Henderson (Left Hook), South China Morning Post.
NEW OIL TANKERS BY HECTOR THORPE South Korea SSP Shipbuilding Company runs three mid-sized shipyards, at Tongyeong, Sacheon and Goseong in South Gyeongsang Province, and has a research and development centre in Busan, which is 40 minutes away by car from the company’s headquarters at the Sacheon shipyard. Some members will be familiar with the rough and ready open stalls of Texas Street, Busan, where you can get a cold beer and cheap shopping. As one of the world’s leading builders of Medium Range tankers SSP Shipbuilding have not been immune from the down turn in orders dating back to South Korea’s adoption of the USA’s economic sanctions against Iran. At that time the Korean yards had 27 vessel orders with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. Management at SSP Shipbuilding yard have been under a debt workout scheme for the past couple of years, and had appealed to its creditors to allow it to receive new orders to ensure it has a strong chance for revival. So it was timely for all concerned that two new ECO Medium Range (MR) tanker orders are under construction for Unicorn Shipping to replace the Torea and from ASP Ship Management Group to replace the aging Kakariki. Other updates include the hull impressed currents, tail shaft monitoring, and five year underwater hull coatings systems which will enable the vessels to have an IWS Notation (In-water Survey) permitting them to be surveyed afloat and thus avoid the need for dry-docking surveys which are normally required every five years. The Torea replacement namesake Matuku is expected to begin operations in a couple of months, and the second ship replacement in mid-2017.
MUNZ Video Production Check out the new MUNZ Local 13 video covering MUA 2016 conference youth and women sections at https://youtu.be/tmlvOQeqOcQ or visit munz.org.nz Produced by Local 13 member True Saamu.
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The Maritimes | Autumn 2016 | 27
The port has purchased a further two Terex mobile harbour cranes and also commissioned an off-port empty container depot. The port handled for the first time ever in excess of a quarter of a million TEU’s (twenty-foot equivalent units), up 16.5% on last year’s record. Other investments and developments taken on by the Napier Port have included rearming the breakwater, a thorough review of the main container berth (No.5) wharf, dredging and the opening of the Longburn Intermodal Freight Hub in Palmerston North, a joint venture between Napier Port, Ports of Auckland and Manawatu logistics provider Icepak. Longburn is a key initiative to help Napier Port from out of the region. C3 Formerly Toll Logistics New Zealand Limited The new Collective Agreement, which was ratified in July, last year is now in place and expires on 9 August 2016. Hawke’s Bay Stevedoring Services Limited (HBSS) The consolidated agreement has been ratified by our members in the employ of HBSS and expires on the 30 August 2016. Kelcold Limited The new agreement is in place until 2018, with minimal increases on the anniversary of the signing of the agreement on 18 May 2015. The agreement expires on 18 May 2018. NZL Containers Limited Their contract of employment expired on 1 February 2016 and we are currently in negotiations for a new collective agreement, hopefully to cover Auckland, Tauranga and Napier. One of the new mobile cranes purchased by Port of Napier
Annual General Meeting and a Delayed Xmas Function
NAPIER
The Branch finally held an Annual General Meeting for last year and a belated Christmas function for the membership on Thursday 26 January 2016.
BY BILL CONNELLY Around and about At this time of the year the tourist vessels are coming and going on a regular basis. The Port is now gearing up for the busy fruit season in Hawke’s Bay that will shortly be upon us. The pip fruit industry is predicting a 4% increase in apple volumes in 2016, with this rising to 17% in 2017. Nationally 332,000 tonnes were exported in 2015. The Napier Port is continuing to spend up large on various improvements to the Port as it serves as an essential supply chain to get all of the Bay’s exports to market quickly, cost-effectively and in the best condition.
This was held at the Napier Sailing Club and a great time was has by all who attended. I have included a number of photos from the Christmas function and as you can see everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Art Deco Week Art Deco week is on 17-21 February and the city will be inundated with visitors soaking up all the atmosphere that Art Deco week has to offer. This will be the 28th time that Napier as hosted this iconic event with a week of festivities and vintage cars galore. If you have not visited Napier during Art Deco week then you do not know what you are missing, make a note on your calendar for 2017 and come join us in the Bay for a great week. Of course you will have to dress appropriately in 1930’s attire to look the part.
Over the past financial year, the Port has invested $34 million in processes and infrastructure to help build terminal capacity and ensure it can handle both the region’s growing cargo base and the 13 international container lines calling at Napier Port.
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BRANCH AND LOCAL CONTACTS Whangarei Secretary: Ben Hathaway Home: (09) 4343152 President: John Farrow Mobile: 021 855121 Address: PO Box 397, Whangarei 0140 Email: ben.hathaway@munz.org.nz Auckland Local 13 Phone: (09) 3034 652 Fax: (09) 3096 851 Secretary: Russell Mayn Mobile: 021 760 886 Email: russell.mayn@munz.org.nz Asst. Secretary: Craig Harrison Mobile: 027 422 5238 Email: craig.harrison@munz.org.nz President: Hector Thorpe Mobile: 027 777 7162 Email: hector.thorpe@munz.org.nz Vice President: Carl Findlay Mobile: 021 760 887 Email: carl.findlay@munz.org.nz Address: PO Box 2645, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140 Mount Maunganui Phone: (07) 5755 668 Fax: (07) 5759 043 President: Peter Harvey Mobile: 027 5501 566 Secretary: Selwyn Russell Mobile: 0274 782308 Email: selwyn.russell@munz.org.nz Address: PO Box 5121, Mt. Maunganui 3150 New Plymouth Secretary: Terry Whitehead Mobile: 027 468 0050 Phone/Fax: (06) 751 5514 Address: PO Box 6084, New Plymouth Email: terry.whitehead@munz.org.nz Napier Secretary: Bill Connelly Mobile: 027 6175441 Phone/Fax: (06) 8358 622 Address: PO Box 70, Napier Email: bill.connelly@munz.org.nz
VALE DOUG BOYD
Wellington Secretary: Mike Clark Mobile: 0274 538222 Email: mike.clark@munz.org.nz Phone: (04) 3859 288 Fax: (04) 3848 766 Asst. Secretary: John Whiting Mobile: 021 606379 Email: john.whiting@munz.org.nz Phone: (04) 8017 619 Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141 President: Alan Windsor Mobile: 021 148 3771 Vice President: Jimmy King Mobile: 027 363 0194
It is with sadness that the Napier Branch has to inform the national membership of the passing of Doug Boyd, one of the long standing members of our Branch.
Nelson Secretary: Ken Knox Mobile: Phone/Fax: (03) 547 2102 Email: ken.knox@munz.org.nz
Doug was a casual employee, but I might add probably one of the longest standing, as he had been employed in that position since 1989. Doug will be sorely missed, as he was an extremely valued member of the Branch Executive and represented casual employees, employed by both C3 and Hawke’s Bay Stevedoring Services Limited for many years. I have included a cropped photo of Doug I took with his daughter Mandy, when she was chosen to represent New Zealand at the World Championships last year. His funeral was held in February, with members from all over the country in attendance. The Napier Branch would once again like to offer our sympathies to his immediate and extended families and reiterate that your loss is also our loss. – Bill Connelly
027 6222691 Address: PO Box 5016, Nelson
Lyttelton Local 43 Secretary: Les Wells Mobile: 027 432 9620 Phone/Fax: (03) 3288 306 Address: PO Box 29, Lyttelton Email: les.wells@munz.org.nz Timaru Secretary: Tony Townshend Mobile: 027 688 0032 Address: PO Box 813, Timaru Email: tony.townshend@munz.org.nz Port Chalmers Dunedin Local 10 Phone: (03)4728 052 Fax: (03) 4727 492 Secretary: Phil Adams Mobile: 0274 377601 Email: phil.adams@munz.org.nz Address: PO Box 44, Port Chalmers Bluff Phone/Fax: (03) 2128 189 Secretary: Ray Fife Email: ray.fife@munz.org.nz
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Address: PO Box 5, Bluff Mobile: 027 447 5317
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NEW PLYMOUTH BY TERRY WHITEHEAD Hi all, I hope the festive season treated you well. As much as we all enjoy the great weather that we have been experiencing, the heat has made night shifts a lot more appealing. Workloads Definitely busier than expected. With ISO now doing the marshalling and stevedoring for the Summit contract we all thought it would be the beginning of a downward spiral for the log trade anyway. But thanks to our good work rates and continuing to keep sharp with our work ethics, things are cruising along well. The Fertilizer and Bulk cargo boats continue to come regularly with steady if not slightly increased volumes. We even had a reasonable sized scrap boat. Superannuation merger visit Thanks to Joe Fleetwood and David Young for coming to our branch and going through the advantages of this merger happening. We had near 100% turnout from our membership which was great. All our questions and queries were answered and any doubts where cast aside with a unanimous vote of support for the proposal. Logs While it was a hard pill to swallow doing the stevedoring work with ISO on the Summit boats before our contract expired on the 31 December 2015, there was some satisfaction from the fact they could not keep up and repeatedly made the same mistakes getting cargo to the ship. The JAS rate was the slowest I’ve ever known, and while things did improve it was a great feeling to know we do it a lot better than the way they worked. Reports from their own boats that are now being worked didn’t sound any better but I’m sure they’ll be doing everything they can to improve. Bulk cargo Despite the economic situation the farmers of our region are going through with lower milk payouts, we continue to do good volumes of fertilizer and palm kernel feed. Urea is coming in regularly which is always the case with seasonal demand and palm kernel is actually slightly increasing in discharge size as the New J.Swaps 30,000 tonne storage facility is now up and running. We seem to be on par with the other year’s volume wise, but now with the increased length of discharging it sure feels like we’re doing a lot more. Oil and gas Very quiet, except a little surveying. There is no news on any fresh exploration despite the Government issuing new permits but with oil prices low I doubt there is much change on the horizon.
Scrap Metal Molten Metals New Plymouth recently had a scrap boat come to port for a 5000 tonne load in. We all enjoy doing scrap as it is a welcome change to other cargo we do. Unfortunately they are far and few between and even though Nikau Contracting still has 15 000 tonne of scrap piled up at the old Power Station site, on the left of the now barren chimney, they are obviously waiting for either prices to rise or will more likely truck it away as they have done in the past. Old Timers - Picnic and Sports Day Held on Monday 25 January, this was a great day of camaraderie, reconnecting with friends as well as making new friends, with the sharing of stories of the past, and talking over the changes that have happened at the Waterfront over time, and where it may be heading in the future. I always enjoy hearing the tales of days gone by and the ways things were done back in the day and it’s always an eye opener for some of the old timers to hear the way things are done now. Once again though, our branch turnout was pitiful and it’s a real shame that even the lure of drinks and food failed to make much impact on our attendance rate. In fairness we had a large number of members working out of port who had only just returned. With news from the Port Company employees that they are trying to drop this day from their future contracts for new employees, a situation I hope we never face, it is also a use it or lose it issue we don’t want to go through. Hopefully next year we can turn things around. Health and Safety Changes The Port Company is currently gearing up for the proposed changes that will take effect from 1 April 2016. This includes the introduction of new driving layouts and rules, speed restrictions, compulsory wearing of Hi-Vis clothing, safety boots and lights on for vehicles before entering the gates – these are just some of the changes already in place. We have recently put some members through a Safety refresher course and as our management has always been proactive we will keep on top, if not in front of any legislation that takes effect. A lot of safety is common sense but looking after each other and having each other’s back is something wharfies and seafarers have always been good at. Other News Our branch made a donation to the Legs for Elizabubble charity fund www. givealittle.co.nz/cause/legsforelizabubble to help pay for an operation for a little girl by the name of Elizabeth Millen who has cerebral palsy. This is so she may in the future walk. A very worthwhile cause and her parents were extremely grateful for the help. Thanks again to all the branches who used members for out of port work, Lyttelton, Timaru, Port Chalmers and of course Bluff. All the best and let’s take care of each other out there.
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Fine dining: a 450 tonne underwater restaurant built by New Plymouth firm Fitzroy Engineering is loaded aboard the Fairlane by MUNZ members at New Plymouth Cargo Services. The destination of the restaurant is a resort in the Maldives. Photo by Terry Whitehead. Chris McDonald (centre) receiving his life membership at his home in Auckland. Russell Mayn the Auckland Branch Secretary presented Chris with a Life Membership after fifty years in the industry. It was a privilege to attend the presentation along with some of his ship mates. – Craig Harrison
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The long serving Cook Strait inter island ferry Arahura was recently decommissioned and was sent to the ship breakers in India. The Arahura came into service in 1983. Pictured here are “B” crew in 2015. Thanks to Prathamesh Bhaswande for supplying photo.
WELLINGTON
Maybe we should have left it to the firefighters who rate highly in the trust stakes to do the TPP negotiation on behalf of the citizens of New Zealand.
BY MIKE CLARK
Branch Happenings
TPPA - Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
As you are all probably aware in the Branch we have had in the past twelve months a number of our long serving members take advantage of the early retirement package on offer.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has created huge debate about whether an international agreement like this has been done in an open and transparent way, or if it has been done behind closed doors in secret and in the interests of multi-national corporations – and not in consultation with the democratic rights of the citizens of the countries involved. What is the TPP?
As a result we have lost 22 members which leaves not only a shortage of experience, but also a huge gap in the union ranks of guys that have made a huge contribution to the wages and conditions that we enjoy today. We wish them all the very best in their well-earned retirement and the Branch will be organising a function for them in the coming weeks.
Other countries entered the discussions for liberalising trade in the Pacific region, with the US, Australia, Vietnam and Peru joining discussions in 2008, Malaysia in 2010, Canada and Mexico in 2012 and Japan in 2013.
With the loss of experience now is the time for more of our younger members to step up to take on delegates’ roles and attend shipboard and Branch stop work meetings, and to uphold the values of our Union but also the hard fought wages and conditions we all enjoy today. Remember these weren’t given to us by the companies - they were negotiated and paid for by our previous members, and as we go to print your Wellington Executive will be in negotiations to renew Interislander Lines Collective Agreement with MUNZ.
The TPP’s stated goals are to promote trade investment, economic growth, job creation, development and innovation through participating countries.
Offshore
The TPP is a free trade agreement, it is the successor of the Trans-Pacific strategic economic partnership agreement (TPSEP) signed by Singapore, New Zealand, Chile and Brunei in 2005.
It is worth nothing although protests over the TTP have ramped up over the last 12 months. These talks which were signed off on 4 February 2016 by the twelve participating countries, were started way back in 2002, by the then PM of New Zealand, Rt. Hon. Helen Clark. Is it a done deal? Maybe not quite signed and sealed as US President, Barack Obama has to get it through his Congress, so there is still a possibility that it will fall over. Probably the most annoying thing for the majority of those opposing the deal is the Government assuring the general public that they know what’s best for us and that we should actually trust them when politicians are among the least trusted in the community.
We all have to take on board the harsh economic times, not only New Zealand but also around the globe. Most of our offshore roster are now employed but it is mainly all on short term projects, and prospects do not look good as the current price per barrel of oil is running at around $US37. All of the current oil and gas work is remedial work and maintenance on existing installations and one seismic vessel. We also have a number of our members working in the dredging industry in the Port of Tauranga, and hopefully this work will be ongoing. Please make sure if you are working in the above industries to keep your CV up to date and notify the Wellington Office when you have a job confirmed.
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LETTER Concerned I was a member of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union and Maritime Union of New Zealand from 1972–2015. Over the years I had steady employment, a good income, equal time on and off and was in a good retirement scheme from 1975. These were some of the conditions I enjoyed thanks to being a member of strong and militant unions. Make sure to exercise your democratic rights and vote in union elections – this seems to mean very little to some members. Wellington Secretary Mike Clark noted in the Maritimes magazine Summer 2015/2016 edition that only 57% of the Wellington Branch members took time to vote in the Wellington Branch elections. My concern is does it mean 43% of members are not interested in the Union and its activities, and who is keeping the Union on course. I say to the 43% who did not vote, take the time to read Tony Mowbray’s article in the same edition of the Maritimes magazine entitled “We must protect what we have.” The reason is very simple, this issue affects all of you. Do you think your job is safe? Get real. Over the years legislation has been put in place including labour laws which limit the right of Kiwi workers and unions to get a fair deal through collective bargaining. The new laws in place since 2015 impose new and restrictive limits on collective bargaining and union representation, making it even more difficult to get a fair deal or gain anything. Remember this comrades, the victories and conditions of the past were won by the strength of the Unions.
SEAFARER REPRESENTS SAMOA We are very proud that one of our Maritime Union members Nuu Lene has been selected to represent Samoa A in this year’s Pacific rugby competition. Nuu is assistant bosun on Bluebridge ferry Straitsman and plays prop for Oriental Rongotai club in Wellington. Thanks to Strait Shipping for granting Nuu special leave so he can represent his country of birth in this competition.
To protect what you have, you need to stick together, get to your ship board meetings, attend stopwork meetings, have your say and get involved in the fight. As a member of MUNZ you are in one of the strongest Unions with a dedicated leadership who endeavour to keep the Union on course. Now more than ever they need the rank and file members of MUNZ to be strong and united for what could be some challenging times ahead. From a concerned retired member,
BARRY (JACKO) JACKSON MOTUEKA
– Wayne McMahon
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TAURANGA MOUNT MAUNGANUI
But it does seem like that there is room for movement, and I don’t believe it’s die in a ditch stuff.
BY SELWYN RUSSELL
There seems to be a lot of out of port work happening here, and an increase in the “digger drivers hatchman training” in regard to being able to hatch when on board.
Seafarers It’s been busy in this last quarter with the dredges working in Tauranga harbour with our members on board. We are hoping there will be further work around the country, as while they are here in New Zealand it might be a good opportunity to dredge some other ports. Due to the resource consent process and the like this may not happen, but watch this space. It is extremely pleasing that we have pretty much all our seafarers in employment. If anyone is not working please get in touch with your local secretary and let them know you’re available so as to fill the open positions. On another note, at the last stopwork meeting we had a great discussion on the transitioning to updated seafarers tickets (qualifications). It was mentioned that maybe the magazine could be used to give our seafarers the relevant information in regard to the upgrades and the contact points to get in touch with. It’s imperative that members do these upgrades as we need to stay up with the play or we will get closer to the dates and could be lacking the correct tickets. This in turn could open up possible outside sources to crew our vessels! Disciplinaries and health and safety Another issue was the number of disciplinaries happening. I am not sure of the reasoning but prior to Christmas and right up until February the numbers have been very disturbing.
The sooner we can get this company to get on the same page with the formula of an otherwise working day the better, because quite frankly ask four people who are in control and you will get four differing views.
These specifics should come with best practices, and if a hatchman is required, one will be immediately available so not to increase any risk. We should always remind ourselves that if the ship is riding high out of the water, and the crane driver needs someone to hatch them down, the digger driver cannot see it from down a hold. Hence best practices should be implemented, like radio communication and hatchman training. Please learn your SOP’s and do not be frightened to ask for a hatchman, as those are your rules. Stick to them and be safe, if it’s risky, assess, call for a hatchman, and do not proceed. As all the companies state, no job is worth doing when safety is compromised. NZCSL We have just initiated bargaining here, and we are doing a multi-port agreement with Auckland, Napier and Tauranga. I will be going over the remits with Branch President Peter Harvey. We are also hoping that Mark Allen will retain his delegate role as he has extensive knowledge within this company and the workers’ requirements. Ballance I was approached by the company to go through some things immediately after Christmas only to find out that the EPMU was not available to attend so it was postponed,.
Whether it is our guys making poor decisions or the companies becoming very pedantic with their expectations I am not sure.
We are going into bargaining in August again, so we want to really establish what we are heading into with the rewrite of the document. Annualized hours are a constant issue, and fair allocation of the ship’s discharge is another.
One thing I am sure of is awareness of breaches within various companies are being fully investigated with some dire consequences.
NZM
So keep your eyes open and work safe within your standard operating procedures, as that is what we should be doing. Taking the “she will be right attitude” could end up with your job in jeopardy. I heard the other day that with new cameras being used on the wharf, the port management saw a person with very poor reflector gear on and a security guard went down to sort out the problem. I think this is great news as maybe they will now look at the best practices that should be used in regard to manning. This has been a real issue with some companies who flout the best practices for financial gain and to gain contracts. This has a bad impact on the workforce with an increased risk. So who knows we may be getting closer to industry standards across ports with logs and the such. Here’s hoping! Company round up: C3 We have been in some heavy negotiations here and although I believe we are close to an agreement I don’t think it would take much for things to turn to custard. It has been good having National Secretary Joe Fleetwood here for this round of bargaining as it’s been invaluable getting to know what’s happening around the country with this company.
They are still ticking over here even though they have lost some of their bulk cargo contracts around the country. It is very hard to attain anything when the work is so sporadic and the workforce is casualised. They pick up the shortfalls of manning within other companies. They seem to be getting work but not as much as they were before. Council of Trade Unions (CTU) Our local affiliates meetings are up and running again now with meetings to be held regularly, starting with a meeting on 17 February. Paul Matthews from the New Zealand Nurses Organization is assisting us and we are most grateful with his input. Branch stopwork To all branch members – a reminder we have a branch stopwork meeting every second Tuesday of every month at 9am at our office at 114 Hull Road, Mount Maunganui. This is open to all members – we have a good Seafarers turnout. I hope to see you all there. Stay safe.
34 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2016
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Muaythai kickboxing champion Sarah Rankin with her titles, pictured with Maritime Union National Vice President Selwyn Russell (left) and her father MUNZ Tauranga Mount Maunganui member Richard Rankin (right)
MUAYTHAI CHAMPION SARAH RANKIN THANKS MUNZ FOR SPONSORSHIP
I would like to say a huge thank you to MUNZ for sponsoring me and making it possible for me to compete in Thailand for the WPMF World Flyweight Title. Right from when I first started Muaythai kickboxing it was a dream of mine to become the best in my weight division. Over seven years that I competed I won a number of titles and then was offered the opportunity to compete against “The Star Sor Klinmee”, a female Thai champion. This was something I was really excited about but funds were a bit tight. When my dad Richard Rankin told me that MUNZ were able to help with sponsorship I was so excited and happy. I flew to Thailand and competed in the Kings Cup show which is one of the biggest fight shows of the year, to celebrate the King of Thailand’s birthday. I won my fight by unanimous points decision which is very hard to do in Thailand if you are a foreigner. This made my dream come true, and afterwards I was able to go back to Australia, fight some more, and then finish off on top of my division and undefeated in Australia. I have now moved home to New Zealand. Without the help of MUNZ this would not have happened and I am forever grateful.
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The Maritimes | Autumn 2016 | 35
Three generations of Wharfies in the Morgan whanau. Tom Morgan (centre) who has 39 years service, is pictured with his son Andrew on the right and grandson Jordan Aerepo on the left. All are permanent MUNZ members on the Bluff Waterfront. Photo by Ray Fife.
BLUFF
LYTTELTON
BY ANDREW ALEXANDER
BY LES WELLS
Hello from the deep south.
We are under constant attack from LPC to change the way the foremen work in this port.
We have had a busy few months with an increase of logs going to India and fertilizer ships rolling in. A big thanks to all the out of port workers who have helped us turn these ships around.
We are being hammered about the practice in Auckland, Taurauga and Port Chalmers but that’s not all, they are even using Patricks in Australia as an example of working with fewer foremen.
South Port's net profit improved by more than 50 per cent in the second half of 2015.
As we recently explained to them instead of dragging us down to the level of other ports we should look at bringing them up to our level of manning.
The half-yearly result of $5.06 million was an excellent and unexpected
This did not go down well, we seem to be fighting a losing battle but there is no way we are going without a fight.
However, the results were influenced by a higher proportion of scheduled annual maintenance falling in the second half of the current financial year. There would be a sizeable second half maintenance expenditure which will occur across several operating areas. I would like to thank the Wellington branch for hosting a successful sports tournament with several of our members attending. Congrats to Terry Osborne and Chris Ryan who were awarded prizes.
C3 are under attack trying to take their right to a public holiday based on what is a normal working day. The company has also told us they nneed to make savings so the fight goes on. I would like to take the opportunity to wish Kevin Moore and Michael Gallagher all the best in their retirement. Both members have in excess of 50 years service at sea.
Stay safe out there and I hope every one else is enjoying this great weather we are having.
36 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2016
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SUPERANNUATION WORKS OVER LONG TIME FRAMES
MARITIME WORKERS BACK COASTAL SHIPPING BOOST
BY RAY FIFE ASSISTANT NATIONAL SECRETARY
The Maritime Union is backing calls for the Government to get behind the coastal shipping sector.
While hedge fund managers are having sleepless nights, Superannuation/ Kiwisaver members investing over decades should sleep easy. Despite weekly contributions most funds have been shrinking over the past year due to forces out of our control. It’s not a great feeling knowing that despite all your contributions made you are watching your retirement savings get no further ahead. But it is important not to panic before making any rash decisions. Lots of Superannuation funds, such as the one I am in, invest members’ funds for the long haul. At the moment investors all around the world have got a bad case of the heebie jeebies. As they sell out, share prices are heading further into the red. There’s a whole lot of factors driving the doom and gloom, but that’s a topic for another time. The question on everyone’s mind is whether shares will keep falling, or turn the corner and recover. Read a thousand thinkpieces from supposed experts and you will get a thousand different answers. Trying to time the market is a classic newbie mistake. Any loss is only on paper. Once you change funds it becomes real. Eventually the market will start to recover. It could be tomorrow or it could be two years from now. The turnaround will not be conveniently signalled by a big flashing neon sign. During the global financial crisis, New Zealand shares got smashed. Throughout 2008, they plummeted 32 per cent. The NZX 50 index has since more than doubled from that now, soaring well past its original value on the way back up. Any nervous people who sold out near the bottom would have been absolutely kicking themselves. For every buyer there is a seller. Both think they’ve got the better end of the deal, and they can’t be both right.
Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says New Zealand is a maritime nation but there was no leadership from central Government for the industry. Other transport modes were being subsidised by the taxpayer, but New Zealand shipping was expected to compete against foreign shipping where wages and conditions of crew members were far below New Zealand standards. The release of “Full Steam Ahead”, a report on coastal shipping by the New Zealand Shipping Federation, was timely and needed to be listened to. “The case made by the Shipping Federation for greater support for coastal shipping is a strong one and many of the points in their report have the support of New Zealand seafarers.” Mr Fleetwood says the need for building New Zealand’s maritime skill base and capacity was important, and an ageing maritime workforce was a serious concern for the industry. The environmental advantage of coastal shipping over road transport was another major factor, as was the role of coastal shipping in civil emergencies such as earthquakes, which could disrupt land based transport. The ongoing examples of issues with flag of convenience shipping in New Zealand waters, and problems with international crews and vessels in both the fishing and freight sectors, needed to be taken seriously by the Government. “New Zealand’s future is as a maritime nation. We have one of the largest maritime economic zones in the world, with vast resources that can be used in the future for our common benefit. But there is no plan, no strategy and no vision from the Government for our coastal shipping sector.” Mr Fleetwood welcomed the commitment of the Labour Party to a coastal shipping strategy from central Government when elected. The Maritime Union supports a high skill, high productivity maritime industry with excellent safety standards, wages and conditions.
Regular contributions through the good times and bad is one of the best features of superannuation. It helps to save us from ourselves – from our fear, and our greed. The strategy of riding out volatility only works over long timeframes, which superannuation is designed for. This column is intended as a general viewpoint only, and does not constitute personal investment advice. For investment advice you should contact a professional investment advisor.
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The Maritimes | Autumn 2016 | 37
NAPIER OLD TIMERS CHRISTMAS PARTY 2015 38 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2016
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RECIPES
BY DONNY HOOPER
PAST & PRESENT OLD TIMER’S CURRIED LAMB
BREAD & BUTTER PUD
1 kg of diced lamb (pref shoulder)
1 tspn each of chopped garlic and ginger
12 slices of stale toast bread or fruit bread
¼ cup lemon juice
4 cups of milk
Splash of fish sauce to taste
1 cup of cake fruit mix
Splash of sweet chilli sauce
Rind of 1 lemon
2 x 400ml tins of coconut cream
½ cup castor sugar
Palm sugar (optional)
Your favourite jam
½ cup of thai red curry paste 2 diced onions 3 grated carrots 3 rough diced red capsicums 1 or 2 diced red chillies 2 tspns Kaffir Lime Leaves 2 tspns diced lemon grass
6 eggs & 2 egg yolks Icing sugar to garnish 3 tspns vanilla essence. Pinch of cinnamon 250 grms butter Pinch of nutmeg
1 x 400ml tin of coconut milk Rice (your favourite)
Preheat oven to 190°C. Grease a baking dish with a little butter.
In a large pot pour the coconut cream and milk, add the red curry paste, onions, carrots, 1 tspn kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass, fish sauce, garlic and ginger. Stir to the boil and add the lamb and one chilli. Transfer everything into a roasting tray, cover with foil and place into a preheated oven (220°C) for 15 minutes then turn down to 140°C for two hours. Remove from the oven and place on a hot element and stir in the capsicums, and 2nd chilli. Adjust the seasoning to taste with palm sugar, sweet chilli sauce, fish sauce, lemon juice and remaining kaffir lime leaves. Serve on a bed of your favourite rice, steamed.
Spread butter and jam on the bread and cut into triangles. Layer the triangles (points up) and alternate the layers with the fruit mix in the dish. In a large bowl whisk the eggs with the sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the milk mixing thoroughly. Pour this mixture over the bread allowing it to soak completely into the dish. Bake for 25–35 minutes depending on the depth of your dish. It’s ok if it’s a little wobbly in the middle when removed from the oven. Dust with icing sugar and serve with icecream or cream or both!! Serves 10–12. Outstanding!
Serves 8–10 (and if you love curry, this will blow your socks off!)
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The Maritimes | Autumn 2016 | 39
40 | The Maritimes | Autumn 2016
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