Hitting the Target

In July 2022 I attended the Australian Skeet National Championships in Wagga Wagga. It was a fantastic competition, by far the largest I have attended. With over 140 competitors who qualified to compete, including all the Australian state teams, the New Zealand team and a few internationals to keep it interesting.

I managed to attain a bronze medal, finishing 3rd A grade in the major 12 gauge event. Also finishing with a silver medal, 2nd in the champion of champions event, which is an overall combination of scores from all events shot; including the 12, 20, 28 and 410 gauge’s.

I’d like to thank The Maritime Union of New Zealand (in particular Port Chalmers Branch Local 10), Port Otago and all my fellow workmates who wished me well in the competition.

Thanks again for your generous financial support and all the well wishes. – Mike Ashton, Port Chalmers Branch

ContainerCo Tauranga ratification

SELWYN RUSSELL

Mount Maunganui – Tauranga

Firstly I wish to give my apologies for only being mainly available from home, as I am awaiting an hip operation. It’s extremely painful walking and going up and down stairs are not advised by the doctor. I have been able to attend local disciplinaries and bargaining meetings. Sulphur Point I am pleased to state that I have signed 8 members from Sulphur Point shore cranes with C3 and have a meeting with them and the bosses soon. C3 Stevedores Plenty of work here, we have initiated bargaining and currently about to select dates for bargaining. SSA Getting more members here as the workload increasing with new contracts and supporting C3 and ISL when short, contract was ratified and accepted. Container Co This has been a drawn-out bargaining what with sickness to all. We had a terms of settlement that has been ratified by the members this week. And pleased to state they have all unanimously agreed to accept the deal with genuine increases. Ballance We have just met last week and was advised of an upturn within their business and confidence is high. We are hoping to get Terms of Settlement to take back to members. We also picked up another 4 members here, and we are hoping for a result here very soon.

So numbers are on the way up with regular numbers increasing, the fact is its becoming a real struggle for companies to employ stevedores especially with the hours they do. All employers are complaining but if they increased the wages I don’t think it would be a problem. Seafarers It is great to hear of the movement to get coastal shipping back with MUNZ members on ships. Now we need some young members to apply for training. If any MUNZ members or family members would like a career in the Merchant Navy ring me as there is maybe a genuine chance in the future by training up seafarers for the new ships about to come on coast.

To our many individuals please do not hesitate to contact myself for any assistance needed on 0274782308

JIM KING

Wellington

KiwiRail – Interisland Line As we all know there is a shortage of AB’s and Cooks in the KiwiRail fleet. KR-IIL are actively seeking to appoint new people to these positions. Some months ago, MUNZ and KR-IIL discussed giving the opportunity to Catering Attendants who wish to be considered for training in the role of a cook. MUNZ embraces this initiative and welcomes the day when this comes to fruition. Scheduled ship outages InterIslander has confirmed a number of scheduled ship outages planned through to the end of September.

Works are to undertake maintenance and necessary maritime compliance checks required to run a safe shipping operation.

KR-IIL will continue to provide capacity at all times by staggering when the ships are scheduled to be out of service in to meet customer demand.

Over the next two months, the Aratere will undergo a “wet dock” followed by the Kaitaki travelling to Sydney for its regular drydock servicing, during which time the Valentine would be providing freight capacity.

Repair works to the Kaiarahi, which is currently laid up in Picton, are supposedly “progressing well. KR-IIL are awaiting the arrival of some final parts being specially manufactured in the United States. A resumption of service date will be announced in the near future.

As we are all too aware the KR-IIL is currently experiencing high levels of staff sickness due to COVID and the flu.

IIL say they are recruiting to ensure they have a full staff establishment ahead of the peak freight and passenger season which typically ramps up from October. Lashing gangs There is an increasing momentum coming from the high echelons of Kiwirail–InterIslander to have shorebased lashing gangs working on the KR Ferries.

Not only have I spoken to KR-on several occasions, but I have also outlined my concerns in writing, and that is there needs to be dialogue ASAP.

These discussions were meant to have been dealt with in the KR-IIL industrial Council forum, but because of KR-IIL’s persistence in wanting to utilise some of the AB crew from the Aratere when their vessel is laid up, to help with lashing of cargo on the other ferries, it has been decided by both parties we need to talk sooner rather than later. At this stage, talks are set down for 23 August.

The MUNZ team is made up of Jim King, Tony Mowbray, Kenny Walsh, Jack Thomason, and Paul Baggott. Seafarers Death Benefit Discussions took place at the National Council meeting with regards to the pay-outs that Waterside Workers and

New Members

Please welcome the following new MUNZ members. INTERISLANDER: Kevin Lightband, Moiogo Haleti, James Teatao, Kilisi Lemalie, Sophie Forsyth, Malota Tealei, Bernard Pedersen, Daniel Fabro, Teilah Stowers-Tuisano, Mere Tane, ChiehNing Wang, Tiori Rawhiti, Alysha Nawele, Steven Howard, Ana Espenila, Kim Figuracion, Nadia Sziranyi, Mau Teali, Joanne Smith. STRAIT-SHIPPING NZ: Jack Gerring, Katherine Daly, Tayla-May Mullen, Jennifer Dunlop. C3 WELLINGTON: Bernard Nepia, Heiko Bains, Joe Apiata, Elisama Lauesi, Carol Stewart, Puti Taukin, O’Sheenly White CENTERPORT LTD: Tain Tipiwai-Winterburn. TOTAL: 31 new members, keep up the great work comrades!

their whanau receive if they die on the job. When a seafarer dies on the job, the MRS allocates 15K to the next of kins whanau, this ordinarily pays for funeral costs etc.

When a Watersider dies on the job, the figure is somewhere in the vicinity of 250K, so questions were put to see if there’s anything the trustees could for the seafaring section, such as maybe raising the death benefit entitlement to receive the same figure as Watersiders.

After a bit of discussion, it was our understanding the Watersiders and their employers contribute a portion of their superannuation contributions to a death cover scheme, but unfortunately our seafarers and their employers do not. Hence the discrepancy in the death cover pay-out.

This topic is being discussed at the next MRS Trustee committee meeting to see if we can find a way forward. Offshore

Kingston: MV Leeuwin (DSV) is scheduled to come to New Plymouth sometime in September. The campaign is due to last approximately 200 days. Atlas: A lot of names were forwarded to Atlas for the Maersk vessels. Hopefully they have taken a few of the names we submitted.

NIWA: First set of wage rounds were held 28 June at NIWA. MUNZ attended the wage rounds by Teams meeting.

Like almost all other companies, NIWA is pleading that there is no money and that have constraints imposed upon them from the State Services Commission (SSC), stating they need to be very mindful of any pay increases that are negotiated this year. This same request has also been sent out countrywide to all Government departments. Wellington Database Wellington numbers are high now but will reduce over time due to the picking of the two Maersk vessels. Wellington Branch Stop Work Meeting Next Stop Work Meeting set down for Monday 12 September, to be held at the National Office Conference room, 10am first floor, Waterside House. Wage rounds current NIWA (Ratification Mode)

Maritime Union National Council meeting, July 2022, Waterside House, Wellington