Representing New Zealand maritime workers since 2002
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.
Read MoreAs the Maritime Union fights for the rights of seafarers in New Zealand waters, a new report from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to the United Nations paints a disturbing picture of abuses of human rights at sea.
The report names the case of the ‘Sky 75’ in New Zealand waters as one of “ruthless exploitation of fishing crews.”
The New Zealand ITF and Maritime Union took action when 10 Indonesian crew left the Korean registered fishing vessel ‘Sky 75’ in the Port of Nelson in September 2005.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says comments by corporate heads of New Zealand’s fishing industry shows their outlook is outdated.
He says some fishing bosses are trying to undermine a Government plan to ensure market rates were paid to all fishermen in New Zealand waters.
Mr Hanson says the moves by the Government are the result of a long process of investigation, and needed to happen to bring New Zealand into line with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.
Read MoreThe 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.”
Read MoreA 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.
Read MoreThe Maritime Union has slammed comments by Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley about employment in New Zealand’s fishing industry, and say they make a bad joke out of the Government’s commitment to protect jobs.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says Mr Heatley has publicly admitted that New Zealand jobs are not a priority in the New Zealand fishing industry.
The Maritime Union is taking action to recover the unpaid wages of a Russian crew aboard an arrested ship in the Ports of Auckland.
Maritime Union Local 13 President Denis Carlisle says the Union has been assisting the crew aboard the ‘Southern Pearl’ and is now representing the crew members.
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