Maritime workers onboard protest at Port of Tauranga

A delegation of Maritime Union members will go onboard the vessel Buzzard Bay at the Port of Tauranga today to deliver a message to the captain about practices aboard the ship.

The Buzzard Bay is trading without an International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) agreement that guarantees employment conditions are maintained at an acceptable internationally agreed level, and the health, welfare, social and human rights of crew are also protected.

The overseas crew on the vessel have been unlashing cargo in New Zealand waters without permits.

This work is normally done by New Zealand workers and is covered by New Zealand laws.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says that this will lead to job losses.

“The problem is that there is no end point to the process, as work by overseas crews will inevitably come onshore if we allow this kind of thing to continue.”

He says the Maritime Union is concerned that this problem will become more serious if free trade agreements come into force.

“This issue is a major one around the world.”