Maritimes The4 A collective approach is the way forward for workers This is the second anniversary issue of the Maritimes. Since the Maritimes started in 2003 it

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Issue 9 • April 2005 Magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand ISSN 1176-3418

Unions face global free trade attackBill Andersen remembered • Port RoundupsUnion amalgamation • Ferry Tales • Health and Safety • Training

Interport 2005 photo special • Sports • Book Reviews and more!

The

MaritimesCharting a course to the future at

the Seafarers’ Strategy Conference

Methyl bromide:

are workers safe?

Death in the Southern Ocean:

why are fishermen dying on joint

venture trawlers?

Second Anniversary Edition

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2005 a year of challengesfor Maritime Union

by Trevor Hanson

General Secretary

The Maritime Union is facing challeng-ing times but we are making goodprogress in working towards our goals.

There is no room for complacencythough, and 2005 is shaping up to be abusy year.

Some of the major issues we will facein the upcoming months include amal-gamation with the Rail and MaritimeTransport Union, the impact of theimporting of overseas labour through thefree trade system, and ongoing issuessuch as Methyl Bromide and the ex-tremely bad state of our fishing industry.

These topics are dealt with through-out this issue of the Maritimes but it isworthwhile to add a quick overview ofsome of them here.

Amalgamation

All members were recently sent aletter outlining the successful progressof talks with the RMTU about joiningtogether our two Unions into a neworganization.

Although these talks have beenongoing for some time, it appears thatwe have made a breakthrough incoming to agreement on the structureand operation of a new united Union.

The advantages of a united Unionmeans that we will have one strongUnion on the waterfront instead of two.

It also means that we will be in aunited position to deal with employerssuch as Toll who operate throughout thetransport and logistics sector.

By uniting rail workers, seafarersand waterfront workers under oneUnion, we can then present a unitedfront to employers.

The decision in the end will be madeby the members of both Unions.

We should note that the amalgam-ation of the Waterfront Workers Unionand Seafarers Union has provided astrong base with which we can move onto further strength in the transport sector.

Strategy Conference

I had the opportunity to present apaper at the Strategy Conference that wasorganized by the Wellington SeafarersBranch and held in March in Wellington.

The conference was an importantpractical step in forming a unitedstrategy to deal with a large scaleemployer like Toll.

A good number of delegates andguests including a delegation from theMaritime Union of Australia attended theconference and worked over several daysto exchange ideas about how we cansuccessfully get results for workers whendealing with this type of employer.

Overseas Labour and free trade

The issue of overseas labour beingimported into New Zealand for so-called“labour shortages” is not going away.

The Maritime Union has beendisappointed by the response of theGovernment to the issue.

Simply put, the Union sees theattempts to introduce large numbers ofoverseas workers into New Zealand as aserious threat to wages and conditionsand job security.

We have been in touch with theMUA and the ITF on the issue, both ofwhom share our concern that “self-loading” is being forced upon us.

Overseas crews will do waterfrontworkers’ work, and workers will bedivided against workers to compete in arace to the bottom in seeing who can dothe cheapest work.

International free trade dealsdreamed up by bureaucrats will ensurethat a ready supply of casualized, shortterm labour can be sourced fromcountries like China where a police stateworks hand in hand with big business tokeep a lid on workers’ rights.

The Maritime Union is leading thefight in defending jobs for local workerswith good terms and conditions.

If overseas workers are required,then let them be paid the same rates aslocal workers and brought in throughplanned immigration, not treated ashuman cattle and moved around at thewhim of employers.

The current system is leading usdown a very dark road.

Driving in ports

The Government seems to be intenton aggravating its supporters by someof its recent decisions.

I was recently informed by HarryDuynhoven that ports are going to beconsidered private areas under transportlaws.

This means that the mix and matchsystem that is now in existence willdisappear and probably all employerswill use the “competent person”provisions in the Port Code.

The same will apply to operators ofcargo handling mobile machinery – theywill have to be trained and provedcompetent, then be reassessed everythree years.

Despite the fact that cars, workersand often the public are to be found onthe wharf, the law makers are going tosweep the matter under the carpet bydesignating ports as being private areasrather than as the large scale, multi-operator, densely populated industrialsites that they are.

The Maritime Union made a simpleand relatively cost free proposal toGovernment: that all machinery used incargo operations in a port should beregistered and warranted, and thedrivers of this machinery have appli-cable licences for what ever machinerythey drive.

This position we felt was necessaryparticularly in the instance of a fatalaccident where the Police are called in,because the first question they ask is thedriver licensed.

The other benefit would have beenall drivers would have licences forfuture employment opportunities.

As with many of our dealings withthis Government, they simply won’tlisten.

Let’s hope it doesn’t take a tragedyto make them change their minds.

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‘The Maritimes’Edition 9, April 2005

Contents

Trevor Hanson Report ............... 2

Amalgamation agenda .............. 3

Phil Adams Report ................... 4

News ................................... 5

Lithuanians in Lyttelton ............ 6

Methyl Bromide ...................... 8

ITF News .............................. 10

Vice President’s Report ... .... ..... 12

Delegate Training .................... 13

Health and safety .................... 14

Death in the Southern Ocean ...... 15

Interport Photo Special ............. 16

Bill Andersen Obituary .............. 18

Seafarers’ Conference .............. 19

Port Roundup ......................... 20

Sports Section ........................ 29

Book Review .......................... 30

Ferry tales ............................ 31

The Back Page ........................ 32

‘The Maritimes’ is the official national

magazine of the Maritime Union of New

Zealand, published quarterly.

ISSN 1176-3418

National Office:

PO Box 27004

Wellington

New Zealand

Telephone 04 3850 792

Fax 04 3848 766

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.munz.org.nz

Edited and designed by Victor Billot


Editorial Board:

Trevor Hanson, Phil Adams and Joe Fleetwood

Thanks to the photographers including Terry

Ryan, Rod Prosser, Harry Holland, Paul

MacLennan, istockphoto.com, Phil Spanswick,

Gary Parsloe, Odette Shaw, Les Wells, and

other contributors.

Cover photo: Delegates and guests at the

Wellington Seafarers’ Strategy Conference,

March 2005 (photo by Rod Prosser)

‘The Maritimes’ is the official magazine of the

Maritime Union of New Zealand.

All correspondence to: ‘The Maritimes’,

PO Box 27004, Wellington, New Zealand.Email [email protected]

Deadline for all Port reports, submissions, photos and letters:29 April 2005 for next edition

Amalgamation on

the agendaRepresentatives from the MaritimeUnion of New Zealand (MUNZ) andthe Rail and Maritime Transport Union(RMTU) met in Wellington on 22–23February 2005 to discuss the possibleamalgamation of the two Unions.

The discussions focussed on out-standing matters as well as new mattersthat had arisen since the last meeting.

The purpose of the meeting was tocreate a proposal for a new amalgam-ated Union that meets the needs ofworkers in the maritime and railtransport sectors now and in the future.

The basis of the proposal follows:

Timeline

The proposal will go to the indi-vidual Executives of both Unions fortheir consideration.

The two Executives will meetseparately in early May 2005 to considerthe proposal.

The two Executives will then meettogether and consider the proposaltogether.

If the Individual Executives and theJoint Executives decide to proceed withthe proposal, they will then make arecommendation to the membership.

Membership meetings will then beconducted with officials of both Unions.

Extensive detailed information willbe provided to members at that time,and members will then take part in anationwide vote.

A simple majority in each Union willdecide the matter for that Union.

If the proposal is successful, aninaugural Conference of the new Unionwill be held in June.

Proposed Union Amalgamation

• A single new Union will be estab-lished by amalgamating the twoexisting Unions.

• A transition phase will be imple-mented for a period of 16 months fromthe date of the Inaugural Conference.

• Each Union will have equal represen-tation on the Transitional Manage-ment Committee.

• There will be two Joint Presidents, twoJoint Vice-Presidents, and two JointGeneral Secretaries, being the existingoffice holder from each Union, for theperiod of the transition.

• Industrial Councils will be estab-lished with elected reps from thatparticular industry. These Councilswill be responsible for industrialmatters relating to that industry.The Ports Councils will be establishedand a meeting held as quickly aspossible following the InauguralConference.

• As a point of principle, single Mari-time branches will be established ineach port as soon as practicable.

• A National Conference will be heldannually with elected delegatesrepresenting each branch.

• National Officials will be elected bythe membership at large.

• A national Management Committeestructure will be established byConference at the conclusion of thetransition period.

• Branches will still elect their officials.As at present, if a branch has suffi-cient funds, the branch will be able tofund elected officials for the period oftheir term.

• All persons paid for by Union fundsand employed by the Union shallhave Employment Agreements withthe National Office.

• Union fees will remain at presentlevels for the period of the transition.The first conference at the end of thetransition period will then decide onany future fee for the new Union.

• A name is still to be determined.This sets out the outline of the

proposal.All members will be invited to attend

the upcoming meetings to discuss theproposal and the future of Unionism inthe maritime and rail transport industries.

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A collective approach is the

way forward for workers

This is the second anniversary issue ofthe Maritimes.

Since the Maritimes started in 2003 ithas been a busy time for the Union andwe can say the joining together ofwaterfront workers and seafarers hasbeen a positive step.

However we are facing a number ofissues in the industry and I would liketo mention a couple of these to you.

Lithuanians in Lyttelton

The Maritime Union put the issue ofoverseas labour well into the publicspotlight recently when John Jeffrey andLes Wells at our Lyttelton Branch alertedus to a group of overseas workers livingin converted containers within the gates.

The Union investigated and openedup a can (or container) of worms.

The Port Company said the contain-ers were not in a safe place and orderedthem to be moved onto the ship.

The Maritime Safety Authorityintervened to say that it was not permit-ted to house workers on board contain-ers sitting on a ship.

The Immigration Department theninvestigated and found the overseasworkers did not have work permits andordered them to stop work.

Then the Government intervenedand got them work permits.

The Maritime Union says this kind ofdisgraceful carry on is unacceptable andwe feature an article about this issue inthis issue of the Maritimes.

The Fishing Industry

The Maritime Union has been takinga close interest in the fishing industry asof late.

This is because lots of local workersare getting laid off.

The blame is put on the hoki quotabeing cut, but of course the only reasonthe quota was cut in the first place is dueto overfishing in the last few years.

Fishing companies are now layingup trawlers then putting them back towork manned with overseas crew whoare paid rock bottom wages.

The Maritime Union has been intouch with the New Zealand FishingIndustry Guild whose South IslandOrganizer Louis Hart has asked to besent a copy of a Government report intoconditions of overseas workers in theNew Zealand fishing industry.

The Government refuse to hand itover – we can only ask why.

Something badly wrong aboardforeign trawlers

The Maritime Union and its mem-bers are often called to act as the localrepresentatives of the ITF.

This means keeping an eye on whatis going on in New Zealand waters.

We keep seeing incidents on manyforeign flagged ships in New Zealandwaters where crews are being exploitedor badly treated.

It seems ridiculous that the Unionshould have to be enforcing the law ofthe land while Government agenciesturn a blind eye to what is going on.

This issue of the Maritimes featuresan article about two fishing vesselswhich have seen a string of deaths,injuries and accidents over the lastseveral years.

There is something badly wrong andaction needs to be taken.

Methyl Bromide

The pressure is mounting on the useof Methyl Bromide as a fumigant inNew Zealand ports.

Recent media attention and atelevision documentary focused on thePort of Nelson where five workers fromthe port have died from Motor Neurondisease.

Although authorities are claimingthere is no connection, the Union issupporting calls for a full inquiry and aprecautionary approach.

We have been made aware of anumber of incidents where exposure tothis deadly chemical has occurred.

The one thing that has come out isthat the regulations governing the use ofMethyl Bromide are completely out ofdate – from 1967.

New laws are coming into force onMay 1, but the Maritime Union will beasking why it has taken so long to getthings sorted out.

Hopefully it will not just be anotherbureaucratic reshuffle.

Election 2005

This year is election year and theUnion urges all members to use theirdemocratic rights and get out there andvote.

We also urge members to vote for theright people.

As the Maritime Union of Australiapointed out, 30% of Australian workersvoted for the class enemy John Howard.

Voting for the bosses’ party is theequivalent of voting to get mugged.

Currently we have a Labour Govern-ment that seems to be steady enough inthe polls.

However they have some strangefriends and it is important that the nextLabour Government has some pressureto keep moving in the right direction.

MMP offers us the opportunity tovote strategically.

For example, it would be useful forthe Green Party to get a good number ofMPs as they have supported the Unionon issues such as cabotage and freetrade.

Likewise the Alliance Party haspolicies in line with the Union.

Obviously we need to keep Nationaland ACT out as the first priority.

But we need to make sure that theLabour Party does not forget where itsvoting support comes from as they havea habit of doing.

Gains like four weeks holiday and arise in the minimum wage are good.

But we do not want to see thesegains swept away by ill-consideredschemes such as the free trade deals.

It is especially important that ouryounger members are kept informedpolitically, as apathy and the me-firstphilosophy go hand in hand.

The alternative is the collectivesolidarity that a Union provides andworks for politically and industrially.

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National Office

Telephone: 04 3850 792

Fax: 04 3848 766

Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington

Office administrator: Valentina Goray


General Secretary: Trevor Hanson

Direct dial: 04 801 7614

Mobile: 0274 453 532


National President: Phil Adams


Mobile: 0274 377 601


Contact the Maritime UnionNational Vice President: Joe Fleetwood

Mobile: 021 364 649


Assistant General Secretary: Terry Ryan

Mobile: 021 186 6643


ITF Inspectorate: Kathy Whelan


Mobile: 021 666 405


Communications Officer: Victor Billot

Mobile: 021 482 219


Wood you believe it?

New Zealand’s exports are threatenedby huge increases in shipping costs.

Enormous demand from the Chineseeconomy has seen the cost of shippinggo through the roof.

The volume of freight between Asiaand New Zealand rose by nearly a thirdlast year.

Some New Zealand log exporters arenow putting logs in containers after thecost of bulk carriers has risen fourfold.

The Maritimes asks – isn’t this aperfect example of why a planned NewZealand shipping industry would be agood idea? Or even better, a publiclyowned shipping line that would ensureNew Zealand’s vital exports are notendangered by wild fluctuations in theglobal market and cash gouging bytrans-national shipping lines?

Tiger loose on waterfront

Three exotic mosquito species werefound in the mixing bowl of a concretetruck imported from Japan in March atthe Ports of Auckland.

One species was identified as theJapanese tiger mosquito, which canspread Japanese encephalitis virus, andWest Nile virus, which are potentiallyfatal.

The species has long, slim legs andtiger like stripes on the belly.

Charges over dead fisherman

Nelson-based fishing company Sealordis facing charges relating to the deathof fisherman Hugh Hope.

Mr Hope (60), of Dovedale, died lastSeptember after becoming trapped inheavy processing machinery aboard thetrawler “Aoraki” in the SouthernOcean.

The Maritime Safety Authority sayscharges had been laid under the Healthand Safety in Employment Act.

News shorts

Industrial SceneSome low level industrial action hasbeen taking place in both North andSouth Islands.

After a 48-hour stoppage in March,the Maritime Union has got negotiationsmoving along again with PacificaStevedoring in Wellington, according toWellington Waterfront Branch SecretaryJohn Whiting.

In Lyttelton, employees of theLyttelton Port Company spent fourweeks working to roster in March withdiscussions continuing, and LytteltonBranch Secretary Les Wells says talks arecontinuing with Toll and Pacifica.

Meanwhile, Port Chalmers Branch isputting the finishing touches on a three-year agreement with Port Otago.

From left: Lana Kerr, Casey Hesp, Charisma

Fuhrer and Taffy Jones at the Seafarers

Strategy Conference in March 2005 (see page

19 for full report)

Delegates and guests of the Seafarers’ Strategy Conference are welcome onto the Pacifica picket

at the Port of Wellington

Pacifica picket, Wellington, March 2005

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Tin Can Alleythe strange tale of how six

Lithuanians in Lyttelton opened

a container of wormsby Victor Billot

Lyttelton seafarer John Jeffrey wasmaking his way to work in January2005, when he noticed a strange newcollection of containers propped up onblocks on the Lyttelton waterfront.

Jeffrey, an executive member of theLyttelton branch of the Maritime Union,realized that the containers were of aninteresting new type.

They had ranchslider doors, andcontained beds.

He talked to Lyttelton MaritimeUnion organizer Les Wells, and thenational office of the Union and the ITFwere soon informed as well.

Thus began the unravelling of astrange tale that ended with televisionnews stories, investigations by maritimesafety officials, questions being asked inParliament, and senior Governmentfigures getting involved to smooth overanother example of the problems of aninternational free market in workers.

The Maritime Union made its initialinvestigations into who was beinghoused in the mystery containers.

Welcome to your new home

It turned out that six workers hadarrived from Germany on Saturday 29

January 2005 to do repair work on the‘Forum Rarotonga II’, a German-ownedvessel in dry dock in Lyttelton.

As is common in the maritimeindustry, the situation was complicatedby the involvement of several operators.

A number of different companieswere involved with the ship.

It was owned by German firm Baumand Co., but chartered to New Zealandcompany Pacific Forum Line.

The contract for the repair work waswith Lyttelton firm Stark Brothers, amarine engineering firm.

Manager Andrew Stark told theChristchurch Press he had leased thecontainer units, and then on-leased themto the German shipowners.

Maritime Union General SecretaryTrevor Hanson told media the situationappeared to be a case of foreign workersbeing imported into New Zealand andliving in conditions that would not beregarded as acceptable to NewZealanders.

“This is a group of workers who areliving on the waterfront, next to theirjob, in metal boxes sitting on blocks, andthe situation does not seem right to us,”he said.

The Union was concerned the flowon effect of makeshift accommodation

could have on local workers who oftentransfer between ports for jobs.

The converted containers wereinitially to be three berthers, but afterunion officials talked to the owners’representatives they were made into twoberthers.

The containers apparently had noelectricity or services, with the workerseating on board the ship and washing inan ablution block on the wharf.

One local worker complained thatthese toilet and shower facilities had notbeen cleaned and were an “absolutedisgrace.”

Widespread publicity followed withtelevision crews coming down to the Portand being denied access at the gates.

A container of worms

Lyttelton Port Company CEO PeterDavie said the containers had to bemoved off the wharf because they werenot in a safe place.

He ordered the containers to bemoved aboard the ‘Forum Rarotonga II’,but the CEO who described the issue asa “storm in a teacup” found that the lawof New Zealand had a different view.

The Maritime Safety Authorityquickly intervened and slapped a noticeon the ‘Forum Rarotonga II’ on 2February under the Maritime TransportAct 1994.

“The present position of accommo-dating ship’s crew in portable accommo-dation units is to be discontinued andeither accommodation is suppliedonboard to the standard required by ILOconventions 92 and 123, or the crewmembers accommodated in the units areprovided with suitable hotel accommo-dation”, ordered the MSA.

The employers were on a hiding tonothing. They put the workers inaccommodation onshore.

Questions asked

However, as is so often the case inthe maritime industry, where there issmoke there is often fire.

On Thursday 3 February, NewZealand First MP Peter Brown asked inParliament’s Question Time why foreignships’ crews were working on the NewZealand waterfront.

Immigration Minister Paul Swainanswered that it was clear the workerswere in breach of their visas.

“They have been instructed to stopworking, and further investigations aregoing on around the conditions underwhich those visas were granted,” he toldParliament, adding that “he should havemore to say about that matter tomorrow.”

A local inspector from the LabourDepartment had arrived to check on thestatus of the Lithuanians’ work permitsafter hearing about the situation.

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He found that none of theLithuanians had correct temporary workpermits – they were here with visitors’visas – and he ordered on Friday 4February that they stop work.

But by Monday, the Lithuanianswere back on the job.

The Government had intervened -and within 48 hours had ensured theworkers were issued with temporarypermits.

The Maritimes decided to follow upwhy special arrangements were beingmade for employers who breached lawsby bringing in overseas labour on visitorpermits, then putting them in containerson the wharf.

Breaking laws or getting confused?

Immigration officials in Wellingtonwere reluctant to discuss the issue whencontacted.

They referred us to a media state-ment made by Associate ImmigrationMinister Damian O’Connor on Sunday 6February 2005 that was available on theBeehive website.

It appears this media release was notwidely circulated, but it contained someinteresting information.

Damian O’Connor had grantedtemporary work permits to the sixLithuanian tradesmen, a decision “takenin consultation with ImmigrationMinister Paul Swain and Banks Penin-sula MP Ruth Dyson.”

O’Connor confirmed the tradesmenhad visitor visas, not temporary workpermits, and that they had been orderedto stop work on Friday 4 February.

“There has been some confusionaround the original application. Thetradesmen’s employer and its agenthave been advised about the correctprocedure and they have stated therewas no intention to mislead immigrationofficials. They have also undertaken tomake sure that the correct proceduresare followed in future.”

There is another interpretation youcould make of this situation.

To sum up – overseas workers withvisitors’ visas had been illegally work-ing on the waterfront, they had beenaccommodated in containers whichwere declared as being in an unsafesituation first by the Port CompanyCEO, then the MSA, but now theGovernment had stepped in to appar-ently help fix the situation up for thepeople who had caused it.

Two local Unions were approachedby local MP Ruth Dyson who asked forletters from them saying they were OKwith the situation.

Engineers Union organizer GedO’Connell says Ruth Dyson had beenapproached by the employers forassistance.

She rang O’Connell on Saturday 5February and asked for a letter from theEngineers Union confirming they hadno problem with the overseas workersbeing there.

A similar approach by Ruth Dysonwas made to Rail and Maritime Trans-port Union Organizer Paul Corliss, whoalso supplied a letter, although he statedthat he did not see it as an area underRMTU jurisdiction.

The Maritime Union was notcontacted – despite being the Unionwho had brought the matter to publicattention.

Thanks for your help –but it’s all under control

Let’s not forget that the position ofthe container accommodation was saidto be unsafe, in the first instance byLyttelton Port CEO Peter Davie, then bythe Maritime Safety Authority.

Because of the attention the MaritimeUnion had brought to the case, Immigra-tion officials had discovered the workerswere working illegally.

Yet it appears that the MaritimeUnion was being kept out of the loop.

Maritime Union Lyttelton organizerLes Wells wrote to Ruth Dyson askingfor an explanation, and the MaritimeUnion has also filed a request under theOfficial Information Act asking to begiven copies of all communicationsbetween the involved parties andimmigration officials.

The request was filed on 16 February,with a standard 20 day response time,and on 14 March a request for a 20 dayextension was received from the Immi-gration Service.

We are awaiting this informationwith some curiosity, and will be sure toshare it with our members.

The push for free trade in workers

Maritime Union General SecretaryTrevor Hanson says the push to importoverseas labour due to a “labourshortage” is a huge concern.

“We’ve taken the lid off somethingand they want to put it back on. It’s a farwider issue than this particular job - itgoes to the heart of the future for jobsand conditions in New Zealand, andinternationally.”

Recent events such as a renewedpush for self-loading in Europe andproposed free trade deals threaten thesecurity of jobs and conditions - and themaritime industry is once again at thesharp end of the process.

Hanson says the Union has met withGovernment officials and told them thatany attempts to introduce casualoverseas labour or self-loading byoverseas seafarers will be met withnational industrial action.

All unionists need to be on thelookout for incidents such as what hasoccurred in Lyttelton.

While business profits go throughthe roof and we are told about a “boom-ing” economy, it seems that wage ratesare going to be kept low by usingimported casual and short-term labour.

8

by Victor Billot

The use of toxic Methyl Bromide gas isunder the spotlight as concerns growabout its effect on workers’ health.

Methyl Bromide is a poisonous gasused to kill pests – and is in widespreaduse on the waterfront, as well as inagriculture.

A series of deaths in Nelson hastriggered a wave of concern, with callsfor further investigations into the healtheffects of the gas.

The chemical is widely recognized asbeing both highly dangerous to people,as well as being a serious environmentalthreat.

Fumigation companies operateunder regulations that date from 1967,which require them to notify publichealth, police and fire services beforeusing Methyl Bromide.

Hopelessly outdated

However, senior Nelson publichealth official Geoff Cameron says therules are “hopelessly outdated.”

On 1 May 2005 that will change asthe Methyl Bromide fumigation comesunder the Hazardous Substances andDangerous Organisms Act 1996.

That means Occupational Health andSafety (OSH) will become responsiblefor enforcing the rules – although theMaritime Safety Authority (MSA) andPublic Health Organizations (PHO) willstill have jurisdiction in some areas.

Methyl Bromide is a known ozone-depleting substance, and its use is beingphased out under the 1988 MontrealProtocol, which has 188 signatories

including New Zealand.New Zealand is one of a number of

countries who have applied for a specialdispensation to use Methyl Bromidewhen no practical alternative exists.

To treat timber, airtight covers areplaced over logs and the gas pumped infor a fumigation period.

However, many people are claimingthat they have been exposed when thegas is released into the atmosphere.

Methyl Bromide in Port Nelson

Much of the concern on the use ofMethyl Bromide in New Zealand hasrecently centred on Port Nelson.

A number of Nelson port workershave died from the rare motor neurondisease in recent years.

Port worker Matt McKay, marinebiologist Mike Bull, Milburn Cementworker Eddie Ewers and port facilitiesmanager John Parker have all died fromthe disease since 2002, and all worked atPort Nelson.

The widow of a fifth worker does notwant to come forward, and an unidenti-fied former Port Nelson worker died onChristmas Eve 2004.

Statistically, only two cases of motorneuron disease occur every year per 100000 people.

There is no proven scientific linkbetween the disease and Methyl Bro-mide, but many of the affected peoplesay that their concerns are not beingtaken seriously.

Widows of the workers have takentheir case to the media and are askingfor a full scale and thorough investiga-tion into the deaths and the use of

Methyl Bromide gas.A local group Campaign Against

Toxic Sprays is also demanding aninquiry.

A TV One documentary in February2005 featured interviews with the widowsas well as Nelson stevedore Ian Street.

Street believes he was poisoned byMethyl Bromide while operating aforklift in the port in December 2000.

An OSH report said it was “highlyprobable” that Methyl Bromide was thecause, but the fumigator at the time,Brimark Holdings, has denied this andsays Street’s symptoms were not consis-tent with Methyl Bromide poisoning.

In February 2005, another incidenthappened at Port Nelson when fiveworkers reported feeling ill.

The workers were all working withina few metres of Port Nelson’s ShedNumber 2 on February 8 while MethylBromide was being discharged follow-ing an export timber fumigation.

The workers complained of symp-toms that included a burning sensationon lips, tongue and throat, and strongheadaches.

A woman forklift driver says she gota tingling sensation on her lips, and hertwo-year-old son, who she isbreastfeeding, suffered from diahorreathat evening.

Figures released by the NelsonPublic Health Service show 222 fumiga-tions with Methyl Bromide took place atPort Nelson in 2004.

In addition, the Service consideredprosecuting a defunct fumigationcompany and has issued several formalwarnings in the past few years afterMethyl Bromide incidents at the port.

Two Nelson-based companies arelicensed to carry out fumigation.

Nelson Pest Control Services carriedout 109 container fumigations and threeother fumigations at the port in 2004, aswell as carrying out six other containerfumigations at Riwaka, Motueka andTahunanui.

Another company, Genera, carriedout 62 container fumigations and 48timber fumigations over the same year.

Nelson Stevedoring Services areoffering blood tests to its employees andsays it will employ an independentassessor to monitor any gas that may beescaping from treated timber in ships’hulls.

Port Nelson is moving log fumiga-tion sites away from areas near otherbusinesses.

Methyl Bromide Alert

9

Methyl Bromide Alert

Methyl Bromide, also known as Bromomethane, is used as a fumigant andpesticide.It comes in a liquid form but is heated for use in a gaseous form.It is a colourless and practically odourless gas that is heavier than air –which means it can concentrate in low-lying areas that are not properlyventilated.It is highly toxic.Methyl Bromide can cause convulsions, coma, and long term brain andnerve damage.It can cause skin burns, lung inflammation, and irritation to nose and eyes.The main uses of Methyl Bromide are as a fumigant used in agriculture andstorage facilities such as warehouses, ships, and containers.To be detected in humans, blood testing is only useful if carried out within 1to 2 days of exposure.There have never been any proven links with motor neuron disease.

Information sources:

United States Environmental Protection Agency Air Toxics Website (www.epa.gov)

United States National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health

(www.hazmap.nlm.nih.gov)

Methyl Bromide – The Facts

Methyl Bromide in Tauranga–Mount Maunganui

Around 150 tonnes of methyl bromideis used annually in New Zealand, thegreat majority at ports.

Only about three tonnes of that isused in Nelson.

The greatest use of the gas isat the port of Mount Maunga-nui–Tauranga.

Public Health ProtectionOfficer Helen Vanderwert says339 notifications of MethylBromide use at the Port weremade in 2004.

These were for a range ofuses, mostly export logs,dunnage, precut timber,containers and importedcontainers.

The two companies involved areGenera and Biofumigation Limited.

The Tauranga PHO has not beenalerted to any problems with MethylBromide in the last six years, she says.

Tauranga does not have any addi-tional local protocols for the use ofMethyl Bromide, unlike Nelson, al-though the various Public HealthOrganizations do talk to each other onvarious issues.

Vanderwert says the fumigationcompanies do their own monitoring andpolice themselves on a day to day level.

This concerns Maritime UnionTauranga organizer Phil Spanswick whosays he has concerns that the monitoringof fumigation is left up to the fumiga-tors.

He says he has spoken to a numberof local stevedores who have reportedfeeling unwell after fumigations.

The Union is attempting to raiseawareness of the dangers of MethylBromide amongst members, saysSpanswick, who says that it is really thejob of Government agencies to monitorand inform about Methyl Bromide.

Maritime Union General SecretaryTrevor Hanson says the problem seemsto centre around the fact that theenforcement of the law is based onunrealistic ideas about how workplacesoperate.

“The fact is that in today’s work-place, many workers are too scared to

raise their concerns, especially ifthey are casual or part-timeworkers.”

Being branded as a trouble-maker can see work dry up.

“This is an area where thereshould be active enforcement ofthe law by agencies, and it shouldnot be left to companies to policethemselves. That in my view is arecipe for disaster – if somethinggoes wrong, how long will it bebefore problems are acted upon?”

Maritime Union Local 13Health and Safety Officer Bob Riwaisays workers in the ports of Aucklandare aware and concerned about the useof Methyl Bromide.

The Union has identified it as ahazard with the Ports of Aucklandunder the Health and Safety Act.

He says the goal of the Union is toget the fumigation area moved out ofthe workplace.

10

ITF Newsand Views

Itac Expressby Kathy Whelan

(ITF New Zealand Co-ordinator)

This vessel has a long and chequeredhistory in New Zealand.

It was formerly the ‘Ngamaru III’, andowned by the Cook Island National Line.

Using a loophole in the immigrationlaws, this ship operated on the NewZealand coast with a foreign crew wellbefore cabotage was removed.

It was subjected to a strenuous legaland industrial campaign by the NewZealand Seafarers’ Union at that time.

In 1995 the Cook Island NationalLine went into liquidation and thevessel was purchased by New Zealandoperators and dedicated to the ChathamIsland trade.

A further ownership change occurred,the vessel was renamed ‘Southern Motu’and the NZSU achieved manning.

It was recently replaced by the‘Southern Tiare’ and sent for scrap.

Enroute to a scrapyard in India itcalled into Noumea to refuel and waspurchased by an Australian company,manned with Russians, and has beentrading in the Asia Pacific region with acouple of trips trans Tasman.

Recently three Russian Officersasked for assistance in repatriation asthey were two months past the end oftheir contracts and wanted to go home.

This brought the vessel to theattention of the ITF in New Zealandwho discovered that it has a Cambodianflag and a crew of 10 – Master, 1st and 2nd

Officer, Chief and 2nd Engineer, Cook,Bosun, 2 ABs and 1 Motorman.

The AB receives a basic salary ofUS$218 per month which includingovertime, leave and subsistence allow-ance, consolidates to US$650 per month.

The ILO minimum wage for an AB isUS$817 all up per month.

The ITF are attempting to contact theowners in Australia for a meeting andKathy Whelan is making arrangementsto inspect the vessel when it returns toAuckland.

ITF Inspection Team alongside Maria TH berthed in Geelong, Australia, from left to right Dean

Borg, Bruce Paris, Matty Purcell, Mick Van Berkel, Kathy Whelan, Mick Vickers, Kevin O’Leary,

Chris Pickens

Direct TuiJust prior to Christmas the ITF receiveda call from a steward on the vessel‘Direct Tui’ enroute to Tauranga.

The steward had been unfairlydismissed, and as soon as the vesselcame alongside in Tauranga the stewardwas whisked from the vessel and flownto Auckland to be repatriated to thePhilippines.

Fortunately the steward had to stayovernight in Auckland and Gary Parsloewas able to arrange for MUNZ memberPeter David to meet the steward in hishotel and get details of his dismissal.

Peter obtained information about thedismissal which was in breach of thesteward’s contract, and also discoveredthat he had not been paid for extraovertime.

The steward had also sustained aback injury which had been untreated.

He had been given no money by thecompany for airport tax, or any ex-penses for his trip home, such as mealmoney.

Peter took him home, gave him ameal, gave him money out of his ownpocket for his travel expenses, andarranged for medication to assist him onhis trip home and took him to theairport to ensure he left New Zealandsafely.

The report and documentationreceived from Peter allowed the ITF toput a claim into the company forcompensation for unfair dismissal,unpaid overtime and expenses and wewere successful in getting the stewardUS$1,675.

The steward has contacted the ITFfrom the Philippines confirming he gothome safely, and has thanked the ITF inNew Zealand for its assistance butespecially wanted to thank Peter Davidfor his kindness and assistance.

The Management of the ‘Direct Tui’has recently changed and one of the firstthings the new management did wascancel their ITF agreement.

The case highlighted above is justone of several complaints the ITF NewZealand and Australia has received fromthe crew since management changed.

Attempts to investigate the com-plaints have been difficult because of atotal lack of co-operation from the Master.

11

by Kathy Whelan

(ITF New Zealand Co-ordinator)

Like the Maritime Unions in the twocountries, the ITF inspectorates inJapan and New Zealand have a strongrelationship and in this edition of theITF News and Views we profile the ITFCoordinator for Japan Shoji Yamashita.

Shoji Yamashita commenced hisworking life as an engineer with theNippon-Kai Kisen Co (current Interna-tional Marine Transport Co., Ltd.) aftergraduation from the Tokyo University ofMercantile Marine in 1970.

He spent ten years at sea workingon merchant vessels of the Nippon-KaiKisen Co. before going ashore andworking in the land-based crew supportteam of the same company.

The support team relieves the crewfor leave in their home ports.

Whilst employed in the support teamhe became shop steward and this was thestart of his long and active participationin the Japanese trade union movement.

In 1970 Yamashita-san joined the AllJapan Seamen’s Union (JSU), participat-ing within the Union as a rank and filemember over the next 12 years.

In 1982, he became full-time unionofficial, assigned to the Union’s KansaiRegional Office based in Kobe and spenthis first two years as a full time officiallooking after almost everything; ocean-going, domestic trading vessels, ferries,tugboats, before moving to the KantoRegional Office based in Tokyo.

After that, he worked in the Councilon Modernization of Merchant Vesselsfor three years.

The Council consisted of representa-tives from the management and labour,and was set up to modernize theJapanese merchant fleet.

Because the modernization of thevessels meant less workers on board, itwas the Council’s task to make sure thatthere was no deterioration of theworking conditions on board.

His work there included the plan-ning of a model work plan and feasibil-ity study.

After coming back to the JSU, heworked in the organizing and interna-tional affairs departments, before beingappointed as the ITF Coordinator inJapan.

Shoji first participated in the ITF FoCCampaign in 1984 when he was reas-signed to the Kanto Regional Office.

JSU had been participating in theITF’s FOC Campaign and graduallystrengthening their activities in it.

The JSU had only one ITF Inspectorat that time and, in order to support theITF Inspector, the JSU had establishedthe JSU Assistant Coordinator* system.(* This is not the present ITF AssistantCoordinator.)

The JSU appointed young officers inlocal branches and Regional Offices asthe JSU Assistant Coordinators to assistthe ITF Inspector in inspection and otherrelated activities.

Shoji was appointed as one of theAssistant Coordinators and chargedwith organizing the FOC Campaign inthe Kanto region.

In 1995 Shoji Yamashita was ap-pointed the ITF National Coordinatorfor Japan.

Yamashita-san is married and hastwo daughters and one son.

The elder daughter is happilymarried with one baby boy, and the songot married last year.

His interests include ancient history,and he likes to read history books orhistorical novels when he has some freetime.

He also likes to spend time with hisfamily and friends, going to the moun-tains and walking are his other favouritethings to do.

The ITF Inspectorate in Japan is thebiggest inspectorate in the Asia/Pacificregion.

They conduct two weeks of actioneach year in which ITF volunteeractivists in their 15 ports are mobilized.

Rank and file members from NewZealand and Australia have participatedin their week of actions and speak of thehuge effort and commitment and highlevel of organization that goes into theseweeks of action.

ITF Profile: Shoji Yamashita

AlcmarEarly in December, four Indonesiancrew members of the Cyprus regis-tered tanker ‘Alcmar’ that was berthedin Port Chalmers contacted the ITFseeking assistance just hours beforesailing.

Their contracts had expired twomonths earlier and requests forrepatriation had been ignored.

Maritime Union National PresidentPhil Adams took up their case onbehalf of the ITF, and went on board tomeet with the Master.

He received an unqualified commit-ment in writing that the four crewmembers would be repatriated fromthe vessel’s next port.

The tanker had been on the NewZealand coast for five days and it wasunfortunate that the crew only decidedto contact the ITF a few hours beforesailing for an overseas port.

If they had made contact on arrivalin New Zealand, we would haveensured they were repatriated fromNew Zealand.

However, the ITF received thefollowing message from the crewmembers:To ITF New Zealand,thanks for your help, we are here now inthe Philippines together with our families.Please thank Mr Phil Adams for helping usget home to our families.Much strength to the ITF.Crew Alcmar.

The ‘Direct Tui’ is one of severalvessels chartered by ANZDL, tradingNew Zealand/Australia/West CoastNorth America.

In a letter to ITF New Zealanddated 2 November 2000 ANZDL stated

“All vessels in our fleet arerequired to maintain ITF approvedagreements and as we have changedthe number of vessels recently toupgrade our fleet not all owners mayyet be in compliance with our require-ments, nonetheless it is part of ouragreement for them to do so.”ITF New Zealand wrote to ANZDL on14 January 2005 asking if this is still arequirement of their charter agreement,and they have yet to respond.

12

Vice President’s Reportby Joe Fleetwood

National Vice

President

In this report, I would like to tellmembers about an important confer-ence that the Maritime Union of NewZealand attended late last year.

MUNZ was invited to attend theNational Offshore Conference in Perth,Western Australia, from November 29–December 3, 2004.

Attending of behalf of MUNZ wasNelson Branch President Bill Lewis,Wellington Seafarers Branch SecretaryMike Williams, and myself.

Other international guests includedNorrie McVicor of the ITF, Steve Todd(RMT, UK), and Rigoberto Monteiro(CTU, East Timor.)

Western Australia Assistant BranchSecretary and conference chair Ian Brayopened the first session, then handedover to Assistant National SecretaryMick Doleman to set a positive tone forthe week ahead.

MUA Western Australia branchsecretary Chris Cain welcomed us andintroduced Western Australia TransportMinister Alannah McTiernan whoopened the conference.

Chris mentioned her tireless workdefending the working class – she hasplayed a big role in securing permanentjobs, and getting labour hire companiesout of West Australian ports, thuslowering casualisation, and she has alsosupported state cabotage.

West Australian system

In her opening, the Minister deliv-ered some promising facts and statisticson education and the environment.

She noted how West Australia isresponsible for 30% of Australia’swealth, with 4.7% unemployment – thelowest in the country, and 7.8% growth –the fastest growing economy, with thehighest number of apprenticeships.

She is currently campaigning formore training of skilled labour, and hascommitted $300 million over 4 years tothe upgrading of West Australian ports.

Alannah is also seriously addressingthe exploitation of Single and ContinualVoyage Permit system.

This makes me think New Zealandneeds a Minister that is willing to takeon the fight of the working class, andnot cower to the pressure oftransnational corporations who try todominate by imposing free trade andmovement of labour agreements,designed to crush and exploit workers.

MUA National Secretary PaddyCrumlin thanked Alannah for openingthe conference, and for her contributionto the working class.

Paddy delivered a positive andinsightful report on the national andinternational scene.

MUA Deputy Branch Secretary KeithMorrison had accompanied AssistantNational Secretary Rick Newlyn to SouthAfrica, to finalise arrangements for the upand coming Solidarity conference.

Keith gave a brief but in-depthreport on our mining comrades in SouthAfrica, and confirmed their attendancein Los Angeles this coming May.

Oceanic Cruises Dispute

Assistant Secretary Ian Bray provideda report of the Oceanic Cruises dispute.

The Western Australia branch wereapproached by concerned workers onboard these ferries who had reportedThird World rates and conditions, and ablatant neglect of health and safety rulesand regulations.

Continual personal and physicalabuse from the employer has promptedthe branch and 22 workers to take 8 daystrike action.

Pickets were immediately imposedon the site, and the public showed theirsupport when they were told of thehorrific, sub-standard conditions.

The employer sent over one vessel,manned with scab labour, which cameto a sudden halt.

The dispute was media headlined forthree days, and in court for four days,with a great outcome for the workers – noindividual contracts, collective EnterpriseBargaining Award, award rates plus 4%,overtime clause, maximum 12 hour shiftwith minimum 8 hour break afterwards,and a 45 hour week.

Branch Secretary Chris Cain invitedtwo young delegates to the Conferenceto speak on this ordeal, and to accept apayment of $2,500 from the branch.

The hat was passed, and the finalfigure of $4,200 was handed to ourcomrades and their families.

The strike action taken is proof that acollective struggle is the only way to win.United we stand, divided we crawl.

Offshore industry

Assistant National Secretary MickDoleman delivered a strong and construc-tive offshore report covering many issues,including promoting the 50/50 agree-ment with MUNZ and MUA on vessels.

He noted the strong bond we haveformed, as well as the close work with

the Australian Workers’ Union in thehydrocarbon industry.

International Reports

International guest Norrie McVicorgave a good update on the offshore taskforce, and the oil-gas industry in theNorth Sea.

UK guest Stevie Todd of the RMTUnion informed the conference of theUK industry and the volatile situationhe is currently dealing with, but reas-sured all with his never-say-die unionattitude.

Rigoberto Montiero, head of the EastTimor trade unions, delivered a hard-hitting account of the atrocities commit-ted on the people of East Timor, andthanked the MUA and the Trade UnionMovement for their unwaveringdevotion to social justice for the peopleof East Timor.

ITF co-ordinator Dean Summersaddressed the conference on securityissues and repercussions.

Billy Giddins spoke on the legal issuesand the Howard Government’s industrialagenda, and Eddie Seymour on Unions atwork and the role of the delegate.

We attended the WA stop-workmeeting, and addressed the P&O andPatrick’s port workers on the job, andwere welcomed in true trade unioncomradeship.

Trans-Tasman Federation

The Conference made special note ofthe MUNZ policy that New Zealandseafarers will not offer themselves forpermanent employment, and will returnat the end of arrangement.

On behalf of MUNZ, I would like tothank the MUA for putting togethersuch a monumental event.

The close relationship between theNew Zealand and the AustralianMaritime Unions is a working exampleof international solidarity.

Due to a current shortage of quali-fied labour in Australia, New Zealandseafarers have offered their services tohelp our comrades in the offshore andmore recently, in blue-water vessels.

These jobs are on a trip-by-trip basis– no New Zealand seafarer will tenderfor a permanent position while thisagreement is in place.

By all accounts, this is a progressiveventure towards solidarity, and promisesto serve both sides well in the future.

National officials are continuing workon the new Trans Tasman Federation.

We inherit the past, we build thefuture.

13

by Fred Salele’a

CTU Health and Safety Tutor/Assessor

The Maritime Union is happy toannounce that the funding from theEmployment Relations Education(ERE) Contestable Fund for MaritimeUnion training courses has now beenapproved.

We currently have four ERE ap-proved courses of which two will bepresented throughout this year:• Our Union at Work• Organising the Workplace• Assisting members through thedisciplinary process• Working with members to resolveworkplace issues

The funding is for the delivery of‘Our Union’ and ‘Work & Organisingthe Workplace.’

These courses are to help delegatesto understand their roles and to providethem with knowledge and skills to beeffective in their workplaces.

They will also enable delegates todevelop ways to increase the involve-ment of members.

There are two other Maritime UnionTraining programmes being developedand if these are approved for funding,they will be introduced later on thisyear.

“The Waterfront Industry and itsFuture Economic Development”

This is an advanced course fordelegates that will provide a greaterunderstanding of the wider economicissues affecting our industry, and toimprove our ability to work together toresolve issues and recognise goals forour future.

“Women in theWaterfront Industry”

The aim of this project is to look atthe role of women workers in theWaterfront Industry with the view tobroaden their involvement within theIndustry.

Training Dates

The Training Schedule and Branchrequirements for this year’s courses 2005have been sent out to all MUNZBranches from Head Office.

April 6 (Wellington)Our Union at Work

April 7 (Timaru)Our Union at Work

May 5 (New Plymouth)Our Union at Work

May 20 (Port Chalmers)Our Union at Work

May 23 (Bluff)Our Union at Work

June 10 (Gisborne)Our Union at Work

July 7 (Wellington)Organising the Workplace

July 18 (Lyttelton)Organising the Workplace

August 25 (Mt Maunganui)Our Union at Work

September 1 (Auckland)Organising the Workplace

Trained delegates are

effective delegatesSeptember 9 (Nelson)Our Union at Work

October 14 (Napier)Our Union at Work

The goal of our educationprogramme is to give our membersevery opportunity to gain the skills andknowledge to improve and strengthenour Union and our Industry.

I would like to thank our Trainingand Educating Steering Committee ofPhil Adams, Joe Fleetwood and espe-cially Phil Spanswick for the work putinto our application for re-approval ofour Maritime Union courses.

For further information regardingour courses please contact your LocalBranch or myself.

Contact Fred Salele’a at:

Maritime Union Auckland Waterfront Branch

Local 13

Email [email protected]

Mobile 027 229 1432

Phil Spanswick and Fred Salele’a planning some more training

14

by Fred Salele’a

CTU Health and Safety Tutor/Assessor

This new column contributed by our own

Health and Safety expert will be a regular

feature in the Maritimes.

Health and safety is still at the frontof our minds at the workplace – goodhealth and safety allows us to be able togo home after each day of work to ourfamilies.

Thanks to all the good work that ourMaritime Union trained health andsafety reps have put in so far.

But it doesn’t stop there, health andsafety is ongoing and we must remainever vigilant: remember that everyone isresponsible for health and safety in ourworkplaces.

Our one-Day Health and SafetyOrganizers Seminar held late last year inAuckland was a great success with agood turnout, where we clarified andidentified issues and hazards in ourindustry.

There were some key points madethat we hope will deliver results and welook forward to a follow up seminar.

Keeping it safe on the jobGaining skills and

gaining qualifications

We are about to embark into a newlevel of Health and Safety Training –Stage 2 that leads to NZQA qualificationunit standard 20198.

These Health and Safety Trainingsessions not only give our members theskills to maintain a safe workplace, butthey add to our qualifications.

There are 37-unit standards currentlyavailable relating to health and safetythat can be used to make up electiveunits in National Certificates andNational Diplomas.

There are two National Certificatesin Occupational Health and Safety• National Certificate in OccupationalHealth and Safety.(Co-ordination)(Level 4)• National Certificate in OccupationalHealth and Safety(Workplace Safety)(Level 3)

As our members are trained in theWorksafe Programme for Health andSafety Reps they will also be offered theopportunity to be assessed for their

skills and knowledge of roles andresponsibilities of the Health and Safetyrep in the Workplace (Level 4, 8 credits).

For those keen to achieve unitstandard 20198 and I hope that iseveryone, we will be organising an in-house stage 2 course mid year, date to beconfirmed.

There is a workplace assessment tocomplete prior to attending Stage 2.

We will identify and contact those ofyou who have completed Stage 1 andare Trained Health and Safety reps whowish to attend the course by notice.

If in the meantime you receive noticefrom the CTU to attend let us know sothat we can have you put on the Mari-time Union list.

Worksafe, Thinksafe, and be safe.Contact Fred Salele’a at Maritime Union

Auckland Waterfront Branch Local 13

Email [email protected]

Mobile 027 229 1432

Maritime Union Whangarei members at their February training session

15

by Victor Billot

It would be a cold and lonely death forthe young fisherman after he wentoverboard into the stormy SouthernOcean.

An official report from the MaritimeSafety Authority covers the facts in anefficient way, but they cannot tell uswhat were the last thoughts of theyoung man as he was battered by thefreezing ocean thousands of kilometresfrom his home.

MSA Report Number 101851Ship name: Melilla 201Date: 19 November 2004Location: 110 nautical miles south ofStewart Island

“An Indonesian crew member fromthe vessel was lost overboard. Condi-tions at the time were poor with waves 5to 6 metres in height and a watertemperature of 8.6 degrees Celsius. Asearch was mounted but called off at2200 hours.”

The Melilla 201 and the Melilla 203are two fishing boats working in NewZealand waters who share more thanjust a name.

The latest incidents in New Zealandwaters that featured these boats led tothe media spotlight going on some darkplaces – and uncovering a pattern ofdeath, injury and pollution.

A call for help in Bluff

Just over three weeks after the deathof the crew member on Melilla 201 inNovember 2004, six Indonesian fisher-men left the Melilla 203 after it dockedin Bluff on Friday 4 February 2005.

They went to the Bluff police stationand claimed they had been mistreated.

The Korean captain and a ship’sagent came to the station after them.

The Indonesian crew had languageproblems, and the Indonesian Embassywas called to provide assistance.

Because the Maritime Union did notfind out about the event at the time, itwas unable to provide assistancethrough the International TransportWorkers’ Federation (ITF) who can givebackup to workers.

No charges were pressed and thecrew were flown home.

The Melilla 203 is operated in a jointventure with Tauranga-based companyTrans Pacific Fishing Limited with aKorean flag.

Trans Pacific Fishing spokesmanGeoff Morgan told the Southland Timesthat no formal complaint had been laid

Death in the Southern Oceanwith police, the crew had wanted to gohome, and declined to comment further.

Southland Times reporter ChalpatSonti carried out further investigationsthat pieced together a disturbing history.

Incidents involving Melilla 203and Melilla 201

19 November 2004A 24-year-old Indonesian fisherman ispresumed drowned after he fell from theMelilla 201 about 170km south ofStewart Island.

April 2004The 58-year old chief engineer of Melilla203 was airlifted to Dunedin Hospitalwith severe ammonia burns after gaugeson the boat exploded about 450km southof Bluff.No investigation was carried out byNew Zealand authorities because theincident happened outside NewZealand territorial waters.

July 2002Sanford fined $9000 after a diesel spilloff Nelson during refuelling. TheEnvironment Court Judge said Sanfordshould consider whether they used thevessel again.

February 2002A 24-year old Indonesian fishermandrowned south of the Snares Islandsafter he was knocked overboard fromone of the boats.

August 2001A 33-year old Chinese fishermandisappeared from Melilla 201 when itwas fishing off Westport.His death was ruled by the coroner tohave been self-inflicted.

How do they get away with it?

If regular death and disfigurement onthe job was occurring within a corporatehead office, or in Parliament Buildings,there would be a nationaloutcry.

But it appears that forthe overseas crews used ascheap, expendable labourin the fishing industry, it isa case of out of sight andout of mind.

It is the brutal andshocking underbelly ofglobalization.

While Government’sand companies talk aboutthe need to import ThirdWorld workers to fill

“labour shortages”, they appear happyto ignore the reality of life for workersoutside the industry seminars andpublic relations spin.

The New Zealand fishing industry isexploiting cheap overseas labour,according to New Zealand FishingIndustry Guild Louis Hart.

While New Zealand fishermen arelaid off, wages and conditions in theindustry continue in a race to the bottom.

Report on conditions withheld

Mr Hart says his request to see aGovernment report on conditionsaboard overseas crewed vessels has beenturned down.

The report was put together last yearby a labour inspector from the NewZealand Employment Relations Serviceand went to the Minister of Labour andthe Minister of Immigration.

Mr Hart received a letter fromMinister of Immigration Paul Swainsaying that the report was being with-held until the parties involved had achance to respond.

However, it appears the FishingIndustry Guild is not one of thoseparties, even though they are the Unionrepresenting fishermen.

A meeting is scheduled between theGuild and Minister of Immigration PaulSwain.

Several thousand overseas fishermenwork in New Zealand waters – andwhat goes on aboard some of theirtrawlers and boats seems to exist in alimbo, where New Zealand authoritiesturn a blind eye to practices that wouldprovoke outrage if they occurredelsewhere in New Zealand.

The use of overseas labour on fishingfleets in New Zealand waters shows thedirection in which we will continue tomove under free trade agreements andthe international transfer of workers asjust another “economic commodity.”

16

Interport 2005

Wayne Welch about to weigh 5.2kg groper

The Hanson Brothers rocking out at the Portsider

It’s either a Great White Shark or tangled lines

. . .

Stan Hooper and Henry Couch finetune their

putting skills

Dave Ashkettle (Wellington), Ray Dobson (Whangarei), Parakaia Smith (Mt Maunganui),

Arthur Peke (Auckland) and Ed Palmer (Whangarei)

Interport golfers T. Morgan, G. Heinley, B. Gillan, N. Irwin and P. Waddel

17

Wayne Welch presents hard luck prize to Harry

Mayn of Auckland

Port Chalmers boys, left to right, Dave Dick,

Wayne Welch, Winky Waugh and Michael ‘Tank’

Lysaght

Colin Perriman (runner up overall) with winner

Ron Te Moananui, both of Port ChalmersPhil Adams presents Pacifica Trophy for the

biggest trumpeter to Kevin Ansell of Timaru

Interport president Winky Waugh welcomes

guests to Port ChalmersTrevor Wong (Lyttelton), Danny Belsham (Auckland), Jake Jones (Lyttelton)

and Steve Hannaford (Lyttelton)

A stylish local shows the North Islanders how

it’s done

Interport contestants prepare for a serious day’s golfing at Chisholm Park

Interport 2005 was hosted by Port ChalmersDunedin Branch Local 10 from

13–17 February 2005.

Golfing, fishing and indoor sports wereenjoyed by around 100 members of the

Maritime Union from throughout New Zealand.

18

The death of Bill Andersen in January2005 marks what is in some ways theend of era in New Zealand history.

Bill’s name and his work were acentral part of New Zealand politicaland industrial life in the second half ofthe twentieth century, despite the fact heremained a grassroots activist.

Right up until his death he wasactively involved in the class struggle:he leaves behind a large gap in the ranksof New Zealand’s working people.

Large attendances atmemorial events held for Billin Auckland, Wellington andChristchurch are ampleevidence of the respect inwhich he was held.

Strong connection withmaritime unions

His connection withmaritime unionism wasstrong.

As a young merchantseaman during the SecondWorld War, he becamepolitically aware and active.

He explained to me oncethat some of the treatment hehad seen local, non-Europeanworkers subjected to had amajor effect on him.

On his return to NewZealand, he worked on thewaterfront and was one of thelocked out Aucklandwatersiders who wereblacklisted by employersfollowing the end of the 1951dispute.

That vindictive act has often beenregarded as a mistake by employers – asBill and many of his fellow activistswere then absorbed into other localindustries where their strong principlesand political awareness saw them gainleadership positions in many otherUnions.

Many years with DistributionUnion

Bill Andersen worked as a driver andwas elected as President of the NorthernDrivers Union, which eventuallyevolved into the National DistributionUnion, that today covers retail, trans-port, manufacturing, wood and manyother industrial workers.

Bill remained the President of thatUnion up until his death.

A committed Marxist

His commitment to Communism wasstrong. He was active in the CommunistParty of New Zealand, then the pro-Soviet Union Socialist Unity Party in the1970s and 1980s.

Eventually he became leader of thesmall Socialist Party of Aotearoa.

He firmly adhered to classic Marxist-

Leninist theory including his view of‘scientific socialism.’

Few probably shared his view of theSoviet Union as a workers’ paradise, yethis principled and progressive politicalapproach saw him support issues suchas Maori land rights well before theywere mainstream issues for the rest ofNew Zealand society.

Struggle-based Unionism

His impact on the trade unionmovement in New Zealand was major.

He argued that Unions should bestruggle-based, avoiding current theoriesthat employers and workers shouldwork in ‘partnership.’

He led from the front and was

prepared to use civil disobedience andother direct action tactics on pickets andprotests.

Led from the front

A warrant was issued for his arrestduring an industrial dispute in 1974 forcontempt of court.

Tens of thousands of workers inAuckland walked off the job and thefollowing day marched down QueenStreet with Bill at their head – making

for some great newspaperphotos.

It was a moment of greatdignity, and a fitting tribute toBill’s mana amongst workingpeople.

He was attacked byMuldoon later in the 1970s as athreat to society, but fronted thePrime Minister’s bullyboytactics and stood against him asa Socialist Unity Party candi-date in Muldoon’s Tamakielectorate.

Bill was arrested on a picketline as recently as 2002.

Many newspapers havecommented on Bill’s ‘grim andunyielding’ manner, but thatdescription does not fit thosewho knew or worked alongsidehim.

In person, Bill was generallyquietly spoken and thoughtful.

He could see the funny sideof things, and was able to relateto an enormous range of peoplewith his lowkey and friendlyapproach.

He was active in Auckland rugbyleague, and had strong links withAuckland’s Maori and Pacific Islandcommunities.

Bill did not live to see the socialisttransformation of society that was at theheart of his life’s work, yet his memorywill endure as a principled and tirelessadvocate for working people.

Obituary:

Bill Andersen, union leader and communist

Bill Andersen in 2003 (photo by Odette Shaw)

19

Seafarers’

Strategy

ConferenceFrom 8–10 March 2005, a specialSeafarers’ Strategy Conference was heldat the Johnsonville Club in Wellington.

Organized and hosted by theWellington Seafarers’ Branch of theMaritime Union, the three day confer-ence was attended by delegates, officialsand guests, including representativesfrom the Maritime Union of Australia.

The Conference focussed on theUnion and issues facing it, especiallywith regard to Toll Holdings, theAustralian-based company that has nowbecome a major player in New Zealandshipping and transport.

Over the three days, a number ofworkshops were held.

A full report will be provided in thenext edition of the Maritimes, but wehave provided a selection of quotes fromsome of those in attendance.

“This conference was all about workingout a strategy to deal with Toll.We know they are aggressive . . . we’vehad a couple of lessons off the Austra-lians about how to deal with them.But this conference really gave everybodya clearer view of what we have to do.”Mike Shakespeare, President, Wellington

Seafarers’ Branch, Maritime Union

“Toll is a very predatory company.They want to rape and pillage the wagesand conditions of workers and that’swhat they are here for . . . The confer-ence has inspired us to get out there andorganize, organize and educate – even tothe extent of educating the educators.And that’s what we’ve got to do. We’vegot one chance at it and that’s it.I’ve got a positive view on it and I wantto go forward to create a bigger andstronger union for future generations.”Joe Fleetwood, National Vice-President,

Maritime Union of New Zealand

“Toll’s strategy, I believe, is quite simple:it’s about unifying the total transportlogistics supply chain under one banner– ship to shelf . . . they’re focusing onbringing various threads of the supplychain under one umbrella which willgive them power and influence with the

customers when negotiating contracts.The challenge is, we must do the same –draw together the various strands andfoster and develop unity and solidarityright across the transport industry,across international borders if we are tobalance the growing might of Toll.”Wayne Butson, General Secretary, Rail and

Maritime Transport Union

“A lot of people in the younger genera-tion were not brought up with the ideaof unions. So we’ve got to tell them whyit’s good for them to be involved in theunion and that it does offer protectionfor them when they get in trouble.There are a lot [of young members] whoare involved in the union. It’s justthey’re quite shy.”Lana Kerr (young r&f member on the Arahura)

“I think the three days has been anenormous experience for myself . . . Ilook forward to another one. Twohighlights: the future of the union in itsyoung people – I saw some passionateand inspirational young people in thelast three days – and the amalgamationbetween MUNZ and RMTU.”Mike Wickham (Secretary, Tasmania Branch,

Maritime Union of Australia)

“I’m extremely satisfied with theoutcomes of this conference . . .the highlight for me was this morningwhen all the young people came in andwhen Lana spoke on behalf of theculture workshop, giving her views onhow she fitted into this Union. And aftershe spoke it was very heart-warming.It was just a lack of understanding fromthe culture of the past of the culture oftoday. What this conference did wasbring these cultures together.”Mike Williams, Secretary, Wellington Seafarers

Branch, Maritime Union

“The collective is the only way to go andI think if things go the way they’ve beenmapped out here at this conference andwe take those steps to achieve what weset out to do here, I think everythinglooks good for the future.”Russell Pierce

“You are about to become one Unionwithin the wharf gates. You are growingat a time when you are not supposed toexist [in these dark ages for unionism].And if that’s not a victory I don’t knowwhat is.You measure workers’ victories in thoseterms . . . Lenin said that all workershave and what they must preserve istheir organization.”Dave Morgan, former President, Maritime

Union of New Zealand

“As a union we are actually fighting thison two fronts. Unfortunately we have aweak-kneed government down here – asupposed workers’ government whichhasn’t given us the tools to deal withthese companies.As a union we need to turn the pressureon them as well, because its not onlyToll we’re dealing with, it’s the Govern-ment as well.”Dave Philipps, Vice President, Auckland

Waterfront Branch Local 13, Maritime Union

“Globalising solidarity is what it’s allabout - workers getting togethernationally and internationally to fightthe common enemy, the multinationals.”Keith Locke, Green Party MP

“If we go back with the rank and fileand analyse everything we’ve gonethrough here and not only talk about it,but action all those resolutions we putthrough.That’s most important because theyouth in our union especially need toknow that they are being heard and notmade to feel stupid when they askquestions.”Rachael Goddard

“One of the topics discussed at theconference this morning was the cultureof our Union and I guess there’s nothingbetter than the culture of our Union thatwe see here on this picket line today.It’s what we do best, when we go out onthe bricks on strike to support what isour basic right for a decent living.”Russell Mayne, Secretary Auckland Waterfront

Branch Local 13 Maritime Union, addressing a

picket line of wharfies at Pacifica.

20

Port Roundup:Auckland Seafarers

by Gary Parsloe

We held the OldTimers ChristmasParty at the Mari-time Club in BeachRoad on 17 Decem-ber 2004.

The Auckland Secretary welcomedall the Old Timers to their Social andthanked them for their past struggleswhich have helped preserve the Unionin the good condition that it is in (not alot of ships but those we have are on thebest wages and conditions.)

The Secretary read apologies fromtwo good old battlers Jimmy Manningand Alex McDonald.

Faxes and messages received fromvessels wished all the Old Timers thevery best on this special day, indicativeof the high regard they are held in by themembership.

Old Timers from other ports werewelcomed to the party with specialreference to Jack Mahoney and GaryPascoe from Lyttelton, and currentmembers from out of port includingDuncan Montgomery (Port Chalmers),Keith Rooney (Lyttelton) and JimmyRosser (Mount Maunganui) to mentionjust a few of those in attendance.

The guest speaker was Gerard Hill, aformer Auckland Branch AssistantSecretary.

Other officials present includedcurrent Auckland vice president KevinRooney, current Auckland executivemember Brian Ford, ex-National VicePresident of the New Zealand SeafarersUnion John O’Neill, ex-National Presi-dent of the New Zealand Cooks andStewards Union Fred Anabell, and PatLumber, who is a former Executivemember of both the Cooks and Stew-ards, and Seafarers, Union.

Three Executive members from theMaritime Union Local 13 were inattendance, Branch President DenisCarlisle, Branch Secretary Russell Mayn,and Executive Member Gordon Kopu.

Also in attendance was NationalSecretary of the Amalgamated WorkersUnion of New Zealand Ray Bianchi.

Special thanks must go to the CooksKevin Dixon, Wayne Bell and FrazerBarlow for the excellent spread they puton.

As always it was an excellent day outfor all the Old Timers and on behalf ofthe Auckland Branch Executive I wantto thank all those individuals and ships’crews for their donations that made theOld Timers Party the success it was.

Port Roundup:Wellington Seafarers

by Mike Shakespeare

Well, members, it hasbeen 1 year since theelection of theWellington branchexecutive and almost16 months since we

became a branch in our own right, andwe have had many battles on the way.

Toll

The first attack came from Toll Railhaving a go at the entitlements of ourover-60s members in the Superannua-tion Fund.

As it is one of our most preciousentitlements the employer was told inno uncertain terms that we would fightto the bitter end on this issue as itaffected everyone in our Union.

After some talking and legal advicethe issue was settled to our satisfaction,with the entitlements being left as theywere, but it does go to show we have tobe vigilant.

The next major attack was not longin coming from the same employers Tollwho wished to restructure the Cooksand Stewards on the Arahura into awalk on walk off system like the Aratereand the Lynx.

The call went out to the membershipto help in this struggle and it washeartening to see our people come onout to the picket lines which were wellattended.

It also sent a strong message to theemployers that we can and will mobilizewhen it is necessary.

Although they won through thecourts the right to restructure it did notgo all their own way as they could notexclude any of the exisiting members tothe new positions.

It was still sad to see people forcedout of the industry due to more changesto our wages and conditions in an unfairmanner.

Not so long after this we went intocontract negotiations with the Arahuraaward which proved to be quite difficultand eventually was settled in January2005 with a roll-over of the award with a3.5% increase that was backdated toSeptember 2004 for one year.

Strategy Conference

The branch held a strategy confer-ence on 8–10 March 2005 to work out afuture strategy as well as looking at ourwhole structure and training needs forour delegates amongst many othertopics.

This seminar was well attended bydelegates and guests, and a full report isgiven elsewhere in this edition of ‘TheMaritimes.’

Trans Tasman and offshore

There was also a lot of good workdone securing work in the Australianoffshore for a lot of our membersthroughout the many branches byWellington Secretary Mike Williams inconjunction with Chris Cain and MickDoleman of the Maritime Union ofAustralia, showing the value of theTrans Tasman Federation with the MUA.

The other major employers andshipowners in our branch do not seemto have had as many problems as Tollsdid, but there were many issues thatwere taken care of by the variousmembers of the Executive and I believethat the branch members were servedwell in all cases by them, and I thankthem all for the time and dedication theyput into the Branch on behalf of all of us.

In closing, we do have a busy yearahead of us, with no doubt more attackson wages and conditions, but I believethe membership is up to the challengesthat lie ahead of us.

Fred Lucas, Jerry Caulter, Tommy Bergin, Jack Mahoney and Archie Hawkins enjoy themselves at

the Auckland Old Timers Party

21

Port Roundup:Auckland Local 13

by Denis Carlisle

Ports ofAuckland

Agreement

I am pleased toreport that we

finally reached agreement with Ports ofAuckland and the Collective Agreementwas signed off on 1 December 2004.

The process spanned some tenmonths but on reflection it was timewell spent when the time is measuredagainst the result.

It is particularly pleasing that wehave made major gains for all membersand particularly our part time andcasual members.

They will now benefit from havingan agreed career path that is written intothe agreement.

Initial application of this willproduce ten more full time permanentjobs, which will be filled from within thecurrent part time pool of workers.

In turn the vacated part time posi-tions will be filled to a minimum of 50%from within the casual pool, thustriggering the domino effect the careerpath creates.

Substantial hourly rate increases forpart time and casual workers emphasisesour intent to improve rates and condi-tions for this group of members.

For our permanent workers wefurther improved and consolidated theirpay rates and conditions.

For the group as a whole weachieved backpay for a 12 monthperiod.

Other negotiations

Now that the Port Company agree-ment has been put to bed we havecommenced negotiations with Toll/Owens who own Leonard and DingleyStevedoring.

Within the coming weeks we willalso commence negotiation with P&OPorts.

Just as well we had a bit of a breakover Christmas.

Picnic Day

Picnic Day on the Port was verysuccessful and the Union organised andfinanced a bowling tournament, a golftournament and a children’s party at thepools.

All in all it was a great day for all ourmembers and their families.

The Maritime Union should beproud that it has never let picnic daydisappear from the agreements, as it is aspecial part of our heritage and we lookforward to seeing past and presentmembers at picnic day next year.

While on this subject a big thanks toall the members involved in organizingthese events recognising the amount ofwork needed to make these a success isappreciated by everyone.

Interport 2005

Local 13 members enjoyed travellingto Port Chalmers for the 2005 InterportSport Tournament: the Golfers, Indoorsports and the Fishermen all had a goodtime.

Thank you to Port Chalmers and theorganizers for your Southern hospitality.

Overseas labour

On the national front we are nowfaced with the possibility of foreignlabour being used to attack the wagesand conditions within our industry.

With the Immigration Departmentallowing foreign casual workers underthe Occupational Shortages List andPriority Occupations List we see foreignworkers being used in the fishingindustry and Lithuanian fitters andboilermakers in the dry dock atLyttelton.

I am sure it will only be a matter oftime before there is an attempt to utilizeforeign casual workers on the Water-front.

With the ITF dockers clause we haveprevented seafarers undertakingdockers’ work but an increased vigi-lance by all members will now berequired.

Under the guise of labour shortagesthe foreign casual workers are beingallowed to fill gaps in the labour marketin New Zealand but the real concern iswhether these gaps are created by lowpay and poor conditions in the firstplace.

In Auckland we are yet to be con-vinced that this importation of labour isnecessary when the best result would beto train New Zealand residents for thesepositions.

Rachael Goddard makes a point at the

Seafarers Solidarity Conference

Jack Mahoney and Gary Parsloe at the

Auckland Old Timers Function, with Tommy

Bergin in the background

Maritime Union National Vice President Joe

Fleetwood addresses picketers at Pacifica

22

Port Roundup:

Local 21

Port Roundup:Wellington Waterfront

By John Whiting

Shipping andwork volume

The Wellingtonbranch notes theremoval of theANZDL ships

“Rotoiti” and “Rotorua” from all NewZealand port calls except Auckland.

This reflects the overtonnaging of theTasman Sea route and the hybridstructure of these two vessels.

The “Rotoiti” would be the last linkwith the old Union Steam Ship Com-pany, once a major employer of NewZealand wharfies and seafarers.

Losing these two ships from the Portof Wellington will reduce hours avail-able to our members at both Capital CityStevedores and the Port Company(CentrePort) continuing a pattern overmany years now.

On a positive note, container vol-umes through the Port continue to rise.

Port Company Agreement

Our multi-union collective agree-ment with the Wellington Port Companyhas been settled very satisfactorily andincludes good increases in the hourlyrates, improved guarantees and supersubsidies for our 24 hour a weekpermanent part-time members, with acomprehensive formula for progressionfrom 24 hours to 40 hours.

Also further improvements, includ-ing transport allowance, in the casualschedule.

A container crane driver classifica-tion, attracting an enhanced pay rate,fulfils a long standing claim from thiskey area of our workforce.

Pacifica

Negotiation of the Pacifica Welling-ton collective agreement has beencompleted except for a stalling in thematter of a wage increase.

This group of our members, whoselast pay rise was in the year 2000, took a48 hour stoppage in March in the face ofan unacceptably low offer.

At the time of writing urgentnegotiations are pending to seeksettlement, in good faith, of a wage ratethat reflects the justice of these workers’claims.

Port safety forum

In the area of workplace safety, socritical to us on the waterfront, we haverecently learned of an ACC sponsored

forum of all port users including PortCompany, stevedores, transport opera-tions, fishing interests, and Unionrepresentatives to address all matters inrespect of waterfront safety.

This is apparently modelled on asimilar exercise held in the Port ofTauranga and we look forward to theopportunity to work on many safetyissues of concern to our membership.

by Phil Mansor

As industrial tradeunions, not onlyare we under anobligation toobtain improvedterms and condi-

tions of employment for members, butwe must also become politicallyinvolved in order to ensure that suchimprovements are not unfairly dissi-pated or frittered away by bad laws.

Becoming politically involved meansthat we must lobby all parliamentarians,whether they be in the ruling Govern-ment party or a member of one of theother party politicians, in order to getrid of any such laws which we considerto place us at a disadvantage.

One such bad law of major impor-tance affecting all homeowners is themethod used by local councils inassessing the amount of rates we areforced to pay.

A Fairer rates system

In the Wellington region, just prior tothe Christmas holiday break, the councilforwarded its “Notice of Valuation” toall home owners.

This notice advised of the massiveincrease in the value of our homes fordetermining just the first part of theincreased rates we’ll have to pay in theensuing year.

For most of the homeowners in thearea in which I live, the increasedvaluation is approximately 12 per cent.

This massive increase, based on thecapital value of our homes, will be ontop of the additional increase, yet to beannounced, from June 2005.

We were also advised that should wewish to object to this latest valuation, wemust do so no later than 28 January2005.

This is the time when many of us whotake their holidays over the Christmasbreak may just be getting back!

This is a grossly unfair system. Forinstance, a lone pensioner in one part ofthe city area, whose home is valued at$300 000, is levied at a higher rate than ahousehold of six or more people inanother area whose home is valued at$250 000.

Rates should be levied by what ahousehold actually uses in councilservices, not by the capital value of theproperty, which does not necessarilyreflect the householder’s ability to meetever spiralling wage demands.

Indeed, we are aware that manypensioners were compelled to sell theirhomes because they were unable to meetthe double digit rate increase demandswhich have been continually foisted onus for the last two decades.

Imposing taxes on taxes

All of these spiralling wage demandsare also plus 12.5 per cent GST, “a tax ona tax.”

No wonder our finance minister rubshis hands in glee at having a hugebudget surplus with which to buy votesin election year.

Here’s hoping that he and hisGovernment can help to deliver a fairerrating system.

A gutsful of rate hikes

On an earlier occasion, I took issuewith a statement by a former Wellingtonmayor who claimed that under hismayoralty spanning six years, councilrates had only increased by 4 per cent.

What he failed to mention was thathome owners in the working class areain which I still live, were forced to payapproximately an additional 267 percent(yes, two hundred and sixty seven percent) over the same six year period.

This amount of course included thetax on a tax of 12.5 percent GST.

Apparently, charging rates on thecapital value of a property is notconsidered to be an increase by citycouncils.

Remedy

We believe that in the same way thatour finance minister puts aside a certainpercentage of taxes collected for super-annuation purposes, then he should alsoput aside a percentage of taxes collectedto be distributed to all councils through-out New Zealand on a per capita homeowner.

At the same time, a law should bepassed making it unlawful for anycouncil to levy rates based on the capitalvalue of any homeowner’s property.

23

Port Roundup:Mt Maunganui Tauranga

By Phil

Spanswick

This was the firstMaritime SportsDay whichincluded mem-bers of the Rail

and Maritime Union and workers ofInternational Stevedores Limited,along with Maritime Union members,and a successful day was had by allincluding a lovely BBQ by Len Butler.

GolfGolf was superbly organized by MervHill and held at the Otumoetai GolfClub.The winner of the Picnic Cup was LouCampbell on a count back from RayAshford. Golf Nomination for theSportsman of the Day was LouCampbell.

BowlsBowls was again hosted by PeterSinclair and the Mount MaunganuiCosmopolitan Bowling Club.Cecil Dickson’s four were the overallwinners.The Bowling nomination for the Sports-man of the Day was Ken Robison.

FishingThe PTCL Trophy for the HeaviestSnapper went to Aaron Cooper, withHeaviest Terakihi to Russ Hawkins andHeaviest Kawai to Jordan Manning.

The Lucky Draw for One Night’sAccommodation at the Aquarius MotorInn was Willy Awa.

Sportsman of the day went to KenRobison.

Many thanks to our Sponsors, the MtMaunganui Credit Union, Fat BoyCharters, and the Aquarius Motor Inn.

Port Roundup:

Gisborneby Dein Ferris

It’s actually beenraining in good oldGissy and I don’tthink it’s finishedyet – much neededthough.

On one hand it helps the laterplantings of squash grow which means alonger season hopefully, while on theother hand it stops the current cropsfrom being harvested thus slowingdown the shipping.

The busy season has started but Ithink we will have to wait till the fatlady sings before we know if it turns outproductive for us.

Our new Manager has slotted intohis position well and is not afraid to askadvice and is very approachable.

The new men have started trainingand given time will come up to speed.

As like most ports we just keeprolling along without too many majorheadaches.

As you can see by this article there isnot a lot to write home about, so cheers,be safe and happy.

Fishing presentation from Mount Maunganui Sports Day at the Mount Maunganui Cosmopolitan

Bowling Club, with Russ Hawkins presiding

The Golf Squad at Otumoetai Golf Club, from left: Merv Hill, Dave Oliver of Mount Maunganui

Credit Union (the main sponsor), Brian Keno, Hotene Samuels, Niffer Williams, Mike Te Kani,

Jacky Zeander, Wendy Brown, Tony Brown, Lou Campbell, Kevin Mitchell, Floyd Lawson (absent:

Kapi Smith, Bubs Marsh, Ray Ashford, Walkie Ririnui

24

Port Roundup:

Napierby Bill Connelly

Around andabout

The port is flatout at the momentwith squash and

fruit exports arriving at the ship’s sideearlier than most years, with all threestevedoring companies doing their bestto keep up with seasonal demands ofHawkes Bay.

Obituary: Ian Stothart

It is with deep regret that I have toreport the accidental death of one of ourlongest standing members Ian JamesStothart, or “Stoddy” as he was affec-tionately known.

Ian started on the Napier Waterfronton the 11 January 1965 and had justcompleted some 40 years in the industryand was looking forward to his retire-ment at the end of January 2005.

At this time we are unsure of thecause of death, as we await the results ofthe autopsy.

The Officers, Executive and membersof the Napier Branch would like to takethis opportunity to express our thanks,through the “Maritimes”, to all theBranches that responded, on hearing ofIan’s death and thank you for yourcomfort, support and sympathy to Sueand the family in their time of need.

Ohope Beach Accommodation inNew Zealand

Members should be aware that theholiday accommodation at Ohope Beachis at a premium, because we now onlyhave the one unit available for rental.

Vacancies are still available commenc-ing each Sunday, on a weekly basis.

Bookings can be made through theNapier Branch, by contacting the Secre-tary either at the Union Office, his homeor on his mobile telephone number.

Gold Coast Accommodation inAustralia

Please note that the confirmation periodfor bookings is now SIX MONTHS,which put quite simply means thatmembers nationally can now book sixmonths in advance. The next vacancy isa two-week period commencing Satur-day 5th November to 19th November2005.

Negotiations

I am hard at it at the moment, withall three Collective Agreements havingexpired.

Negotiations are continuing on adaily basis with all three companiesoperating at the Port of Napier.

Hopefully I will have somethingpositive to report in the next issue.

Election of Officers

Nominations have been called for thepositions of President and Vice-Presi-dent of the Napier Branch and votingwill take place in late March, in conjunc-tion with our stop-work meeting

Local Labour Affiliates Council(LAC) Meeting

Alan Burke and myself attended ameeting recently and tabled correspon-dence, from the National Office, withregard to the importing of foreignlabour into the country’s workforce.

We both expressed our concern to theUnion representatives at the meetingand hopefully at the next meeting wewill have the opportunity to relay ourconcerns to the Minister of Customs,Rick Barker and our local member ofParliament Russell Fairbrother.

Congratulations must go to theNurses Union and the result theyachieved in getting a significant pay risefor their members.

This subject has been followedclosely at local LAC meetings and alsoon the picket line.

Well done nurses, a long timecoming and way overdue.

Port Roundup:Lyttelton Local 43

By Les Wells

Lyttelton Portmembers put in 14days’ notice ofstrike action thattook effect on 16February 2005

involving the men working rosteredshifts with no overtime.

We believe this is the most effectiveway to put pressure on the Company.

On Thursday 10 February theCombined Unions went into mediationwith the Lyttelton Port Company fornine hours.

The Union did offer some waysaround our impasse but this was turneddown by the Company, and my personalobservation was that they were notinterested in getting a settlement.

Workers in containers

One of the main problems we havehad in the Port is foreign workers beinghoused in the dock area in convertedfreezer containers.

I would like to thank John Jeffery forhis help in identifying the problem.

John’s ship was in dock when henoticed the containers being delivered.

On making inquiries he was able toinform Kathy Whelan and myself.When we started to delve a little furtherwe found that six Lithuanians werecoming to work in the ship in dock, theywere being brought out by Germanowners.

After efforts by Trevor Hanson andKathy Whelan, these men were stoppedfrom working until their visas werechecked.

After hearing a lot of rubbish, Ifound that these men are back in thedock doing work that I believe could becarried out by New Zealand workers.

Victor Billot forwarded me a pressstatement from Associate ImmigrationMinister Damian O’Connor that washeaded ‘Solution found to Lytteltonissue.’

This stated that the men have beengranted temporary work permits so thaturgent work can be completed.

One paragraph says the Engineering,Print and Manufacturing Union and theRail and Maritime Union also supportedthe application.

Mr. O’Connor said that the decisionhad been taken in consultation with theImmigration Minister Paul Swain andBanks Peninsula MP Ruth Dyson.

I would like to point out that at nostage did the Engineers Union have aproblem with overseas workers doingtheir members work.

Nor did Ruth Dyson have thedecency to contact this office to give usan opportunity to have any input intothe problem.

After all it was a Maritime Unionmember that had the strength to standup and question a policy that allowsforeigners in to do the work of NewZealanders.

This being an election year I can onlyhope that members of this branch notethe contempt that we were treated withby Ruth Dyson and act accordingly atthe ballot box.

As long as we have leaders in thiscountry who condone foreign workersbeing imported into this country, itappears to me that this is the only Unionthat is prepared to stand up and take thefight to protect New Zealand work forNew Zealanders.

25

Port Roundup:

Port Chalmers

Local 10by Phil Adams

Port Otago

The arrival ofthree straddles andincrease in thenumber of “B’s” hasgone some way to

addressing labour shortages in theterminal.

Training of the new workers iscurrently underway under the capableguidance of tutors Ian Quarrell and AlanMiddleditch.

With the purchase of a third cranedue next year, the future looks good forthe terminal, although we cannot becomplacent given the volatile nature ofour industry.

Geoff Plunket has now taken overthe role of Chief Executive, and newpositions have been created below him.

We will see if this has been the rightmove – sometimes it needs to beremembered that the Union and themanagement at the time are the reasonthe port is doing so well.

New agreement in the terminal

Recently the Terminal Agreementwas ratified subject to some issues beingaddressed.

Another three year agreement whichshould see stability for our members butalso for the Company as it seeks to holdexisting shipping lines and new ship-ping lines to the Port.

We must be ever vigilant to the pastpractices of over management of theplace – when things are going well theCompany has tended to employ moremanagers, something we have neverfigured out.

We do not intend to sit back andwatch more people join the Port inpositions that are simply not required.

As part of the ratification issues inthe Sheds, the peggy cleaner has beenreinstated as we believe the cleaning ofthe place now being contracted willaffect our members who demand andexpect cleanliness in the smoko roomand ablution block as we are workingsometimes 24 hours in a row.

Port Chalmers Cargo Services

Port Chalmers Cargo Services arerelatively busy with logs, fertilizer,cement and the occasional transferkeeping them occupied.

Their agreement is up for negotiationand although the main document will benegotiated nationally, we hope to pushfor local issues which are important to us.

One disquieting aspect of the newmanager is his lack of communicationwith the Union.

I think before managers start in ourport they should be given a history ofthe Union and its work not only to keepour members in jobs but also managersin jobs as well.

Sports Tourney

Winky Waugh did an excellent job inorganizing a most successful event withthe help of members, particularlyMichael Lysaght (Tank).

A good turnout and an excellent weekreported on elsewhere in the Maritimes.

More than one participant may havebeen reminded of the famous quotefrom a first time Dunedin student – “justwhen you think the bottom’s fallen fromyour world, drink Speights and theworld will fall from your bottom.”

Retirements

It is with some regret that we recordthe retirement of four long standingmembers of the Union, three from theterminal – Controller John Holden,Controller Peter Broere, Cargo HandlerBen Johnson – and former branchpresident Ray Sinclair from Port Chalm-ers Cargo Services.

All have more than or just on 30years in the industry.

We as a Union thank them for theirservice and contribution over the years.

As they go into retirement or newventures, we wish them good health andhopefully they will take away goodmemories of their times with us.

Cruise Ships

The Cruise Season is upon us andnumerous large vessels are visiting ourport.

Although a benefit for the province,the size of these vessels means theycannot get up to Dunedin so have toberth at Port Chalmers in the terminalwhich can lead to problems particularlyif a container ship is working.

Toll

As yet there is no confirmed time asto when they will look at working in ourport, but we will watch with interestgiven the experience with this companyon other New Zealand and Australianports.

We will be ready for their arrival anddo not intend to go backward in this port.

Union fees

As reported earlier in this issue, ourAGM agreed to a rise in Union fees asour growing numbers require a greaterlevel of service.

Although our branch is financiallysound, we cannot rest on our laurels,and the time is right to increase our fees.

They are still below other branchesand $4 of the $5 weekly fee is paid asour affiliation dues to the NationalOffice of the Union.

The increased fee will take effect atthe start of the 2005 financial year.

Picnic Day

It was good to see a successful PicnicDay, this years venue being theAramoana Domain.

Thanks again to all who assisted, theSocial Committee is now very active andany information regarding social eventsshould be directed to Brian Berrymanand Tank Lysaght.

continued next page

Chris Kenny, Terry Ryan, Trevor Hanson and George Ward at the Portsider Tavern during Interport

2005. Chris has recently returned from an international boxing coaching trip to North Korea but

says he prefers Port Chalmers for his recreational activities.

26

Superannuation

It is heartening to see the Super Fundpicking up after a hiccup earlier in theyear.

With it hovering around the 6% markwe can look forward to a good year.

It is hoped the new staff employedby Port Otago will join the scheme thatcan only benefit them in the long run.

Sealord

It is disappointing to again seeSealord scale back its Dunedin operationwith the loss of around 150 jobs.

Obviously this will have an effect onship visits and work for Port ChalmersCargo Services as well as the containersshipped through the port from HarbourCold who store a lot of the fish forexport through the terminal.

Holiday Unit

The Queenstown Holiday Unitcontinues to be well utilized withcurrent and retired members and theirfamilies making full use of this out-standing asset of ours.

For all bookings and information callIan Quarrell on 03 4727 216 or PhilAdams on 03 4728 052.

Delegate training

We have just been told that we haveresources to carry on delegate trainingand the branch will be applying to thetwo employers in port for time to carryout delegate training.

We have had a positive responsefrom members wishing to becomedelegates, particularly in the terminal,which is a good sign for the future.

The branch will be nominating ayoung member to travel to Australia tobe trained in all aspects of ITF work.

They will attend a designated Portwhich experience many of the sameissues as we do and will be trained forthree days in ITF work.

This is a great opportunity for ayoung member of our branch and willstrengthen the numbers of ITF inspec-tors in our Port.

Port Security

With the ratification of the newagreement, two new positions insecurity have become available.

Working four nights on four nightsoff, this job will replace the currentsystem of rostering through everyonefor Third Shift gate duty.

With the new requirement for tightersecurity it was important that we have askilled team like this.

The job requires specific skills thatcan only be achieved through a dedi-cated security staff.

ITF work

We have had two recent incidents onvessels involving the ITF.

The first was the tanker ‘Alcmar’when four crew wished to be repatriatedhome by Christmas as they were into theeleventh month of a seven monthcontract.

I was contacted by ITF Co-ordinatorKathy Whelan and visited the ship.

The Captain agreed in writing torepatriate them at the next port inIndonesia.

I advised Kathy who notified ITFIndonesia, who organized to havesomeone meet the vessel and take thecrew to the airport upon arrival.

What we did note was that if thecrew members had contacted the ITFupon arriving at their first New Zealandport (Tauranga), they would have beenhome by the time it reached Dunedin.

I have been told by Kathy Whelanthat the crew members were indeedhome by Christmas.

The second incident involving theITF was the case of a Third Engineeraboard a PONZ 4100 vessel who tookmysteriously ill before Christmas andwas put into Dunedin Hospital.Through the ITF we kept his family wellinformed of his progress.

He has now returned home to thePhillippines and is expected to make afull recovery.

Election Year

With this being election year andeveryone expected to vote, we want tomake sure we get the Government wewant.

It is with this in mind that I reportthe branch has a member standing in theelections.

Victor Billot is standing as AllianceParty candidate for Dunedin North andalso on the party list.

We wish him every success in hisendeavours and if he makes it hopefullyhe can sort out the shambles Parliamentis. Good luck Victor MP.

Racing

Although John Davis and PhilAdams have dispensed with NautilusFranco as it has cost everyone (includingthe National Secretary) plenty, we nowhave another to empty your wallets.

Ohoko Jasper is a maiden trotter thatalthough running second last in its firstattempt is expected to improve.

JD and Phil are now involved in ahorse in the North Island along withnone other than Davey Dick and DickMarkham.

Its name is Shanghai Sam (we don’tname them.) So watch this space.

That is the Port Chalmers Roundupfor the first part of 2005.

Our branch looks forward to apositive year with the Super doing welland membership numbers increasing,and the possibility of amalgamationoccurring by the end of the year.

ITF meeting, from left to right, front row, Trevor Hanson (MUNZ), Terry Ryan (MUNZ), Paul Tolich

(EPMU), back row, Wayne Butson (RMTU), Kathy Whelan (ITF), and Helen McAra (MSG).

27

Port Roundup:

BluffBy Ray Fife

The Xmas NewYear period passedin relative quiet-ness.

Shipping

Shipping movements through theport have been spasmodic to say theleast.

Things will get worse before they getbetter – that is the prediction of SouthPort.

Following an 18 percent drop in halfyear profits, it has predicted a 20 percentfall in profit for the full financial year.

The drop of cargo was chiefly due totwo factors: the end of the Trans Tasmanbutterfly service with its containercargo, and the end of log exports due tothe high foreign exchange levels andincreased freight costs.

The port is not deep enough toattract large container ships so neededto focus on small to medium sized shipsbut at the moment have not found areplacement for the butterfly service.

Indonesian crew jumps ship

Six Indonesian crew membersjumped ship on from the Melilla 203 onFriday 4 February 2005.

Unfortunately this didn’t come to myattention right away and the crewmembers were sent home before we hada chance to investigate and talk to them.

However, some disturbing factscame up from this case and it wasfollowed up by our local newspaper theSouthland Times who did a good job intracing the history of this fishing boat.

A report is featured in the newssection of this edition of the Maritimes.

Charity Bowls

The Branch is a major sponsor for theSouthland Charity Bowls Tournament,the proceeds of which go to variouslocal charities around the province.

It is one of the biggest tournamentsin Southland and gives the union a veryhigh profile during the tournament.

Congratulations must go to Joe Repiawho along with his partner won thetournament late last year.

Joe said that he was very proud to berepresenting the Union, particularlywith being a member of an organizationthat is strongly involved in the sponsor-ship.

Picnic Day Golf

The picnic day golf tournament washeld on the 27 January with a goodturnout of members on the day.

The players enjoyed a day thatprovided excellent weather conditions,which meant that plenty of refreshmentswere needed to combat those conditions.

The golf is secondary on the day, it isthe social aspect of getting togetherenjoying a few beers and having a lot oflaughs.

For the record, Peter Waddel won thegolfers’ section while the non-golfers’section was won by Keith Tangney andof course we cannot forget the personwho played the most golf, this year RossVincent was the recipient.

Victor Harding, recently retired from the

wharf in Bluff (photo by Harry Holland)

Doom the bar man (photo by Harry Holland)

Rossco, Norm, No.1 (aka Paul Cross) and Finno (photo by Harry Holland)

Go No.1! (photo by Harry Holland)

28

by Bill Lewis

Port Nelson hasnow entered aperiod of reducedshipping, which isa seasonaloccurence.

The cargo beingmoved at the

moment are containers, timbers, andmedium density fibreboard for export.

Methyl Bromide

The issue of Methyl Bromide fumiga-tion used on timber shipments toAustralia has been to the fore sinceDecember 2004, when the bug infesta-tion needed to be dealt with.

Members are being blood tested aftereach shipment to get a read out tocompare over the season for anyabnormalities.

OSH Stevedoring Services Ltd, PortNelson Company, and the Public Healthare continuing to investigate andmonitor the areas and buildings used tofumigate timber and have moved somesites close to offices and businessesaway to more open areas.

Also other storage sheds are beinginterchanged.

The gas being heavier than air canaccumulate in ships’ holds after loading;this is also being tested.

A residue gas can leach out and lie incorners or lower parts of the holds, adanger to stevedores.

The ultimate death of some workerswho have had exposure or near theworkplaces is being investigated bypublic health to see if a link can beestablished between the gas and motorneuron disease, which can causecomplete debilitation and death.

A group of Nelson widows have beenasking for answers and it has progressedto a point of official recognition.

Our branch is involved in meetingsand want the investigations to proceed.

Foreign Crews

The immigration department’sdecision to allow cheap foreign labourinto the NZ domestic fishing industry isa disgrace.

It allows guest labour to replaceworkers in our own country.

The tide is now flooding with othershore industries picking up labour inthat way and is having a detrimentalaffect in training and depressing localwages and conditions in the fishingindustry.

ITF

The branch has been active in shipinspections to monitor payments ofwages to crews on ITF agreements.

A warning was given to a master tonotify their ship management thatwhere no ITF agreement exists on theship, it will be put on a watch list whenvisiting future ports – sometimes thishas been successful in the past.

The crew payments for doingpontoon work and cleaning dunnageout of holes has been tended to bygetting details of work done and ourNew Zealand ITF co-ordinator KathyWhelan stitching up payments to crewmembers.

We spoke to seafarers and explainedthat seafarers do not do stevedoringwork and if stevedores agree, an extrapayment is made for pontoons and holecleaning and the like.

National Offshore Conference

I had the privilege to attend theMUA offshore conference as part of aNew Zealand delegation in December2004.

The conference was convened todiscuss remits from offshore vessels andformulate a log of claims to present tothe ship owners.

Discussed were the current indus-trial, political and international policieswhich have a direct effect on ourbargaining and employment positions,and on the union as a whole.

Allannah McTiernan, the LabourTransport Minister of Western Australiahas committed her government’s fullsupport to the MUA for the cabotagecampaign in her state.

Paddy Crumlin spoke about the

importance of internationalism linkingwith other unions to prevent employerspicking on weaker points, and buildinga stronger union by recruiting, reachingout to rail and road workers with anemphasis on a strong effective delegatesystem.

Mick Dolman covered the politicalface of the election of the Howardgovernment and that workers had lostthe plot with a third of them voting for aanti-worker government that has statedits intention to attack workers’ condi-tions after July 2005.

Lack of company training andindividuals outside the industry payingfor courses themselves and offering foremployment were some of the problems,with a need to identify the challengesahead and put in all resources availableto fight.

This included getting a politicalunderstanding of the issues, withmembers to pay dues and into rollingfunds to assist campaigns and confer-ences – with no free loading!

All our delegation congratulated theWestern Australia branch for theirdetermination and ability to organise arewarding conference with business andhospitality second to none.

It was uplifting to hear national andlocal officials speak on important issuesand chart out a strategy so that MUAmembers are prepared for what thefuture holds politically, industrially, andinternationally.

Further report on Offshore Confer-ence on page 12.

Port Roundup:

Nelson

29

Sports

Ryan Henry: Otago rep and Port Chalmers MUNZ member

Ryan Henry:

Boxer

by Victor Billot

Port Chalmers wharfie Ryan Henry ismaking a name for himself in theamateur boxing scene.

The 27-year old Otago rep has beencompetitively boxing for two and a halfyears, after many years of practisingmartial arts.

Ryan says he is currently competingas a light heavyweight, possibly movingup into heavyweight division.

He was kept out of the last nationalswith a shoulder injury, which preventedhim for going for the national title, buthe is committed to making a return tothis level of competition – this year ifpossible.

Training six days a week, a couple ofhours a day, “Ropey” as he is known onthe job, is a busy man.

As well as his fulltime job on thewharves, and being father of Zsana (6),Awatea (3) and Anahera (8), he hasstarted up the Ryan Henry Boxing andFitness Club.

The club is based at Sawyers Bay,where he takes childrens and adultsclasses in amateur boxing on Mondaynights at the Scout Hall.

His fiancee Cherine is the ClubPresident and deals with the paperworkfor his new undertaking.

“I was thinking about it over the lastcouple of years, and there has been moreand more interest,” he says.

He says that a lot of women areinterested as well as it is a good sport forbuilding fitness.

“It really is a boxing/fitness class,”he says.

Ryan credits a lot of his success totwo mentors, wellknown Dunedinboxing coach Eldon Clifton and martialarts exponent Peter Williamson.

He says these two figures are friendsas well as teachers.

Ryan had a strong martial artsbackground before concentrating onboxing, meeting his current coach EldonClifton at a Brazilian ju-jitsu class led byPeter Williamson.

“I trained for four years and gained ablack belt under Peter – he has beeninvolved with martial arts most of hislife, he studied Karate and then went toBrazil to learn their form of Ju Jitsu.”

Before progressing intoboxing, Ryan started at some “norules” fights where he saysanything goes, excepting a fewbasic rules such as no eyegouging or groin kicking.

The sport is known interna-tionally as Vale Tudo, a Portu-guese name that comes fromBrazil.

Eldon Clifton got involvedwith Peter’s training, and Ryangot to know Eldon through thisconnection.

“I met Eldon, and startedsparring with his son Kane.”

It has not always been asmooth road for Ryan, whofreely admits to having beeninvolved in some street fights inhis younger days, getting on thewrong side of the law.

When he was workingaround town as a security guard,he was attacked one night whenoffduty by a man who recog-nized him. Ryan had his earbitten off – and in that incident,says the Police were on his side.

But he says he has directed hisenergies into his sport.

After learning the discipline andtechniques of martial arts, Ryan says“you tend not to fight.”

“The good thing about what Petertaught me is you don’t have to smashsomeone, you can restrain them andcool them down.”

Another concern for amateur boxersis the need to secure sponsorship.

Ryan says he has good support fromlocal businesses, and thanks Anthony atHarvey Norman, Geoff at Port ChalmersMotors and local publican Wayne Seftonof Black Dogs and Mackies Hotel, fortheir support.

The Maritimes suggests its readerskeep an eye on this promising sports-man who is a dedicated memberof the Maritime Union.

And if you miss seeing himin action in the ring, he can beseen in one of his other roles: asthe friendly bartender at Unionfunctions in the Port ChalmersBureau Hall.

This article is the first in aseries on Maritime Union

members involved in sports.If you would like to featurein this section or have anyideas about a good topic,

contact the Editor.

30

The Black Prince

by Graeme Hunt

(published by Penguin)

This is the first biography of FintanPatrick Walsh, the New Zealand tradeunion leader who died in 1963.

Walsh was a major player in unionsand political activity, especially for thelast three decades of his life.

His impact on maritime unionismwas enormous.

As the head of the New ZealandSeaman’s Union for thirty years – aswell as a longserving President of theFederation of Labour – Walsh played akey role in some major events of thetime.

His most controversial role was inthe 1951 waterfront lockout where heworked against watersiders and theirallies – including members of his ownSeaman’s Union.

His biographer Graeme Hunt is aright-wing journalist, and a formereditor of the National Business Review,whose previous works include the NewZealand Rich List and an anti-MMPbook.

Despite this background, he avoidsovert speculation and manages abalanced account of many areas ofWalsh’s life.

However he lapses into cliche andbaseless opinion when he asserts that“Walsh’s hard line against the wharfies[in 1951] was understandable.”

He makes little mention of the attackson waterfront workers whose rallies andmarches during the lockout wereattacked by baton wielding police, withmany hospitalizations and seriousinjuries.

Rather than focus on this reality, heinvites us to sympathize with Walsh,who received death threats and wasgiven a police guard at the Hotel wherehe holed up during the dispute.

Hunt also fails to evaluate theextreme nature of the ‘EmergencyRegulations’ where a Governmentsupposedly defending freedom ofspeech and association from “the redmenace” outlawed these basic rights.

New Zealand society was revealed asa naked power struggle between theState and capital working togetheragainst a section of militant workers.

The independence of the wharfiesand their other militant allies had beenuseful until the Lockout when thatindependence then became isolation.

Without the support of the LabourParty or the mainstream FOL Unions thewriting was on the wall.

One point that is often ignored ishow the wharfies were accused of‘greed’ in seeking big wage increases,while the British owned shipping linesreaped enormous profits, a situationoutlined by Dr Anna Green in her studyof waterfront labour.

After the waterfront lockout, theshipping lines increased their prices,costing New Zealand exporters dearly,but there was no protest.

Hunt’s book is an interesting contri-bution to New Zealand labour history.

But it essentially the history of‘public figures’, their influence andpersonal lives.

The history of working people is acollective process.

Hunt’s writings on the early part ofWalsh’s life are more illuminating.

Walsh travelled to the United Statesand Ireland in his twenties as a seaman,and spent much time associating withradical unionists in the IndustrialWorkers of the World (the ‘Wobblies’) aswell as the early days of the CommunistParty.

He took part in a miners’ strike inButte, Montana, that was viciouslysuppressed by company thugs.

Hunt also uncovers some odddocuments including a correspondencebetween Walsh and exiled Russiancommunist Leon Trotsky.

Walsh’s early tactics in the Seaman’sUnion showed a ruthless streak andambition for power at all costs.

This approach was to become hisdefining method in gaining control ofthe Union movement.

When used on the side of theworkers, this approach often gainedresults.

However, it was more often used tomaintain his personal power base andinfluence in the corridors of power.

Hunt concludes that Walsh was a“flawed but outstanding NewZealander.”

This is not surprising, as from aright-wing perspective, Walsh probablyis admirable in the same way as aruthless self-made capitalist or auto-cratic military leader.

From a socialist viewpoint, Walsh’spersonality is less important than theeffect he had on the labour movement,which from a left-wing perspective wasa negative one.

He may have achieved some goodresults for pay increases – but hisautocratic rule and manipulativeapproach crushed the vitality andindependence of the Union movement,which should never be the personalfiefdom of any one individual.(Review by Victor Billot)

The Black Prince

31

Regional Contacts

WhangareiMobile: 021 855 121Fax: 09 459 4972Address: PO Box 397, Whangarei��Auckland SeafarersPhone: 09 3032 562 Fax: 09 3790 766Mobile: 021 326 261Address: PO Box 1840, AucklandEmail: [email protected]

Auckland Local 13Phone: 09 3034 652 Fax: 09 3096 851Mobile: 021 760 887Address: PO Box 2645, AucklandEmail: [email protected]

Mount MaunganuiPhone:� 07 5755 668 Fax: 07 5759 043Mobile: 025 782 308Address: PO Box 5121, Mt. MaunganuiEmail: [email protected]

Gisborne Local 38��Mobile: 025 6499 697Address: 5 Murphy Road,GisborneEmail: [email protected]

New PlymouthPhone: 06 7589 728 Fax: 06 7513 646Mobile: 027 2755458Address: PO Box 659, New PlymouthEmail: [email protected]

NapierPhone/Fax: 06 8358 622Mobile: 025 2174 289Address: PO Box 70, NapierEmail: [email protected]

Wellington SeafarersPhone: 04 3859 288 Fax: 04 3848 766Mobile: 021 481 242Address: PO Box 27004, WellingtonEmail: [email protected]

Wellington WaterfrontPhone: 04 8017 619 Fax: 04 3848 766Mobile: 021 606 379Address: PO Box 2773, WellingtonEmail: [email protected]

Wellington Stores and Warehouse Local 21Phone: 04 3859 520 Fax: 04 3848 766Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington

NelsonPhone/Fax: 03 548 7778Address: PO Box 5016, Nelson �

Lyttelton Local 43Phone: 03 3288 306 Fax: 03 3288 798Mobile: 0274 329 620Address: PO Box 29, LytteltonEmail: [email protected]�TimaruPhone/Fax: 03 6843 364Mobile: 021 2991 091Address: PO Box 813, Timaru�Port Chalmers Dunedin Local 10Phone: 03 4728 052 Fax: 03 4727 492Mobile:� 027 437 7601Address: PO Box 44, Port ChalmersEmail: [email protected]

BluffPhone/Fax: 03 2128 189Mobile: 027 4475 317Address: PO Box 5, BluffEmail: [email protected]

‘Aratere’ problems

The Cook Strait ferry Aratere hasbeen at the centre of a safety row.

A serious equipment failure on thetrouble plagued Aratere last Septemberwas compounded when anotherproblem with the ferry’s steeringoccurred in Wellington Harbour inFebruary 2005.

The ferry’s rudder failed on theevening of Wednesday 9 February as itwas entering Wellington harbour, andthe ship was stopped and carried out a360 degree turn to test equipment beforeberthing.

The last incident led to a publicargument breaking out between theMaritime Safety Authority (MSA) andferry operators Toll Shipping overwhether management had defied MSAorders to cancel a sailing following theincident.

Transport Safety Minister HarryDuynhoven weighed into the debate toback the MSA and the ferry was bannedfrom carrying passengers pendingfurther assessment.

Following investigations by theMSA, the Aratere was cleared to carrypassengers again in March.

The ‘Aratere’ has had a history ofelectrical problems since her maidenvoyage from Spain in 1999.

The MSA said the Aratere was withinhalf a minute of a serious incident orpossible grounding on the evening ofWednesday 29 September 2004 at theentrance to the Tory Channel at the topof the South Island.

New ferry rumoured

Media reports in March suggestedthat Toll Shipping were attempting tosecure a 1600-passenger ferry fromEurope that could be in service as earlyas June 2005.

It would replace the Lynx andPurbeck, whose leases are about to expire.

The new ferry has been working theEnglish Channel and Baltic Sea, and is30 metres longer and four metres widerthan the Arahura and Aratere, whichwould mean upgrades to Wellingtonand Picton terminals.

Ferry

TalesLettersThe Wellington and Nelson StopworkMeetings on 13 and 14 December 2004moved a motion thanking the MUAWestern Australian Branch and theWestern Australia offshore conferencewhich was held in Fremantle on 28November to 3 December 2004, as wellas officials Mick Doleman and ChrisCain for the endorsement of thefollowing resolution:

“The conference endorses the reportof the Union in respect of the shortage ofAustralian seafarers in the offshore andwelcome the assistance of the MUNZ toprovide union labour for short termpurposes until Australian seafarersbecome available.

Further MUNZ policy is that all NewZealand seafarers would not apply forpermanent employment and wouldreturn to the New Zealand at the end ofthe arrangement.

Further we support MUNZ in thedevelopment of a regional offshoreagreement and will give assistance asrequested”.

This resolution will serve well for theTrans Tasman Maritime Federation withboth our memberships working togetherin struggle.

Yours in solidarityMike Williams(MUNZ Wellington Seafarers’ BranchSecretary)

32

Documents

Maritimes The4 A collective approach is the way forward for workers This is the second anniversary issue of the Maritimes. Since the Maritimes started in 2003 it