Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union says that a lethal cocktail of deregulation, security lapses, and cutprice ‘flag of convenience' shipping is pointing towards a maritime disaster in a New Zealand port.

The Maritime Union says it will shut down New Zealand ports if short-term overseas casual labour is brought in under the guise of labour shortages.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says that a sudden flood of requests for imported labour indicates a concerted campaign to open the New Zealand labour market up to sweatshop-style conditions.

The Maritime Union is supporting calls for an inquiry into the toxic gas Methyl Bromide, used as a timber fumigant in New Zealand ports.

A group of Nelson widows has called for the inquiry after six former port workers contracted the rare and fatal motor neurone disease, which has already led to the deaths of five.

The Maritime Union says free trade deals are being pushed forward without the New Zealand public being aware of the impact such agreements could have on them.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says current free trade negotiations by the New Zealand Government could mean casual workers being shipped around internationally.

The Maritime Union says that a proposed inhouse investigation into serious equipment failure onboard the Cook Strait Ferry ‘Aratere' is a copout by authorities.

The international shipping industry will sound an alarm that post 9/11 security measures are criminalising innocent seafarers when ships around the world sound their sirens/whistles at 12:00 local time on World Maritime Day, 30 September 2004.

The Maritime Union says a further 7-day stoppage by waterfront workers is a possibility, unless major changes are made at the Ports of Auckland to ensure permanent jobs are being created.

Maritime Union Local 13 Auckland Waterfront Branch President Denis Carlisle says a mass stopwork meeting this morning voted to give negotiators the option to take further strike action.

The Maritime Union says that National Party politician Wayne Mapp has provided a slap in the face to people who produce New Zealand's wealth, not the other way around.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says Mr Mapps comments about the current strike at Ports of Auckland shows how out of touch he is with the realities faced by the working people of New Zealand.

A solidarity mission from the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the General Secretary of the Maritime Union of New Zealand will be given a Maori welcome and challenge at the Ports of Auckland tomorrow morning 7am sharp Friday 10 September 2004.

The Port of Auckland's container services remain paralyzed as striking maritime workers maintain their vigil with a round the clock picket outside the port.

Maritime Union Local 13 Auckland Waterfront Branch President Denis Carlisle says the picket started at 7am this morning as soon as the strike began.