Maritime Union of New Zealand

Ports of Auckland must remain in public hands

March 11, 2009

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says that any proposal to privatize the Ports of Auckland would create a “perfect storm of opposition.”

Maritime Union Local 13 President Denis Carlisle says those pushing the plan were people out of time.

“There is obviously a faction out there who want to bring back port privatization plans from the dead.”

Mr Carlisle says that the privatization strategy with the Ports of Auckland failed in the 1990s due to mass public opposition and recent attempts to part-privatize the Ports of Lyttelton had also ended in failure.

Roading the wrong focus for New Zealand infrastructure

February 11, 2009

New Zealand’s two leading transport unions say that pouring public money only into roading and ignoring other transport infrastructure is a mistake.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand, representing seafarers and waterfront workers,and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, representing rail and port workers, are concerned that economic stimulus plans focus transport investment exclusively on roading.

The transport unions say that while the Government is correct in investing in infrastructure as a stimulus for the economy, it’s sole focus on investing in roads is wrong.

Maritime Union backs plans for minimum wage referendum

February 10, 2009

The Maritime Union is backing moves for a referendum on boosting the minimum wage.

Maritime Union of New Zealand spokesperson Victor Billot says the Union has offered its support for the proposed referendum put forward by the Unite Union.

Work stoppages considered over police spy scandal

December 19, 2008

The Maritime Union may call a national work stoppage to hold stopwork meetings of its members to discuss the police spy scandal.

The Maritime Union was one of a number of Unions reportedly named in emails about union actions sent by police informer Rob Gilchrist to his handler in the Special Investigation Group.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the Maritime Union is supporting calls for a high level Commission of Inquiry into the Police’s Special Investigation Group.

Maritime Union will fight attack on job security by 90 day fire at will bill

December 10, 2008

The Maritime Union says it will fight to protect job security as the backlash grows against the National Government’s attempt to push through the “fire at will” bill before Christmas.

Maritime Union of New Zealand General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the attempt to rush through the 90 day “fire at will” bill through at a time of mounting unemployment and job insecurity is madness.

Maritime Union members to meet during 24 hour strike at Ports of Auckland

December 2, 2008

The Maritime Union says it is committed to a resolution in the Ports of Auckland dispute, and members will be discussing a way forward during a one day strike that starts tonight.

Around 300 workers in the Ports of Auckland container terminal stevedoring, road, rail, shuttle and engineering services areas will withdraw labour for a 24 hour period starting at 10.59pm on Tuesday 2 December.

Maritime Union to return to mediation in Auckland dispute

November 26, 2008

The Maritime Union of New Zealand will return to mediation on Friday with Ports of Auckland management following mediation today in Auckland.

Maritime Union confirms Ports of Auckland strike action

November 17, 2008

The Maritime Union of New Zealand has confirmed strike action at the Ports of Auckland for Tuesday 2 December and Wednesday 3 December 2008.

Fourteen days notice of the strike action was given to the Ports of Auckland management early this afternoon by Maritime Union Local 13, which represents waterfront and other workers at the Port.