The Maritimes Spring 2021

MARITIMES

The magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand OCTOBER 2021

Maranga mai, wahine ma – Rising above!

Contents

10 12

3

National Secretary’s Report

5

Around and about

6

COVID update

8

Coastal shipping the solution

10

Coastal Tankers under threat

12

Rising above – MUNZ Women

16

The Million Dollar Man

22

The 1981 Tour remembered

24

Mike King in Lyttelton

25

Branch Reports

32

1951 lockout commemoration

34

Rippa Rugby

The Maritimes is the official magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand ISSN 1176-3418

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Authorised by Craig Harrison, 220 Willis Street, Wellington Editor Craig Harrison, National Secretary Email craig.harrison@munz.org.nz Editorial and production Victor Billot Email victor.billot@munz.org.nz Maritime Union of New Zealand National Office Level One, Waterside House 220 Willis Street Wellington PO Box 27004 Wellington 6141 Phone (04) 3850792 Website www.munz.org.nz Front cover photo: MUNZ delegates at the NZCTU Women’s Conference, Wellington, July 2021

NATIONAL SECRETARY REPORT Craig Harrison National Secretary

New Zealand has one of the lowest rates of infection and death from COVID in the world. The new Delta variant is still causing over two thousand deaths every week in the USA. The vast majority of serious illness and death is for people who have not been vaccinated.

2021 continues to throw all sorts of surprises (good and bad) our way. But as you will read in this issue of the Maritimes, MUNZ members throughout New Zealand are continuing to keep our industry and nation going through their essential work.

The Maritime Union encourages members to get vaccinated and to make an informed decision by getting information from a reliable source like your doctor or health professional. Our Union will of course respect the freedom of choice of each individual member.

If you are someone in our industry who is not a member of MUNZ, and would like to become one, please drop us a line and we can discuss how to make it happen.

More information on the situation for mandatory vaccination of port workers in this issue of the Maritimes. I urge all members to read the “Maritime Border Order” as there are numerous commentators out there who have no idea on who it covers.

Coastal Shipping The global shipping shortage is now really biting hard and congestion at our ports is at an all time high. This is a worldwide problem but New Zealand has left itself open by not maintaining our domestic shipping capability and by not having a national freight strategy that plans for the future.

POAL

The idea of “leave it to the market” and “just in time” has been shown up as a complete failure with commentators referring to the current situation as “just in case”.

There was widespread sense of revulsion at the former CEO being paid off with a million dollars by the Board.

This decision has been widely condemned – even by the owners of POAL Auckland Council, represented by the Mayor. The story is not over yet and our Union will be campaigning to see those involved are held to account.

We’re now at the point where the need for New Zealand flagged and crewed coastal shipping is critical. There has been more news coverage and discussion of the issue than for decades and the Government and even business is on side.

MUNZ is pressing hard to get action not just talk, and rebuild New Zealand shipping. Our Union is lobbying and has been campaigning to keep our two coastal tankers on the coast.

In the coming weeks we will be ramping up the fight to ensure these vessels remain on our coast. I urge all members and our Branches around the country to make contact with your local MP and send them a message that our country needs these vessels on our coast.

COVID COVID has caused ongoing problems for our industry, as it has in general. However despite the delays for union activity like negotiations and training, we are slowly getting back on track.

With ongoing likelihood of more constraints, our Union is moving ahead with a digital project that enables our Union to be able to function into the future with online meetings and database support.

The legacy of Tony Gibson’s reign at POAL is still casting a shadow. Gibson and the POAL are due to appear in the Auckland District Court on health and safety charges relating to the death of Amo Kalati last year.

April next year is the tenth anniversary of the Ports of Auckland dispute. Apparently when they locked us out the gate one manager at a briefing of those left inside the gate stated “they’re out and they won’t be coming back”.

Well, MUNZ are in there and growing in numbers, and he’s gone and door hit him on the arse on the way out.

Union Women and Union Youth We’ve seen some great progress for our women and youth members lately.

Our national women’s rep Fiona Mansell and national youth reps Shanaya Hunter and Matt Hayward have been busy and MUNZ had strong representation at recent CTU national meetings for women and youth. More about this in this issue of the Maritimes.

We are now at the point where we are getting women and youth reps at many branches and this is another good development. As I write these comments a delegation of our youth members is about to be involved in an online meeting with the ITF.

What does our future hold?

All the experts have their opinions and from what I have seen over the last ten months most of their positions change like the weather.

Who would have thought that there would be a global shortage of containers and as a result some cargo is going back to break bulk? We now read predictions that shipping and port congestion will be around to the end of 2022.

I think over the next few years we will see demand stay at the current level. Our Union should see this as an opportunity to grow our density (membership level) within the industry, as it is density that gives us leverage to meet the aspirations of our members.

Our Union is involved with Maritime New Zealand and industry stakeholders in developing codes of practice around fatigue, and also people and plant in on the waterfront.

With a refurbished meeting room at National Office we will do more inhouse training of delegates and members, and create a strong foundation for younger members.

I would like to thank all Branch Officials and delegates for their work over the last few months, as it’s been hard to operate around the lockdowns and deal with the issues facing our membership.

Maritime Union Napier Branch members from HBSS and C3 were the first intake for the new training programme for the Union.

The training brings together members to learn skills for effective workplace leadership. We learn about how the Union operates in the workplace, delegates on the job, communication skills, building membership, employment law and about how our Union works and some of its history. This two day course is paid to attend under Employment Relations Education Leave (EREL) and once the COVID situation has come under control, more courses will be held throughout New Zealand.

Crew aboard the MV Matuku, 2019, from left, Josh Aquino (Seafarer trainee now Seafarer), Tom Langford (Seafarer), Ezaiah Unasa (Seafarer trainee now Seafarer), Max Dicken (Engineer cadet), Savannah Gordon (3rd Officer now 2nd Officer), Hoera Kleskovic (Seafarer), Taylor Clark (3rd Officer now 2nd Officer), photo by Hector Thorpe

Around & about

AB’s Tony Mowbray, Ono Tepulolo, Les Taylor, Filini Uepe, aboard the Kaiarahi, April 2021

Message from Maritime New Zealand: Thank you NZ port workers

MUNZ statement on vaccinations

By Craig Harrison National Secretary The Maritime Union recommends and supports MUNZ members being vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus.

The National Council of MUNZ recognises and respects the freedom of choice for its members and encourages them to make an informed decision.

Thank you to all of you who got vaccinated before the 30 September deadline. We know that finding the time for 2 doses as well as getting regularly tested and wearing PPE, can wear anyone down and we’re thrilled to get so close to 100% vaccinated.

Since the announcement in July that privately employed workers must be vaccinated by September 30, there has been a lot of work behind the scenes to ensure the maritime sector could fulfil its obligations.

It took a lot of coordination, travel, and time on the ground with MUNZ, the Ministry of Health and Maritime NZ to make this happen and thanks to everyone who contributed as well as all of the other supporting organisations that got behind it.

However, the real thanks goes to you – the workers, who safeguard 98% of New Zealand’s trade, keep the supply chain moving and ensure the safety of your local communities.

Under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendments Order 2021, vaccination for port workers on or around ships will now become mandatory.

Privately employed border workers must have had their first dose by 30 September 2021.

Our Union will work with employers and members to try and resolve any situations where jobs are in jeopardy.

The public health order has been made, and as good health and safety practice, both employers and workers must abide by it.

Misinformation is threatening health and safety in ports and MUNZ urges members not to trust second hand information from the internet or rumours. If you have concerns talk to your doctor or a health professional.

There are high rates of vaccination in many ports and numbers are climbing daily.

So where to from here? With all existing and new workers vaccinated, we can now move forward with certainty and make the ports a safe and inviting place to work. We can all begin preparing for Christmas in the hope that the shelves are well stocked for the fast approaching holiday period. And, we can begin to focus on a New Zealand with less Covid-19 precautions as the population at large works towards 90% fully vaccinated.

We can take pride in the fact that we all played our part and remained steadfast in believing the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and not giving in to scaremongering and misinformation. It speaks volumes for your love for your families, care for your community and the belief that as a country, we are moving forward in what has been our generation’s biggest challenge.

Again, well done and thank you.

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Maritime Union of New Zealand National Council, Wellington, August 2021 (photo by Hector Thorpe)

Unions part of new ports health and safety project The Maritime Union is part of a new port health and safety project co-ordinated by Government regulator Maritime New Zealand.

Representatives of unions, employers and Government authorities, together with specialists, will be working on a “how to” guide for the ports industry.

One project is the completion of comprehensive fatigue risk management guidelines for ports.

Fatigue expert Professor Leigh Signal of the Sleep/Wake Research Centre at Massey University will work with regulators, unions and employers to provide a range of information including the benefits of managing fatigue, legal obligations, what is a Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS), the need for workplace engagement, causes of fatigue, predicting fatigue hazards and evaluation of fatigue risks.

Another project will provide an online resource to help manage plant (machinery) hazards in the workplace.

TechSelect will provide information on the latest technologies being used locally and internationally in ports and similar industries to address major health and safety risks across eight significant risk environments.

A key feature of the resource is its focus on a range of technologies already proven to mitigate and eliminate health and safety risk associated with people and machinery operations in a port environment.

Maritime Union national secretary Craig Harrison says the involvement of unions in the process is providing a good opportunity to present the workers viewpoint.

The guidelines will provide a standardized approach for all New Zealand ports, and provide up to date scientific information and best practice processes to manage fatigue risks and reduce harm.

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New Zealand coastal shipping answer to congestion Key goals for our transport sector going forward will be security, reliability and redundancy. We need to have New Zealand coastal shipping back in the mix.

Craig Harrison National Secretary

THE MARITIMES

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The ongoing shipping shortage is biting hard. The maritime industry is in a chaotic state. Our supply chain is in trouble. Exports are struggling to get on ships and imports are seriously delayed. Costs are ballooning. In some cases, time sensitive cargo is missing shipping windows. Behind the COVID 19 pandemic itself, this is one of the biggest threats to our economy and general wellbeing.

New Zealand is a maritime trading nation, we are remote and isolated, and dependent on global shipping networks.

We have a small population base. Our transport network suffers from a decades long failure in policy and investment. The shipping debacle has its cause in global events which are to some degree out of our control, but our exposed situation is also the result of poor decisions.

The idea that cheap, reliable overseas shipping would always be available has proved to be a bad mistake. New Zealand has found itself reliant on global shipping lines whose commitment to us is based, unsurprisingly, on their own self interest. International shipping demand is outstripping supply and more money can be made in bigger markets elsewhere. Record profits are being made even in the midst of the pandemic.

The result is shipping services have become unreliable, port calls are missed, and the problems are feeding back down our supply chain. Our bargaining position is weak because global shippers know we don’t have any choice.

There are a few big fish who dominate the small pond of the New Zealand economy. Chartering vessels is an option for them, even if an expensive and inconvenient one, and they still get priority treatment from the global shippers over others.

This leaves smaller exporters vulnerable. Although they might not have the swing of big bulk producers, these companies are often creating high value niche products.

These are the kind of products New Zealand needs to be focussing on to develop and diversify from being a bulk commodity price taker. But they don’t have the ability to independently source vessels.

The other side to the shipping equation is of course imports. Whole sectors are struggling with congestion, spiralling costs and delays, with the building sector being one of the more prominent.

Some claim a massive surge in new builds for ships may solve the problem in the future. It seems worrying if the best we can look forward to is a see saw of shortage and glut. Perhaps it’s time to take control, rather than leaving our economy hostage to fortune.

THE MARITIMES

The entire global network is in a painful period of crisis and restructuring, which may become a permanent state of affairs. This will require new thinking. More rational operators in the industry appreciate the need for New Zealand coastal shipping as one part of the puzzle.

New Zealand flagged and crewed coastal vessels will provide the reliability of service currently missing.

Working on a hub and spoke model, these coastal ships would ensure regions get freight to larger ports where international shipping calls are less likely to be bumped at short notice.

New Zealand coastal shipping would reduce COVID infection sources through overseas vessels making multiple port calls. This has already created major costs and inconvenience, and is a threat to our frontline workers and the public. Coastal shipping is a life saving backstop for communities isolated during natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods, which disrupt land based links.

Regional shipping with a national shipping operator could provide essential links on the Trans-Tasman trade and to the Pacific Islands. There are numerous options how this could work. A public entity chartering vessels, or purchasing them, flagged to New Zealand and crewed

by New Zealand seafarers, is an obvious path. The sound of KiwiShip has a good ring to it.

The weakness of the New Zealand maritime industry is its fragmentation and short term focus. Our shipping capability has been wound down at the cost of long term security. But some industry figures are now showing an open minded and pragmatic approach. They can see the advantages of domestic shipping capacity and a skilled, dedicated New Zealand seafaring workforce.

New Zealand shipping is a great fit for getting New Zealand where it needs to be. The Government has committed to reducing carbon emissions by building up coastal shipping, encouraging mode shift from road freight to coastal shipping (reducing emissions, congestion, and the cost of road investment) and discouraging unsafe employment practices.

The Hīkina te Kohupara discussion document envisages a shift to biofuels and electrification of coastal shipping in the coming decades. None of this is possible without New Zealand-flagged vessels carrying our coastal freight.

The key goals going forward will be security, reliability and redundancy. The primary focus needs to be ensuring our logistics network is functioning. We need to have New Zealand coastal shipping back in the mix.

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Coastal tankers provide lifeline New Zealand’s energy security is under threat as New Zealand flagged coastal tankers face an uncertain future.

The proposed closure of the Marsden Point oil refinery leaves big questions as to how fuel will be delivered in future to New Zealand ports.

If fuel deliveries were to come in on overseas ships direct to New Zealand ports, this leaves New Zealand wide open to the same type of disruption that has affected shipping and ports globally in the last year, but for essential fuel supplies.

Two New Zealand flagged and New Zealand crewed coastal tankers currently operate on the New Zealand coast, the MT Kokako and the MT Matuku.

Coastal tankers are able to offer a backup during disasters such as earthquakes or flooding that disrupt land based fuel movements, providing a level of redundancy in the supply chain.

The vessels are managed by New Zealand operator Silver Fern Shipping Limited and owned by international operator ASP Ship Management Group, which charters them to Coastal Oil Logistics Limited (COLL).

The fuel pipeline rupture between Marsden Point and Auckland in 2017 was a real life example where coastal tankers provided a backup.

COLL transports petroleum products from Marsden Point to New Zealand ports on behalf of its shareholders BP, Mobil and Z.

This would not happen if we are dependent on overseas tankers who were locked into schedules and had no other commitment to New Zealand.

If New Zealand coastal tankers are removed from the picture, it will be a blow to national supply chain security.

Global shipping and logistics are already in turmoil, with major problems due to shipping shortages and port congestion.

It’s essential a maritime nation like New Zealand has the ability and resilience to service its own ports with its own shipping.

Coastal fuel tankers are a major part of the mix. Let’s keep them online.

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Former Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson leaves his Remuera home on the evening of 12 August, hours after charges were filed against him in relation to the death of Amo Kalati. Media sought comment at his home, and an unidentified woman said via intercom Gibson was not at the property but was in Papamoa.

Shortly after, Gibson left the house in an Audi SUV.

Charges against POAL, former CEO The Ports of Auckland and its former CEO Tony Gibson are facing charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 filed by Government agency Maritime New Zealand at the Auckland District Court.

Mr Pala’amo (Amo) Kalati was killed at POAL on 30 August 2020 after being crushed when a container was dropped during a lifting operation on the night shift.

31-year old Mr Kalati was a father of seven and had only been working at the Ports for a short time.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says the Union made repeated attempts for a number of years to call attention to health and safety issues at POAL. An independent review commissioned by POAL owners Auckland City found systemic problems around the health and safety management culture at the Ports.

It is the first time a chief executive from a company of POAL’s size had been charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

The former chair of the POAL Board Liz Coutts and former CEO of POAL Tony Gibson have both resigned since the 2020 death of Mr Kalati.

On Friday 4 December 2020, POAL was sentenced for their role in the death of another young employee in 2018 and fined over half a million dollars.

We’re backing Fremantle workers The Maritime Union of New Zealand is backing Fremantle port workers in their dispute with Qube Stevedores. The dispute has identified global shipping conglomerate Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WWL) as one of the drivers behind the scenes.

The Maritime Union of Australia are in dispute with Qube Ports Pty Ltd regarding the negotiation of a new Enterprise Agreement in the Port of Fremantle. Union labour has not been employed by Qube in Fremantle since 30 July 2021, and scab labour has been used on five WWL ships.

A financial donation from MUNZ national office and branches has been sent to the Fremantle port workers.

During lengthy negotiations between the MUA and the employer, Qube have laid responsibility for their refusal to agree to claims around work allocation, shifts, rosters and planned time off on their clients including WWL. The dispute with Qube is not about wages but is focussed firmly on providing workers with a safer work environment, says the MUA. Bargaining claims are primarily about improving fatigue management practices and occupational health and safety on the job while ensuring that workers have a proper work-life balance.

The use of scab non-skilled labour in the dispute is entirely unacceptable to the Maritime Union of New Zealand and its branches in all ports of New Zealand.

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Maranga mai, wahine ma – Rising above!

By Fiona Mansell National Women’s Representative Maranga mai, wahine ma – Rising above! was this year’s theme for our CTU Women’s Conference held in July 2021. More than 170 union women attended the Conference hosted at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.

What an amazing turnout it was for the 2-day event, considering all the challenges this world has faced with a global pandemic, several lockdowns and sadly hundreds even thousands of job losses.

The Conference kicked off with a beautiful welcome as always to the delegates attending from all around the country and different unions. This was my third CTU Women’s conference and just like previous conferences we were not disappointed, even with the absence of international speakers.

There were a number of key note speakers, including NZCTU National Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges who spoke on Fair Pay Agreements. Melissa was a well-spoken woman with a deep belief in the power of working people uniting together to create social change.

Attending from the Government was Hon. Jan Tinetti currently Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Women and Associate Minister of Education. I was intrigued not so much by what she had to say but more so by the questions and challenges laid down by the delegates regarding housing, health and education issues.

I think Jan has a lot of work ahead of her if she wants to fulfil her belief that the Government has a role to play in ensuring all New Zealanders have access to the services they need to help them be the best they can be.

Rebecca Macfie is a journalist of 32 years experience, and the author of Tragedy at Pike River Mine: How and Why 29 Men Died and her most recent book, a biography of union leader Helen Kelly. Rebecca believed that if Helen was alive today, she would see our housing crisis as a worker’s crisis and be campaigning for change.

I am pretty sure most of the 170 plus women in attendance would agree with me that the most engaging and exciting speaker of all was Jennifer Ward-Lealand.

Jennifer has worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical and radio for 40 years. Jennifer is also a trained intimacy co-ordinator for stage and screen.

THE MARITIMES

As President of Equity NZ, she has received a number of awards, and was recently honoured as Kiwibank New Zealander of the year 2020. The way Jennifer spoke in Maori and English had us captivated from start to finish.

Her belief to change mindsets in her industry can be heard and seen through all the achievements, titles and accolades she has gained. She is truly the definition of a Woman of Influence, an award she has also received for arts and culture.

Dr Elizabeth Kerekere was the final key note speaker before heading into the youth component of the conference on day two. She has mentored over 50 youth leaders and is a fierce voice for young people. A life-long grassroots activist, she is community-based, focused on Kaupapa Maori and Te Tiriti issues for 40 years.

Elizabeth works on local and national projects across mental health, suicide, violence prevention and youth development, and has represented Rainbow and Indigenous human rights issues nationally and internationally.

Following the speakers, the rest of the day was fun filled with craftivism where all tables were set up with different craft materials and activities, then to end it all we had a group photo.

I want to thank all those that organised this wonderful event from the CTU Women’s Committee to all the workers who work at the venue.

Special thanks to Annette McCauley for her assistance in organising our apparel, well done mate, we outdid ourselves again given that we were noticed and envied by all other unions.

To all my wonderful comrades who made the choice to join me on this journey, it was great to have met you all.

My mission since becoming a MUNZ Delegate and attending this conference is that more women and youth from our union are invited, attend and have the opportunities that I have had too.

Lastly thanks again to all of you for donating to the Lower Hutt Women’s Refuge, the ladies were super stoked and overwhelmed by our generosity, and then further stoked with a cash donation from the Wellington Branch.

This is what it means for me to RISE ABOVE!

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Maritime Women update

By Fiona Mansell National Women’s Representative First and foremost, big thanks and acknowledgements to Jim (Wellington Branch Secretary), Craig (National Secretary) and all other branches around NZ in regards to educating, empowering and encouraging MUNZ delegates.

Without your constant support and funding, we would not have the awesome opportunities that we have been given today. Thank you all so much!

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) Delegates Training I attended an Advanced Training Course run by CTU in Auckland with several other delegates from MUNZ. Although the course content was in my opinion constructed for teachers and educators it was awesome to be able to mix and mingle with delegates from other unions and get their perspective on organising in their work places.

It was apparent that MUNZ is a very different union in regards to the way we train our delegates as it is mostly on the job training rather than a classroom setting.

One thing I did come away with is that Employment Relations Education Leave (EREL) is something we need to take advantage of more since we have a certain amount each year per delegate. We need to have more delegates that are interested in any of these courses to attend and be part of these training sessions.

Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMTU) Women’s Forum It was my pleasure and honour to attend as a guest speaker at this event with my comrade Annette McCauley.

Big thanks to RMTU National Women’s Rep Rebecca Hauck for extending the invitation to us. Her purpose and goals are the same as mine as National Women’s Rep. That is networking all over the country within our unions and with others, to build/form strong relationships, support other members, and encourage delegate training and education through courses and conferences.

After all the introductions it was interesting to hear of the rocky relationship between MUNZ and RMTU. In my opinion it was a great discussion as most of the people who spoke up were brutally honest – the kind of conversations I love to be part of.

More discussions were had with me talking about moving on from the past as we are in interesting times with our employers. I also shared how after almost 4 years MUNZ fought for a better pregnancy policy for seafarers. I gave a brief report on how disgraceful the previous policy was and now our seafarers have much better terms and conditions.

My promotion of this year’s CTU Women’s Biennial Conference sparked a big interest within the audience as there were quite a few new members at this forum who had never heard of this conference.

I was proud to speak about increasing our delegation from four back in 2017 to eight in 2019 to a whopping 24 delegates from all over New Zealand this year. The largest delegation of MUNZ women ever to attend this particular conference!

It was great to see some of the RMTU delegates there for both days. This is what networking is all about. This is growth! May we continue on with building relationships and in some cases bridges between both unions.

Eighteen MUNZ youth members from around the country attended the CTU Stand up Conference in Christchurch in August.

National Youth Rep Shanaya Hunter says it was a great experience for younger members to meet one another and share their experiences from our seafarers and waterfront workers. The highlight was a social function put on by MUNZ to get together and network. “We’d just like to say a huge thanks to our Union for making this possible”, says Shanaya.

Photos thanks to National Youth Reps Shanaya Hunter and Matt Hayward.

Branch contacts Auckland Local 13 Secretary: Russell Mayn Mobile: 021 760 886 Email: russell.mayn@munz.org.nz

Napier Secretary: Greg Primrose Mobile: 021 028 23167 Email: Greg.Primrose@munz.org.nz

Lyttelton Local 43 Secretary: Gary Horan Mobile: 027 432 9620 Email: gary.horan@munz.org.nz

Assistant Secretary: Grant Williams Mobile: 021 457 170 Email: grant.williams@munz.org.nz

New Plymouth Secretary: Josef Zaloum Mobile: 022 062 9049

President: Hector Thorpe Mobile: 027 777 7163 Email: hector.thorpe@munz.org.nz

Wellington Secretary: Jim King Mobile: 020 483 6262 Email: jim.king@munz.org.nz

Timaru President: Shona Low Mobile: 027 327 1156 Email: shona90814@gmail.com

Whangarei Contact Auckland Mount Maunganui – Tauranga Secretary: Selwyn Russell Mobile: 027 4782 308 Email: selwyn.russell@munz.org.nz Organizer: Leanne Jackson Mobile: 021 652 885 Email: leanne.jackson@munz.org.nz

Assistant Secretary: Fiona Mansell Mobile: 022 302 3010 Nelson Secretary: Dean McNamara Mobile: 021 773 485 Email: nelson@munz.org.nz

Port Chalmers Dunedin Local 10 Secretary: Josh Greer Mobile: 027 348 2692 Email: local10munz@xtra.co.nz Bluff Secretary: Ray Fife Mobile: 027 4475317 Email: ray.fife@munz.org.nz

Reproduced with permission from Rod Emmerson and New Zealand Herald

The Million Dollar Man

By Russell Mayn Auckland Branch Secretary The situation at the Ports of Auckland should be the catalyst for change not only at Ports across New Zealand but across all companies in New Zealand.

The death of two stevedores La Boom Dyer and Pala’amo (Amo) Kalati at POAL was tragic for the families and for their workmates. To date, I have not seen the Board or the CEO in charge at the time of the deaths take responsibility.

The Chairperson at the time Liz Coutts was awarded Chairperson of the year and said she was “proud of what the company had achieved in her time on the Board.”

The next day POAL were convicted on health and safety charges in the Auckland Court and fined half a million dollars.

When questioned over Health and Safety failures, former CEO Tony Gibson responded he was not made aware of Health and Safety issues at the Port, and he did not know.

The Board has Governance responsibilities to monitor Health and Safety and the CEO has the same responsibilities, especially in a company where there have been ongoing issues.

Following the two deaths an independent review of Health and Safety was undertaken by CHASNZ on behalf of Auckland City who are the owners of POAL. The CHASNZ report was damning and uncovered systemic failures in Health and Safety. The Maritime Union of New Zealand has been extremely vocal on issues such as changes to rosters, hours of work, fatigue and bonuses for speed, from the time when they were introduced by former CEO Tony Gibson.

The introduction of these changes to work practices were forced on workers through the threat of redundancies and the use of lockouts, and a bitter struggle between management and our Union that took place a decade ago.

MUNZ members were only able to return to their jobs after a Court decision backed our Union’s case. MUNZ engaged Health and Safety experts from New Zealand and Australia. All of these experts warned the Port Company they were heading down a path where workers would be harmed and that the chances of a fatality at the Port were high.

These warnings were ignored by the Board and Management, the health and safety experts were belittled, and the march to increase productivity and profits rolled on. All of this was at the expense of workers – especially if you were brave enough to join our Union and fight for better and safer working conditions.

Following the changes to rosters and hours of work, an announcement was made that the Port would be automated. The favoured spin was the Port was too small to handle increased volumes of containers, and to service future demand, the container stacking areas would have to increase to a four high stacking capability.

The claim was automation was the only way this could be done. But there are numerous alternatives to automation, such as manual four high straddles or stacking cranes.

Ask any stevedore in New Zealand and they would have given you the answers, no need for consultants here.

MUNZ invited experts from the ITF Automation Committee to visit, who were astounded such a small operation as POAL would consider automation. One committee member asked “Are they mad?” Over six years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent and automation is still not running, the box rate at the Port is dismal and no one has been held to account.

The final straw for Union members at the Port was the massive pay out for CEO Tony Gibson who was collecting over $700,000 a year in salary anyway. Secrecy surrounds how a million dollar golden parachute was passed at Board level but the Chair Mr Osborne announced his retirement after the pay out was approved. The owners the Auckland City Council were unaware of the pay out to Mr Gibson, and have registered their disapproval and disagreement with it.

The dividend returned to the Council is marginal compared to pre-automation. The ex-CEO and POAL have been charged by Maritime New Zealand in relation to the death of Pala’amo Kalati.

There is no doubt there is one rule for some and a totally different set of rules for others. As one wag in the messroom said if I smash up a few straddles, drop the ball and resign do you think I am in line for a couple of million? Remuneration for upper management is out of control. We need to start having realistic packages and the Board should be made to answer how it allowed this pay out to happen – secrecy is not an option.

Good news following the CHASNZ review and a change of top management is the Health and Safety culture at the Port has taken a positive turn. There is still plenty of work to do, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

MUNZ calls for the resignation of all Board members who let this happen on their watch. Going forward we need worker representation on the Board. We require the introduction of safe and healthy shift rosters and a robust Health and Safety Policy. An enforceable “Code of Practice” that binds all Ports and employers is needed before another worker pays the ultimate price.

As of those who know me well, know that I am very big on networking and camaraderie and I truly believe that we are better off to work together when it comes to our two Unions, the RMTU and MUNZ. There is no denying that our two Unions have a sometimes rocky and colourful past, but in my eyes that is the past. As Fiona summed up in her speech you never forget your past, or where you came from, but it is up to us, whether we decided to learn and grow from it, and change for the better.

MUNZ and RMTU women in unity: from left, MUNZ National Women’s Rep Fiona Mansell, RMTU National Management Committee Women’s Rep Rebecca Hauck, Annie McCauley MUNZ Lyttelton Local 43

RMTU Women’s Forum 24 June 2021

By Annie McCauley 6092 It all started back in 2019 when we were lucky enough to attend the CTU Biannual Women’s Conference in Wellington and network with our Union sisters, especially our RMTU sisters. Let’s just say great friendships were made.

Fast forward to present day when I recently had one of our RMTU Sisters reach out and extend an invite to attend the RMTU Women’s Forum and to work with them to build bridges between our two Unions.

What can I say? I felt very privileged to have even been thought of, let alone invited, so immediately said yes.

Unfortunately, due to work commitments a few of my other comrades could not make it but both MUNZ National Women’s Rep Fiona Mansell and I went. I was not disappointed. What a brilliant day despite a few COVID obstacles to overcome!

This also resonates from a speaker we had back at the MUA Conference last year in March when he asked the 500 member plus strong Delegation who asked “What side of History do you choose to be on?”

I am not alone in aiming to think positive and to rebuild the rapport between our Unions. I agreed with RMTU Women’s Rep Rebecca Hauck and her statement that “this relationship is just the start of something fabulous.”

At the forum we were able to partake in a lot of networking and various discussions. One good conversation in particular was Karen Fletcher’s group session on menopause.

This was a somewhat awkward conversation, however it was extremely educational. It was interesting to learn of the restrictions that this event can create within the workplace and how basic needs are not always met by the employer. It was also very interesting to hear from the young women that were in the room.

Overall, it was a very productive day and I can not thank Rebecca Hauck and our RMTU sisters enough for the invitation. I hope MUNZ Women can follow your lead and have our own MUNZ Women’s Forum.

I am very excited and inspired for what our futures hold for the Women’s Movement within our respective Unions whilst also working alongside each other in Unity. Here’s to being on the right side of making History!

munz Online

www.munz.org.nz

All members of the Maritime Union of New Zealand are now covered by a $1,500 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit. This is an automatic membership benefit and is provided FREE by AIL Insurance.

In addition to this benefit, we are also offering members an additional $10,000 Accident Death Benefit, which costs just $2 for the first year (members may renew annually for just $5 thereafter.) You can continue this benefit into retirement or if you move to a different industry.

Milestone of Fifty Years on the Wharf

By Russell Mayn Auckland Branch Secretary Robert Powley, Stevedore at the Ports Auckland Container Terminal, celebrated fifty years on the wharf this year.

To take advantage of this offer, please enrol online at www.ailnz.co.nz/request , or call (09) 973 5254 to register your details.

You and your family may qualify for additional insurance benefits offered at this time. AIL is rated A (Excellent) for overall Financial Strength (as of 7/20, AM Best) and their programmes are offered to help our members. AIL can provide:

A breakfast function for Rob was held at the Ports of Auckland Container Terminal to acknowledge Rob’s feat of fifty years under the hook.

• Permanent Life cover for your whole family • Accident injury coverage (including sports injuries) • Cancer protection • Critical illness cover

Union members performed a Haka and several speeches followed with the presentation of a lashing bar gift made at the Engineering workshops.

All cover is on/off work, international, no occupational ratings, and benefits are paid in addition to ACC or other private schemes.

Rob is one of the very few remaining who were employed at the Waterfront Bureau where he used to sling his disk.

Work was very different – hand barrows, butter and meat vessels where ship holds were loaded manually.

You are under No Obligation at all. If you have any questions about these benefits, please call AIL on (09) 973 5254 or email: info@ailnz.co.nz .

Rob thanked his workmates and the union for fifty years of camaraderie. Many Wharfies around New Zealand would know Rob as a highly qualified First Aider and St Johns Ambulance Officer.

Maritime Union National Secretary Craig Harrison presented Rob with a certificate acknowledging his milestone of fifty years.

A Disclosure Statement is available at https://www.ailnz.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ AIL-NZ-Website-Disclosure.pdf

Book review Helen Kelly: Her life Rebecca Macfie (Awa Press) Helen Kelly died five years ago. She was the most high profile union leader of her generation in New Zealand.

Her death from cancer at a relatively young age was an obvious tragedy for family and friends, but also deprived New Zealand workers of a powerful advocate at a time of struggle to halt reversals and decline. If anything, that is the core of this book – a story of personal struggle in difficult times.

Biographer Rebecca Macfie was a good choice to tell the story. As an experienced and respected journalist who previously wrote a stunning book on the Pike River disaster, she focuses on the public life of her subject.

This is fitting, as Helen Kelly’s life was largely a public one, but the importance of her family background is not neglected.

Her father Pat Kelly was a high profile immigrant, a militant union leader who had gravitated towards the Communist Party. These were all qualities that ran against the grain of a small and conservative society. Her mother Cath came from the well-known Eichelbaum family, educated, cultured and with an unusual (for New Zealand) European and Jewish heritage. She shared Pat’s beliefs. They were part of a small but vibrant radical circle in Wellington – one close family friend was Dave Morgan. This environment moulded the young woman who was already well aware of the social and political issues of the day as a teenager. Describing this is one strong aspect of the book.

The 1970s and early 1980s saw a lot of industrial action in New Zealand and elsewhere. The left wing of the Union movement and the conservative Government of Rob Muldoon clashed. Events such as the Trades Hall bombing (and the death of caretaker Ernie Abbott) saw anti-union violence come to New Zealand, and the 1981 tour and anti-nuclear movement displayed bitter divisions in New Zealand society.

Helen trained as a kindergarten teacher but was soon involved in union activity and started work for the Early Childhood Workers Union. She briefly visited Moscow for a short journalism course at the time when the Soviet Union was collapsing. At the same time, back in New Zealand, the Fourth Labour Government was on its last legs, torn apart by the ideological war of Rogernomics. The new National Government elected in 1990 continued and extended the free market, right wing policies of Rogernomics. Unemployment was at crisis levels and a fire sale of public assets saw a transfer of wealth and power to an aggressive capitalist class. The labour movement was split both politically (Labour and Alliance) and industrially (CTU and TUF).

The Employment Contracts Act of 1991 was the centrepiece of this war on workers. It wrote unions out of legislation in a blatant attempt to destroy organized labour. The plan did not succeed, but for a time it seemed it might. Unions without strong active membership disappeared overnight. Even militant blue collar unions struggled to stay afloat. Thirty years later, the union movement is still here, but its power and role in society has been diminished. Blue collar unions such as MUNZ are the exception: most unions now represent professional workers in the public sector. A large part of Helen Kelly’s life work was about trying to rebuild and revitalize unions in industries where they had been decimated.

It was in this chaotic environment that she started her career, advancing through various jobs in public sector and educational unions as well as studying law.

The situation changed in 1999, with the election of a Labour–Alliance Government. Its initial reforming zeal was quickly cracked by an orchestrated campaign by business interests, and the Employment Relations Act reduced the pressure on Unions but certainly didn’t lead to a resurgence in numbers. Union membership remained low overall, but especially in blue collar private sector industries where many workers were exposed to dangerous conditions and poor wages.

In 2007, Helen Kelly was elected as CTU President, after giving serious consideration to standing for Parliament.

The election of the John Key led National Government in 2008 meant unions were on the outside once again.

It is this part of the book which gives a sense of the multiple fronts on which Helen Kelly, and the union movement, were fighting on. In 2010, there was a major employment dispute around the rights of movie workers on the Hobbit where she faced personalized attacks. The explosion at the Pike River Mine in 2010 was the worst industrial disaster in modern New Zealand history, and exposed the weakness of health and safety laws.

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Helen Kelly speaks at Ports of Auckland rally, 2012

She was heavily involved in a drawn out dispute between Talleys and the Meat Workers Union, and a battle to gain protection for workers in forestry and agriculture.

Helen Kelly front footed many of these campaigns and fought hard to show how they had roots in the way the New Zealand economy had been set up to exploit and disempower the working class. She also attempted to change the organizing model for New Zealand unions (with limited success).

Helen Kelly was a strong woman as anyone who had anything to do with her would acknowledge. She was intellectually formidable but there was a strongly emotional aspect to her leadership, which of course was what gave her the motivation and commitment that she displayed right up until her death. Sometimes her confidence could seem overbearing. I recall being given a couple of zingers from her due to my political disagreements with the ‘official line.’

One of the most testing disputes she was involved in was the 2011 and 2012 Ports of Auckland dispute. She had previously supported MUNZ in the Port of Napier dispute in 2007, and was well aware of the issues in the industry. The POAL campaign ramped up and after lockouts and a major campaign, the Employment Court ordered the company to halt the sacking of workers and trying to replace them with contractors. It was to take several years to finally get a new Collective Agreement, and the cost had been substantial to MUNZ. But the employers plan to deunionize the Auckland waterfront had failed.

One personal memory that stands out was when she visited Port Chalmers while in Dunedin on union business, and came out to speak to members at Port Otago, since she was in the neighbourhood. She walked around the corner with a grin and a wave – larger than life, full of energy, and happy to be with a group of workers whose values she shared to the last.

Many MUNZ members will have their own memories of someone whose life was so intertwined with the organized working class of New Zealand.

In 2015, Helen was diagnosed with cancer. In between treatments she travelled widely and kept up a heavy workload. She received an experimental treatment in Cuba and campaigned for cannabis law reform, using the drug to manage her symptoms. In October 2016, she died in Wellington.

This biography is a fitting testament to her work and integrity. It provides an even handed account of a full, committed life, and is sympathetic without becoming sentimental. It is also the story of the union movement over the last generation.

– Victor Billot

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1981 Tour remembered

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UNION HISTORY

By 1981 the National Government’s endorsement of the Springbok Tour of New Zealand turned New Zealand cities into armed camps with barbed wire around playing fields and police in riot gear. Seamen and watersiders were out in big numbers in every centre, along with other unionists. Seafarers took strike action in every main centre on the day of each test.

One of the most dramatic events was a pitch invasion shortly before the Springbok versus Waikato game was due to kick off in Hamilton.

Hector Thorpe President, Auckland Branch Local 13

I have always admired battlers, like union leader Dave Morgan, or activists John Minto, Sue Bradford, Tame Iti and many others as they put in the hard yards, in your face and behind the scenes for their cause, as they try to create meaningful change for the country (while in many cases becoming some of the most hated people in the country for their efforts.)

We recently had the fortieth anniversary of one of the most divisive events in New Zealand history, the 1981 Springbok Tour.

The struggle against apartheid went back to after the Second World War where the first anti-apartheid demonstration was held at Wellington with about thirty people, seamen and watersiders among them, who were sworn at and spat on as they marched from the Library to the Cenotaph.

They were led by one of the Nation’s most distinguished soldiers, Brigadier-General Sir Howard Kippenberger, who clumped along on calipers, having had his feet blown off by a landmine during the Italian campaign in 1944, in the last months of the Second World War. Kippenberger said “if it was good enough for Māori to fight and bleed and die on the battlefields of North Africa, it is good enough for them to play rugby on the sports fields of South Africa.”

It took a long time for this message to sink in, as the NZRFU continued to dance to the apartheid tune for another forty years.

A large group occupied the centre of the field in a tense standoff and the live media coverage put South Africa's apartheid regime at the centre of global attention.

The match was stopped before it even started.

Political activist and founding member of Halt All Racist Tours (HART) John Minto who led that protest says it was a special day although they did not realise at the time how significant it was. One veteran of the protests was Sir Tim Shadbolt who said the 1981 Springbok Tour was a historical event. “It was a victory in a way and changed New Zealand for the better … I’ll remember those days for the rest of my life.”

After the dust had settled in New Zealand, apartheid ended in South Africa in 1991 and the first free elections where all citizens voted regardless of race were in 1994.

Newly elected President Nelson Mandela was in Auckland in 1995 to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Mandela personified the long, hard struggle against apartheid and eventual victory, and he was attracting more interest at the time than the Queen.

Although it was good to see him recognised, it wasn’t so good the struggles against apartheid by New Zealand trade unionists including seafarers and watersiders were ignored.

Of the two hundred and seventy people invited by the then National Government to attend the State luncheon for Mandela, nobody was invited to represent a New Zealand trade union.

By 1960 the No Māori–No Tour campaign was gaining momentum. Trade unionists were among its prominent leaders. Seamen and waterfront workers were in the frontline in many battles. They regularly walked off ships and joined in local protest, against visiting Springbok teams, as did our comrades in Australian ports in 1973.

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Mike King Lyttelton August 2021 A massive thank you to MUNZ Lyttelton Branch, Lyttelton Port Company and the Lyttelton Rugby Club for getting us down to speak over the past few days.

Having so many of you guys turn up to listen shows you care about the well-being of your kids – our kids. Hope you enjoyed it. Hope you took some things away with you that will help our kids get to a better place. Love you guys.

– Mike King www.iamhope.org.nz

Wellington

By Jim King COVID KiwiRail–Interisland Line With the return of COVID, for KiwiRail–Interisland Line there were a few hiccups at the beginning when New Zealand went into Level 4. There were a lot of issues pertaining to rostering, and crew entitlements to Paid Pandemic Special Leave etc.

KiwiRail were pleased to report that the company has settled in to a steady rhythm of work, despite the threats and distractions that the Delta variant of COVID-19 was presenting, especially to those in Auckland.

KR continue to be impacted by staff needing to isolate, but that is so far being managed within teams. The ferries, freight services, are still continuing throughout the Covid Alert Levels 2 and 4. A couple of ferry services were cancelled due to breakdowns etc, this was compounded by a locomotive falling into Picton ferry berth along with two wagons.

If that wasn’t enough, the scheduled dry dock for the Aratere was delayed by a week, due to the Kaitaki’s gearbox breaking down. The end of August and the start of September was not a good period.

KiwiRail are currently working on ways to speed up vaccinations for staff. There were about 160 of Interislander staff vaccinated in a special clinic in the Interislander Departures terminal in Wellington. The company were saying they have more vaccinations available than we have arms to jab.

KiwiRail Wage Negotiations The first set of wage round talks is set down for 21 September. The MUNZ remit team was due to convene in our branch office to go over the remits on 2 September, but this was deferred due to COVID. Therefore, the MUNZ remit committee were emailed a copy of the remits and had been asked to have a good look over them. They have now come back to me with a full set of final claims to go to the employer.

OSM Peter Cranney is in the process of writing to OSM to ask them just exactly what contract were the MUA members employed under. There seems to be some confusion over just exactly which entitlement these members were receiving when the Siem Amethyst was working here in New Zealand waters back in April.

Swire’s – Offshore Solutions MUNZ attended a mediation hearing on 23 August.

This was to address issues surrounding our members that need to attend refresher STCW training courses at their own cost. We have now reached a confidential settlement and now consider this matter with Swire’s closed.

We now look forward to working with the remainder of the OEG to have constructive dialogue about recompensing members who are required to pay for their refresher courses while being employed with their company’s/manning agents.

StraitNZ (Bluebridge/Vessels) After a series of ratification meetings in August, the members voted to accept the company’s offer.

Bluebridge are currently looking for casual AB seafarers, along with Hospitality staff who hold the relevant STCW certificates. If your interested in a bit of casual work, please contact me.

Trainees The branch is looking for keen and interested young people who would like to go onto our trainee database.

Names are very slow to come in.

I have asked many times at our stop work meetings, National Council, and through the branch newsletter, and still not having much success.

Therefore, please ask your family and friends if they would like to be considered to ship out as a trainee.

If so please have them submit their CV to me so I can put their names into our database.

Obituaries Maurice Robertson (IR) Maurice was a long-standing member of our Union, was actively involved as a delegate and also a very good Health and Safety Rep. Maurice was also my watchmate on the Arahura for a couple of years, and was a very fine watchmate and seafarer. Be at peace brother.

John Coombs Former National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia and a massively important figure in the MUA and the broader union movement in Australia and internationally, John spent his life representing the interests of working people whom he cared for deeply.

Aratere in dry dock in Sydney, September 2021

Wellington Branch Elections

NIWA

Nominations received as follows:

NIWA had a Teams Meeting with all unions on Tuesday 17 August, and the offer was taken back to our members for ratification. The members voted overwhelming to accept NIWA’s offer.

Branch President: Tony Mowbray (Elected unopposed) Branch Vice President: Marian Lesslie (Elected unopposed) Branch Secretary Treasurer: Jim King (Elected unopposed) Assistant Branch Secretary: Fiona Mansell (Elected unopposed) Wellington Branch Executive Committee (All elected unopposed): William Brockway (Youth Rep) Zyana Maki (Wellington Women’s Rep) Paul Baggott Sarah Chapman Bradley Clifford (Ports) Jason Penny (Ports) Lynette Payne Makere Taurima Les Taylor Kenneth Walsh These candidates have now been declared elected by Branch Returning Officer John Whiting.

Wellington Branch Stop Work Meetings The next Stop Work Meeting is 10am Monday 11 October 2021, to be held at the National Office, 1st floor Waterside House in the conference room.

Wellington Database The numbers: 18 X IR’s & AB’s, 3 X Cooks, 7 X Stewards Current wage rounds Offshore Oil & Gas April – Current – Rejected StraitNZ Bluebridge (Vessels) – June – Accepted NIWA – CPI Review August 2021 (Accepted) Kiwirail – Initiated Bargaining 30 July 2021 StraitNZ – (Picton Terminal) August 2021 Negotiation Mode

Offshore Employers Group (OEG) The OEG’s offer in the June 2021 wage rounds has been overwhelmingly rejected by the members. Moving forward, we are now in the process of looking at our alternatives. We have been liaising with our legal team on this issue.

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MUNZ member Alan Harkness working on the Kaiarahi. Legend!

Another day in paradise.

Wellington Branch marks the passing of Peter “Pedro” Fox, ex James Cook, Shipping Corp, Interislander ferries.

Vale John Coombs (1940-2021) The Maritime Union of New Zealand has sent its respects to our Australian brothers and sisters of the MUA on the death of former MUA National Secretary John Coombs who passed away on 1 September at the age of 81.

John Coombs was national secretary and was a hugely important figure in the MUA and the broader union movement in Australia and internationally. He spent his life representing the interests of working people whom he cared for deeply.

ITF assist distressed seafarer The New Zealand ITF inspectorate recently assisted with the repatriation of a sick seafarer to the Ukraine. The seafarer aboard the MV Louise contacted MUNZ and ITF as his ship was coming into the Port of Tauranga. He had been suffering ongoing back pain for 4 months after working doing heavy lifting. He had not been permitted off the vessel previously due to COVID restrictions.

A visit to the doctor was arranged in Tauranga and tests were carried out at the hospital. There were some serious problems due to communication issues but he was eventually informed he had a large kidney stone. He was also seen by psychiatrists due to his distress.

Best known to the public as the leader of the MUA during the divisive 1998 Patrick waterfront dispute, John joined the Waterside Workers Federation in 1968 and became WWF delegate for Consolidated Cargo Care in 1972.

He was instrumental in setting up the Waterside Workers Credit Union where he was chair for 27 years and the Stevedoring Superannuation Fund which he also chaired.

MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said “John will be greatly missed, a person of courage and character and enjoying the great wit and sense of humour of the Australian waterfront. He was tough and courageous in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and was a lightning rod for galvanizing actions against injustice and elitism, but also for aspirations of a genuine vision for Australian political, social, economic and industrial rights based on access and true process”.

Following intervention by New Zealand ITF inspector Grahame MacLaren, the company agreed to repatriate the seafarer who left the country after being transported in quarantine. Grahame says the crew member was very happy and relieved, as was his 7 months pregnant wife at home. Repatriation and all medical costs are on the company as are his basic wages until he recovers.

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Nelson

Lyttelton update

By Dean McNamara Nelson Branch Christmas Function 2021

By Shanaya Hunter National Youth Rep

This year our Christmas function will be held at: The Honest Lawyer 1 Point Road, Monaco, Nelson Friday 10 December, 5PM – Midnight Food, Drinks, Entertainment and Courtesy Coach provided.

It’s been a hectic few months for our branch. We have started our charter for our High Performance, High Engagement journey.

Accommodation is available at the venue at a discounted rate of $129.00 per night for a king room. Roll-out beds can be provided for children.

If you live in Picton, Blenheim, Kaikoura, or Westport make up a group and come over to Nelson and join in the festivities.

Contact one of the Nelson Branch officials ASAP if you want accommodation as bookings over Christmas are in demand.

COVID update for Lyttelton

By Gary Horan Lyttelton Branch Secretary The recent COVID lockdown has brought forward the situation regarding vaccinations in the port, LPC are 95% vaccinated, SSA are 100%, Apsl/Owens are 100% and the Tunnel control are 99%.

These are encouraging numbers, if members don’t want to be vaccinated they have to be rostered into non frontline positions.

Some companies can do this, and some can’t. LPC are placing all non-vaccinated workers into straddle driving roles to comply with the Government health order.

This is indefinite and although it is frustrating for some members it is a Government health order and must be complied with.

The Union supports the vaccination of frontline staff, but we will look to support in anyway that is possible members who decline vaccination. At some other ports there are no non-frontline positions and this could lead to loss of jobs.

All the companies in port seem to be busy and are employing new staff and we are picking up new members.

Port Presence – Lyttelton Port Company are introducing software and infrastructure to implement swipe-in/swipe-out so they can manage on site safety and security. While we hope this won’t be used in the future to monitor our comings and goings and used as evidence against our members, they do require this for maritime and health and safety laws.

We are currently working through fatigue management with the port company to establish a fatigue management standard and to develop tools and resources to help ensure staff get adequate rest between shifts. Our delegates, health safety reps and foremen are going through sleep science training before beginning the working groups who will work through the standard and guidelines to see how these will apply to our work areas.

We are getting very positive turnouts to our bi-monthly meetings with the exception of lockdown of course. I can’t stress enough how important it is to get to your local meetings. This is your opportunity to have your say but to also hear about what is affecting our Union around the country and in other industries and what is happening in your local branch. Remember we are not mind readers and can’t solve problems if we don’t know about them. Your local executive is not the union, all members are our union so have your say and get those answers! We are here for a reason.

It has been positive to see some of our youth turn up to meetings and I hope to see more because it is our future on the waterfront and at sea and we want to protect the current conditions if not improve them. Our branch membership is growing and we’re certainly getting a lot of younger members joining at the Port Company which is positive.

These local events and functions are important to growing our membership and increasing our branding to show the importance of getting involved in your branch and continuing the fight. I encourage any youth in MUNZ to get in touch if you have any problems or issues you want raised, or even just to say hello!

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Lyttelton members competing in GODzone the biggest adventure race in New Zealand. This is a 7 day event. Well done to our competitors from left Jaega Banga, David Rose (Cargo handlers LPC), Kendra Roddis (Logistics Officer LPC), Jonny Brewer (Cargo handler RMTU) MUNZ Lyttelton members and local firefighters Peter Lauryssens (left) and Craig Smith (right) who did the Auckland Sky Tower stair challenge and successfully raised $1,357 for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ

Our comrade Maui Makino Koopu (left) put in the Mahi at the South Island powerlifting championship. Impressive effort for 24-year-old Maui.

287.5 kg squat 180 kg bench press 290 kg Deadlift

Thanks to Shanaya Hunter from Lyttelton Branch for these pics and captions

Gerard Loader (Lyttelton President) and Nick Thompson (branch member) pictured here both competed in the 60km Bridge to Bridge Mountain bike race from the Waimakariri Gorge to Kaiapoi. Well done, amazing effort!

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Lyttelton

It was bloody hard work and took a lot of texts to Mike, emails to his wife and planning dates with the Loons Club to make sure we didn’t double book.

By Gerard Loader Lyttelton Branch President Hello Comrades As with the rest of New Zealand COVID is changing the landscape here in Lyttelton port of Christchurch. We have been put into four separate work group “bubbles” while in Levels 3 and 4, and some of Level 2, so as to maintain 24/7 operations in the port.

We have a 40 minute break between shifts so the amenities can be deep cleaned before the next group comes in. Most overtime is cancelled except for second shift on Tuesday, with a whole group starting one day early.

I haven’t received as many complaints about the set up as with the first nationwide lockdown as the members have accepted that it is a small price to pay to keep our service to Canterbury and the wider community going.

It is pleasing to note that our frontline workers (Cargo handlers, Foreman, Security, Civil and Marine) are at a 95% immunization rate. Well done to the membership of both the main unions in Port Lyttelton.

With COVID, all talks with LPC regarding fatigue, HPHE (High performance, high engagement) and cultural change have been put on hold as to minimize cross contamination.

Personally, this is quite refreshing as Mike Searle (Roadkill) Shanaya Hunter, Steve Thompson, Gary Horan and myself have just politely had a gutsful of meetings about the last meeting to plan the next meeting.

Yes, corporate culture is alive and well in LPC and it is our job in these meetings to keep management honest and to keep it real. We are a 24/7 role, not a Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5pm operation. We are there to protect our membership from their “I’ve had a vision” rubbish they try to get across the table.

I had the pleasure (sic) of putting together three events featuring Mike King for all LPC employees, MUNZ members, Rugby club members and the wider Lyttelton and Christchurch community.

After listening to Mike at our 2020 National conference I approached LPC about funding him to come down, MUNZ would supply the Hall and the Lyttelton Rugby Club supply the nibbles.

To my delight LPC said “Yes, that’s a great idea” and we put the wheels in motion. I am pleased and proud to report that the three events were sold out (they were free) and we managed to raise $1640 for the Rugby Club wellbeing fund on which I am a trustee of.

I have received positive feedback from all corners of the community with some members and even management opening up to me about their own struggles. All in all a pretty humbling experience and my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this happen.

On a more solemn note on 28 August we marked the seventh anniversary of the passing of our former president Brad Fletcher in an industrial accident in the Lyttelton container terminal.

It was a more private affair this year as we mentioned and talked about him at each tool box at shift start that day, finishing with a moments silence in remembrance before we went to work.

Brad was a larger-than-life figure who was humble, compassionate and willing to do anything for anyone. He was a proud and committed father, husband, son, uncle and friend to many. He served the Lyttelton fire brigade for 23 years, just two years short of his gold star.

I had the privilege of spilling blood with him on the Rugby field in our younger days. He was a gentle giant on the field to the point where more than once I had to give him a sneaky punch or kick to fire him up for 10 minutes when the team needed “Big Bad Brad” – hahahaha. BBB “Me old mate for life”, rest in peace friend, team member, comrade.

Comrades, please look after yourself especially in these trying times that we are all going through. Don’t be afraid to ask how your mates, co-workers, partners and children are coping with things because as Kiwis we are shocking at opening up unless prodded. You never know your caring gesture might be all that person needed to feel better about things. Be safe and be kind to each other.

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When Winky joined the union we had a South Island Tournament and a North Island Sports tournament each year. As numbers dropped off for those attending the separate tournaments, particularly the South Island, it was decided to combine the two and have a National Tournament each year in February at a different port each year.

The first tournament this happened was in New Plymouth some 20 years ago, and Port Chalmers sent three members to it – Phil Adams, Cyril MacWilliam and Winky Waugh. This started the tournament being a national event.

Vale Graham (Winky) Waugh

By Phil Adams Graham Stuart Waugh, known to all as Winky, passed away on 19 September 2021 after a long battle with cancer. Winky joined the waterfront in 1982 and retired 35 years later in 2017.

Up until the demise of the Waterfront Industry Commission Winky did all classes of work from conventional to terminal work including driving heavy machinery in the terminal at Port Chalmers.

After the demise of the Waterfront Industry Commission Winky was lucky enough to be picked up by Port Otago to work solely in the terminal and he retired from there 35 years later.

During his time with Port Otago Winky drove straddles, side loaders, forklifts, was hatchman, lander and a few years before he retired he was used consistently as a team leader on vessels as his experience was invaluable, particularly with so many new entrants entering our industry. He was well liked and respected for this.

Early this year I had a call from a local retired member who attended a lot of these tournaments who suggested given Winky’s tireless work and long tenure of being on the Maritime Union Sports Council that he be nominated for a life membership of the Council.

After some phone calls to other long term respected members of the council, all agreed on life membership given Winky’s sterling contribution over the years.

In February this year at the Lyttelton Tournament in Christchurch he was presented with the life membership of the Sports Council. Those present could see it meant a great deal to Wink as he was quite emotional and all were in agreement it was a well deserved honour.

In all organisations we need people the likes of Wink who volunteer their services for the good of their members. I know Wink was passionate about the sports tournament and all those who attended and will be sadly missed at future tournaments.

RIP Wink, you were one of a kind and the sports tourneys will not be the same. I know you would want them to continue and we are confident they will on and into the future.

Winky took a great interest in the sporting side of our Union and was our branches sports rep for well over 20 years and served on the Maritime Union National Sports Council for about the same length of time.

His role in looking after the golf side of things at tournaments was well received by all at the tournaments and he was extremely popular at these events.

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1951: Lyttelton watersiders meeting

1951 Lockout commemorated: event planned for Lyttelton

By Gary Horan Lyttelton Branch Secretary Chairperson of the Canterbury Socialist Society Tom Roud approached me about the 70th anniversary of the 1951 lockout and how we should commemorate this.

We contacted the Loons Club Committee, and we are looking at a weekend celebration on the 12–14 November.

At this stage a party with a band for the Saturday night and a BBQ for the Sunday afternoon, and an historic movie showing on the Friday or Sunday night. To be confirmed when things are finalized subject to COVID. The Loons Club was born out of the 1951 lockout as the then Lyttelton Waterfront Workers’ Social Club sold the building to the Lyttelton Working Men’s Club for one pound to stop the Government seizing the building.

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The Loons Club was originally comprised of wharfies, seafarers and locals who supported them during the dispute. These days the membership is from all walks of life in Lyttelton.

The present Committee is doing a great job promoting the venue and the partnership we have with them is a great indication of the bond that has always been there between our Union and the Loons.

Having our MUNZ Lyttelton branch office back in such an historic building is a fitting and respectful way to honour our past members who did so much to make our union into what it is today.

Older Seafarers will remember having stop work meetings there and Xmas functions back in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The Loons Club was built in 1947 by the Lyttelton wharfies for their social club. My grandfather Bill Smith was one of the original builders.

In 1951, the then National Government and Prime Minister Sid Holland locked out the wharfies for refusing to work overtime from 6pm to 9pm discharging lampblack unless they were paid a halfpenny penal rate.

Lampblack is an extremely dirty and toxic material.

Wharfies of the day started at 7am and worked until 5pm, had an hour for tea and came back for overtime from 6pm to 9pm. Working lampblack took them so long to clean up after that they wanted a small payment to compensate.

The employers with the backing of the Government locked them out. Rank and file Seafarers supported the wharfies, as did the Miners Union and other workers.

The dispute lasted for 151 days from February to July 1951. The Government passed a law that if you supported a locked-out worker or his family with food or any kind of support you were liable to prosecution.

The lockout was not a victory for the Union movement as the loyal members of the time had no recourse but to vote to return to work after a long, bitter struggle. There were bitter memories, and families and communities were split for many years. The “Scabs” were called that on the Lyttelton waterfront the whole time they worked there, and some hotels in Lyttelton would not serve them right up to the 1990’s.

Our Union then gained conditions over the years and learned a lot about disputes because of the 1951 lockout.

The National Government of the time orchestrated the dispute to call an early election and blame all the woes of the country on the locked out unionists. Sadly, they were returned to power with an increased majority.

Our forebears’ struggles gained us the conditions we have today. We are lucky to be part of such a great Union that has been through the hard times and the good. MUNZ was formed by the amalgamation of two of the strongest and proudly militant unions in New Zealand. Nothing is gained without struggle, and we are fortunate to be part of such an historic union. Our logo is worn with pride by us all and whether on a cap or shirt is sought after by other union’s members.

Attend meetings, engage with your delegates and reps, and remember, we are a democratic Union where the majority decides. Not everyone will agree with some decisions, but the strength of our union is we all acknowledge this democratic process and whether you agree or not, we abide by any democratic decision made.

At the old Union hall on the waterfront in Lyttelton there was a large sign on the wall “UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL” – this is just as true now as it was back in those days. As I said before we are lucky to be part of our Union, but our Union needs us all to participate to stay strong.

There is a story of a New Zealand coastal ship in port for the duration of the lockout and the cook had a huge pot of soup going every day and fed the locked-out unionists.

Apparently the pot was never emptied but constantly topped up, or so the story goes, at the end of the lockout the pot was cleaned out and there was cans of Nugget and all sorts in the pot but everyone liked the soup.

Loyalty cards were presented to all members who stayed staunch through the whole lockout and were the most prized possessions of unionists of the time.

The Loons Club today

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Bread and Butter of life: Using Rippa Rugby as a tool to learn to read

By Brendan Hoani Nolan Lyttelton Branch Local 43 In 2019, I had just returned from a professional rugby coaching role in Russia with my family and was lucky enough to get my role at Port of Lyttelton as a Civil Maintenance Carpenter. My son has grown up around rugby teams and it was only natural for him to gravitate towards Rippa rugby. My wife Gina is team manager.

This is when the Sea Pups were born 2020 with Lyttelton Rugby Club and 2021 with CFC. We do our best to provide a safe, happy, positive space to help these young kids become better people using the values of: Manaakitanga (MAR-NAR-KEY-TOUNGUE-AH) uplifting the mana of others, being kind and caring.

Kotahitanga (COR-TAR-HE-TOUNGUE-AH) A sense of togetherness through working together.

Manawaroa (MAH-NAH-WAH-ROW-AH) It is about displaying courage, bravery, resilience and striving towards achieving your best.

At the start of training we allow a window of 15 minutes for our kids to read. This was challenging at first as all they want to do is run around and play. First we started with them reading to parents/caregivers, we are now at the stage of the kids getting their books out and sitting on the magic mat and peer reading.

It also shows that they are starting to understand sharing, listening and being respectful of each other.

This programme keeps parents/caregivers and children connected through Rippa rugby and books. Player of the day gets to take home the B.R.E.A.D book and write a story about what their experiences of Rippa rugby have been so far.

Nahau te rourou Naku te rourou Ka ora ai te manuhiri With your basket of knowledge and my basket of knowledge the people will prosper

Balls / Books Read Enjoy Achieve Dreams THE MARITIMES 34

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Maritime Union of New Zealand youth delegates at the Council of Trade Unions/Stand Up Youth Conference, Christchurch, August 2021

Maritime Union of New Zealand womens delegates at the Council of Trade Unions Womens Conference, Wellington, July 2021