The Maritimes Summer 2013/2014

www.munz.org.nz The Maritimes | Summer 2013/2014 | 1

Issue 44 • Summer 2013/2014 Magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand ISSN 1176-3418

The Maritimes

Where we are at with the collective bargaining

On 22 October 2013 your negotiators attended a settlement conference with POAL facilitated by retired judge, Travis. The outcome was that both parties commit to working towards a fatigue risk management system by means of a series of processes, one including a Health and Safety specialist Naomi Rodgers from Australia writing up the FRMS which is then to be agreed by consensus by both parties and tabled on the 25 November 2013 with further mediation if required by Travis. The union’s position has not changed. We will not compromise the safety or work life balance of our membership in the name of profit and productivity. Our goal has always been to deliver decent rosters and safe hours of work. The union has always shown a willingness to negotiate change and flexibility but not at the cost of what has been demanded at the table.

Substantive hearing

In terms of the hearing we felt it prudent to agree to adjourn the date for the court-case in the interest of progress even though we believe we have a very strong case and were very confident going into it. Be assured the case has not gone but has been deferred. Our role as your advocates is to deliver on the mandate we were given and that is to negotiate and achieve a collective agreement before anything else. The lawyer will meet with the Employment Court on 28 November 2013 to discuss progress and look towards a new hearing date if we cannot achieve resolution.

Ports of Auckland dispute update


In this issuePorts of Auckland update page 2National Secretary’s Report page 4Branch and local contacts page 5National Council meeting page 6News page 9Regional Maritime Federation page 12Health and safety page 16Port Roundups page 18Sam and Charlotte need your help page 20Books page 24Obituary page 26Sports page 27

Contact the Maritime Union

National OfficeTelephone: 04 3850 792 Fax: 04 3848 766Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141Office administrator: Ramesh PathmanathanEmail: [email protected]

National Secretary: Joe FleetwoodDirect dial: 04 8017614 Mobile: 021 364649Email: [email protected]

National President: Garry ParsloeDirect dial: 09 3034652 Mobile: 021 326261Email: [email protected]

National Vice President: Carl FindlayDirect dial: 09 3034652 Mobile: 021 760887Email: [email protected]

Assistant General Secretary: Ray Fife Direct dial: 03 2128189 Mobile: 0274 475317Email: [email protected]

ITF Inspector: Grahame McLarenDirect dial: 04 8017613 Mobile: 021 2921782Email: [email protected]

Communications Officer: Victor BillotMobile: 021 482219 Email: [email protected]

The Maritimes Magazine

Published quarterly by the Maritime Union of New Zealand. Authorized by Joe Fleetwood, 220 Willis Street, Wellington.ISSN 1176-3418Editorial Board: Joe Fleetwood, Garry Parsloe, Ray Fife, Carl Findlay Editor: Victor BillotMobile: 021 482219 Email: [email protected]: PO Box 8135, Dunedin 9041, New Zealand

Deadline for Autumn 2014 edition: 1 March 2014

Cover photo: Port Chalmers, November 2013, photo by Victor Billot

The Maritime Union of New Zealand is affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation www.itfglobal.org

Maritime Union online

Website www.munz.org.nzFacebook www.facebook.com/maritime.unionTwitter www.twitter.com/maritimeunionFlickr www.flickr.com/maritimeunionYouTube www.youtube.com/maritimeunionnz

We welcome your contributions to the Maritimes magazine. Words, photos and ideas are wanted. Contact the Editor on 021482219 or email [email protected]

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4 | The Maritimes | Summer 2013/2014 www.munz.org.nz

Maritime Update From National Secretary Joe Fleetwood

National CouncilOur National Council in late October was a productive couple of days with a big focus on our own organization.We had updates on our key sectors – Offshore, coastal shipping, bulk and general stevedoring, and terminals.There were also presentations on health and safety, training, communications, campaigns and branch reports, as well as our regular National Strategy overview.National Council was joined by MUA Victoria State Secretary Kevin Bracken whose wise contributions were appreciated by all.We also had our national womens’ rep Marian Lesslie and veterans’ rep Eric Dunne in attendance. Unfortunately our national youth rep Byron Cummings was away with the Kakariki in dry dock in China so was not able to attend this time.The National Council attended a small function at the conclusion of day one at the Wellington Museum of City and Sea.The Museum has been hosting an exhibition of prints of original photos of the 1913 General Strike which maritime workers played a leading role in. MUNZ contributed to the museum’s programme which has included a number of talks and events around Wellington.This is our history – 100 years of struggle for maritime workers for secure and safe work – a struggle which continues to this day.

Fairness at workThe Government’s proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act are still in the works.The Employment Relations Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament on 26 April and passed its first reading on 5 June 2013. The Transport and Industrial Relations Committee has been hearing submissions on the Bill since then, and will be making its report back to Parliament on 12 December. The union movement made over 12,000 form submissions to the committee, and had hundreds of personalised submissions from members asking to speak to the Committee.

Many workers around the country were not given a chance to have their say, so “peoples select committee” around the country have been hearing from workers in smaller centres. The Bill still needs to have its Second and Third Readings before it becomes law. One piece of good news that might show the worm is turning on the Government’s approach.National MP Jamie Lee Ross had a private members bill put before Parliament called the Employment Relations Amendment (Continuity of Labour) Bill.If you want a translation into plain language, you could describe it as “strike breakers and scab herders” charter because it basically would give bosses the right to replace workers on strike.This was a bridge too far for even the Tories’ usual fairweather friends like Peter Dunne and the Maori Party.They wouldn’t cop this piece of legislative venom and joined Labour, Greens, Mana, and New Zealand First in voting it into oblivion at the first reading. The Bill is now history and Jamie is now looking for some other great contribution to make to the human race.

Regional Maritime ForumOne of the issues discussed at National Council was the formation of a Regional Maritime Federation, an umbrella structure where key maritime unions in our part of the world can function in a closer and more effective relationship.This federation would guarantee individual autonomy for all member unions but we would share and combine resources to our mutual benefit.The concept has received support from our previous National Council meeting as the advantages for MUNZ are numerous.Further discussions were held at a regional meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in November, which brought together the key partners at this stage, the MUA, MUNZ and the Papua New Guinea Maritime Transport Workers’ Union.Papua New Guinea is an example of the type of potential in our area, with large scale oil and gas projects underway, but the job of the unions is to ensure the locals find employment opportunities and training, and other jobs are filled by unionized workforces from within the regional federation.

Fishing IndustryOne issue the Maritime Union has been grappling with for many years is the state of the New Zealand fishing industry. The use of Foreign Charter Vessels, exploitation of overseas workers, deaths and injuries and lack of employment opportunities for New Zealand workers have been a source of national shame.The work that MUNZ has put into this issue has got results and the Government has been forced to move towards reflagging all vessels in the industry under the New Zealand flag.The fishing industry has also gone under the spotlight for the ITF and another global confederation the IUF, representing food processing workers.


A new campaign “From Catcher to Counter” has been set up and New Zealand hosted a recent regional meeting that brought together key unions and allies from around the Asia Pacific.MUNZ is now working with other New Zealand ITF affiliates at opportunities for New Zealand employment once the reflagging comes through in 2016.This is a massive global industry which is largely unorganized.

Privatization agenda The referendum against asset sales is running between 22 November and 13 December 2013. The Government is already pushing ahead with plans to sell some more of its share in Air New Zealand on top of the sell off of power companies.These assets belong to us all and the sell off agenda is all about handing over more and more control of our resources and lives to a minority of the extremely wealthy. We hope that the strong opposition to asset sales of many New Zealanders is translated into a resounding message in this referendum: no asset sales.

Labour Party ConferenceI attended the Labour Party Conference in Christchurch in November along with other delegates from MUNZ. There appears to be a resurgence in the party and a focus on more pro-worker policies being driven by the rank and file members. This is matched by a preparedness by the leadership to take back the initiative from the National Party and form a Labour-led coalition after next year’s general election.The only way to do this is by getting those who don’t bother to vote to make the effort next year and a clear and strong message to working class voters is the only way to do this. If this group can be motivated, then victory is guaranteed. The recent election of the Labour candidate in the Christchurch East by election by a strong majority is a warning sign for this Government.

Rank and File ConferenceDue to a slow uptake from branches, the Rank and File conference planned for late November 2013 has been postponed until next year. We’ll be looking at the content and structure of the conference and making sure that it provides what members want.

On that closing note, on behalf of the national officers of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, I wish you and your families a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

WhangareiSecretary: Ben Hathaway Home: (09) 4343152President: John Farrow Mobile: 021 855121Address: PO Box 397, Whangarei 0140 Email: [email protected] Auckland Local 13Phone: (09) 3034 652 Fax: (09) 3096 851President: Garry Parsloe Mobile: 021 326 261 Email: [email protected]: Russell Mayn Mobile: 021 760 886 Email: [email protected] President: Carl Findlay Mobile: 021 760 887Email: [email protected] President: Patrick Honan Mobile: 021 293 9156Walking Delegate: Dave Phillips Mobile: 021 670002 Email: [email protected]: PO Box 1840, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140 Mount MaunganuiPhone: (07) 5755 668 Fax: (07) 5759 043President: Peter Harvey Mobile: 027 5501 566 Secretary: Selwyn Russell Mobile: 0274 782308Email: [email protected]: PO Box 5121, Mt. Maunganui 3150

Gisborne Local 38 Secretary: James Harvey Mobile: 027 508 4470Address: 21 Titoki Place, Elgin, Gisborne 4010Email: [email protected]

New PlymouthSecretary: Terry Whitehead Mobile: 027 468 0050 Phone/Fax: (06) 751 5514 Address: PO Box 6084, New PlymouthEmail: [email protected]

NapierSecretary: Bill Connelly Mobile: 027 6175441 Phone/Fax: (06) 8358 622 Address: PO Box 70, NapierEmail: [email protected]

WellingtonSecretary: Mike Clark Mobile: 0274 538222Email: [email protected]: (04) 3859 288 Fax: (04) 3848 766Asst. Secretary: John Whiting Mobile: 021 606379Email: [email protected]: (04) 8017 619Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington 6141President: Alan Windsor Mobile: 021 148 3771Vice President: Jimmy King Mobile: 027 363 0194

NelsonSecretary: Ken Knox Mobile: 027 6222691Phone/Fax: (03) 547 2102 Address: PO Box 5016, NelsonEmail: [email protected]

Lyttelton Local 43President: Brad Fletcher Mobile: 027 662 3233Secretary: Les Wells Mobile: 027 432 9620Phone/Fax: (03) 3288 306 Address: PO Box 29, LytteltonEmail: [email protected] TimaruSecretary: Tony Townshend Mobile: 027 4324134Address: PO Box 813, Timaru Email: [email protected] Port Chalmers Dunedin Local 10Phone: (03)4728 052 Fax: (03) 4727 492Secretary: Phil Adams Mobile: 0274 377601Email: [email protected]: Ben George Mobile: 021 472 021Email: [email protected]: PO Box 44, Port Chalmers

BluffPhone/Fax: (03) 2128 189 Address: PO Box 5, BluffPresident: Harry Holland Mobile: 027 228 4315Email: [email protected]: Ray Fife Mobile: 027 447 5317Email: [email protected]

Branch and local contacts


MUNZ National Council October 2013The MUNZ national council met in Wellington on 30 and 31 October 2013.National President Garry Parsloe opened the meeting with a roll call, apologies, observers’ speaking rights and previous minutes.International guest delegate Kevin Bracken from the Maritime Union of Australia was welcomed to the meeting.A minute’s silence was observed for deceased members, veteran members and friends of the Union.

National strategyNational Secretary Joe Fleetwood gave a report on the Union’s National Strategy. The National Strategy is based on the following principles:• Effective and Respected• Disciplined and Focussed• Participative and Empowered Members • Socially and Financially Supportive • Militant, Progressive, Powerful, Democratic • Financially and Structurally Sound

Joe Fleetwood stated the MUNZ National Strategy is based on the remits of the national conference and developed by the Committee of Management with the oversight of the National Council.The following “action areas” were identified at the 2012 National Conference.• Health and safety • International• Organizing • Bargaining • Financial • Growth• Legal and regulatory• PoliticalMUNZ needed to keep an activist focus and remain involved in wider union campaigns at a national and branch level.There were now national youth and womens’ reps on National Council and all branches were required to have elections for branch womens and youth reps as per the 2012 Conference resolution.Delegate training was now up and running, but branches needed to make use of the new resources and the work of Union trainer Craig Harrison who was happy to talk to any branch about holding a delegate training course in their area.A national bargaining strategy and financial report was also given.The National Strategy for building the size and effectiveness of the Union was based around four sector strategies in Offshore, Coastal Shipping, Bulk and General Stevedoring, and Terminals.

At the 1913 General Strike exhibition at the Wellington Museum of City and Sea, 30 October 2013, from left, James Harvey (Gisborne), Terry Whitehead (New Plymouth), Brad Fletcher (Lyttelton), Eric Dunne (Veterans), Marian Lesslie (National Womens Rep) and Bill Lewis (Nelson)


The Regional Maritime Federation was being discussed in line with 2012 Conference resolution for further work on amalgamation and closer relations with like minded unions.The national officials would continue to work with branches to progress union policy. In closing his report the National Secretary reminded the overall ongoing aim of our national strategy was to build “A great, nationally organised Union that is a powerful industrial and political force in New Zealand and internationally”.An update on the review of the Union Rules was given. All branches bar one had approved the new rules at branch meetings attended by the National Secretary and it was expected to have completed the process by the end of the year.Following lunch a report was provided by the Finance Committee.

Sector reportsSector reports were presented from the national officials, Offshore (Joe Fleetwood), Coastal shipping (Garry Parsloe), Bulk and General Stevedoring (Ray Fife) and Terminals (Carl Findlay.)The Bulk and General report by Ray Fife noted the postponement of the rank and file industry conference.Key issues for the sector included Yellow associations, Health and safety and the National bargaining strategy for the sector.Tauranga now had Selwyn Russell working some extra hours as part of a nationally funded initiative and this was a positive development to increase density and MUNZ profile.The coastal shipping report from Garry Parsloe noted current status of agreements and negotiations with employers. Health and safety practices with most companies were good. MUNZ had made submissions to Maritime New Zealand around changes to maritime qualifications.In the offshore, Joe Fleetwood said all employers were covered by one MECA that would expire in October 2013.Sector issues included health and safety, qualifications and ticketing for crew, and the growth coming on line in the sector. This included new prospects in oil and gas, and offshore mining including iron sands and Chatham Rise phosphate.MUNZ was continuing to press for world best practice in the industry for health and safety including the provision of an industry funded fast response vessel.Carl Findlay gave a report on Terminals. He said that Inland ports were a major growth area going forward.The Ports of Auckland dispute was still activeRelated issues included casualization, contracting out and yellow associations, all of which were local and global problems. Automation was becoming a major issue in global ports and would soon start to have a bigger impact in New Zealand.One interesting development was the Tauranga/Timaru port alliance, what impact this would have on the port system was unclear.An update on the negotiations for a collective agreement at the Ports of Auckland was presented by Garry Parsloe and Russell Mayn.

1913 commemorationFollowing the close of business the National Council delegates attended an event at the Wellington Museum of City and Sea, where the Union had supported an exhibition of images as part of the Centennial of the 1913 Great Strike where maritime Unionists played a key role.The delegates were welcomed by the Director of the Museum Brett Mason and by co-ordinator of the Exhibition Rachel Ingram who were both happy at the collaboration between MUNZ and the Museum to develop understanding of our history and culture.Joe Fleetwood spoke to the delegates and gave some background to the maritime workers’ role in the 1913 struggle and the importance of remembering our history.Delegates had a chance to look at the gallery of photographs from 1913 as well as the many other maritime and industrial exhibits.

Day TwoThe National President opened the meeting.The Council discussed aspects of moving to a Central Funding model and what this would mean for the Union.A discussion was held on the participation of watersiders in the Seafarers’ Scholarship. The issue is to go back to branches for further discussion.Branch reports were tabled from all branches.

Health and safetyThere were many changes occurring in health and safety legislation following the recommendations of the Independent Taskforce of Health and Safety to the Government earlier in the year.The task force was set up after the Pike River disaster.A new Government health and safety agency would be running by the end of the year but the commitment of the National Government to health and safety was questionable given their inaction on areas like forestry.New Zealand has an accident rate at work that is twice that of Australia and seven times worse than the United Kingdom.Joe Fleetwood said there was a need to improve our health and safety processes by using the delegate system and informing national office.New delegate materials had been produced including a delegate handbook and health and safety handbook available to branches, but not all branches were taking advantage.It was important that branches reported full information of incidents to national office, and branches needed to use the online form on our website www.munz.org.nz to do this.Other health and safety issues discussed included Fatigue and fatigue management (a central focus of negotiations in Ports of Auckland), the situation with watchmen, gangway box nets, and MUNZ submissions on changes to seafarer qualification and certification by Maritime New Zealand, where we have concerns at downgrading of qualifications/reduction in sea time.Methyl bromide and workplace toxins including in containers was still an issue that was being watched.

[Continued next page]


What is the MUNZ National Council and National Conference?A short explanation for new members.The National Conference is the supreme decision making body of the Maritime Union of New Zealand.Up until the last National Conference in 2012, National Conferences were held every three years. That has now moved to a four year term.All members are represented at the National Conference through their branch/local delegates, selected by each branch. The MUNZ National Council is the governing decision making body of the Maritime Union, in between the National Conference of the Union.

[continued from previous page]

International guestMUA guest Kevin Bracken gave a much appreciated update on the union scene across the Tasman and spoke to the development of the Regional Maritime Federation (see separate report in this magazine).

Campaigns and communications Communications officer Victor Billot gave a report on union campaigns and communications. Major national issues included the Fairness at work campaign around the Employment Relations Act amendments 2013, the No asset sales referendum to be held November/December 2013, Fishing industry reform, and Free Trade – TPPA issues.He also gave a report on the ITF–IUF regional fisheries meeting held in Auckland in October. There was discussion from delegates about moving to a digital format for national union meetings to make it more efficient without the need for large amounts of paper.

Political and electionsThe nationwide local body elections were held in October 2013.These were important for MUNZ as all major ports in New Zealand are owned or part-owned by local Government.Ports are operated as standalone business enterprises but councils influence their direction and have ultimate say over issues like privatization.POAL was owned by the Auckland super city, for example.Nationally there had been a low turnout with an overall low level of involvement by Unions.

The National Council meets twice a year in Wellington.Each branch/local is represented by a delegate (and observers may also attend with permission.)The four elected national officials of the Union are also represented on the National Council.Three non-voting representatives also attend national council (women’s rep, youth rep, Veterans’ rep.)The business of the union is discussed and decisions are made if required to progress the decisions of the National Conference and to deal with any new situations that may arise.There are sub-committees of the National Council.For example the Finance Committee is made up of several National Council members and carries out oversight and recommendations for the financial affairs of the Union.The national officials of the Union meet informally as the Committee of Management on a regular basis to deal with union business.The National Secretary of the Union is a full time paid official position that carries out the administration of the Union on a day to day basis.

Unions Auckland had a popular website that identified pro worker candidates.Mixed results nationally but moderate mayors had been returned in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.The 2014 national elections will be closely fought.Combined Labour/Green support now leads or level withNational.National lacks coalition partner(s) and is searching around, for example the new Conservative Party.MUNZ political activity included policy remits, the promotion of these remits with Labour Party and CTU, submissions and campaigns.Labour Party affiliation provides influence on the policy of the largest opposition party including industrial policy and others (ie TPPA).MUNZ would maintain positive relationships with other pro-worker parties and organizations to assist in formation of pro-worker Government and pro-worker policies.

Final reportsAn update was given on two upcoming sports events, the 2014 Interport to be held in Whangarei and the War on the Wharves charity boxing event in Sydney.Eric Dunne of the Veterans’ Association gave a report on the activities of the veterans.The last item on the agenda was a report from Ashley Goss of AON on the general outlook for the WISF and SRF superannuation funds.


Port of Tauranga buys into Port of TimaruPort of Tauranga has bought a half stake in PrimePort Timaru.The $21.6 million buy in was announced in August 2013.A new Port of Tauranga subsidiary, Timaru Container Terminal, will operate the terminal.The deal includes the Timaru port’s investment properties and leasing its container terminals for 15 years with two further rights of renewal.The half stake is made up of 21.43 per cent from Timaru District Holdings Ltd (TDH) and 28.57 per cent from local investors.Tauranga is touting the deal as a move towards “two tier” system of ports.Problems with casualization and health and safety issues in the Port of Tauranga are a concern to workers if they spread to other ports, says the Maritime Union.Timaru’s container trade was hit hard in 2009 when Fonterra began sending export dairy products from Clandeboye by rail to Lyttelton for shipment.Last year Timaru lost a container service, jointly run by Maersk and Hamburg Sud.

Offshore ironsand mining plans proceed Plans are progressing for offshore ironsand mining off the south Taranaki Bight. Private Australian-owned company Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) has applied for a 65.76 square kilometre permit between 22km and 35km offshore from Patea.The area is outside the territorial waters of the 12 nautical zone and within the national Exclusive Economic Zone.TTR aims to use unconventional mining techniques, similar to those in development to mine offshore phosphate deposits on the Chatham Rise.In both cases, suction systems would remove material from seafloor sediment, extract the minerals and return the remainder to the seafloor.TTR says “prospecting work to date suggests there is a vast world-class mineral resource which could supply Asian markets with a reliable supply of low-cost iron ore”.Australian mining corporate Fortescue and the Chinese state owned SinoMetals hold prospecting licences for ironsands further north and ironsands have been mined for years at Taharoa Beach, near Port Waikato, for export.The ironsand mining industry has met opposition from the Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) group, which is concerned about environmental impacts.

Skandi Emerald engaged in replacing one of the anchors for the FPSO Raroa in Taranaki, 2013 (photo by Danny Isaac)


Offshore drilling off to rocky start The Anardarko drilling ship Noble Bob Douglas began test drilling off the coast of Raglan in November and will carry out similar tests off the Otago coast next year.The drilling is part of a $100 million effort to find what are described as world scale oil and gas deposits.Other corporates, including OMV (Austria), AWE (Australia), Shell and Todd (New Zealand), are also drilling many wells around Taranaki.Petrobras (Brazil) walked away in December last year after an expensive search off the East Coast in the Raukumara Basin.The offshore Taranaki Matuku prospect could hold about 65 million barrels of oil, which could make it the largest offshore field in New Zealand, ahead of the Maari oil field.Anadarko’s licence began on November 15 and ends on February 14. A protest flotilla of anti-drilling vessels has been present at the Anadarko test site. One Greenpeace vessel Vega staged a protest by breaching the “exclusion zone” which makes it an offence for any vessel to get within 500 metres of the drillship under new legislation.Environmental groups and iwi have opposed offshore drilling both due to the risk of spills and also because of the contribution of carbon based energy to climate change.In November, Greenpeace launched a legal challenge asking for a review of the Government’s decision to allow Texan oil firm Anadarko to drill in New Zealand waters.

Meanwhile, Labour leader David Cunliffe has attacked the Government for keeping secret details of a serious oil drilling risk off the coast of Kaikoura.Documents obtained under the Official Information Act show there is a 70 percent chance of a “reportable incident” occurring within a year, if drilling proceeded at a 1500-metre Kaikoura well next month.A “reportable incident” could include boat fires, boat collisions and major oil spills.

Union calls for world class health and safetyMaritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the Union is calling for world standard health and safety in the offshore oil and gas industry.There was potential for extensive employment for New Zealand seafarers in the industry but this would not be at the expense of health and safety.As part of this the Union has been pressing for an industry funded fast response vessel to be provided for backup in case of an emergency.He says New Zealand should look at countries like Norway where state owned energy companies provide substantial income towards a sovereign fund.A recent campaign by the CFMEU mining union in Australia says that the benefits of the Australian resource boom have been grabbed by a small minority, leading to a once in a generation lost opportunity to spread the wealth equitably and invest in a future for all.

Photo by Peter Torrance


Pacific Growth and Employment ProjectBy Assistant National Secretary Ray FifeThe meeting held on November 14 in Port Moresby was to launch the Pacific Growth Employment Project (PGEP) in Papua New Guinea. Unemployment, underemployment and lack of skills training particularly for young people, are great challenges in the Pacific. The PGEP project is a two year programme that is intended to address the challenges by improving opportunities for sustainable and productive employment growth. The PGEP will focus on the Maritime Transport sector with Reg McAlister, the General Secretary of the Papua New Guinea Maritime and Transport Workers’ Union, speaking at the launch.The objectives of the strategy are to increase employment opportunities, establish and support industry taskforces, harmonisation of skills across the Pacific in the transport sector, identify barriers to increased employment, and recommend strategies to overcome these.The PGEP aim is to grow employment in transport through engagement and co-operation with industry leaders, governments and industrial bodies. The PGEP will develop industry led action plans that will enhance economic growth and deliver skill development and employment opportunities for youth, and sustainable and decent jobs for local workers.

Chatham Rise phosphate delaysDelays to marine and mining licenses mean seabed mining company Chatham Rise Phosphate is not expecting to begin operations until mid 2016.Minority shareholder Boskalis will be the operator, and funder, to suction-dredge the top layer of seafloor sediment containing pebble-sized phosphate, in depths up to 425 metres on the Chatham Rise.The process is mechanical not chemical.It aims for production of 1.5 million tonnes per year, through Chatham acting as a shore-based phosphate trader.

ITF supports typhoon devastated Filipino seafaring communitiesHundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless and without basic supplies by Typhoon Haiyan which ripped through the Philippines in November 2013.ITF transport unions in the country took action to support the communities struggling to deal with the aftermath of the storm.The Philippine Seafarers’ Union (PSU) distributed food and drink in Cebu province. The ITF Seafarers’ Trust announced in November 2013 two grants totalling GBP100,000 to aid Filipino seafarers and their families affected by Typhoon Haiyan.The grants, for GBP50,000 each are being awarded to the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) and the Philippine Seafarers’ Union (PSU) to help them deliver emergency relief for seafarers and their families.ITF Seafarers’ Trust chair Dave Heindel commented: “Around 300,000 of the world’s seafarers are from the Philippines, many of them from the worst hit areas. These two grants will allow us to provide targeted help to them.”

Attempt on life of Guatemalan dock leader The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has demanded the reinstatement of protection for a dock workers’ union leader in Guatemala whose life is in danger.The ITF acted following an attack on the family of Lázaro Ramos, who is secretary general of the ITF-affiliated STEPQ (Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Empresa Portuaria Quetzal) union. Ramos had been granted police protection after interventions by the ITF following the assassination of one of his predecessors, Pedro Zamora, in 2007; immediately after the murder, Ramos began to receive death threats similar to those sent to Zamora before he was killed by hired gunmen.

Over 635,000 New Zealand workers in insecure workA report from the Council of Trade Unions shows that at least 30% of New Zealand’s workers – over 635,000 people including 192,000 temporary workers – are in insecure work.Speaking at the reports launch at the CTU Biennial Conference in October, CTU President Helen Kelly said “whether we call it casualisation, precarious work, temporary, or non-standard work – it means that workers have worse conditions, less security, less say and are more vulnerable. That may suit the boss – but it is unfair and does not work for workers.”The CTU believes that insecure work may cover 50% of the workforce because 95,000 workers have no usual work time, 61,000 workers have no written employment agreement, 573,000 workers earn less than the Living Wage and almost a quarter of a million Kiwi workers say they have experienced discrimination, harassment or bullying at work.Helen Kelly said “insecure work for most people means their lives are dominated by work: waiting for it, looking for it, worrying when they don’t have it. They often don’t have paid holidays – which can mean no holidays at all. They lose out on family time. They often don’t have sick leave. They are vulnerable if they try to assert their rights or raise any concerns. This is not the kind of working life most kiwis want.”


Regional Maritime Federation Inaugural Meeting: the four National Officials of MUNZ attended the Regional Maritime Federation inaugural meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Tuesday 12 November 2013. The meeting had presentations from all the unions that were in attendance and adopted a pathway forward to develop the Regional Maritime Federation in the best interests of the unions and the workers that they represent in the region – Garry Parsloe, National President

Regional Maritime Federation By Ray Fife Assistant National SecretaryUnion Officials from the Maritime Union of New Zealand, the Maritime Union of Australia and the Maritime Transport Union of Papua Guinea met in Port Moresby on 13 November 2013 to discuss the formation of a Regional Maritime Federation.This meeting was a historic step in regional trade union development.The stated objective of the parties was to develop formal structures and rules for the establishment of the Regional Maritime Federation.The parties are all long term affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).The development of the Regional Maritime Federation fits squarely into the vision of the ITF in promoting regional development through the building of trade union capacity to assist working men and women achieve better and more decent working lives.Speakers Joe Fleetwood (MUNZ), Paddy Crumlin (MUA) and Reg McAlister (PNGMTWU) all said that the three unions fight for the same ideals.

We have common employers throughout the region and through the Regional Maritime Federation we would be one union standing together and working together against a common struggle. The meeting noted the long history of co-operation and joint activity between the three unions. The three unions have co-operated in campaigns around Flags of Convenience, dockers’ rights and other industrial, social, legal and political rights for many years.The meeting identified and agreed there are enormous opportunities in our region for maritime and transport workers particularly in the resource sector. The Regional Maritime Federation will work with other unions in our region to assist in creating employment opportunities and decent working conditions for the regions maritime and transport workers.Another goal is to ensure the wealth from these projects also recognises the rights of the national population as resource owners and workers.With the development of the Regional Maritime Federation the member unions will continue to work with other regional unions to seek opportunities for membership of the federation in the future.To commence the work of the Regional Maritime Federation the parties agreed to an organizing conference to be held in Auckland in the first quarter of 2014, with a view of promoting the federation to the respective memberships under an agreed structure next year.


1913 Strike: Centennial events

Maritime Union Of Australia National CouncilBy Garry Parsloe National PresidentOn 8 October 2013, National Secretary Joe Fleetwood and I attended the Maritime Union of Australia National Council.MUA National Presiding Officer Mick Carr and MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin both welcomed all the International guests to the National Council.Paddy Crumlin then gave an overview of the recent Government elections in Australia before introducing Anthony Albanese MP under the heading “Shipping, Maritime and Ports - the next stage of reform.”Anthony spoke on all the progress that the Labour Party has done in Australia on shipping reform. He went on to address the importance of growing Australian shipping. After morning smoko we had a panel discussion under the heading “Organising Across the Supply Chain, Ports and Transport Infrastructure, Inland Freight Terminals.”The speakers were Robert Coombs (Australian Marine Officers’ Union) and Bob Nanva (Rail Transport and Bus Union.)Both speakers spoke in support of unions working together to combat the attacks that will be coming from the Coalition Government. Unions must unite to ensure that we keep the Trade Union agenda on course and in front of the public.After lunch we had a panel discussion under the Heading “The Political and Industrial Outlook, the Trade Union Strategy and Priorities.”Speakers were Paddy Crumlin (MUA), Tim Lyons from the Australian Council of Trade Unions, CFMEU National Secretary Tony Maher, and Andrew Dermer from the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union.The speakers all spoke on how difficult the next three years will be under the Coalition Government and what Labour should do to assist workers and their unions. Good strong unions can when assisted support and protect their membership.After afternoon smoko we had the women‚ report which was delivered by MUA National Women’s rep Mich-elle Myers.At the conclusion of day one we had WA Branch and NT Branch 2013 Elections Reports and MUA Rules review. The second day Wednesday 9 October opened with an address from the new leader of the Australian Labor Party Bill Shorten MP under the heading “The Opposition’s Policy Agenda – Employment and Workplace Relations.”Bill spoke on what he brings to the Labor Party and what the Labor Party Policies will be going forward.The next session was headed “The MUA/AWU Hydrocarbon Alliance.”Speakers were Ian Bray (MUA), Paddy Crumlin (MUA), and Scott McDine from the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU).

All speakers expanded on some of the problems within the Hydrocarbon Industry.After lunch we had a report from the Veterans, followed by the WA Branch report from Chris Cain which reported on how there would be a large number of Australian Seafarers coming into the Offshore in New Zealand because of the shortfall of New Zealand Seafarers available to fully man the New Zealand Offshore.After afternoon smoko we had a METL Skills and Training report.There was a long discussion around training costs and the placement of trainers onto vessels.The above was followed by the South Australian Branch report delivered by Jamie Newlyn. Jamie stated that there has been good growth in the Branch and that they are approaching the 1000 member mark.Day three Thursday 10 October opened with the Sydney Branch report which was delivered by both Paul Keating and Paul McAleer. Both speakers spoke on all the problems that the Branch is having with Patricks Stevedoring in Sydney.Next there was a Northern Territory Branch report delivered by Thomas Mayor who spoke on some of the growth areas in the Northern Territory.Paddy Crumlin opened the debate on the next agenda item which was headed “Stevedoring Automation.”Automation is a real threat to jobs and Waterfront Unions must manage the change to Automation by ensuring that they have some say over the level of redundancies and work coverage.In the afternoon we had a Victorian Branch report from Kevin Bracken then the Newcastle Branch report from Glen Williams.The last Agenda item was a Queensland Branch report from Mick Carr. Mick spoke on all the good work in the Branch by the Youth Committee. Mick addressed the issue of Kiwis working on the Australian Coast.Both Joe Fleetwood and I joined in the debate and reaffirmed the MUNZ position.The final day Friday 11 October opened with the Tasmania Branch report from Jason Campbell. Next there was the Regional Maritime Federation report which was delivered by Mick Doleman.The presentation looked at how those unions within the Regional Maritime Federation could support each other. Some of the areas would be Research, Flag of Convenience and Port of Convenience campaigns, Financial Services, Lobbying, Legal, Union Training and Communications.After morning smoko, we had a report on the Maritime, Mining and Power Credit Union then a Maritime Super report.The above was followed by the MUA 2012/2013 Financial report.Paddy Crumlin then summed up the National Council meeting.Once again the MUA National Council meeting was both positive and productive.


Review of Rena grounding releasedThe grounding of the Rena led to an initially flawed response from Maritime New Zealand, according to an official review of New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster.The Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef off the Mount Maunganui coast on October 5, 2011, causing the ship to leak oil and spill containers into the sea.The independent report was released on 3 December 2013 by Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee.“The pressures of the Rena incident caused MNZ, across its systems and response machinery, to buckle initially,” according to author Simon Murdoch.“Some of its planned and exercised response functions had limited resilience to begin with and were impaired in ways that might have damaged the response as a whole.”However the report goes on to find that over time a more effective response was developed.At the same time, the Government announced a $2 million package to help MNZ improve New Zealand’s wider maritime response capability.

Initial and long term responseThe review found that during the initial response many positions and teams mobilised quickly, but those not adequately specified in the national contingency plan or untested were slowest to become fully functional.

Problems arose in matters of strategic oversight, co-ordination and control, and maintenance of public confidence.In the Long-term response preparations for oil on shoreline and beaches were satisfactorily executed despite being technically impaired and on-board oil removal operations were effective and reduced risk.Dangerous goods risks were managed down gradually, and containers and container debris removal operations on water reduced risks to beaches, sea-lanes and shorelines.

Recommendations being acted uponMaritime New Zealand director Keith Manch said the organisation was already implementing a number of the review recommendations.Some of these included:Improved inter-agency information-sharing and reporting on maritime response activity.Review of the National Response Team (NRT) – a group of trained oil spill responders who will have greater resources to support oil spill response.Additional staff at MNZ’s Maritime Pollution Response Service (MPRS). A review of international support arrangements for oil spill response – both government and specialist commercial support. This includes the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and salvage experts London Offshore Consulting.Additional specialist support arrangements in areas such as well control and hazardous and noxious substances.Currently reviewing the national Oil Spill Response Strategy.

Photo by Bones Westrupp


‘Trust me’ doesn’t wash: 26,000 demand release of TPPA textA short campaign to highlight the secrecy of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) has resulted in 26,000 signatures on an e-petition or letters to political leaders, calling for release of the draft text under the catchcry ‘it’s not democracy, and it’s not right’.The Maritime Union of New Zealand is one of the supporters of this campaign.A survey conducted last December when the TPPA negotiations were held in Auckland, where 65% of those polled opposed keeping the text secret until it was signed, with only 14% in favour.CTU President Helen Kelly made it clear that “We do not support New Zealand signing up to the TPPA. This deal heavily favours US corporate interests at the expense of workers’ health, living standards and environment, leading to growing inequality. It will also hamper developing new industries and well-paid jobs for Kiwi workers.”“It is imperative that we see the draft text of the agreement before it is a done deal. This veil of secrecy is no way to conduct such an invasive agreement,” she said.For more information see itsourfuture.org.nz

At the 1913 General Strike exhibition, Wellington Museum of City and Sea, are MUNZ Wellington Branch Secretary Mike Clark, Maritime Union of Australia Victoria Branch Secretary Kevin Bracken, Wellington Branch President Alan Windsor and Wellington Branch Assistant Secretary John Whiting

MUNZ calls for industry overhaulThe Maritime Union has called for a overhaul of New Zealand shipping policy to avoid a repeat of the Rena disaster.Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the approach for the last generation has been for Government to abdicate its responsibility to ensure standards in the maritime industry.As long as Flag of Convenience shipping was given a free ride in New Zealand waters, Rena style incidents were almost guaranteed.“The surprising thing is how long it took for a shipping disaster of this type to happen, not that it did happen.”Mr Fleetwood says systemic problems led to the Pike River disaster and to the carnage in the forestry industry and lessons needed to be learned.There were a number of other basic changes that could be easily made to rapidly improve safety in the industry, such as the mandatory use of dedicated shipping lanes.Greater regulation of shipping was required to monitor fatigue, safety standards, and the condition of vessels.“The crew are under enormous pressure for faster turnarounds from the owners. In this environment, errors and bad judgement will continue.”Increasing the liability on the owners and charterers of vessels was obviously required.The Maritime Union had also lobbied the Government for the provision of a industry funded fast response vessel to assist for shipping or offshore oil and gas industry emergencies.


Asia Pacific fisheries workers meet in AucklandThe Maritime Union of New Zealand co-hosted a major meeting of Asia Pacific fisheries workers in Auckland on 15–17 October 2013.With more fish caught, processed, and exported globally from the Asia Pacific region than anywhere else in the world, organising fisheries workers in the region is a key priority for the ITF.Just one per cent of the 120 million workers in the worldwide fisheries supply chain is organised – and workers often face long working hours in hazardous conditions.The Auckland seminar was part of the joint ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and IUF (International Union of Food Workers) “From Catcher to Counter” Campaign.

Along with MUNZ, fellow ITF affiliate the Merchant Service Guild (MSG) along with the IUF-affiliated Service and Food Workers Union, co-hosted the meeting.Maritime lawyers, campaigning groups, government representatives and academics joined workers at the meeting to work on priorities for the industry. These included pursuing the ratification of ILO conventions such as ILO 188, which assures decent work for fisheries workers, holding governments to account, and establishing regular communications between workers. There was agreement to support the pursuit of legal claims for fishers on foreign vessels, and on corporate strategies where workers will pursue collective bargaining rights.ITF/IUF fisheries programme leader Liz Blackshaw says “Following on from the success of the RD Tuna Cannery Branch of the PNG Maritime Union back in August – which is now finally being recognised as a legitimate union - the seminar was a great opportunity to look at how we further organise in the region. We look forward to acting on the resolutions of the meeting and securing better work for fisheries workers everywhere.”To find out more about the Catcher to Counter programme see www.itfglobal.org/fish


Maritime Union of New Zealand Training By Craig Harrison Local 13The first joint training course delivered by MUNZ and the ITF to workers and delegates in the industry was held in Port Chalmers over two days in August.The course covered Unions at work and organizing around health and safety. It also the covered basic ship inspections, which can be accomplished by job site delegates. The fourteen delegates who attended the two training days participated well.They contributed to the ongoing development of the union education programme, by providing feedback to make the courses more effective in providing the members with the relevant tools to advance their claims for members in the workplace. The host port provided on a good venue for the two days close to the working port, and easy access for the ship inspection.The inspection was carried out under the supervision of New Zealand ITF inspector Grahame McLaren. This was a good start to the two training days as the members got hands on experience as to the requirements and the paperwork needed to accomplish the inspection of ships and communication with foreign seafarers. It was an experience for the members to see the conditions in which some seafarers work under and live, and the terms of their employment agreements. The Union education courses were delivered around a basic introduction to the Union and its structure, and the functions performed by the officials and the ability of the members to be actively involved in the decision making process of the Union. There was value for new workers who have little experience of the Union and the function of the Unions in having the structure explained, and the ability of the workers to participate in the process of the Union and the direction of the Union. The main point for the members to grasp was that a member could raise an issue on the floor at a local level, and then, if backed by the membership, it could pass on to the national level, and, if agreed at that level, become national policy.

It was also important to inform members of our international and national affiliations and connections, and the various functions that they perform both internationally and nationally. It is through these forums and connections the workers can compete on the national and international stage. In Auckland our members saw first-hand the value of not only strong local union affiliations, but also the international connections. How many workers in New Zealand have the benefit of comrades both local and international giving tangible help to the workers in conflict? Unfortunately in this day and age you not only need the moral support, the financial contributions keep you in the fight.The course also touched on the process of being involved with communications with the employer and the keeping of records, and the ability to recognise the legislation covering our conditions and environment that we work under. Continuing our education and staying abreast of the relevant legislation is the only way that we as workers can be effective in the industrial struggle. Looking at the tools that we have available was a valuable discussion, such as the Health and Safety legislation, Holidays Act, and of course the Employment Relations Act. What were talked about were how these different parts of legislation are interlinked and when used together can become an effective tool.One of the most valuable aspects of getting delegates together away from the workplace is that they have the ability to speak freely, and in doing so we are able to talk around the table about what is working well for us in the workplace and also, most importantly, what we are struggling with. A common theme is keeping up to date with what’s happening in the union and around the country. As we have seen, the legislation is changing all the time, but one aspect that we as delegates must be aware of is the process in which we communicate and interact with the employer.As we have seen in the past if either side falters in their following the process correctly, this usually results in their demise. I thank the members for giving their time to attend, and the locals and branches for committing the resources. Sometimes for the members who have been in the industry for some time we forget that the new workers joining our ranks haven’t had the exposure to a militant progressive Union prepared to fight and defend conditions. For some it can be a bit daunting, but unless we take time to talk to the new workers and educate them as to our purpose and our relevance we will struggle to not only retain union density but most importantly struggle to grow. So if you are reading this in your workplace and feel interested in participating, talk to your local officials first and make your interest known.The national policy of the union is to deliver the education to the members as best as we can. All it takes is an expression of interest from the members and then we can organise around it.


Health and Safety UpdateDeath at Port of Lyttelton

A 58-year old transport company owner died at the scene of the industrial accident at Lyttelton Port on 26 November.William “Bill” Frost died after being pinned between a logging truck trailer and a forklift at around 3.19pm.Police said Frost was standing near the forklift, which was stationary, and was struck by the trailer of the logging truck which was operating in the vicinity.Frost was the owner of transport services firm Drivertek International Limited.MUNZ Lyttelton Branch President Brad Fletcher who serves with the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade was on the scene and says efforts were made to resuscitate Mr Frost.Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) health and safety inspectors are investigating.

Two forestry deaths bring toll to nine

Two forestry workers died days apart to push the death toll in the forestry industry to nine this year.Forestry worker David Charles Beamsley, 63, from Murupara died in what is thought to have been a tree-felling accident in the Kaingaroa Forest on 26 November 2013.On 29 November, Korere contractor Michael Langsford, 28, died after being pinned between two trees in a logging accident at Foxhill near Nelson.The deaths occurred just weeks after the chief coroner ordered a series of enquiries to try and find out why the forestry industry has New Zealand’s highest rate of workplace injury and death, with an average of five fatalities a year between 2007 and 2013.CTU President Helen Kelly is calling on Minister of Labour, Simon Bridges, for immediate interim regulation of the forestry industry’s employment practices..“How many more have to be killed before the Government agrees we have a problem that needs urgent attention?”“It has got to stop. The industry has to be regulated and the minister is being absolutely negligent by thinking the industry can sort this out on its own.”The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1987 and the Employment Relations Act 2000 allow Government to regulate standards and it should look to establish decent conditions including payment for driving time and delays caused by weather, provision of equipment including wet weather and other safety gear, shelter, fatigue management, provision for productivity controls and training standards. Six of the deaths in the last two years in the Bay of Plenty forests have been in forests owned by the industry’s biggest players.

Shift work cancer threat – health researchers

Working the late shift overnight is a cancer risk on a par with exposure to diesel exhaust fumes and insecticides in the workplace, say health researchers.A Cancer Society and Massey University public health conference held in November was told shift work increases the risk of cancer. The Dominion Post reported that researchers are now likening deaths from cancers caused in the workplace to the road toll.Aaron Blair, of the US National Cancer Institute, said the dangers of shift work were a growing concern, as globalization and technology meant more people were working nights. Up to 25 per cent of the world’s population were now shift workers, he said.Shift work was linked to various cancers and affected the immune system as it interrupted natural circadian rhythms, increased exposure to artificial light and prevented the body from producing the hormones that would usually be replenished with sleep.International research was focused on identifying the extent of the cancer link, and developing different types of lights to reduce harsh glare at night.Massey University researcher Andrea ‘t Mannetje said about 8 per cent of all cancer in New Zealand was linked to workplace carcinogens, a number that rose to about 25 per cent for blue-collar workers.There were more than 50 known human carcinogens in New Zealand workplaces, including asbestos, benzene, and sun exposure, and more than 100 other possible or probable ones. Some lesser-known carcinogens included viruses, pharmaceuticals, wood dust and shift work.Between 237 and 425 Kiwis died each year from occupational cancer, according to the Cancer Society.

Health and safety incidents

On 16 November 2013, a crane driver was working a vessel along side in Port Chalmers. The crane driver trollied outboard when the crane cut out causing the crane to stop suddenly. This resulted in the driver being thrown forward in the crane cab and injuring his lower back.

A Bluff member working the fertilizer ship Ocean Royal in the early hours of 15 November 2013 stopped work on a defective crane after noticing the runner fraying.

Two Bluff members required hospital treatment after being exposed to pitch fumes aboard the Rakiura Maru at Tiwai Point on 25 October 2013. Work Safe NZ is involved as well as Maritime New Zealand along with the smelter doing their own investigation. This is a repeat problem.

Thank you to Port Chalmers Dunedin and Bluff branches for their reports which were logged with national office through the health and safety incident report form on our website www.munz.org.nzMake sure you report any health and safety incident to your branch and to national office. Health and safety is all of our responsibility.


Tauranga Mount Maunganui By Selwyn RussellFrom the sunny Mount and Tauranga region we would like to wish you all the best for the upcoming Christmas and New Year.As I write this my personal thoughts go out to the families who both lost love ones in their respective workplaces in the past two days. It never ceases to amaze me that with all the committees and sub-committees, government departments, ACC, OSH or MOBIE, company health and safety policies, toolbox meetings, why at this point are we are failing so miserably at maintaining safe workplaces. Government cost cutting and their failure to get independent inspectors in the forestry, mining and ports industries, have meant allowing companies to police their own respective workplaces within their own structures. My question is how many more have to die or be injured, what will it take to get changes?Every person who works in these areas know the dangers they are in, and the results speak for themselves. Accidents do happen but far too many are happening with sickening regularity, with the result being death or serious injury.Also usually someone or some company are fined, many months later.My point is we have tried the Government’s way for a long time now with no improvement. The money we seem to be spending on prevention committees and the like could be well spent on independent inspectors at these respective sites. As everyone takes more care when we have active health and safety inspectors.On a lighter note it was a good turn out for the recent ex-watersiders reunion held here.There was plenty of banter and humour as the guys were having lunch and a beer at the Citizens Club. Listening to the stories of some of the characters that were around then would put a smile on anyone’s dial.

Around the port

NZL/UCLWe are in negotiations at the moment with the merger and new company NZL/CSL. We are hoping that it will be straight forward but you never know until the start.

C3They have been busy here with guys flying in and out of port. Plenty of work.

NZMGetting a bit quiet here with C3 employing more of their own.

Te Manu ToroaSome internal changes here with the offer of redeployment on the cards.

BallanceWe are in negotiations here and hoping it will be sorted by Christmas.

WilsonsAs always the members do an outstanding job , and we are back into negotiations after Christmas.

ComvitaWe have been meeting with them lately assisting one of our members going through a tough time.

And to all the individuals, feel free to ring or call in for a catch-up.I would just like to convey my thanks and appreciation firstly to Branch President Peter Harvey. Also to the executive and Sonia for their continued support.And to all from MUNZ in sunny Bay of Plenty, have a great break and have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please be safe!

Resolve salvage barge “RMG 500” alongside in Mount Maunganui being readied for lifting in Rena recovery (photo by Alf Boyle)


New PlymouthBy Terry Whitehead

Hi and season’s greetings from the ‘Naki!

AnadarkoThere’s been a lot of press about them lately and I’d like to take this opportunity to say something about our dealings with them. We have been up to our casuals’ eyeballs in work! In fact, the opportunity to work for them has lead to us taking on four more new employees/trainees (all from our casual pool) and the Port company is now also cross-hiring three of our most skilled crane drivers to operate their cranes loading/discharging tender boats. It’s been a huge morale boost for our guys to finally get some of the ‘oil rig’/tender boat work that our competitors have had over the last few years. At last a company has come along and recognized the best people to load and unload these boats are Wharfies!The professional manner that ‘Chikes’ (our Yank logistics man) has demonstrated in the work we have been doing for them is no doubt a reflection of how they are conducting themselves offshore.So far it’s been an absolute pleasure.

MSC last callOn the 13 November and 20 November the MSC chartered Hansa Century and Larentia made their final calls. It is truly a sad situation for the Port company and the end of a proud era of big container ships calling here. They hung in as long as they could but due to the current financial market, and not being able to convince Fonterra to bring boxes to the closest port they could not continue. It’s not the end of all container trade as the Pacifica boat Spirit of Independence will still call weekly and we all hope the boxes that would have gone on MSC may now be Pacifica cargo.

LogsBusy, busy, busy. I’m sure the only reason we aren’t doing more is they can’t get them here! We have no rail link so truck and trailer is the only means of transport. Volumes have been very steady and three boats per month seems to be the norm for us. Usually all at the same time or one after another.55% of our domestic logs are now being exported. I hope my grandkids can still build treehut when they want to!

Bulk stock foods/Fert boatsSeasonal as always. Plenty of Urea, Potash and Dap. PKE has been down a little but is picking up again as spring and now summer have finally come round. The new hoppers are proving their worth but Urea still likes to fight back and the real lumpy stuff chokes up the top grates nicely. Nothing that pry bars, shovels and steel cap boots can’t sort though.

Out of portWe’ve had members travel to Timaru and Bluff a few times recently. We also had three men go to Centreport in late September to load a scrap metal boat before it travelled to our port. Thanks to the Lyttelton and Wellington branches for the opportunity as getting a head’s up on what we were in for was great. We were unfamiliar with the way the bins worked so was nice to get the jump on it.

Other NewsWith our increased workloads and Simon Knowles now moving to a managerial position, we have been able to take on four new trainees, all from our casual pool.Welcome Jan Matuku, Kukutai Thorpe, Joe Brown and Ricky Amstad. Your loyalty, hard work and skills have paid off. Nice to see some young blood coming through with so much promise.Best wishes and safe travels to everyone and their family/whanau over the Christmas and New Year period, and remember overindulgence leads to oversize overalls!

Under proposed new employment laws, the right to a tea break is under threat. Pat Honan (Auckland) and Bill Connelly (Napier) show their support for the CTU #giveusabreak campaign to keep tea breaks.

Selwyn Russell (Tauranga Mount Maunganui) and Terry Whitehead (New Plymouth) supporting the Fairness at Work #giveusabreak campaign at the October 2013 MUNZ National Council.


Napier By Bill ConnellyAround and aboutThe tourist season is upon us and already we have had about twelve tourist vessels in the port and summer does not officially start until 1 December 2013. A good sign for the city of Napier and the businesses that rely on the revenue that comes in from the visitors to Hawke’s Bay. C3 (Formerly Toll Logistics New Zealand Limited)The National Secretary Joe Fleetwood attended Napier for the recent round of negotiations, because of the somewhat tenuous nature of the company’s financial situation at Napier. After lengthy discussions an agreement was reached for the next twelve months, which expires on 19 September 2014. The National Secretary will be in the port on 17 December 2013 to tidy up the C3 negotiating process.

Hawke’s Bay Stevedoring Services LimitedThe Local Port Schedule has been rolled over for a further twelve months and expires on 30 April 2014.

Kelcold LimitedThis agreement expired on 1 August 2013 and we have had three rounds of negotiations, including one of mediation. Another mediation round is scheduled for 16 December 2013 and hopefully sanity will prevail and we can get something in place before the end of the year.

As this is the last issue of the Maritimes magazine for the year, the Napier Branch would like to take this opportunity to wish all members and their families, throughout the country, all the best for the festive season and a prosperous 2014.

Members from C3 at the Port of Napier, September 2013, from left Paul Slacke, Greg Keen, George Haenga, and Kevin Eparaima (photo by Alf Boyle)


Samuel and Charlotte Need Your HelpSam Gillan, 5, and Charlotte Gillan, 7, are the children of Jason Gillan and Tracy Allen. Sam and Charlotte have Hurler-Scheie Syndrome and need to have bone marrow transplants.Jason is a member of Bluff Branch MUNZ and Southport employee. The Bluff Branch of MUNZ is assisting the family who are also receiving support from Southport and the community.Bluff Branch President Harry Holland says the children and their family have a tough fight ahead and are appreciative of any assistance.He says the Port company is matching MUNZ Bluff Branch contributions dollar for dollar. The Napier Branch has also donated $1000 recently.The Maritimes has republished the following information from the special website that has been set up for the children and which has information on making an online donation at www.charlotteandsam.co.nz“Invercargill brother and sister Charlotte and Samuel have Hurler Syndrome MPS1 Hurler Scheie. We have been to Starship many times and Ronald McDonald House was our home whilst being up there.

Samuel and Charlotte will go through enzyme replacement therapy here in Invercargill for 6 weeks, then chemotherapy before they can have the surgery to receive a Bone Marrow Transplant.Hurler Scheie Syndrome is a Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) condition that affects many parts of the body, Samuel has clouding on his corneas and will need a cornea transplant or he may get glaucoma or go blind, he has a very narrow airway, slight curve in his spine, enlarged liver, thickening on one of his heart valves, ear, nose and throat problems, larger head than usual children, he cannot lift his arms up above his head. Sam has just been diagnosed with ADHD which occurs in 40% of Hurler children. He is intelligent and beautiful, loves little children, the All Blacks and The Warriors.Charlotte has bad scoliosis of her spine, enlarged tongue, very, very narrow airway, her spinal cord has been damaged slightly and cannot do anything that involves jumping. She walks constantly on tip toes, has an enlarged liver and has a hearing aid from all of the ear problems that she has had, she also has had problems with her nose and throat. Charlotte is a beautiful, loving, very shy girl, with a great personality and a love for fairytales – stories and movies. Charlotte would love to do ballet, but unfortunately she cannot lift her arms above her head to do this.We need help as we will be up in Auckland for at least 8 - 10 months. Jason’s work has been very very supportive and we are so grateful to all of the management and staff that have been trying so very hard to help us out.”

Charlotte Gillan Sam Gillan with a friend

More information and online donations at charlotteandsam.co.nz


Bluff By Harry HollandWell it’s just about another year over and the start of another.Bluff has seen a very busy year in 2013 with tonnages right up there and we could have not got this completed without the help from all the out of port labour that turned up to help when we need extra skilled men. Thank you.So far this year we have had three members retire, and, when you look at the years of service they put in, it was a good effort.Kerry Gillan (44 years and 6 months), Kevin Bryan (43 years) and Ross Tangney (33 years) are a big loss for Bluff as the experience of those years is huge, but good luck in your retirement as you have worked for it.The branch is presently in talks with the company to put more men into the company. We both agree that they are needed but there are some sticking points that we need to sort out.On 2 and 3 December we go into talks with South Port over the new collective agreement for the members and we hope to have this all ratified by the end or middle of December. We held our old timers’ function on 20 November and was a great night.The numbers were down a wee bit but still a pleasure to put it on for as they had a ball.We had Allan Ramsay speak on behalf of the old timers. He spoke about the hard cases that we had work with and the nicknames which went down well. They may be old but they still know how to drink well, but good luck to them.

Health and safety. We are holding our own and one thing I will say about our company is if you mention health and safety, they do sit up and listen. Most times there is no problem in getting things sorted.The other night on a fertilizer vessel while on the crane, my runner parted and it was just good luck that I spotted it before it got to far and managed to settle the crab before it came away completely.What does this all mean? After 38 years on the gear don’t become too complacent as it can and will happen when you least expect it.One final note, the Bluff branch has offered some assistance to one of our members at Southport, Jason Gillan.Jason and Tracey are the parents of Charlotte (7) and Sam (5) who have a very rare and serious medical condition, Hurler Syndrome. The two children are having to spend an extended stay at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland and undergo difficult treatment.If any members around the country would like to assist, you can find out more and make a donation through a website that has been set up for the family www.charlotteandsam.co.nzTo all Bluff members on behalf of the executive we wish you and your Families a very Merry Christmas and Happy and safe New Year.Joe, Garry, Carl, and Ray, thank you for all your help on the National level over the year which is very much appreciated.

Recent shipping at Bluff and Tiwai Point (photo by Harry Holland)


Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly spoke to MUNZ and RMTU members at Port Otago, 25 November 2013, about the changes to employment law by the Government

Port Chalmers Dunedin By Phil Adams

With Christmas just upon us the port is very busy particularly in the terminal, and this will continue until around July next year.

Port OtagoThe port company are currently employing more B’s and 5 day permanents which can only be good for all.The port company have just had two new Kalmar diesel electric straddles arrive to add to the fleet. Assembly of these machines will be carried out over the next few weeks followed by a period of familiarization for both drivers and mechanics with the new technology.

Cruise vesselsThe cruise season is underway although upset by weather which has stopped two ships from berthing. These vessels always bring many visitors to our region and the resulting revenue for operators and local industry has become an important part of the calendar year.

C3The port has a new stevedoring company C3 and our branch officials and the National Secretary have met with them to state our expectations of them as they are taking a contract previously carried out by Port Chalmers Cargo Services.They have worked two log ships so far and our branch are to meet with their managers to look at their operation as we expect it to be run on the same lines as Port Chalmers Cargo Services.

Health and safetyWe are very saddened to see the number of deaths in the forestry sector in New Zealand.A national inquiry should take place to make it more safe.This should be extended to the working log ships as we see stevedoring companies undercutting one another.This can only lead to a less safe environment in what is a very dangerous job and our members need to work in a safe work place.

Sick listIt is good to see Gavin Alderson and Troy Simonsen back at work after being off with injuries.

Christmas PartyOn a happier note the annual Kids Christmas Party will be held on 7 December at the WIC bureau.These occasions are very important to us, as with shift work the families are the ones who suffer so a good day for all is expected.Thanks to Vernice Te Tau, Jayne Hughan, Margaret Adams, Tim Camp, Ben George, Fraser Chalmers and Shelly MacDonald for helping make the day special for the kids and of course Santa (whom I believe is PJ).Also the annual retired members shout and union shout will be held on 13 December in the Bureau.This is a special occasion as it brings our current members and retired members together for a meal and drinks.Thanks to Mike Lysaght and his helpers for putting this successful day together.The Christmas social night was held recently and from all reports it was a good night.Best wishes for Christmas and New Year from Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch.


LytteltonBy Les WellsOnce again it is good to report that Lyttelton is very busy at the moment with C3 having log ships every 4–5 days and the Lyttelton Port Company saying that next week (18 November) forward will be the biggest week on record.Brad Fletcher and myself spent three days at the Labour Party Conference held in October in Christchurch with Joe Fleetwood, Ray Fife, and Garry Parsloe.I have to confess that it was quite an eye opener for both of us as first time attendees at something like this.I had not heard David Cunliffe speak before in public and I was very impressed with his speech to the conference.I think that both Brad and I came away with two definite things in mind, that being that the Labour Party is in very good hands under David’s leadership and that if we don’t get a change of Government next year then the workers will be decimated by Key and his cronies.So to all of our members you must get out there and vote.

Lyttelton Port CompanyOn the other side of things, the Port Company is starting to get serious about repairs around the wharves with some heavy machinery being brought in to start work on Cashin Quay.

C3As mentioned earlier C3 would seem to be the busiest they have ever been. Most Mondays you arrive in the port to see crs taking up every bit of space around the port.

Lyttelton Stevedoring Services We have signed off on the LSS contract for two years with a wage increase and rollover of their conditions.

SGSWe will be going to negotiations for SGS in very early in the new year, Tunnel control members have their negotiations next year, and LPC have negotiations in September of next year.It will be very interesting to see if they want to share their growth with their staff.

So to sum up next year is going to be avery important year in more ways than one. Remember it is very important for our membership to make sure that every member of the family that can vote does vote, and votes to get rid off the Tory Government.After that statement there is nothing more for me to do than wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year.

Late note: a fatal accident occurred in the Port of Lyttelton on 28 November. See story on health and safety page.

WhangareiBy Ben HathawayWell, its either a feast or a famine. Two months ago we had very little shipping, now it is coming out of our ears.The Cement has now returned to us after a few years. We have heavy lift ships for the Oil Refinery and Butter is coming on a regular basis.Thanks to Gisborne, Auckland and Napier for their help in supplying labour.Also we appreciate the Supervisors that have come to oversee the jobs as we are still waiting for a permanent one. We are expecting a permanent supervisor in the New Year.Hoping to see everyone for the Interport Sports in February. Finally, best wishes for the festive season from the Far North.

GisborneBy Dein FerrisEastland Port is establishing a $2.5 million debarking facility at Whangarei, for the Northland Port Corporation initiative.The company was invited to submit a debarking and anti-sap staining proposal because of its own plant that was established four years ago.In August a new record was set in the weight of exported wood products.There were 238,000 tonnes of goods exported — 235,000 tonnes of logs and 3000 tonnes of plywood.The Port is now going through the consents process to expand the upper log yard.Season’s greetings from Gisborne.


Auckland Local 13By Russell MaynSince the last Maritimes, Local 13 has been involved in ongoing negotiations to renew existing Collective Agreements and negotiate new Collectives. Of course there is the Ports of Auckland dispute which remains unsettled and, as there have been regular updates on the dispute, I won’t go over old ground.If anyone wants further information on the Ports of Auckland dispute contact the Auckland office and we can forward our newsletters on.

Local body electionsThe local body elections for the Mayor, Auckland Council, Local Boards and the DHB’s was important for Local 13 given the relationship between the Council as owners of the Port and the Port Company.Local 13 along with other CTU Affiliated unions ran a campaign to support left wing candidates.The goal was to increase voter turnout and to make the whole process easier and less time consuming for voters. Unions Auckland developed a candidate list which it endorsed for the various positions.This was very well received but despite all the time and effort voter turnout remained dismally low. Whilst this was disappointing the campaign highlighted various strengths and weaknesses.The challenge now will be how these are addressed leading up to the General Election in 2014.One thing is for sure, to be industrially strong you have to be politically active. The focus has to be on getting the vote out, how we achieve this is up for grabs but we have to change recent voting patterns if we are to be successful in changing the Government.

Health and safetyA week or so ago I submitted an article to the Port News with some thoughts on Health and Safety and given the news yesterday of more tragic deaths (one in the Forestry industry and one in Lyttelton Port) I thought it a good idea to reproduce it in the Maritimes.It has now been three years since the Pike River disaster and it may be timely to reflect on where we are with Health and Safety in our industry and also across the broad spectrum of industries in New Zealand.It is clear coming out of the Pike River Royal Commission that allowing Health and Safety to come second place to productivity is a recipe for disaster.As long as Health and Safety is seen as a nuisance and dealt with purely as a compliance issue, workers and their families will suffer short and long term effects.The goal must be to remove risk and minimise the effects of any hazard that cannot be removed.This is a complex area and will on occasion require outside assistance from experts.

One area where I believe we have been reticent is long term harm, especially in the area of shift work, and how this impacts on workers undertaking shift work over a number of years.Without an industry standard and minimum guidelines, the temptation is to introduce shift patterns without undertaking the necessary research. Companies vying for contracts can easily gain an advantage on their competitors by introducing “flexible” work patterns.I am sure that shift patterns become a bargaining chip for wage increases and while such arrangements may have short term benefits, the question that has to be asked is what the long term damage is?New Zealand’s Health and Safety record is dismal. We have been part of a deregulation experiment that has failed workers and their families. To leave Health and Safety up to company management is like putting a rabbit in charge of a lettuce patch.The old adage is that it is never too late does not apply here.For some workers the recent changes to legislation being proposed have come too late. For families who have lost a father or partner, deregulation has come at a tragic cost.That does not mean that we should not learn and then challenge companies and unions alike who allow and in some cases promote potentially hazardous work arrangements. In fact to not ask the questions and seek the best shift patterns is to be complicit.

Shift work harmful to workersShift work is harmful.It has been linked with a number of short and long term illnesses, but how many workers undertaking shift work are actually aware of the possible harm of working long shifts?Workers have a right for that harm to be minimised.No one these days would work in an area contaminated by asbestos, yet when I started work it was common.It took years to get buy in from employers and workers alike on how this silent killer should be treated.Part of the problem was that no one knew how dangerous it was except a select few.The “if you won’t handle it we will just get someone else who will” attitude was prevalent.I believe this attitude still exists in some industries today.The popular approach by employers is just to contract out the problem, drop it into someone else’s lap, and blur the lines of responsibility.The abysmal safety record in Forestry I suspect falls into this area.Pressure is put on contractors to perform for a price, and if they don’t then the contract just passes to someone else who is prepared to take the risk.Employers then in turn put pressure on workers to work longer hours, and have less rest periods.


They introduce productivity bonuses and tempt workers into taking shortcuts to achieve those bonuses.No longer is a standard of work acceptable, it becomes a matter of the spoils go to the fastest. It would be interesting to collect data over a number of years and interview workers on a regular basis who subscribe to the fastest theory.We would see if their attitude to this type of workplace bonus system still finds favour when they are older and can no longer compete with the young bulls.Currently we have no data on shift work in our industry.Until we start to collect data specifically on the long and short term effects we have to rely on the science and data from other agencies.To ignore the science would be irresponsible and place workers at risk. The lessons learnt from Pike River are not exclusive to the Mining Industry, they are a flag that our current system is not protecting workers.

Enforceable minimum standardsThe sooner we return to enforceable industry minimum standards for hours of work, the better. The current situation where companies compete for contracts and use flexible hours and the like to gain an advantage is unacceptable.Where does the responsibility lie?It sits I believe with all parties – politicians, unions, employers and workers alike. Worker participation at all levels is essential, because there is no substitute for the skill they bring to the table – experience.The challenge going forward is to review hours of work, shift lengths and patterns and make the necessary changes. This will meet with considerable opposition from vested interests and will be labelled as unproductive and cost prohibitive, but if this is considered as an industry standard those arguments disappear.The priority has to be sustainable rosters for the long term wellbeing of workers in all industries. I would like to take the opportunity to wish all members and their families a Happy Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.“An Injury to One is an Injury to All”

Editor’s note: A recent report in the media shows the growing evidence of the effect of shift work on worker health (see the health and safety news section of this magazine.)

Tragedy at Pike River Mine: How and why 29 men diedBy Rebecca Macfie

New Zealand journalist Rebecca Macfie has produced a devastating account of a needless tragedy, published on the eve of the third anniversary of the Pike River disaster of 19 November 2010.The strong focus of this book is the sequence of events that led towards the disaster. A specific cause of the lethal explosions remains unclear, but

the systemic failures of the mine management to deal with multiple hazards are revealed in a coherent context.The genesis of the Pike River concept, and its gradual transformation from a paper claim to a multi-hundred million dollar high risk venture, took place against a backdrop of struggling West Coast communities, and a harsh and complex physical terrain.The calculations of finance capitalism provided the cold logic driving the project, but the key players and their personalities loom large in a dysfunctional web of relationships stretching from the Pike River boardroom to the coalface.What is most jarring is the gulf between the sales pitch cooked up for the financial markets, and the reality of progress, or lack of it, at the mine itself.The book details a chaotic environment of entrenched noncompliance with the most basic health and safety practices, massive cost overruns, faulty equipment, poor research, and a culture of corner cutting despite repeated indications of major flaws in the design and operations of the mine, even in its pre-production phase.Meanwhile the promoters were busy painting a very different picture to investors, as politicians lined up for photo opportunities and global coal prices soared ever higher.Pike River was the outcome of a generation of deregulation, and cocksure "leave it to the market" ideology.Production came before safety. A rapid turnover of staff, irresponsible time based incentives, a toothless regulator with no resources, and the absence of an effective union structure, all pointed towards an inevitable conclusion.Macfie capably dissects the corporate culture, explains the mine environment, and deals compassionately with the personal stories of the victims and their loved ones.This book is must read for all those who find it incomprehensible how such an event can occur in the 21st century in our supposedly developed, modern nation.Pike River was the worst but is by no means the only travesty in this bitter harvest. Systemic health and safety issues have been identified in the fishing and forestry industries, to name just two, as our workplace fatality rate continues to exceed that of many comparable nations.Following the Pike River disaster, the entire post-Rogernomics health and safety regime was found by an Independent Commission to be "not fit for purpose", and is now supposedly being reformed.One question left unanswered is why New Zealanders are not angrier.Review by V. Billot


Inequality: a New Zealand CrisisBy Max Rashbrooke(Bridget Williams Books)

The subject of inequality is one that underpins the entire meaning of the trade union movement.There has been a series of books published in recent years that deal with the issue of inequality, many about the growth of inequality in “developed” nations – North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand (and Japan in Asia.) One of the most well known ones is the Spirit Level by Richard

Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, published in 2010.The evidence marshalled in that book and echoed in many others is that the last generation of political and economic structures in the English-speaking nations has led to increasing inequality between people. In Europe, the situation is more complex. Some Scandinavian countries maintain more equal societies, yet are high achieving in terms of overall wealth, negating the endlessly rehashed argument that equality undermines talent, hard work and “freedom.”Economic inequality certainly does, on the other hand, create social tensions and social problems.Greater physical and mental illness, poorer educational outcomes, the effects of crime and violence, family and relationship breakdown, are all part of the spectrum of problems created by inequality in its various expressions.New Zealand is a prime example of a nation dominated since the 1980s by a radical right wing ideology that finds its expression in the neoliberal economics of deregulated, globalized capitalism, boiling down relations between people to transactions.It is not a happy thought, but my entire adult life has been spent in a society that has become more unequal and more blighted by inequality – by poverty, disease, violence and lost opportunities. The publication of a general inquiry into inequality in New Zealand is overdue, given the enormity of these changes that have occurred over the last thirty years.Editor Max Rashbrooke provides two introductory chapters that give a general context to the more specialist topics covered in this book.

He notes a few interesting figures: half the population earns less than $24,000 a year, and seventy per cent earn less than $43,000. Low income earners have seen their wages effectively decrease and beneficiaries exist on marginal incomes that do not meet basic living standards.The middle income bracket continues to stagnate, even for well-educated or highly skilled workers.In fact, the only solid increases in income through salaries have been seen amongst the thin top layer of managerial and professional staff.The proportion of income going to wages has shrunk and the proportion going to profits in the form of share holding or rents has increased. A minority have accumulated substantial wealth.Because the profits have accumulated more to the already wealthy, and because wages are shrinking especially for the lower income bracket, a sustained and intergenerational shift of wealth has occurred.In short, the rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.While this may seem like a good situation for the rich, if they lack a social conscience, the compounding effects of this inequality is to undermine the productivity of the economy that underlies the incomes of both rich and poor. Inequality harms economic development, harms people, and stunts our individual and collective potential.Equality lead to a more humane and civilised society, and it also leads to a more productive economy, or so the argument goes.The effect of poor housing as a result and now a cause of inequality, crime and imprisonment, welfare and educational inequality are examined, and suggestions including changes to the employment relations system and a universal basic income are discussed. There is some discussion of the philosophical and ethical underpinnings of equality.One aspect of the book I found slightly soft pedalled, or perhaps just dispersed, was the central historical role of trade unions and the labour and socialist movements in creating an impetus both for improving wages and conditions, and developing the social wage of education, health care and housing, amongst other aspects.At times the message of equality promoted in this book seems to be something that could be conjured out of a pragmatic appeal to reason, or proposals for moral improvement, amongst those in a position to do something about it.Fat chance. The wealthy and powerful benefit in the here and now, and aren’t in the habit of sharing the good times or looking at the long term picture. Many New Zealanders of modest means and prospects have actively bought into the right wing “me, me, me” mirage, even if objective reality is telling them the dream has turned sour. Many more simply don’t think about it or believe that things won’t change.To reverse inequality and to build a more equal society will require a robust political and industrial base to organise from, and in the current climate that is very difficult to see emerging in New Zealand, in the short term anyway.If anything has been learned from the last century of struggle, it is that equality has been fought for, not offered up by those in power. It has been the struggle of the organized working class that delivered or held the line for an egalitarian society. As the organized working class has been in retreat, industrially and politically, the old scourge of want has quickly re-established itself, as the failures and instability of unrestrained capitalism become more apparent.But in the meantime, at least the idea of equality has again taken root, even if this has not yet transformed into a reality of equality.Review by V. Billot

Books


Watersiders Working for Themselves – The New Zealand experience of union co-operatives, government promotion of worker control, union shareholding and partnerships in stevedoring 1896–1989By Brian Wood (self-published 2013 with the support of the Labour History Project)

The waterfront has been at the sharp end of class conflict in New Zealand since the late nineteenth century. When everything else is stripped

away, it’s about who does the work, who controls the workplace, and who collects the benefits.Brian Wood has produced an interesting work on the history of worker control and worker co-operatives on the New Zealand waterfront.His perspective departs both from the establishment view of the waterfront as the "problem area" of an efficient, capitalist New Zealand economy, and the common left wing interpretation that places organised waterfront labour as a militant grouping of industrial workers engaged in class struggle.As a former marine officer and General Manager of the Waterfront Industry Commission, Brian Wood has an unique insight into the industry, albeit in a world quite different from 2013. So the content has a detail that comes with direct experience, and this is the book’s value, in my view, rather than its analysis of the system as a whole. The 1911 conference of the Waterside Workers’ Federation called for the setting up of stevedore societies, controlled by the members and contracting to shipowners. As would become the pattern, the immediate defence of worker interests took priority in the form of the 1913 strike, with its genesis on the Wellington waterfront. Jim Roberts, the waterfront leader of the era, was influenced by the syndicalist ideology of direct worker action and worker control.The issue of workers’ co-operatives on the waterfront continued to bubble away for the next two decades.Any advances were effectively stymied by the dominance of the British conference shipping lines and their effective stranglehold on maritime transport, which is another recurring theme in waterfront history. Roberts assumed a leading role in the Labour Party, in turn creating friction with more radical sections in the industrial wing of the movement.The post World War Two era saw a rightward, conservative trend of the Labour Government and the onset of the Cold War. A militant section of the trade union movement clashed with the Labour Government in the 1949 Carpenters’ Strike, and there was ongoing industrial conflict which culminated in the 1951 waterfront lockout.New Zealand then entered into a sustained period of conservative politics dominated by Tory Governments, although with a regulated and full employment economy permitted by solid economic growth in our primary exports.Wood details the all in contracts, union stevedoring contracts and partnerships with private business that were a feature in some (not all) ports in the 1970s and 1980s.The issues central to this book were covered in Anna Green’s “British Capital, Antipodean Labour” (2001) which devoted a chapter to “Worker Control” but concludes with the 1951 lockout. (Wood acknowledges her work.)His volume has a narrower focus but a broader scope, as it continues on from the conclusion of the 1951 dispute until “Port Reform” in 1989.

Green notes in the conclusion to her book that there was an “inherent contradiction” between worker self-management in a capitalist economy and the resistance of workers to that system.“Workers’ strength on the job is needed to put workers’ control on the agenda, but to achieve it also requires workers to manage their own ‘subordination’ to the market. The union was ultimately unable to resolve this paradox.”In other words, worker control in this sense is limited and actually conservative in its economic and political implications. Isolated worker controlled enterprises within a capitalist framework would degenerate into the "small business" mentality.Unions would cease to function as an independent working class organisation and end up as labour agencies, creating mechanisms that might look after an "in group" or allow unsafe work practices to become established in order to ensure greater profits: in short acting like conventional employers.The waterfront holds a strategic position in the functioning of the New Zealand and global economy, thus magnifying the potential power of its workforce. It has also historically been a centre of industrial militancy, no doubt related to the above situation. The collectivism of waterfront unionism is not created by a magical aspect of the personality of the individual waterfront worker. It’s the reality of waterfront work that creates a collective consciousness, and even regenerates it even following reversals and defeats.But the waterfront does not exist in a vacuum and is both part of a wider political, industrial and economic system.Worker self-management or worker control in this industrial environment can only get around this problem if it takes place in a wider context of socialist economic transformation, whether evolutionary or revolutionary. The waterfront now stands on the brink of another major technological revolution, automation. This will have an impact of the same proportions as containerisation in its displacement of workers and work patterns.This type of “constant revolutionising of production” was identified by Karl Marx in the 19th century as a central feature of the capitalist economy – a feature that both unleashed great productivity while creating social and economic turmoil for the working class, and so the preconditions for a socialist revolution. (The first part he obviously got right, whereas the jury is still out on part two. Capitalism has shown itself to be a very adaptive system.)The undeveloped and chaotic structure of the bulk and general stevedoring industry in New Zealand is another story, but is an environment equally hostile to the formation of worker controlled enterprises.So, the idea of “watersiders working for themselves” as described by the author seems remote in an era of corporate globalization, outsourcing and the dominance of business interests.But this does not preclude change. The waterfront remains an industrial arena with obvious potential for radical innovations and economic democracy.Brian Wood describes the failure of past efforts worker control with some regret, seeing it as a failure of employers and the public to grasp the benefits of the incentives of a worker-owned enterprise, and a failure amongst elements of the waterfront workforce who showed an “absence of responsibility for productivity” by engagement in “informal resistance” to their employers.I don’t believe that the form of worker control he describes could have succeeded, due to the contradictions noted by Anna Green in her study. But as part of a wider social revolution, forms of worker self-management could and would have to provide a framework for organising the workplace and the functioning of the economy. In this sense “Watersiders working for themselves” provides a invaluable insight into the maritime industry, the idea of “worker control” and New Zealand history, for maritime unionists. Review by V. Billot


Leonard (Len) Francis Monk18 March 1946–30 October 2013Len was a Wellington Watersider from 1967 to 2008. He was made a life member of the Maritime Union of New Zealand upon his retirement in recognition of his long service to the fellow members of the many years. He was very proud of his union record. He was a committed unionist. At all times he thought and acted in terms of the group and not the individual. When Len started work on Wellington waterfront as a 21 year old he joined a workforce of true international makeup.Men from all parts of New Zealand, the Pacific, the British Isles, in Europe, men who were veterans of the 1951 lockout. That became his University. He absorbed the lessons of unity and solidarity and loyalty that guided him throughout his working life.

Len was a good worker and a skilled machinery operator. He demanded and adhered to safe working practices and was a strong supporter of Union policy.Len was active as a union delegate, especially after 1989 when the Waterfront Industry Commission was removed by the Government of the day and all port employment changed to individual companies.Len was elected onto the Branch executive committee from this time and continued in this role for the rest of his time on the waterfront.Len was employed at Wellington Stevedoring and later, after the deliberate winding up of that company, he was re-engaged when the same principals reappeared as Capital City Stevedores.This company engaged a younger group of workers with no previous waterfront or union experience, and Len continuously offered his leadership and guidance to his workmates. Many hard lessons were learned. This work area suffered from a fall off in available cargo and Len signed off in November 2008.Len was also a man of the land, he was born and lived in the Makara rural area, southwest of Wellington city.He resided for many years at the old homestead of Terawhiti Station, looking out across Karori Light to a panorama of Cook Strait and the South Island.Len’s many hobbies included a life long interest in Ford V8 vehicles and motorcycles. He was a founder member of the Wellington Ford Motor Car Club.His funeral was held at Makara Village on 4 November. The large crowd included many fellow workers from the waterfront and union.Our condolences and solidarity were shared with Dot, Len’s partner, and his children, grandchildren and family and friends. Len was a man who was well respected and regarded by his fellow workmates.– By John Whiting, Assistant Secretary, Wellington Branch

Educating for a Social Change is produced by the Wellington Workers’ Education Association.Hosts Alan Windsor and Russell Pierce are long standing trade union activists.The WEA supports adult and community education that promotes a just and equitable society in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.Join members of Wellington WEA community broadcasting course as they bring you social comment, community and union news and look at what people are doing to support a more just and equitable society every Sunday at 4pm on Wellington Access Radio.


New Zealand under 15 touch rep TeKore Taute writes: “I participated in the 2013 X-Blades National Youth Championship in Sunshine Coast Australia earlier on in the year from 7 September to 14 September where I represented the NZ under 15 boys touch team during a 3 day tournament.Because the tournament was an Australian state tournament both under 15 and under 17 teams were unable to qualify for playoffs. But out of 9 teams we were placed 5th. Throughout the tournament we won 4 games out of 8. Our under 15 and under 17 teams both competed in the same division playing against the under 18 Australian state teams, who were skilful, fast, and fit. But the tournament was a great experience for myself and would be the highlight of my year so far. I would like thank you guys once again for the donation and support you guys have given myself and my family.”From left, Wellington Branch Secretary Mike Clark, TeKore Taute, Hemi Taute, Assistant Wellington Secretary John Whiting, National Secretary Joe Fleetwood

Port Chalmers Dunedin Branch Secretary Phil Adams forwards on the following letter from Jade Middleditch, NZ Football Under 17 girls rep“I would like to thank the Maritime Union for sponsoring me with the National Talent Centre, where I had the privilege to train with the New Zealand U20 Goalkeeper Corina Brown. I then went off to Methven to play for the Otago U17 Girls Team and we ended up winning the final 1-0 against Nelson, and then went on to play for the Otago U14 Girls Team in Christchurch and ended up getting into the final to play against Canterbury Black, but unfortunately lost 2-0.”

Aboard the Skandi Emerald. Danny MacIsaac (left) and Kevin Moore (right) with ex member and now Marine Consultant for Specialist Marine Services in Singapore, David Ikin (centre).

From the archives: The ‘Aramoana’ orphan’s trip to Picton. From left, Bill McDonald, Bill Carter, Eric (Spud) Murphy, John McDiarmid, unknown, Ray Young, Terry Knight“We dressed up for for the kids, Bill Carter was lowered over the side in a bosun’s chair, and was heaved up, very wet and covered with seaweed as King Neptune – with a trident.” Photo and info from Terry Knight.

If any health and safety incidents occur in your workplace, alert your branch officials and fill in the online incident form at www.munz.org.nz

Health and safety is everyone’s responsibility.