Job Security – Page 4 – Maritime Union of New Zealand

Maritime Union highlights negative effects of Fonterra port pull out

August 21, 2009

The Maritime Union says regional ports have been hit hard because of a decision by Fonterra to rail goods to distant ports.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the moves have already led to notices of major redundancies in the port of Timaru, greater casualization of the workforce, and was threatening the viability of some ports.

“This issue cannot be dealt with by ports continuing to compete each other into the ground. It must be addressed by national co-ordination of our transport system, not the wasteful, insecure and chaotic mess we have at the moment.”

Port of Otago “near crisis”

August 11, 2009

The Otago Daily Times reports on the Port Chalmers situation as management continue to push unwanted plans.

Fast food jobs shows National Government’s contempt for young workers

June 26, 2009

The Maritime Union says the National Government’s plan to act as a compulsory recruitment agency for McDonalds fast food chain is a travesty.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has described an agreement between WINZ and McDonalds that will provide up to 7000 unemployed workers for the fast-food chain’s growth plans over the next five years.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the scheme has two beneficiaries – a Government with a failing jobs policy, and a global corporation that will suck profits out of New Zealand.

Labour shortage claim has been blown out of water

January 21, 2005

The Maritime Union says that its fears about short-term casual labour being introduced into New Zealand have been confirmed.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the introduction of more cheap foreign labour into the New Zealand fishing industry is the death knell for New Zealand fishing employment.

Threat of union action over port team plan

July 29, 2009

The Otago Daily Times reports on possible industrial action by the Maritime Union at Port of Otago here.

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 workers onboard protest at Port of Tauranga

May 16, 2007

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.

Port of Napier faces national and international industrial action

November 22, 2007

The Port of Napier faces industrial disruption and international union solidarity actions as local workers prepare to defend their livelihoods.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says management actions are putting secure local jobs in jeopardy and threatening the future of the port.

A decision by management to contract out container stevedoring will affect around 25 permanent jobs and around 60 casual jobs at Hawke’s Bay Stevedoring Services in the Port of Napier from the start of next year.