MARITIMES
The magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand JULY 2021
Automation woes at Ports of Auckland
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Contents 3
National Secretary’s Report
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Ports of Auckland
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Siem Amethyst
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Coastal shipping
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Phil Adams retirement
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Marsden Point
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Branch reports
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Interport 2021
The Maritimes is the official magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand ISSN 1176-3418 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
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PO Box 27004 Wellington 6141 Phone (04) 3850792 Website www.munz.org.nz
NATIONAL SECRETARY
Lots going on in our industry Craig Harrison National Secretary
The last several months have been extremely busy for our Union and our members. I’ve visited many of our ports recently. There have been some good conversations about where we can make some progress in building our membership. POAL We have had major issues at Ports of Auckland, both around health and safety reports and management, plus the serious congestion at the Ports that have caused major problems throughout the New Zealand supply chain. However, change is in the air. The CEO of Ports of Auckland Tony Gibson has recently resigned. The Maritime Union will work with new management going forward, as long as it is on a basis of respect and acceptance of the role of our Union as the representative of workers at the Ports. Coastal Shipping MUNZ has been actively working on our coastal shipping campaign. There has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes. MUNZ officials have met with the Minister of Transport, Government officials and other stakeholders in the maritime industry. We’re seeing a change in attitude post–COVID as the need for supply chain security and local solutions has become more important. We have identified two major areas where coastal shipping has potential. One is as a financial and social investment for iwi, and the other is the growing support for shipping as the most environmentally friendly transport mode. As another aspect of fixing the New Zealand transport system, MUNZ has been advocating a national ports strategy.
At the moment, we have a chaotic situation in New Zealand ports where congestion has resulted from poor planning and decades of “leave it to the market” deregulation. All it took was an international shock in the form of COVID-19 to expose how weak and vulnerable our supply chain is. It is obvious that ports in New Zealand need to be pulling together rather than competing with each other for shortterm gains. National Council The first MUNZ national council since our 2020 Conference was held recently with good representation from branches. It was good to welcome youth and women members, many at their first national meeting, as well as two members from ISO in Tauranga. Upgrading our systems MUNZ has a number of projects on the go at the national level. Our Union has recently employed a Tauranga-based organizer Leanne Jackson who will be working up and down the East Coast to build membership. This model may be replicated in other regions. There is an ongoing upgrade of our IT and membership systems which was embarked on last year. Over the rest of 2021 these new systems will start to be rolled out. There is also good progress on developing a new basiclevel union education and training course. This will be “going live” later in 2021 with larger branches but with the intention to bring members in from smaller ports. The goal of this training is to give those attending a good understanding of how our Union works, key parts of employment and health and safety law, and the tools and confidence to go back to their workplace and act as a delegate and workplace leader for our Union. Long service Our Union has seen the retirement or upcoming retirement of several long standing stalwarts from the industry. Phil Adams, Mick Williams, and Kenny Knox have all recently received life memberships of the Union. We also acknowledge the long service of Rob Powley who has recently celebrated 50 years on the Auckland waterfront, and the many years of national service of former National Vice President Selwyn Russell who stood down to concentrate on his branch duties.
It was good to welcome many new faces including women and youth representatives at our recent MUNZ National Council meeting
By Victor Billot The crisis at New Zealand’s main port came to a head in early 2021, with a damning report into health and safety coming on top of ongoing congestion and major delays in an automation project. Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson resigned in May 2021, after major ructions and public anger made his position “untenable.” Auckland City, the owners of POAL, and the Transport Minister Michael Wood have made it clear they expect a different path in the future. The Ports now faces a long and difficult path to get back on track. The question remains how one of the country’s most important transport hubs got things so badly wrong. Systemic failings Ports of Auckland management have been slated in a major report that found its health and safety culture had systemic failings. This was just one strand of multiple issues that have seen the Ports struggling in recent times.
Systemic failure: how things went wrong at Ports of Auckland
The release of the independent report into health and safety came after several deaths at the Ports in recent years, and was commissioned by the owners of POAL – Auckland City. Following a disastrous press conference in the wake of the report’s release, Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson went to ground, refusing to answer questions despite being the head of a major publicly-owned enterprise. A stopwork meeting of MUNZ members at the Ports of Auckland in April this year voted no confidence in Tony Gibson as CEO, and a community delegation delivered a letter asking that Tony Gibson resign to Ports of Auckland management.
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Position “not tenable”
Management must be accountable
Journalist Andrea Vance wrote in the aftermath of the report that the CEO’s position was “not tenable.”
Our Union says until managers and Boards of Directors are held personally accountable for deaths and injuries caused by poor safety, nothing will change. That is why we have committed to campaigning for stronger laws around corporate manslaughter.
“Firstly, because he failed in a moral obligation to protect staff … Secondly, the man who oversaw ‘a culture of retribution’ cannot be entrusted to implement an adequate health and safety regime.” The Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff, who commissioned the report, said he had been disturbed by what he had found out about the Ports health and safety. “The port was twice convicted for the fatalities of the first two cases where the investigations are complete – that tells me that there needs to be change at the port.” The report made a number of recommendations, including new requirements for the Ports’ chief executive to prioritise safety over productivity and profitability, improving trust and communication between management and staff, and for a new health and safety manager to report directly to the CEO and Board. Minister of Transport Michael Wood stepped in with a statement demanding action at the Ports. “There have been prosecutions which have successfully gone through the courts, which has spoken to a failure to follow through on the duties that are imposed on the Ports of Auckland as an employer. That is unacceptable,” he said. “Did not know” what was happening Despite the findings, and an admission from CEO Tony Gibson he “did not know” what had been happening at the Ports during a press conference, it appeared the plan was to wait out the media furore and keep on in his role with the support of the Board. There seemed to be a disconnect at the Management and Board level of POAL about how the situation was playing out in public, with Chair Bill Osborne locked into a strategy of defending his CEO no matter how indefensible the situation was. The idea of placing the same leader in charge of fixing the problems he presided over was a very bad look. The Council were obviously furious at the situation. The Maritime Union had repeatedly warned that practices at the port would end in workers being hurt. Now MUNZ led calls that a culture change was required at POAL – starting with the CEO being replaced.
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The issues at the POAL had their roots in the aggressive anti-union agenda of management and in particular CEO Tony Gibson, whose decade long reign was marked by major industrial disputes. The attacks on the Union peaked during the Ports of Auckland dispute in 2011 and 2012 when there was an attempt to sack the workforce – a tactic that eventually failed, although the cost to the Union was heavy. The “Save Our Port” campaign ground on for months, with a massive march along the Auckland waterfront, and major media coverage. The ITF under the leadership of Paddy Crumlin declared Auckland a “port of convenience” and major international solidarity efforts were made by the MUA and ILWU. The late Helen Kelly, then CTU President, played a pivotal role in supporting the campaign. A changed situation The damage to the morale of the workforce and the cost to POAL both financially and in its public standing were extreme. The outcome was an aggressively anti-union management culture contributed to an environment where productivity was put before health and safety. However, as time progressed, union membership has increased at the Ports of Auckland. The agenda to create a deunionized Port was eventually defeated. Time has moved on and in the post–COVID world, the free market ideology of the 1980s and 1990s has been buried by history. The need for social responsibility and security has been recognized as more important than the short-term, “profit first” mind set. But further change is needed. We can’t afford to have another Ports of Auckland, where unaccountable management were allowed to get away with unacceptable practices for so long.
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Local jobs at risk in offshore industry A local crew in the Taranaki offshore industry have been pushed out by overseas owned agents OSM – but the Maritime Union is fighting back for local jobs. Maritime Union Wellington Branch Secretary Jim King says five crew members working aboard the ‘Siem Amethyst’ had been expected to accompany the vessel back to Asia in May 2021 at the conclusion of its charter. Four of the crew were New Zealanders and one was a Maritime Union of Australia member covered by the same terms and conditions of employment. The ‘Siem Amethyst’ had been working in the Taranaki offshore having been delivered by a crew from Asia earlier this year. However, without the knowledge of crew or Union, crewing agency OSM had secretly kept the overseas seafarers in New Plymouth in accommodation for several months and had now given them the job of crewing the vessel on its return voyage.
Mr King says the long standing arrangement as per the employment agreement was New Zealand crews would do this work. He says industrial and legal action was in the pipeline, and the dispute was already on the radar across the Tasman with the Maritime Union of Australia whose members work for OSM in that jurisdiction. Our Union position is that OSM is undermining the New Zealand maritime industry, and is creating a major problem in the offshore industry. Mr King makes it clear the dispute is not with overseas crew members. “This dispute is with an overseas owned company profiting off our natural resources but attacking local jobs and decent wages and conditions.” He says the one motive is pure corporate greed, as the motive was the extra profit from inferior terms and conditions. The Maritime Union has approached the Government to act now as the situation is a clear breach of not just an employment agreement but rules around overseas workers in New Zealand.
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South Island floods highlight need for coastal shipping Coastal shipping could provide an essential lifeline to regions in future disasters. Recent floods in Canterbury have disrupted and damaged the land-based supply chain. Maritime Union National Secretary Craig Harrison says natural disasters like earthquakes and flooding were a feature of life in New Zealand. The latest events come on top of the COVID-19 pandemic which was still causing massive disruption and congestion in the supply chain, he says. “We are entering into a new and uncertain age and the focus needs to go onto supply chain security.” It is clear there would be ongoing and increased severe weather events due to climate change, and there needed to be redundancies built into the system. “If we don’t get this right, we are going to see ongoing disruption that will have dire economic consequences and could potentially endanger communities.” Mr Harrison says the Government now recognized the need for a true multi-mode transport sector, but needed to deliver promptly. There is now widespread support within the logistics, transport and ports sectors for rebuilding New Zealand owned and operated coastal shipping, which over many years had suffered from poor policy settings and lack of support compared to roads. The key goal was New Zealand flagged ships connecting regions with major centres on a hub and spoke model. “Coastal shipping is the obvious solution for lowemission, secure transport going forward.”
Call for action over Fiji trafficking scam
New Zealand transport workers’ unions have called on the New Zealand government to put Fiji on notice after an investigation into the potential human trafficking of dozens of Filipino seafarers in the country’s shipping industry. 20 Filipino seafarers were recruited by Goundar Shipping to operate its ferries in Fiji. Goundar promised seafarers monthly wages of $1000 USD but paid as little as $340 USD and the company refused to pay more than AUD $250,000 owed to seafarers in unpaid wages. “Investigations by unions have uncovered allegations of widespread abuse, underpayment, unsafe conditions and even human trafficking and slavery in New Zealand’s own backyard,” said the chair of the ITF New Zealand National Coordinating Committee, Paul Tolich. “Dozens of Filipino seafarers were convinced to come to our region and work on Fiji’s biggest ferry fleet on the promise of fair wages and conditions. But failure by the Fiji government to enforce these seafarers’ employment contracts, workers’ and human rights, meant the seafarers have been trapped working against their will in Fiji for years.” Fijian labour, immigration and law enforcement officials did not respond to responded seafarers’ complaints against Goundar Shipping for more than three months, and only when media attention was brought to their case by the ITF in February 2021. Mr Tolich says the New Zealand unions welcomed news a Police investigation had finally been launched, but had fears of a potential whitewash once the seafarers had left the country back to the Philippines. New Zealand ITF affiliates had contacted the New Zealand Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Workplace Relations, urging them to raise the seafarers’ case immediately with their counterparts in Suva. “Fiji needs to know New Zealand expects a thorough investigation of the abuse these workers suffered, and any offending employers fully prosecuted.”
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POLITICS
Coastal shipping can help fix our struggling supply chain The time is now to fix our insecure, congested and polluting supply chain. The solution to many of these problems is coastal shipping. Craig Harrison National Secretary
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MARITIME INDUSTRY
The recent congestion in our ports is not improving, with delays extending from Ports of Auckland to other ports. The entire supply chain is backed up internationally and locally, and it’s causing huge problems. Our supply chain is vulnerable and insecure. What’s the reason behind this? There are several factors at play. COVID-19 has created international disruption, which is something out of our control. But there are other causes we do have control over. The Ports of Auckland has been operating at half-speed due to a flawed automation project and is struggling to utilise all the cranes it has available. Auckland is just an obvious symptom of the wider problems. This is a major blockage in our supply chain. The effects have cascaded through the system, leading to other ports being overwhelmed. The Government is aware of the challenges faced in the transport sector and has just announced a major investment plan for rail. This is the type of long term thinking we need. But no individual transport mode can solve New Zealand’s supply chain issues. Coastal shipping the solution The Maritime Union is promoting coastal shipping as the missing piece of the puzzle in our transport strategy. We support a “hub and spoke” model where regional ports are fully utilised using New Zealand coastal shipping, feeding into services that connect cargo internationally. Coastal shipping provides a low-impact, low-carbon transport mode. It fits into our plan to reduce our emissions in a world where climate change is a growing threat. This helps exporters aiming for a low carbon footprint in a demanding international market. New Zealand coastal shipping gives our supply chain priority, unlike global operators who change shipping schedules around their own needs. With our own coastal shipping, we’d have the ability to quickly adjust scheduling to meet variations in regional demand, which is determined by the type of product, but also the season. It would provide security in the case of natural disaster or emergency, when land links are broken.
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Failure of deregulation But New Zealand has basically no shipping capability outside a few specialist vessels and ferries, and currently has only one coastal container ship. Short-sighted deregulation in the 1990s led to the destruction of our shipping capability. Now our vulnerability has been exposed. Global shippers have other priorities than servicing our small, remote market. There are currently international shipping companies working on the New Zealand coast in clear breach of the intent of law. This has to end. The Maritime Transport Act needs to be changed to create a level playing field and allow New Zealand coastal shipping to be rebuilt. Initially this could mean a period of New Zealand operators are supported to charter overseas vessels, and training and education for a new generation of seafarers. A ports strategy for the future New Zealand also needs a national ports strategy to fix our transport system. Our ports need to be working in with New Zealand coastal shipping and rail. They need to be co-operating rather than competing. At the moment, narrow parochialism drives ports. None of this benefits New Zealand industry. It benefits the shareholders of global shipping companies. Destructive competition has contributed to the health and safety crisis, created an insecure and casualized workforce, and put downward pressure on wages and conditions that has hurt port communities. All stakeholders need to be involved in developing a plan through an industry steering group which aligns our goals. The Government has been missing in this space for a generation and needs to be playing an active role. COVID-19 was a wake-up call on the big scale. It has disrupted the whole “just in time” supply chain model. In the future there may be similar shocks – or worse. We need to move towards a 21st-century integrated supply chain model which anticipates the problems we face. We have to build in redundancy and flexibility to our supply chain that best reflects the needs of a trading island nation in the South Pacific. A national ports strategy and coastal shipping would be part of this. The time for action is now.
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MUNZ youth at the March 2021 National Council, Wellington, back row from left: George Lye, Matt Hayward, Tim Camp, Josh Greer, Michael O’Hara, Michael Searle, front row from left Mana Tamatea, Shanaya Hunter, Amanda Manson, Kiriana Coleman MUNZ members on the Kaitaki commemorate May Day (international workers day) 1 May 2021 with the Cuban Ambassador en route to the Blackball May Day celebrations.
Tauranga Branch Picnic Day, 2020
Auckland Branch Local 13 Secretary Russell Mayn (left) meets with Fullers delegates
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MUNZ Auckland Branch Local 13 Stopwork Meeting, Orakei Bowling Club, 13 April 2021
Life membership presentation, Maritime Union of New Zealand National Council, Wellington, 29 March 2021. From left, MUNZ National Secretary Craig Harrison, Phil Adams, MUNZ National Vice President Josh Greer, Barbara Adams.
A life on the waterfront: Phil Adams retires
Long serving maritime unionist Phil Adams was presented with his life membership of the Maritime Union at the March 2021 National Council meeting in Wellington. Phil was welcomed to the meeting along with his wife Barbara and was spoken of highly by officials and delegates from throughout New Zealand and given a standing ovation. Phil said he had decided the time was right to retire from his full time job at Port Otago for family reasons. As well as serving as a national official, Phil is one of the longest serving branch officials of the Union. Family connection Phil’s family history is steeped in the maritime industry. His father Jimmy Adams and father in law Walter Meehan were both watersiders who went though the 1951 lockout. His grandfather Lofty Carrington, a seaman, served in World War One as part of an English crew and was injured. Older brothers Les had 47 years at sea, and Keith spent many years on the waterfront and at sea.
The Mainland dispute in the late 1990s and early 2000s was another time of heavy conflict, when the branch had to take action to defend local jobs. Mainland Stevedores never got established in Port Chalmers. Phil credits the result with strong support from the local community who realized what was at stake. Despite these challenges, Phil says the Union tried to approach things from a positive angle and he is pleased Port Otago has had no redundancies since 1997. He says the main goal of the branch was to focus on secure full time jobs and resist casualization. One outcome was the cadetship scheme which provides a career path for young people entering the industry. Branch numbers have now bounced back with around 230 members at the Port. The Union has maintained eight hour shifts at the Port, and has still held on to its annual Picnic Day. National leadership
Phil began work as a fitter at the Union Company in the Port Chalmers dry dock in 1971. When it closed, local watersider Bruce Malcolm suggested he try the waterfront. There was an “intense selection process” which involved Union representatives, Waterfront Industry Commission (WIC), lawyers, shipping agents and others signing off on the new starts.
Phil also served as a national official of the Maritime Union in the years immediately after its formation. The initial period saw Les Wells (WWU) and Dave Morgan (NZSU) serve as joint National Presidents. Phil was then elected as National President for several years, before standing down to focus on his Branch Secretary role – all the time working a full time job.
Phil started on the Port Chalmers waterfront in 1976 at a time when all waterfront workers were employed by the WIC, a “hiring hall” where workers were assigned to an employer. The WIC was managed by the Government in conjunction with the Union and employers. There were around 300 union members of the Waterfront Workers branch, in addition to Harbour Board workers and Talley Clerks who had their own unions.
Phil served for 43 years as a branch official at Port Chalmers, including from 1978–1995 on the executive and from 1995–2021 as Branch Secretary. He is quick to acknowledge his debt to past officials of the branch who helped him and credits them with much of the success of the branch. Bruce Malcolm was a big influence and a few of the many names he mentions include John Davis, Ken Wilson, Davy Hanna, Noel Currie, Charlie Crawford, Davey Dick, Ian Quarrell, Clive Giles and Ray Sinclair.
Phil experienced all types of wharf work, hooking on, driving gear and as a hatchman. He put his name forward for the branch executive and “scraped in” in the elections. He served on the executive, as Vice President, then President, and as Secretary position from 1995 when previous President Bruce Malcolm retired. Tough times The Port went through tough times in the 1980s and 1990s. At one stage, numbers were down to 58 members. The community was hurt in the so-called Port Reform process in 1989. “That was the toughest time – there was ill feeling, a lot of mates lost jobs, and missed out.” Despite the responsibility of serving as Branch Secretary, Phil stayed working under the hook.
Phil also credits his wife Barbara for her support. He says it was vital to have an understanding partner as some of the issues he faced were brought home. One of the big satisfactions about his work for the Union is to have young members come up and let him know they’ve bought a house, as well as the superannuation scheme and medical scheme. “This union looks after its members in the hard times, in times of sickness or death, we help out.” Over the years Phil has travelled widely and says he appreciated the opportunity to represent MUNZ overseas. Phil is now retired and enjoying a new holiday home at Lawrence, and looking forward to spending more time with family including his five grandchildren.
Marsden Point refinery
Marsden Point Refinery – a long history
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UNION HISTORY
The Auckland pipeline takes petrol, diesel and jet fuel via pumping stations along the way, up to 400,000 litres per hour. The pipeline was ruptured in 2017 after an excavator damaged the pipeline on a rural property near Ruakaka. This led to jet fuel shortages and flight cancellations at Auckland.
Hector Thorpe President, Auckland Branch Local 13
There was a time when New Zealand nation relied on our historical ties with the United Kingdom for all our shipping needs, imports, and exports. We were dependent for our fuel supply, for example diesel for our trucks, tractors and industry, petrol for our cars, aviation fuel for our planes and light and heavy fuel for our heavy industry and maritime industry. This reliance on other countries had a negative effect in many areas. The Unions that now make up the Maritime Union of New Zealand had a big influence in changing this situation. The Federated Seamans Union of Australasia successfully campaigned for New Zealand oil tankers to transport fuel around our country as early as 1927. We have served the coast effectively, efficiently and with an impeccable safety record ever since. The Labour Government of PM Walter Nash began the momentum to construct our own oil refinery at Marsden Point near Whangarei, a huge undertaking which was officially opened in 1964. A new and larger New Zealand manned oil tanker MV Athol Viscount was also brought on to cater for the extra capacity required. Such was the success of the Marsden Point refinery, it has been expanding ever since. During the first global oil shock in 1973, crude oil prices rose. New Zealand was able to cushion the blow to retain reasonable security of supply. A similar situation occurred when the Iranian revolution in 1979 led to another oil shock. Expansion of the refinery continued with the building of a 170 km fuel pipeline direct to Auckland, freeing up the tankers to serve the rest of the country.
New Zealand coastal tankers serving the rest of the country were scrambled to assist with supply. This was not a quick fix as turning around tankers, including cleaning tanks and loading fuel, takes valuable time. The tanker berth at Auckland has been decommissioned indefinitely and taken over for the Viaduct and Americas Cup campaign. How this affects our fuel security is an interesting question. Refining New Zealand Marsden Point has long been a politically sensitive zone. The Petroleum Sector Reform Act in 1988 deregulated the petroleum industry, with the usual story of job losses and assets transferred by the Government to global business interests. Shell, Mobil, BP and Chevron (Caltex) known collectively as ‘Refining New Zealand’ received $80 million from the Government to enable the company to adapt to the new environment. Fast forward to now and returns from the refinery are not doing well. Refining NZ announced a ‘strategic review’ to improve returns to shareholders and hired Santos executive vice president Naomi James as the new CEO of Refinery NZ. Who is Santos? Santos stands for South Australia, Northern Territory Oil Search, Australia’s second-largest oil and gas producer. The Offshore Alliance unions including the MUA allege Santos found enough spare cash last year to pay their CEO $11.26 Million, but now want to stand-down their interstate workforce without pay if they don’t accept a forced transfer to Western Australia. The Offshore Alliance have filed a dispute in the Fair Work Commission, so new CEO Naomi James comes across the ditch with some baggage. Refining NZ claim her prior experience in strategy development, operations and ‘change management’ will be hugely beneficial to their strategic review to improve returns to shareholders. (continued overleaf)
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For workers this means buckle up and get ready for the worst, as the assumption is corporate success should benefit only shareholders, regardless of whether this hurts workers and their families, their communities and our economy as a whole.
MUNZ and other maritime unions have a tradition of more than 90 years of supplying seafarers, catering, officers, engineers and young trainees for the shipment of petroleum products around the coast on the Kiwi oil tankers now via Marsden Point Oil Refinery.
Union involvement in the refinery
The restructure or closing of Marsden Point to a storage facility and reverting back to a lack of fuel security, and control to foreign operators, is alarming. Possible job losses will have an effect on workers, their families, their communities, their region and our country.
FIRST Union says Refining NZ has advised that at least 90 per cent of the 1100 Northlanders whose jobs depend on the Marsden Point oil refinery will lose their jobs if it switches to importing refined fuel. Another 2400 workers outside the region that supplied services to Marsden Point would also be impacted if refining ceased. FIRST Union represent most of the Marsden Point oil refinery workers. FIRST traces its origins back to the formation of the militant National Distribution Union. The NDU was formed by amalgamation in the 1980’s of drivers, warehouse and retail unions. Later the NDU merged with the finance sector union FinSec. In 2011 FinSec and the National Distribution Union merged to form FIRST Union which continues as a bona fide, progressive union, affiliated to the New Zealand of Council of Trade Unions. FIRST Union is currently faced with supporting their members who face job losses at Marsden Point. (It’s a small world regarding New Zealand trade unions. FIRST Union Secretary (Retail, Finance & Commerce Division) is Tali Willams, daughter of MUNZ Wellington Branch President Mike Williams. Also, one of FIRST Union’s Auckland organizers is Grahame “Coach” McKean, a respected ex MUNZ waterfront battler and executive member.)
Marsden Point Strategic Review update – May 2021 Information is appearing about Refinery NZ’s plans for the future including advocating for an energy strategy, as proposed by the Climate Change Commission. For example, dusting off 2019 plans for a massive solar farm. A storage facility to handle fuels of all types, including sustainable aviation fuels and liquefied natural gas, has also been investigated. The front runner appears to be a proposal to convert Marsden Point to an import terminal, importing prerefined fuels and supplying using existing infrastructure like the Auckland Pipeline and presumably the continuation of coastal tankers. The largest shareholders BP, Mobil and Z Energy as still in negotiations with Mobil and Z Energy, which took the refinery to court last year. As of May 2021, Z Energy says it expects to complete negotiations on the future of the Marsden Point oil refinery, since it has returned to profit, despite a huge slide in the amount of fuel it sold during the year to the end of March 2021. Refining NZ has reached an inprinciple agreement with BP. Ultimately it appears to be subject to approval of Refining NZ’s non-customer shareholders.
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“Preventable deaths and injuries occur, convictions happen, the employer gets told off in court and makes some temporary changes, they are absorbed as a business cost, and then the old speed ups and bad practices come back, and then another death.” Mr Harrison says until corporate manslaughter is used to put individual responsibility on managers and Boards, then nothing would change. He says the Union message is simple: “Kill a worker, go to jail.” Maritime workers had already been shaken by the deaths of two workers at the Ports of Auckland since 2018, and health and safety issues needed a national response with the involvement of the industry stakeholders. Mr Harrison says these tragedies were happening to young, working class people and it seemed their lives did not have the same value as others.
New conviction shows health and safety crisis in the waterfront industry The negligence of stevedoring employer ISO led to the death of a young woman employee. Shannon Brooke Rangihuna-Kemp, 29, an ISO Limited stevedore worker at Eastland Port in Gisborne, died from crush injuries after she was hit by a log that fell from a trailer load she was about to scan in a “tally lane” on 8 October 2018. ISO Limited were convicted and ordered to undertake significant health and safety improvements earlier this year in the Gisborne District Court. Harrowing statements were made to the Court by family members whose lives had been shattered by the death of a loved daughter and mother. Maritime Union National Secretary Craig Harrison says that he has no faith that the outcome of the case would stop more deaths happening.
Rather than being fined, ISO had been ordered through a Court Ordered Enforceable Undertaking (COEU) to improve health and safety to a cost of $800,000. Mr Harrison says while MUNZ is not opposed in concept to COEU in this case it was not an appropriately severe sentence. He says ISO had killed a worker through negligence and were now simply being made to comply with health and safety laws: the same laws that would have protected Ms Rangihuna-Kemp if they had been adhered to. Mr Harrison says it was staggering the company’s lawyers had argued the company should be discharged without conviction, and had suggested a $20,000 reparation payment to the family was appropriate, on the basis some payments had already been made. It was an indication of the real attitude of ISO management, he says. Judge Recordon ordered a payment of $100,000 to the family for emotional harm. A Worksafe investigation uncovered numerous routine hazards in the work area where the death occurred that ISO knew about, but failed to take steps to fix. Worksafe stated the death was the result of systemic fundamental failure to protect workers – and came less than a year after ISO was subjected to an enforceable order after a worker fell from a ladder on a ship in the Port of Tauranga.
Branch reports Wellington By Jim King KiwiRail High Performance High Engagement (HPHE) Core Crewing: The HPHE meeting that was set down for 29 April was cancelled due to sickness and rostering issues. Therefore, another meeting was scheduled for 18 May at the KRIIL Lower Hutt Work Shops. Hopefully this is one of the last meetings to be held in relation to the Core Crewing issues, either we are going to have some sort of resolution or we simply need to move on to the next issues. Other outstanding HPHE matters that need to be discussed are, • • • •
Short-hand pay for Wowo Catering, Coastal wage Relativity, Career pathways, higher duty payments.
KiwiRail – Interislander Line Catering and fixed term As a direct result of the constant pressure from our union, KR-IIL have now employed 34 Catering attendants. This comes at a time when the Catering Department was absolutely exhausted of crew to do the job effectively. We are still focused on the casual AB’s to be appointed into permanent positions, especially because some of the casual like the catering assistants have been employed two plus years. In the meantime, we now have received a report back from our lawyer Ben Thompson giving us his legal opinion with regards to Kiwirail–Interisland Line’s utilisation of Fixed Term Contracts and Casuals. His ten page report outlines big concerns that he has with respect to these positions. Kingston Offshore We have signed a variation with Kingston to have the crew stay on for the duration of the contract. Our members requested to stay on the vessel 2-3 weeks longer, primarily because there is no labour available here in New Zealand. Therefore, our members will complete the contract then deliver the vessel to Australia, and return home. OSM See news article on page 6.
NIWA There will be a CPI (Consumer Price Index) review in June. A remuneration review will be undertaken by NIWA Vessels and remuneration for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 will be negotiated with the parties from 1 July 2021. If resolution is not reached by 30 September 2021, then the MUNZ/AMEA/MSG agreement will expire on 30 September 2021. StraitNZ (Bluebridge) Bargaining was initiated with StraitNZ (Bluebridge) in April 2021. The Wellington Branch called for remits from our members back in December 2021. General Mick Williams Life Membership At the National Council meeting held in March, Mick Williams was awarded life membership for his contributions and dedication to this union and the trade union movement. Tony Mowbray and I with other members of the National Council spoke about Mick’s achievements and the support he has given our Union. I’m sure every MUNZ member agrees that there’s no one more deserving of having this immense honour bestowed upon him. On behalf of the Wellington Branch and Executive, I would like to thank Mick for all his efforts, dedication and hard work for our union and all its members. Offshore Swire’s have agreed to mediation to discuss the issues surrounding the training for its seafarers. Date and times to be arranged. The offshore is starting to wind down after a busy period. Trainee AB (ll/5) or Trainee AB (lll/5) Engine-Room Any young person who would like their names to be held on our database please forward your names to me at email jim.king@munz.org.nz I am in the process of forming a database of those wanting to pursue a career in the deck or engine departments, ultimately becoming an Able-Bodied Seafarer (Deck), or Able-bodied Seafarer (Engine). MUNZ intends to make contact with shipping companies around New Zealand and let them know that MUNZ has a list of names from young people that wish to pursue a career in either the deck or engine-room departments.
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Wellington Branch Stop Work Meetings Upcoming stopwork meetings for 2021 are: 12 July, 9 August, 13 September, 11 October, 8 November and 13 December. All Branch meetings held at National Office. Workplace Bullying and Harassment Currently we have our lawyers looking at employment matters relating to bullying and harassment in the work place. There seems to be an inherent problem/culture with some employers when it comes to a rank and file member who lodges a claim of bullying and harassment against very senior officers or managers. Employers are very reluctant to take this issue up on behalf of the member, as this could end up looking very embarrassing for them. Hence we are seeking legal advice on these matters. If you believe your being bullied by senior management or anyone for that matter, please bring this to the union’s attention, we are here to help you.
Database Unemployed numbers on the database will increase over the next couple of months as the offshore is now winding down after a brief busy period. The numbers: IR’s & AB’s Nil, Cooks – Nil, Stewards – 5 Wage rounds up and coming: Offshore Oil & Gas currently underway, StraitNZ Bluebridge June, NIWA – CPI Review June Wellington Maritime Worker Newsletter Please keep your emails, articles and pictures rolling in, they will be published in the next edition space permitting. This is an abridged version of the Wellington branch report regular published in April edition of the Wellington Maritime Worker newsletter.
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 Contact National Office
Timaru President: Shona Low Mobile: 027 327 1156 Email: shona90814@gmail.com
President: Hector Thorpe Mobile: 027 777 7163 Email: hector.thorpe@munz.org.nz 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
Wellington Secretary: Jim King Mobile: 020 483 6262 Email: jim.king@munz.org.nz President: Mick Williams Mobile: 022 309 8959 Email: mick.williams@munz.org.nz Assistant Secretary: John Whiting Mobile: 021 60 6379 Email: john.whiting@munz.org.nz Nelson Secretary: Dean McNamara Mobile: 027 538 4384 Email: munznelson@zohomail.com.au
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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
Wellington Branch at the MUNZ National Council March 2021, from left: Alan Windsor, Jim King, Kat Achtenberg, Fee Mansell, Tony Mowbray and Mick Williams
Mick Williams Awarded Life Membership
I’m sure we speak for the whole trade union movement when we recognise Mick’s dedication and commitment. What follows is a selection of Mick’s many achievements:
By Tony Mowbray Vice President, Wellington Branch
• P&O London negotiations • Geneva minimum rights forums • Numerous Ship Delegate roles • Organiser of NZ Seaman’s Overseas Trade campaign • Organiser of the NZ Seaman’s Union SCONZY campaign • Wellington and National Councillor • ITF delegate • NZ Seafarers Union National Councillor • National Campaign Organiser • NZ against Apartheid campaigner • Representative during the UK miner’s and Liverpool docker lockouts • Active in our own “Golden Bay” lockout • Support role for the MUA during the Patrick’s dispute • Leading support for the Cuban struggle and against the unjust and illegal Iraq war • A key figure in our push to amalgamate and obtain “one union on the waterfront” • KiwiRail strike chairman (war of ‘94) • National & Wellington Secretary of NZ Seafarer’s Union until the formation of MUNZ • Joint Secretary of the TUF • Currently, Wellington Branch President of MUNZ.
Mick has spent his entire working life fighting for the rights of all workers. He has always supported not only the struggles closest to him, but those of other unions as well and struggles across the world. Ever since he joined the New Zealand Seamen’s Union in 1974, Mick has continuously been active in the New Zealand shipping industry, negotiating on behalf of workers for their rights and pursuing improved conditions to better all our lives. Seven of his 47 years in the industry were spent with Wellington’s MUA sister branch in Fremantle, Western Australia, where he naturally took up the role of a delegate. Once back here he rejoined MUNZ, leading to his current position as Branch President. I have known Mick for 26 years. He was a Wellington Branch Secretary in the 1990s, and was instrumental in unionising Strait Shipping. Given the industrial climate at the time, that was a difficult task. With his commitment, the initial Collective Agreement was secured in 1995 and is retained to this day. Mick has been in the forefront of pickets and protests on a range of social issues. This makes his lifetime membership an honour to present on behalf of MUNZ and the whole of the Wellington Branch.
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Long-standing MUNZ National Vice President Selwyn Russell stood down from his position at the 2020 National Conference. Selwyn wished to concentrate on his role as Tauranga Branch Secretary. Speakers at the Conference congratulated Selwyn in his long standing service. Representing Tauranga Branch at the Conference are from left, Selwyn Russell, Fred Hennings and Anthony Pettifor.
MUA members recently delivered the Anatoma to Auckland from Sydney. The ship-refuelling vessel has been reflagged to New Zealand and re-named the Korimako and will be based in Tauranga, refuelling large vessels operating in the Bay of Plenty. Pictured from left are MUNZ Auckland Branch Assistant Secretary Grant Williams, and MUA seafarers Jez Kibble, Robbie “The Toaster” Campbell and Brett Yeo. THE MARITIMES 23
Bluff
Lyttelton By Gary Horan
By Michael O’Hara Bluff has a steady membership base. The branch recently settled the SouthPort Collective Employment Agreement with a 30-month term with increases in line with industry norms. There were gains with conditions and no losses. Because the company had not been listening to the Union, a number of workers at SouthPort left for better opportunities. The company then agreed to an increase. The SSA collective expired in 2020. As per the South Island meeting with other branches we are moving to a nationally based agreement. Permanent numbers have been dropping at SSA with ISO gaining a log contact off them and also doing palm kernel jobs. SSA are being taken to the Employment Relations Authority over a Personal grievance where there has been no settlement arising from a redundancy. It is a concern the number of disciplinaries branch officials are attending with members who have failed drug tests. Bluff Branch have produced clothing for the members based on Local 13 designs. These have been popular and restored union pride. The smelter is expected to keep operating for another 4 years, providing work for our members at SSA who load aluminium. No one is sure about the longer term.
Lyttelton has been busy. LPC have taken on 23 new PRPs and some casuals and PRPs have been moved up to permanents. More casuals are required but the LPC aren’t getting applicants. There has been a variation in our Collective Employment Agreement which increases sick leave from 25 to 30 days and increased line supervisor payment. MUNZ is forging ahead in the terminal. The Collective Agreement for SSA has just been signed. Permanents got 10.7% wage rise over two years and casuals 14.5% increase. The new branch office in the Loons has been a real asset as it includes a large meeting hall next door. Our Christmas function may move to a midwinter event as more convenient.
Nelson By Paul Saggers The next branch meeting will consider amalgamation with Wellington branch. The main advantage would be stronger representation. Seafarers from Nelson would be able to vote for Wellington officials. Wellington officials have been to Nelson and a bit of work would be involved before amalgamation takes place. Port Nelson has been very busy with lots of out of port work. The Picnic Day had to be cancelled because of watersider’s work commitments. Nelson has passed a motion electing Steve Ryder as an honorary member of the Nelson branch. Steve brings many years of experience at sea and union affairs and is a big help running the Nelson branch. Kenny Knox life membership Kenny Knox was elected to life membership of the Maritime Union at the March 2021 National Council. Moved Paul Saggers, Tony Mowbray seconded. Kenny has served 16 years as Nelson Branch Secretary and spent 50 years at sea. Jimmy King and Mick Williams also spoke in favour of the motion and noted Kenny’s dedication to the branch and Union. Steve Ryder stated that Kenny fits the description of going over and above in his service to the Union. Carried unanimously.
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Port Chalmers Dunedin
I pointed at the last speaker and replied “He’s already said it.” Phil said “Good.”
By Tim Camp Kia Ora sisters and brothers of MUNZ, it’s been awhile since our last branch report and a lot has happened in that time. I could go on about COVID-19 or Labour’s history making win, but there is something more important to me to talk about, or rather someone. Phil Adams recently retired from Port Otago and his position as Branch Secretary which he held since 1995. He has been in the port industry for 45 years doing a number of different jobs, settling into his role as container controller in the terminal for the last 17 years. On top of that he served as the National President of MUNZ from 2003–2007, he is a justice of the peace, and raised two children with his lovely and supportive wife Barbara who played a part in the union too. Phil has seen a lot of changes in his time from technology to shipping companies, but one thing that never changed is his passion and support for MUNZ members. I started working for Port Otago about 17 years ago as a casual lasher which was hard, but I eventually got offered a Cadetship (much like an apprenticeship) which Phil had a big part in organising/negotiating. This saw me gain a full time position since, learning all sorts of new skills. I quickly grew to respect for Phil for what he did for members. I remember in my first few years of working at Port Otago I would turn up to our union meetings in the old Bureau Hall. There would usually be over 100 members there and Phil would sit at the front table with his executive (and his gavel close to hand), call for silence and proceed with the meeting in an orderly manner. Depending on the subject sometimes the floor would get a little heated, and hands would start raising in the air for a turn to speak, so one of the exec would write the individuals name on a piece of paper and Phil would go down the list so everyone could have their say. On one of these occasions, I got caught up in the moment and raised my hand and was added to the list. By the time it was my turn, things had become a little tense and Phil was taking no prisoners, the decibels of his voice were probably exceeding that of an old V8 Clarke straddle. He called out my name and there I was, a skinny boy whose number wasn’t even dry on the back of my overalls turning red with nervousness. I opened my mouth and all that came out was a squeak, and Phil said “what did you say?”
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Fast forward 15 years later and Phil took me under his wing, assisted me into the position of Local 10 President, and guided me to develop confidence and be able to sit at the front table and run a meeting (just with smaller lungs.) For that I’m very thankful. On behalf of all the Local 10 members here at Port Chalmers, I would like to thank Phil for his commitment and dedication over the years, and the good terms and conditions we work under today. Enjoy your retirement comrade, you have well and truly earned it. Another person who has been under the guidance of Phil is our new Local 10 Secretary Josh Greer aka JPG. Josh is a young Secretary but is very keen and motivated and has come through the ranks in leaps and bounds and is now sitting at the national table as our national Vice President. I attended the last National Council meeting in May of and it was great to see more young faces around the table such as our two youth reps and Mike O’Hara of Bluff. I would like to thank Joe Fleetwood for his good work and effort in his time as National Secretary on behalf of the branch. We are fortunate to go from one strong leader to another in new National Secretary Craig Harrison who ran a positive and productive National Council. Craig is committed to training youth, increase membership, campaign for corporate manslaughter and bring back coastal shipping (the current flooding in Canterbury highlights the importance of the last matter.) I think our Union is in good shape right now and the recent resignation of the CEO of Ports of Auckland is proof that we can make a difference. While the changes at POAL were the team effort of a large number of people from different sectors and organisations, those that represented MUNZ did a great job in leading the charge – one example is the very good TV interview Russell Mayn had on John Campbell’s Breakfast show. Hopefully now there will be no more tragedies at Ports of Auckland or any other port. It’s time to make corporates responsible for their actions (or lack of action) because every worker has the right to go home and be safe. That’s all from me comrades, stay safe, stay strong and be proud.
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Golfing Results
Interport 2021
Interport cup 54 hole nett: Ben Gallagher R/up (Chapman Plate): Cyril McWilliam Rare Cup 54 hole gross: Steve Campbell R/up (Bill Brown Memorial): Eugene Douglas
By Troy St John, Lyttelton Branch In February 2021, Golfers and Fisherman from ports around New Zealand gathered in Lyttelton to compete in the annual MUNZ Interport Sports Tournament.
Flett Black Memorial 54 hole par: Jock Parish R/up: Steve Seckold George Waller 54 hole Stableford: Doug Williams R/up: Frank Fayle
Golf was held at the Waimairi Beach Golf Club and it didn’t disappoint with some fantastic weather, one of the mornings it absolutely bucketed down, flooding the greens and then stopped around 10am. The greens staff managed to get the course playable and we were able to get going at 12pm and get a full round in.
Crocket and Lewis 18 hole Stableford: Richard Markham R/up: Russell Mayn
As always it was amazing to see many familiar faces and encouraging to see new ones as well.
Credit Union Cup (Ladies): Carol Donaldson R/up: Robyn Hawkins
Thank you to all the staff at Waimairi and a special thanks to Mark and the kitchen team as they went out of their way all week to ensure everyone was looked after.
Arty Pitcher Cup Visitors 54 hole nett: John Niwa R/up: Andrew Borg
The fishing was held in Kaikoura, they went out on Monday for a half day, Tuesday and Wednesday for full days and another half day on Thursday. Reports are the fishing was amazing with huge Blue Cod, Blue Nose and Groper coming over the side. Apparently there was plenty of burley going over the side on the first day as the sea was a bit choppy. Next year the tournament is being held in Whangarei and we invite all to come along to get involved in an amazing event that has been running for over 60 years, you won’t be disappointed.
Norm Fisher Memorial – best gross any one day: Jason Newman R/up: Terry Hermansson
Ray Dobson Trophy Visitors 54 hole gross: Warren Powell R/up: Dennis Reid Most honest Golfer: Mike Myers Tareha Cup 4 ball pairs: Steve Campbell & Terry Stanton R/up (Wallington Trophy): Eugene Douglas Tommy Heenan Trophy for sportsman like conduct: Troy St John Kerekere Canoe: Lyttelton R/up: New Plymouth
For more information contact Russell Mayn at Auckland Branch Local 13 on mobile 021 760 886 or email russell.mayn@munz.org.nz
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On 31 May 2021 a special presentation was made to Rob Powley who has been a Stevedore at the Ports of Auckland for 50 years. When Rob started as a ‘seagull’ in 1971, the Ports were the Auckland Harbour Board, used a steam-powered tug (the William C Daldy), no container ship had ever called into the docks and ships were unloaded by hand. Congratulations Rob.
