free trade – Page 4 – Maritime Union of New Zealand

Free trade deals could mean overseas labour trafficking in ports

September 30, 2005

The Maritime Union says that free trade deals and recent GATS negotiations have the potential to introduce cutprice overseas labour into New Zealand ports.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the use of ship’s crews and imported labour on the waterfront is becoming a major problem around the world.

“International maritime companies are already moving low-wage, short term and casual labour across borders to work in ports around the world.”

Maritime Union says it’s time to connect the dots on Flag of Convenience fishing

March 6, 2006

The Maritime Union has welcomed New Zealand signing up to an international crackdown on illegal fishing – which also provides a clear opportunity to solve the abuse and exploitation of maritime workers.

Fisheries ministers from Australia, Britain, Canada, Chile, Namibia and New Zealand have agreed to a plan which will mean global tracking of fishing vessels, as well as an online database of their names, location and history, to help uncover illegal fishing.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the plan means that “half of the problem” is being seriously addressed.

Maritime Union wants answers on Indonesian shipjumpers

March 14, 2009

The Maritime Union of New Zealand and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) are investigating a shipjumping incident in Dunedin where nine Indonesian seafarers left the fishing trawler Marinui on Friday 10 March.

ITF New Zealand co-ordinator Kathy Whelan says the Union has been in touch with the Ministry of Immigration about the case, and ITF representatives will try to speak to the fishermen at Auckland Airport before they are sent home tomorrow.

She says she is extremely concerned about the increasing numbers of foreign seafarers leaving their vessels in New Zealand ports, in this case claiming they were subjected to 24 hour shifts with no breaks, two hour sleep breaks, and physical abuse.

Maritime Union supports hunger strike by Ukrainian crew

May 30, 2006

The Maritime Union says a hunger strike by striking Ukrainian crew members in Lyttelton is a “symptom of the disease of exploitation in the fishing industry.”

Four crew members of the eight crew remaining aboard the fishing vessel “Malakhov Kurgan” are locking themselves in a cabin and are going on an indefinite hunger strike.

They are protesting about not being paid the wages that are owed to them under New Zealand law.

Push for cheap labour trafficking in Oz shows where free trade deals are leading

June 28, 2006

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says that growing pressure to bring unskilled labour into Australia under a free trade agreement has confirmed its worst fears.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says that proposals to allow companies to import unskilled Chinese workers into Australian ports and construction sites gave a clear message to New Zealand workers.

“This is the equivalent of a huge neon sign flashing out the warning that free trade deals will inevitably lead to a collapse in wages, conditions and workers rights. It is time we have a national debate on free trade, and get the issue away from the control of bureaucrats and private interest groups.”

Free trade deal biggest threat to workers since Employment Contracts Act

October 6, 2006

The Maritime Union says the free trade deal with China is the biggest threat to workers in New Zealand since the introduction of the Employment Contracts Act in 1991.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the importation of short-term, casualized skilled labour being paid the minimum wage will be a disaster.

“This is obviously going to have a major and negative effect on wages and conditions in New Zealand.”

Maritime Union says minimum wage free trade deal will meet industrial resistance

October 9, 2006

Maritime Union of New Zealand General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the Union will resist any attempt to undermine wages and conditions through short term casual workers imported under free trade deals.

He says that comments by Trade Minister Phil Goff on the China free trade deal are disturbing for workers and not in line with the Labour Government’s commitment to a high skill, high wage economy.

There will be no incentive for training or paying for skills if businesses are able to step outside the national labour market and pull in trained staff on the minimum wage, says Mr Hanson.

Maritime Union congratulates Government action on overseas fishing crews

October 9, 2006

The Maritime Union says the new rules to improve wages and conditions for overseas fishing crews announced today are good news for workers.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the announcement means the industry will be brought into line with the rest of New Zealand business.

“Despite a co-ordinated campaign by special interests in the industry, the Government has made the right decision and the principled decision.”