The Transport Worker The journal of the RMTU NZ's largest specialist transport union JUNE 2012

Washout puts Gisborne/Napier line in jeopardy 2 Contents Editorial ISSUE 2 • JUNE 2012

4 Asset sales

The case for asset sales gets steadily thinner and less convincing. Wayne Butson Hikoi against asset sales 11 General secretary RMTU TAP cracks appearing HE much vaunted KiwiRail Turnaround Plan (TAP), released with great fanfare in 2010, has had its first major review and the Union and delegates The RMTU's flag flies proudly over the have been briefed on the outcome. The detail of the review is commercially huge demo at Parliament. Tsensitive and not for release, therefore, we cannot actually quote any of it. However, there are a number of factors which are in the public domain and widely 21 Matangi miracle known to us all. Two years after the plan was released we know that there have been landslides, earthquakes, droughts, floods and a mining tragedy which has delivered a very lethargic New Zealand economy. We also know that the TAP was based upon a $1.1 billion support package of which only $750m was committed by the Government there is a shortfall of $400m or thereabouts. Lethargic economy Wellington's ancient EE units finally The lethargic economy has baffled Treasury and its ability to forecast the Crown replaced. accounts’ income and expenditure – out of which KiwiRail has fared no better, as stated in the Annual Report 2011. All the KiwiRail budget numbers are inaccurate for all divisions – it is just a debate, by division, of by how much. We have seen the ‘For Sale’ signs go up over Hillside’s gate and we had a public announcement by the Cover photo KiwiRail CEO to staff that confirmed that $200m was being removed from the Capex The oft-threatened Gisborne-Napier line budget for Networks and there would be staffing implications. received its 'final warning' earlier this year Rumours abound about the job security for infrastructure workers of up to 200 after a washout caused massive damage. See jobs within KiwiRail Networks. There is talk about the rail ferry operation abandon- story page 12. ing the traditional rail ferries and moving to a rubber tyre marshaling operation for conventional ferries. More lines closing The Transport Worker is published by the We also know that the long distance passenger operation is searching for a buyer. Rail & Maritime Transport Union, During all the years of privatisation the only line to close was the Rotorua branch P O Box 1103, Wellington, Aotearoa-New Zealand. line but under the re-nationalised KiwiRail we have had the Stratford-Okahukura line mothballed (read points signalling etc ripped out and the line leased to a golf cart Design and production by Mike Regan. operating tourist company) and the writing very clearly on the wall for the Napier- Printed by Thames Publications Ltd, Gisborne and Northland lines. P O Box 11-025, Wellington. Is this what we all thought would be the outcome of all our efforts to get the train set renationalised? www.rmtunion.org.nz Is this the outcome we were looking for in all the countless hours of strategising and lobbying of key Government figures? The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The ISBN 1173-6488 Hell NO! Letters 3 For me it was about locking in an environmentally Resignations Dear Editor, sustainable transport infrastructure system for future This letter is to advise you of my generations, for the betterment of NZ Inc and to undo the Dear Editor, pending resignation from KiwiRail neglect and decay that had stymied rail’s ability to operate I sincerely wish to thank all RMTU and the RMTU on the occasion of – let alone compete for a reasonable share of transport. It Head Office staff for the help and reaching my 65th birthday and wasn’t about cutting the limbs from the tree to make rail advice I have received over the retirement. My last day of work into a conveyor belt on a couple of lines. years in my various capacities as is May 4 with my last service day an RMTU branch/national official. being June 1, 2012. Big companies needed I have seen the dedication and Alan Wickens. Yes, we need Fonterra, Solid Energy and key ports (none lengths you all go to preserve our of whom use the ferries) but not to the exclusion of all else. members’ conditions, often in the Dear Editor, Let me be clear, I know that we HAVE to cater to the face of objections from some of I wish to resign from the RMTU as needs of Fonterra, Solid Energy, Mainfreight and the like but our own. RMTU members are very I left KiwiRail on December 2011, we must also cater to the far flung regions like Northland fortunate to have such an experi- after 33 years and 10 months and Gisborne so as to provide transport options to them enced and loyal group of officials service. and to maintain transport pricing competition and options. representing them. I wish you all It was with some sadness that I also accept that the ‘greater good’ concept is a func- the very best. I left KiwiRail as despite a poor tion of the state and not of the KiwiRail board. However, My last day with KiwiRail was roster in Christchurch, in my this Government would see this sort of approach as being 20/04/2012 having joined the opinion, it was still an enjoyable foreign to its principles. locomotive running branch on job with plenty of variety and some So don’t hold your breath. 18/02/1974. Unfortunately I have great workmates. been diagnosed with a very rare It took me five years of think- Important bargaining round form of leukaemia which has led ing about it before I got up enough They want less of the state and more private sector to my medical retirement. Hav- courage to leave and try and chase commercial involvement. They also appointed the KiwiRail ing been a party to our collective the dollars in Australia. So I wish board members and so it is clear where the driving ethos agreement and also a member of the Union and its members all is coming from for asset sales like Hillside and a growing the Locomotive Engineers Trust the best for the future and thank push for contracting out of your good rail jobs. Fund has eased the loss of regular you for all the work the Union has Suddenly the 2012 MECA bargaining round has become income greatly. Our collective done for myself and other locomo- much more important to us all. There are a few key claims agreement has conditions within tive engineers. Perhaps, if enough which will test the mettle of each side. it that previous generations fought of us leave for Australia, then the Is the TAP going to deliver us nutrients or will it be death very hard for and when one, such light bulb may come on for the by a thousand drips? as myself, is a recipient of those senior management at KiwiRail hard-fought for conditions I can- that perhaps it was time to put a not help but feel grateful for their plan into action that would help efforts. retain their locomotive engineers. Notice Board of note I would strongly urge all the Mervyn Edwards. This issue we have chosen Port Timaru's branch notice younger folk within the locomo- Thanks board as clean, tidy and easy to read. Well done! tive ranks to explore membership of the Fund for when the times Dear Editor, gets tough it can be a Godsend. We wish to express our thanks to The locomotive ranks and you and your members for your RMTU (and it’s predecessors) have solidarity in joining the MUNZ been a huge part of our lives for 38 picket at Centreport – Wellington years. Time now to relax and await March 2/3, 2012. the miracles of modern scientific The outcome of this unified action was ‘Maersk Aberdeen’ medicine. The Transport Worker June 2012 I wish you all a safe and happy remaining in the port of Welling- future as rail workers and please, ton until 7am March 7, 2012. support and give encouragement Our Auckland members are to your elected representatives by most appreciative of the uni- attending and participating in your ty shown and action taken in branch meetings. Wellington. Murray Dunlop Yours in Unity Middleton. John Whiting MUNZ Wellington Branch assistant secretary. 4 News Documents reveal KiwiRail speaks with forked tongue HE Ombudsman has ordered did they factor in the lower sale price when dundant to make the firm a more attractive KiwiRail to release documents show- measuring their competitiveness? proposition for sale. Though quite how you Ting why KiwiRail rejected Hillside’s The released papers also reveal that make a company more attractive by shafting bid to build Auckland’s new trains, the IAB KiwiRail’s claim that the work wouldn’t be its productivity and gutting its work force wagons and the DL Locomotives. delivered on time was false. Hillside said beggars belief.” Documents released by the Ombuds- in their tender that they would deliver “National talks of prioritising jobs where man to Radio NZ last month showed that most of the wagons on time and the rest costly convention centres in Auckland are KiwiRail received nine bids for the work, would be a month late. KiwiRail chose not at stake, but highly skilled railway workers six of which, including Hillside’s, were to believe them. in Dunedin have never been courted in discarded early on. “This whole fiasco was simply a hoax the same way,” said Curran. “This latest KiwiRail, at the time, said Hill- decision will affect more than 130 side’s bid was 30-50 per cent high- jobs, and around 75 Dunedin engi- er than the eventual winner, Chi- Business blues neering businesses clustered around nese company CNR, and that they EWS that manufacturing index numbers have Hillside.” wouldn’t be able to deliver in the dropped nearly six per cent in March, is yet The loss of this strategic asset time frame required. However, the could be considered as another part another sign of an economy going backwards, released documents show that the N of the portfolio in the Government’s says Labour’s Economic Development spokesperson price was actually much closer than asset sale programme. David Cunliffe. According to Business New Zealand, first revealed – only around 20% “National, has ignored the com- more expensive – and that the differ- the seasonally adjusted Performance of Manufactur- munity who petitioned in their ences were significantly exaggerated ing Index (PMI) for April showed the lowest level of thousands for the workshops to be by KiwiRail, possibly to justify ignor- activity since November 2011. retained, and without any public ing Hillside. “Of particular concern is that the fall has been led consultation,” said Curran. Now KiwiRail plans to put the down by lower production and new orders, and that Curran and Butson both call the Hillside workshops on the market. this April decline is very large,” Cunliffe said adding decision irresponsible and worry Dunedin South MP, Clare Curran that in regions like Otago/Southland the drop was about the negative impact the sale called the decision contemptible. two and three times as great. will have on New Zealand’s infra- She said their “deliberate cam- “This is on top of the Government’s decision to turn structure and workforce. paign to make KiwiRail’s Hillside a blind eye to the disastrous consequences of closing “If National was serious about workshops commercially defunct KiwiRail’s Hillside Workshops,” he said. “Even worse getting New Zealanders into work has resulted in the sale of a valuable is the latest rise in the unemployment rate back up they would promote policies that national asset”. to a tragic 6.7 per cent. All this only reconfirms what have the interest of all of Kiwis at She added: “The decision to Labour has been saying: our economy is struggling heart,” said Curran. “It’s a contempt- privatise Hillside, which KiwiRail will to get out of the rut and the Government’s lack of a ible decision.” have made in consultation with the “Putting Hillside workshops plan is not working.” government, is the final in a series up for sale would never have been of moves which undermines the needed if the government had a focus ability of the workshops to operate on keeping New Zealanders in jobs,” effectively. The National government must concocted by KiwiRail and their National said Butson, adding that the government’s be held accountable.” party bosses to dupe the New Zealand lack of any agenda for Kiwi jobs had been Meanwhile, Labour’s economic devel- public into believing they were being fis- laid bare. opment spokesperson, David Cunliffe sug- cally responsible when in fact they were “This government is sitting on its hands, gested in an article in the Otago Daily Times shafting an efficient company, destroying while one of KiwiRail’s most significant that plans to sell Hillside may have already an effective workforce and casting a grim assets is privatised,” he said, however, he been on KiwiRail’s agenda way back when economic cloud over South Dunedin,” said added that RMTU members had worked it rejected its bid for new rolling stock. Butson. “It is our belief that KiwiRail never with privately owned companies before Having moved some of their primary had any intention of taking up Hillside’s and would do so again. work off-shore, he asked, did KiwiRail know tender. Furthermore, they had planned all “Hillside has a cohesive, motivated

The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The it was going to sell the plant at the time and along to then make some of its workers re- workforce, and we look forward to work- NEWS 5 ing with a new owner with the determina- MPs, the chamber of commerce and the This one appears to be the best move for- tion and vision to make it succeed,” said council seeking to keep Hillside running ward in terms of the future of Hillside work- Butson. “The taxpaying public, the local and in public hands, also said the privati- shop,” he said. “There has been speculation business community and workforce have sation of Hillside was a direct result of the they might just close the place.” the most to gain if Hillside flourishes and Government’s refusal to implement a smart “This Government’s aim to create more these green collar jobs and skills remain in procurement policy. jobs in New Zealand is just another National South Dunedin.” “A Berl report showed that having the inspired smokescreen,” said Butson. “They The business will be advertised for sale new KiwiRail rolling stock for Auckland speak with a forked tongue and the sooner as a going concern from early May, 2012 built at Hillside would have added $250m they’re gone the better off New Zealand with a final decision due by the end of to the economy, reduced the current ac- workers will be.” August, 2012. count deficit by $122m and created 1270 Meanwhile, Cunliffe in his ODT article KiwiRail chief executive Jim Quinn said jobs. Unfortunately, National insisted that said the sale posed a number of important questions for him: n Having moved some of their pri- mary work off-shore did KiwiRail know it was going to sell the plant at the time and did they factor in the lower sale price when measuring their competitive- ness? n How can KiwiRail hope to maintain its the decision was made after analysing the KiwiRail only consider its narrow commer- rolling stock if Hillside is run down after financial impact of the reduction in con- cial interests and ignore the wider impacts sale and have they assessed the risk in struction and refurbishment forward work of its decision.’’ this regard? orders for Hillside Workshops. Dunedin Chamber of Commerce chief n Strategically, rail is the best method by While the sale terms were negotiable, executive John Christie, who played a lead- far for transporting goods long distance, the preferred outcome would be that it ing role in the Save Hillside campaign, said so how is this strategic value being was purchased as a going concern, he said. he was not surprised KiwiRail had put the reflected in KiwiRail’s decision-making? “We are looking for a sale outcome that workshops up for sale. n How does KiwiRail’s decision-making secures Hillside’s future as New Zealand’s “The upside is a new owner, if they reflect the important spill-over benefits largest heavy engineering site,’’ he said. have the appropriate strategic objective, to the wider Dunedin business com- After ignoring Hillside’s tenders, can grow the business and look at other munity? and KiwiRail then cut 44 jobs at the workshops opportunities, perhaps outside of rail, to n Will the wider costs and benefits of the last June and then brought in contractors utilise the skills and resources that are change be counted? to carry out rail engineering duties less than there. It would be a tragedy to see the jobs “Retrenching Hillside will reduce tax four months after the redundancies. and resources lost.“ paid through GST and PAYE,” he said. “It In March a petition to save Hillside The Council of Trade Unions secretary will increase the cost of unemployment jobs was rejected by a parliamentary select Peter Conway said the sale of Hillside rail benefits . . . it will cause real trauma for committee. engineering workshops in Dunedin is a many families.” “KiwiRail’s decision to not bid for either backward step. He adds that the National Government the $500 million contract for Auckland’s “Neither the Government nor KiwiRail has “not lifted a finger to ensure the long-

new trains, or for 500 flat top wagons, was have supported these workers and the fan- term consequences of closing Hillside” and The Transport Worker June 2012 resoundingly rejected by Dunedin work- tastic work they do. The heavy engineering that “Dunedin deserves better”. ers, business leaders, the city council and workshops at Hillside are an important part He promises that the next Labour-led others as taking a very short-sighted view of of the regional economy. These jobs should government will get alongside local busi- procurement,’’ Butson said. “If government not be lost,” he said. ness and commit to positive partnerships procurement settings do not support local Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull tried to put for sustainable growth and decent jobs. industry, then we simply won’t keep good a positive spin on the sale announcement, “We won’t just turn a blind eye when a manufacturing jobs in New Zealand.” calling it a potential positive for Dunedin. company like KiwiRail is making irrevers- Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, “Sometimes the ideal solution isn’t ible decisions that have huge implications who has been part of a group of local available so you have to take the best one. across the community,” he wrote. manufacturers, union representatives, 6 News

Help sought for outstanding Global solidarity an Konemu essential weapon settlement N my position as RMTU North Island AEGON some 770 million Euros ($NZ1.25 N 2000 the Union found itself ports representative it was a privilege to billion) has gone wayward, thus the frustra- locked in litigation with the North- Iattend the Maritime Union of Australia tion ‘to put it mildly’ of the Dutch dockers. Iland Port Corporation with the conference held at the Sydney Conference Having entered the very high rise Union claiming an unlawful lockout Centre from February 27 to March 2 this building that the AEGON offices were in had occurred and the company claim- year. we were prevented from going any further ing an unlawful strike. Essentially our Also in attendance from New Zealand by the police as there was a H&S risk and members in the mechanical ship were Ruth Blakeley and Scott Wilson. the lifts were stopped. After a few minutes repair division of the company were At a guess, there were some 300 to 400 it was mentioned that we were at the refusing to cross a picket line at delegates there including some large and wrong building! Apparently AEGON had the port company. The cases went small international contingents involved vacated two weeks previously. Someone through mediation, the Employment in all aspects of the maritime industry, then advised where the new offices were, Tribunal, the Employment Court and especially some of the smaller unionised a stone’s throw away, so we repeated the the Court of Appeal before the parties countries that face political adversity within exercise and some of us were able to reach reached a settlement. the Pacific region, such as Papa New Guinea the top of the building without hindrance On 11 June 2001 the union signed and Fiji. (including all RMTU members). a Record of Settlement with Northland Over the duration of the event there In the end the local AEGON people Port Corporation, now known as the were many speakers from various affiliated were prepared to talk to the Dutch delega- Konemu Settlement. The Northland unions across Australia – and internation- tion. It was a long walk down from the top! Port Corporation paid over a sum of ally – and some very emotive accounts of The Auckland Ports situation was in its money to the Union which was to the plights they face against companies like early stages at the time, evoking huge in- be dispersed among the 31 member Rio Tinto. ternational support across the conference. claimants to the dispute. To date we Of particular note was the steel work- Our Union also had an invitation to the have been able to make contact with, ers from Quebec Canada, who have been opening of the new ITF offices in Sydney and pay out, 24 members but we are locked out for months. These strongly which was opened by Paddy Crumlin, still holding an amount of money for dedicated unionists are burning 30 cords of president of the ITF and national secretary the following ex-members of the Un- wood on the picket front per week in minus of the MUA, along with David Cockroft ion who worked at Northport 50 degree fahrenheit temperatures. One secretary of the ITF. Engineering Ltd:- Ray Bailey, Bob speaker indicated at that time they were In summary, it is important that our Clyman, Heta Davis, Joe Marin, Peter having a mild day at minus 20F? Rather dif- Union has representation where global Ryan and John Silveria. ficult for us to comprehend, to say the least. solidarity is essential in a world of cor- If you know the current wherea- On the fourth day we were put onto porate greed. The opportunity to attend bouts of any of the above, would you buses and taken to down town Sydney such meetings and grow the inter-union please ask them to get in touch with (at lunch time) to march to the offices of connections has its incentives and gives us the Union. They would need to pro- AEGON a financial/insurance company that global recognition. vide proof of identity to enable a pay- took over the superannuation fund of the Dave Marden ment to be made to them. Dutch dockers. Somewhere in the exchange NMC North Island ports rep. of the funds from the previous manager to

KiwiRail wage round

The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The Pictured is the RMTU and KiwiRail bargaining teams for the 2012 negotiations following the first two day session. Productivity 7

Freight transport Retirement final report an savings made easy improvement but A Kiwisaver scheme for ALL RMTU members still not satisfactory RAIL workers can now piggy- back aboard the benefits port HE Productivity Commission final re- called ‘Improving workplace productivity’, workers have enjoyed with the port into International Freight Trans- which takes a much more constructive ap- NZ Harbours Superannuation Tport, published last month, is cause proach to increasing productivity. There is Plan by opening a KiwiSaver for concern. The RMTU plus New Zealand still criticisms of union and port governance account with them or trans- ports, MUNZ and other CTU-affiliated un- and leadership, and a finding that ‘the per- ferring to it from the one they ions with an interest in international freight sistence of some work practices represents have. were all very concerned at the directions a forgone opportunity to capture lost value taken in the Commission’s draft report and distribute it in a manner that can poten- The Plan is sponsored by the Rail released in January and were pleased that tially benefit all parties’ – although it says & Maritime Transport many of their concerns, particularly in the this is directed at both unions and manage- Union and administered area of employment, did not appear in the ment. Still worrying is that the Commission by Melville Jessup final report. sees little wrong with more contracting out Weaver. However, like the draft report, the from an employment point of view. Contrib- final report fails to address some of the However, it finds there is no need for utions are most important issues for shippers. It is special employment policies for ports, and invested still mainly about port profitability – yet its makes no recommendations. On the face be- own data shows the big problems lie in the of it, this lays the basis for a constructive tween high prices charged by the shipping lines. future approach to workplace productivity three It misses opportunities to address shipping by the Commission. Unions have offered to fund company dominance or recommend effec- work with them on further development of managers:- tive ways for the ports to work together these ideas independently of any inquiry. l AMP Capital Investors (NZ) strategically from a national viewpoint. Ltd; Profitable & private l TOWER Asset Management; The weight of the report’s recommen- Restrictive practices and The draft report had a whole chapter dations is to commercialise the ports: it l Tyndall Investment Manage- on employment relations at ports which says that their principal objective should ment New Zealand Limited. contained many aspects the RMTU ob- be to be a successful commercial business All top-rated schemes. jected to, including long lists of employ- as profitable as a privately owned one. It ment conditions labelled as ‘restrictive recommends partial privatisation and that The NZ Harbours KiwiSaver practices’. Considerable weight was given councils should consider a ‘landlord’ port Scheme operates in similar to comments from employers who were model where the port owns only the land fashion to all others; you get the interviewed by a consultant who failed to and contracts out terminal operations. most out of it if you and your interview the port unions. There was little It recommends removing local govern- employer make regular contrib- The Transport Worker June 2012 evidence backing those comments and ment representatives and staff from the utions at a minimum rate of 2% suggestions that changes might be needed boards of ports. That leaves little room of your taxable earnings. to the Commerce Act and the Employment for regional development aspirations and Court to satisfy employer complaints. the non-commercial aspects of a port, but Download a copy of the The CTU, on behalf of the affiliates, the Commission takes the view that run- investment statement and made a strong submission on these and ning local government assets on a purely application form at: other aspects of the draft report, and met commercial basis gives them the financial with officials and commissioners. returns to look after their non-financial www.harbourssuper.org.nz The final report now has a chapter Continued on the next page 8 Productivity The next step is for the government to decide which of the report’s recommendations it will implement. We need to watch these developments carefully.

objectives. This is the economic assumption closer to Auckland than Sydney – but Auck- utilisation in ports. that ‘the market knows best’. Many local land sea freight costs are 27 to 53 percent Regarding productivity, the best meas- governments do not agree. more expensive than Sydney’s. ure of labour productivity given in the The port focus might be understand- The report looks for other reasons report is the ‘vessel rate’ – the number of able if ports were the major cost driver in why shipping companies charge us so containers moved per person per hour. the logistics chain. But they are not. Case much more than Australia. It finds a mixed Tauranga and Auckland have very similar studies in the report show average onshore picture of how competitive they are. For rates, suggesting that technology, equip- port charges to Auckland importers and example our ports are smaller and so are ment, port layout, ship and cargo types are exporters are dramatically lower than those the ships calling at them, so fixed costs much more important factors than contract- in Sydney – around half the cost. They are have to be shared across a smaller number ing out. Indeed, Australian container ports also lower than Long Beach (California) and of containers. On the other hand there are contract out under the landlord system but surprisingly competitive with Singapore only two to four services on New Zealand have lower vessel rates than New Zealand. (the world’s busiest transshipment port routes investigated, compared to eight or On the whole, according to a Ministry of and second busiest container port) and nine from Australia to some of the same Transport analysis, ‘the container produc- Shanghai (the world’s biggest container destinations. The report concludes that tivity of New Zealand ports appears at least port with very low labour costs). ‘case studies show evidence of higher comparable with, and in some cases better sea freight rates on New Zealand services than, Australian and other international Comparing charges compared with Australian services that ports’. The report showed quotes it had re- do not seem to be fully explained by cost ceived for a standardised container freight differences’ and recommends that pricing Further concern shipment to and from Sydney, Shanghai, cartels like shipping conferences be subject A further concern the RMTU has is with Singapore and Long Beach, with com- to normal competition rules – a welcome the Productivity Commission’s approach parisons for the same shipment to and from step. However, it says that such arrange- is that while its own objectives require it Sydney. Auckland’s charges as port of origin ments are little used so it is not clear that to provide advice that leads to ‘the best were on average 56 percent of Sydney’s. it is solving the problem. Shipping compa- possible improvement in the wellbeing of Auckland’s charges as a destination were on nies will still be free to keep other types of New Zealanders’, it limits itself to improv- average 54 percent of Sydney’s, 72 percent cooperation agreements that could limit ing ‘economic efficiency’. Once again, it of Long Beach’s, 33 percent higher than capacity on routes or coordinate bargaining assumes that ‘the market knows best’ and Singapore’s and 64 percent higher than against ports. will lead to ‘best possible’ improvements Shanghai’s. in wellbeing. Our experience tells us Yet the total cost of freight is much Twisting arms otherwise. higher for New Zealand importers and ex- Submissions from exporters and ports The Commission made significant porters compared to Australia – by between expressed concern that the shipping com- improvements to its report during the 7 percent and an astonishing 87 percent. panies had excessive market power and submission process. However there is Why? Because actual sea freight charges were not fully passing on cost savings. A still much to be concerned about. The from shipping companies are between 27 shipping company’s ability to twist arms to next step is for the government to decide percent and a gobsmacking 635 percent get port companies to invest in new facili- which of the report’s recommendations it higher than for Australia. It’s not due to ties but then move their services to another will implement. We need to watch these travel distances: Long Beach in California is port is given credence by the very low asset developments carefully.

Where the %##*# are you? Did you get that important notice from the Safety funding boost and Union last month? Last year? Any time? If you independent review announced haven’t had any mail from RMTU head office then you had better tell us where you’ve HE RMTU, along with industry, is welcoming a $37 million boost to moved to. Check your address by: occupational health and safety over the next four years. The Minister of l talking to your branch chair who has a list TLabour, Kate Wilkinson, announced the boost along with a full review of the of local members and their details; country’s health and safety system. The Minister has set a target for a 25% reduction l going to the Union website and updating in workplace deaths and serious injuries by 2020. your details – http://bit.ly/exmEyL The RMTU welcomes the opportunity of a better resourced and trained inspector- l phoning 04-499-2066; ate and will advocate strongly for improved health and safety standards during the l faxing 04-471-0896 ; review.

The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The l giving us your e-mail to save on postage. ANZAC DAY 9 The railway versus Rommel peaking at the foot of the Petone Railway Station commemorative Sflagpole, the GM of the Interislander, Thomas Davis said “this service is unique”. He went on to outline the reason why: “It was one of the first Anzac Day obser- vances in New Zealand and second by a matter of hours only, to the service at Tinui in the Wairarapa.” More significant, he said, was the fact that the flagpole was built by railways staff at Petone, Lower Hutt and Hornsby in New South Wales as a memorial to railway servicemen who lost their lives at Galipolli. “This is the only ceremony in the coun- try that marks the military service of railway- men,” he said. “More than 7,500, half the Some of those gathered for the service. rail workforce at the time, went on active into Libya – almost to the port of Tobruk.” He said it is a great story, but was military service during World War One.” He said at one stage the Kiwi railway- disappointed that most of the group had “They were critical for moving troops, men set a record for constructing a length returned to working on the railway before equipment and supplies at times when oth- of track in one day. the war ended and were not invited to take er forms of transport were not equipped to “Such was the railwayman’s instinct to part in celebrations when the end finally do the job,” he said. “This was particularly ‘rise to the occasion', nothing was beyond came because they were considered not to true in World War One where the theatre their ‘give it a go’ attitude.” have seen active service. of war was relatively static.” He said a measure of their contribution “The stories of the flagpole memorial The experience of WWI and the short- is the assessment by Field Marshal Mont- and the New Zealand Railways Group in age of railwaymen available to keep trains gomery, when he said at the beginning of the Western Desert make it much easier running, led the British Government to ask the Battle of El Alamein in 1942: “Now it’s to remember what we are honouring and New Zealand for skilled railway staff when the railway versus Rommel”. why. And when we say, ‘we will remember WWII broke out. Their story has been told by another them’ we can be clear in our minds we are In New Zealand it achieved its own railwayman, Brendon Judd, an operational referring to all railway staff who have been importance where the movement of troops safety coordinator in Otahuhu, who has involved in military service. By their actions, and supplies became a priority and led to written the book ‘Desert Rail’ to keep alive they have helped create a peace we must railways jobs becoming ‘reserved occupa- the memory of the railwaymen who served all be grateful for and the inspiration to tions’ – meaning the men were exempt in WWII. preserve it.” from military service. He went on to recognise all railwaymen and women who contributed to the war ef- Significant fort in all major conflicts – some of whom did not get due recognition. memorial “One of the more visible groups were NE of railway’s most the railwaymen who joined rail operating significant war memorials companies,” he said. “In 1940 many of Ois the tablet in the en- them left New Zealand as the New Zea- trance hall to Wellington Railway The Transport Worker June 2012 land Railway Group destined initially, for Station’s railway offices. The tab- France to operate railways with their British let contains the names of the 446 counterparts. But the rapid advance of Nazi railwaymen who died in military Germany put paid to that plan and they service during World War One. were sent instead to Egypt to operate and Last month, Rail Heritage extend railway lines in the Western Desert Trust executive chairman Euan where they did exceptional work upgrading McQueen (left), KiwiRail chairman John Spencer (centre) and Rail & Maritime Trans- and extending existing railway lines and ex- port Union general secretary Wayne Butson (right) laid wreaths below the tablet as tending the line from Egypt over 275 miles part of this year’s ANZAC Day commemoration. 10 Training Bargaining training elegates from Hillside, Otago Rail In even plainer English: How do and Port Otago branches attended a you know whether or not you’ve ‘won’ Dtwo day training course in mid April if you haven’t taken the trouble to work entitled ‘Organising for Bargaining’. This is out what ‘winning’ looks like? the first time that the RMTU has used this The theme of the workshop is that particular course, and from the response the process takes organising and that from attendees it appears to have been a bargaining is part of organising not resounding success. the other way round. So, recruiting The course is built around a simulation members, setting up a strong delegate of a wage negotiation in a medium sized structure, having efficient communic- business. Participants take the roles of ations (yes, that means social media and (l - r) Joe Carson OETT, Les Ingram Hillside management and union negotiation teams. texts as well as notices boards and flyers), and Steve Wilson Hillside. Day one is spent covering the theory of educating members, building a strong collective bargaining and de-bunking some union profile through branded clothing, of the widely held beliefs and myths about regular meetings and encouraging activ- negotiations. The simulation can then ists is basic organising – and it all helps us last for the whole of the second day, with when we engage in collective bargaining. A time put aside to brief and de-brief the well organised union has more bargaining participants. strength than one that is poorly organised. Strategy & tactics Experienced team The premise is that negotiations, or Our delegates worked hard through the (l - r) Ken Latherby, Stu Johnston Hillside the face to face encounters at the table, are exercises on day one. We were fortunate to and Marty Duncan KiwiRail. part of a wider process – that of collective have a great deal of experience in bargaining. Collective bargaining includes the room. One table of five del- preparing for negotiations, identifying egates had 142 years’ experience aims and objectives, gathering claims and between them! Also, many of our supporting information, and agreeing on Dunedin delegates had been ac- strategy and tactics in pursuit of these aims. tive in the campaign to save jobs at In other words, if the parties don’t do Hillside and Hutt Workshops and their homework and figure out what they’re were part of ‘Keep Kiwis Work- trying to achieve then this is a recipe for ing’. They understood the value failure. of building an organis-ation – on and off the job. It helped also that the Hillside, rail and port days’ work. We’re already reaping the branches were all going to be in- benefits in the understanding our delegates volved in collective bargaining this are demonstrating in current bargain- year. ing rounds in KiwiRail and Port Otago. By day two the teams were ready Thanks to everyone for their energy and to assume their roles and put the enthusiasm. (l - r) Brian McKay Otago, Tim Spence theory into practice. Brian McKay was a Otago and Don Bates KiwiRail. frighteningly good advocate as the CEO of a medium sized engineer- ing firm and Stu Johnstone made a first class union organiser. The simulation was scarily realistic and Wayne Butson and John Kerr had the privilege of eavesdropping on both parties in caucus. The debates (l - r) Joe Carson OETT, Rusty Wild were fascinating and demonstrated Dunedin KiwiRail and Dave Kearns the high calibre of RMTU delegates. (l - r) Lyall Kelpe OETT, Pat Tutty OETT, Larry Beattie The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The Hillside. All in all this was a valuable two Hillside and Stu Johnston Hillside. News 11 Hikoi opposses asset sales HE RMTU's flag was clearly visible over the Testimated 5000 people protesting at Parlia- ment last month against the Government's planned asset sales programme.

Otira town for sale - again Otira Tunnel N Auckland couple who bought “The people in the village at the moment review update Otira after seeing it from the are really good people.” HE joint KiwiRail and RMTU safety Awindow of the TranzAlpine, are The main difficulty the couple had review of the Otira rail tunnel is struggling to sell it again. Bill and Chris faced was with the Westland District Twell underway with a report to the Hennah bought the old railway township Council, which would not give resource steering group expected shortly. The tun- for about $70,000 in 1998. Two years ago, consent for subdivision and develop- nel is 8.5km long and situated between they put it on the market for $1 million, ment because of the risk of flooding or Arthurs Pass and Otira. It is used pre- although they say they are willing to sell earthquakes. dominantly to carry coal from the West the hotel separately. They’ve had quite Bill said the Department of Conserva- Coast to Canterbury. a bit of international media coverage – tion was not keen on the town's growth The joint working group have sys- and a few “nibbles” – but they blame the because Otira was in the middle of a tematically identified the hazards in the

publicity surrounding the Crafar farms’ national park. tunnel and are reviewing the current The Transport Worker June 2012 sale for putting investors off. At this stage, The Otira Hotel, originally a Cobb & safety procedures including personal they’re not panicking because they don’t Co coach stop, has been on the same site protective equipment. An independent plan to retire for another couple of years. since the 1860s. air monitoring company are conduct- If they can get a buyer for the hotel, or The town has long been a base for ing environmental monitoring to assess even lease it, they say they will make railway and road workers, but many of whether exposure levels are within the improvements elsewhere in the village. the houses, which date back to the 1920s, Workplace Exposure Standards. Other The bar manager, Michelle Neate is one have been moved to new locations on the aspects of the review include emergency of their best advertisements. “There’s no West Coast. preparedness and systems for reporting argument, life in Otira is bliss,” she says. Otira has about 40 people. hazards. 12 News End of the line? ajor storm damage to the Gisborne-Napier railway line Mcould spell the end of this track, which was already facing an uncertain future. A storm in March caused three big washouts – one of which measured about 100 metres and another about 40 metres – along a three-kilometre stretch of the line between Gisborne and Wairoa. KiwiRail estimates repairs would take five months and cost between $3.3 and $4.3 million. It has not committed to doing the work and is looking at the longer term viability of the line. Meanwhile, Gisborne residents turned out in force in April, demanding that KiwiRail repair their railway line. Mayor Meng Foon estimated “at least 2000” people took part in a march through the city in a bid to save the region’s rail link. The message from the march was “fix our rail” and was directed at KiwiRail and the Government, Foon said. The washout has left sections of track dangling in the air. Foon said Gisborne’s business commu- nity, in particular, was worried by the pros- pect the line could be closed permanently. As fuel prices rose, rail had become increasingly viable with businesses increas- ing the goods they were freighting from five wagon loads a week to sixty. KiwiRail chief executive Jim Quinn said the section of track through the Wharerata Range just south of Beach loop was hardest hit, and staff were “assessing reinstatement options”. He said parts of the line were so dif- ficult to reach it took KiwiRail teams two Quinn said he did not know how long the protest with chief executive Jim Quinn days to access it. the line would be out of action and he saying “nothing” had changed. ‘’We want to “At this stage we are continuing to fo- would not comment on whether the dam- make sure the facts are clear and a decision cus on gathering the facts which will form age would have any bearing on its future. can then be made.’’ the basis for a decision to be made on how The line usually has one or two train He said the cost of fixing the three best to proceed,” said Quinn. “However, services a week. This was increased to three washouts, which could take up to five from what can plainly be seen, the damage a week in January. The line runs at a loss months and was estimated to cost between is extensive and any repairs would take of about $2.4 million a year, but hopes $3.3-$4.3 million. considerable time to complete.” were raised late last year when Gisborne But it also had to look at the cost of fur- The future of the line has been in ques- transport company Weatherall Transport ther upgrade work replacement of sleepers tion for some time. KiwiRail said last year became KiwiRail’s “retail provider” and put and bridges in the next 10 years, and decide that it would make a decision on its future additional business on rail. whether the investment was justified com- later this year, with mothballing or closure KiwiRail were apparently unmoved by mercially. The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The possible options. News 13 Selling our souls Why the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement is worrying community and legal leaders

O serious are the implications of the Trans Pacific Partnership Remit to Labour Party "These sorts of agreements SAgreement (TPPA) that more The RMTU has put its full support behind than 100 jurists from New Zealand an EPMU-remit to the Wellington Regional are giving unbridled power and other countries including some Conference of the Labour Party in June. If it of their most eminent lawyers, have is accepted and passed it will then go to the to multinational, mainly sent an open letter to the negotiators national conference. American-owned, calling for the right of investors to sue The remit asks voters to consider a number of governments directly to be excluded. factors before supporting such an agreement companies." including: Secrecy abounds n Increased access for our agricultural exports This key clause, and indeed the to the US market; alleging it breached their rights under whole agreement, has been negotiated n That it does not undermine health costs and the TPPA. Even a jury decision in private in secret and will not be revealed, it measures; litigation could be challenged and lead is believed, until four years after it is n Does not favour overseas investors or suppliers to the Government paying millions in signed. over domestic ones nor expand intellectual compensation.” Of major concern is that the Ameri- property rights and enforcement in excess He cites a case brought recently by cans will insist (as they have done with of current law; Chevron where a tribunal ordered the other similar agreements) that this n Does not weaken our public services nor Ecuador Government, in defiance of its agreement should allow foreign cor- reduce our flexibility to support local devel- constitution, not to enforce a ruling by porations to stop our Government (or opment; Ecuador’s Appeal Court that Chevron any future government) from changing n Contains enforceable labour and environmen- must pay $18 billion to clean up toxic New Zealand law in a way they think tal clauses; waste in the Amazon Basin. might undermine their value. and more. “You may recall how Warner Broth- Power to ers stepped in when The Hobbit was of investment, the US and Australia. multinationals threatened by strike action and how our Under these arrangements, an American “These sorts of agreements are giving Government was forced to change OUR corporation, for example, would be given unbridled power to multinational, mainly laws to suit these foreign bullies,” said far more extensive rights against our gov- American-owned, companies,” said Butson. RMTU general secretary Wayne Butson. ernment than any New Zealand company “These companies have far too much power Meanwhile the government is selling would ever have. It would mean that a already and the more they get the more they the TPPA as a free trade between friendly future government, perhaps elected to want. If our own elected representation countries and denying any questions about change policy in an area like environmen- cannot combat their influence we are in the small print. tal protection or health and safety (maybe real danger of losing our independence.” smoking), could be threatened with a crip- “The concessions made in secret by to- Far-fetched pling lawsuit unless it backed off. day’s Government would permanently lock In November last year, Prime Minister New Zealand into a marketplace controlled John Key described as “far-fetched” the A worry for lawyers and dominated by foreign corporations. idea that investors could sue the New Bryan Gould in the NZ Herald writes: Voters would be left without any possibility Zealand government directly in a secret “A particular worry for lawyers is that our of redress,” writes Gould. “We have already The Transport Worker June 2012 international tribunal to enforce rules in courts, too, could be overruled. The foreign sold off into foreign ownership a higher the proposed TPPA. investment tribunals have decided that proportion of our national assets than any Under standard US terms for such courts are part of a country’s government other developed country. The TPPA could agreements, investors can claim millions (riding roughshod over any doctrine of mean that control over what remains, now in compensation from governments on the the separation of powers) and that they, and into the future, would in effect be grounds that new regulations adversely af- too, must comply. Even if our courts handed over to international corporations. fected their investment. Under a TPPA that had upheld the validity of a law properly This is a heavy price to pay for a trade deal would apply to investors from all participat- passed by Parliament, that decision could in which our partners, at most, commit to ing countries, including our largest sources be challenged by a foreign corporation buy what they want to buy anyway.” 14 News Some clear messages from this year's Ports Forum mixture of RMTU CTU economist Bill the workers? You can’t have a H&S policy delegates and Rosenburg spoke about the and coverage without all parties affected Aobservers from recent work of the Produc- being involved. around NZ’s ports at- tivity Commission – a group RMTU Organisers John Kerr and Phil tended the 2012 Ports brought together by the Na- Spanswick ran a workshop titled ‘Water- Forum on March 14-15 in tional Government to look front Organising Campaign’ which covered Wellington. For a number at the future of international the history of organised labour and union- of RMTU members this freight and transport services. ism on the NZ waterfront and a history was their first Forum. It Ports and airports are its main on non-unionised labour. They also took was ably chaired by re- focus with ship rates a signifi- delegates through cently elected president cant problem. He said NZ is n Planning a recruitment and organising Aubrey Wilkinson, from getting ripped off by interna- campaign. Port of Tauranga. tional shipping companies n Recruitment techniques. Aubrey Wilkinson Peter Conway CTU playing ports off against each n Building a strong delegate structure in who delivered the open- other to drive down prices. your workplace. ing address and spoke on the dispute at Very little of this is mentioned let alone The message is clear: We must fight to Ports of Auckland (POA) describing the analysed in the Commission’s papers. organise labour into legitimate unions on situation as a collision between a board RMTU’s newly appointed Health and the NZ waterfront. and management who want to completely Safety organiser Karen Fletcher presented a Labour spokesperson on transport Phil dictate to their workers and their union case study from Port of Tauranga where del- Twyford, reiterated his party’s commitment which they wanted to get rid of. He said this egates discovered that the to reintroduce cabotage was “sadly familiar territory” with a National capacity for H&S internally – though he wouldn’t say Government and its expected agenda of at- was very high. The down- how soon after gaining tacks on workers, beneficiaries and unions side of this is that POT H&S power. This merely con- while giving their rich mates tax cuts and is dominated by contractors firms that if we are to ef- privatisation opportunities. His final mes- on site to the detriment fect change through the sage was crystal clear: “When worker rights of direct employees which political process we have are under attack – stand up and fight back.” has hindered development to continue to lobby hard. of the overall H&S culture Labour are our friends but National derided and safe practices. The sig- we still have to work hard President of the CTU Helen Kelly spoke nificant question that arose to make sure our issues are in depth about the POA dispute and other was: high on their agenda. issues facing New Zealand workers. She de- How can an employer He also gave Labour’s rided National’s propaganda that “workers have a H&S approach that Denise Roache view of the so called ‘Pro- ought to be grateful to have a job”. does not directly involve ductivity Commission’.

The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The Howard Phillips. Dave Marden. Mike Nijssen. Te Ra Poroa. NEWS 15 workers. Does casual work give workers the ability to decline work one day and accept on another? Geoff also discussed holiday pay, ALT days, superan- “The consequences nuation, access to collective agreement benefits, and more. for working people in Delegates were encouraged to assess the status of casual NZ if this fight is lost workers in their workplaces and will be to leave our discuss developments with their organisers. children and grand- Karen Fletcher. children with far, far Unacceptable Helen Kelly, CTU. CEA worse working Joe Fleetwood and Mike conditions than we Clark of MUNZ, spoke in detail about the POA dispute and its have and a long fight wider ramifications including the to get back,” current collective employment agreement. Joe said the ‘new’ agreement proposed terms that were unacceptable to MUNZ in- Wayne Butson. cluding such things as total flex- ibility of the workforce (read: at Geoff Davenport. the beck and call of the employer Greens Party spokesperson on 24/7/365) with no ability to plan industrial relations Denise Roache, home and family lives and not said the Greens are increasingly knowing what their weekly wage more outspoken on employment would be each week. Joe asked matters despite it being a tradition- for the continued support of al Labour area. Unsurprisingly, the other port workers. Rena grounding was a hot topic, Peter Conway, CTU. “The consequences for work- and matched delegates’ strongly ing people in NZ if this fight is held view that the current lack lost will be to leave our children of regulation in coastal shipping Bill Rosenberg, CTU. and grandchildren with far, far needs fixing. worse working conditions than Members, looking we have and a long fight to get Casual labour around their work- back,” Joe said. questioned places, have begun Delegates left with the clear Geoff Davenport from McBride, Daven- to wonder about the message: We must plan and port and James spoke about casualisation. employment status of strategically organise non-union colleagues and fellow Phil Twyford, Labour MP. labour across all ports in NZ. The Transport Worker June 2012

Naylor Young. Mike Clark, MUNZ. Craig Cooney. Phil Spanswick. 16

By Helen Kelly CTU

Government’s true colours on display E know that in economic environment of the support throughout the union movement, international solidarity, global financial crisis and Canterbury earthquakes and a real effort to reach the wider community. I am really proud means times are tough, but what we have also of the way these workers, their union, your union and our union seen is that when times are tough, a government’s movement stood up to be counted in this dispute. true priorities come to the surface. The govern- The Talley’s Affco dispute is also a real standoff, with an em- ments ‘stimulus’ hinged around its tax changes - which at the time, ployer, known for being ruthless, has said their wage offer was weW pointed out to be unfair - have proved to be not only unfair contingent on the union not striking – but then locked them out but unsuccessful at providing the kind of stimulus we need. The before any strike. The workers have been locked out since 29 Feb- tax changes gave tax cuts to those on high incomes, while hitting ruary, (nearly 80 days without pay at time of writing this). This is lower income families with a hike to GST. Wage increases have not another brutal lockout in the meat industry, hard on the heels of matched price increases and there are not enough jobs. We are a 65 day lockout at ANZCO CMP in Rangitikei. currently seeing some of the highest unemployment rates since Affco are maintaining an extreme bargaining position on the 1990’s. There are now 160,000 people unemployed – 9,000 changes they want in a new collective employment agreement. more than just three months ago. The jobs available are simply not They offer a return to work only on unreasonable conditions and increasing fast enough to keep up with people who need them. with a lengthy time frame and several tranches, and force workers And over 53,000 people left permanently or long term for Australia desperate for their jobs to accept individual agreements entirely on in the last year. Affco’s terms. There is already a significant number of workers on There has been plenty of opportunity in recent years for the such individual agreements (the company says it is now a majority). government to take a more proactive approach to jobs creation. The In addition to prior claims, the company claims in a new docu- Canterbury rebuild may still offer many much needed construction ment: jobs, but I fear we have failed to adequately prepare our workforce. n Remove seniority from the agreement and any right to be re- Rather than intensive training schemes to upskill Kiwi workers to hired in the new season; be able to participate in the rebuild, we are fast tracking the im- n Have a seven day roster and workers would have to work any migration of skilled migrants. time, any day; and We are witnessing the Kiwi version of austerity with spending n Provide for the introduction of a system where people can be cuts in many areas, a zero Budget and public sector job losses. The terminated if the employer determines that a worker should government is setting an example of cut and hope. It has increased be, even without any misconduct that would justify dismissal. minimum wages, but only marginally and these were largely gob- The above proposal on termination includes this wording: bled up by GST increases. Rather than bolstering employment rights ‘... shall also apply to any situation where the employer elects and encouraging good jobs, it has cut them too. And employers are to terminate the union member’s employment upon the grounds being encouraged by this approach to be more militant. I see it as that irreconcilable differences exist between the employer and no small coincidence that the rise of high profile industrial disputes union member or the union member and another employee or mirrored the government’s employment law changes already made employees or determines that the interest of the employer would that reduce employees’ rights and the government’s own example be best served by terminating the union member’s employment of being an employer. notwithstanding that the union member has not been guilty of The Ports of Auckland is an entrenched and ongoing conflict any conduct or omission that would justify the dismissal upon the between a Board and management who want to completely dictate grounds of misconduct or poor performance . . ‘ to the workers and a union trying to defend decent jobs. Facilitation These disputes are partly about flexibility. There is nothing is progressing and we believe that, provided the employer takes wrong with some flexibility. Employers need flexibility sometimes a more reasonable approach, the dispute will be resolved. It is an to get the job done – and so do workers to balance the demands example of a comprehensive union campaign with tremendous of their families and other commitments with their job. But some The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The 17

By

Helen Kelly Port of Tauranga and rail branch CTU officials presenting a donation cheque to the Rangiuru Meat Workers. Government’s true colours on display employers want far too much flexibility. And they want it with- out the agreement of the worker. They want to impose it, and they want to load all the risk and insecurity on to the worker. Flexibility is no longer flexible when it is done without agreement of the worker. When major changes are made with- out the agreement of the union, and when it is all about what the business needs and not about what workers also need, then flexibility has gone too far. This builds on the narrative that if you do have a decent job, with reasonable pay and conditions, you are at risk of being labelled ‘uncompetitive’ or ‘privileged’. It now seems to be a crime to have a decent job in New Zealand. Employment law changes have been on the cards since this government came into power. The 90 days fire at will law has seen employees sacked without reason on the 89th day of employment, and predictably, hasn’t provided any of the employment benefits it was proposed to address. The government has now announced its next lot of employ- ment law changes and intends to remove obligations for em- ployers to conclude collective bargaining and opt out of multi- employer bargaining. The changes would also see employers being able to deduct the pay of workers who undertake partial strikes and see new employees no longer having the protection of being employed on the terms of a collective agreement for the first 30 days of their employment. And employers will be able to initiate collective bargaining at the same time as unions, meaning that the requirement to negotiate in good faith could be on the coverage and terms the employer initiates on. When coupled with removing the duty to conclude, these changes herald ominous signs for disputes like AFFCO and Ports of Auckland. In fact, these law changes would have made these disputes The Transport Worker June 2012 legally much more difficult. The Government actually has an obligation to promote collective bargaining. Instead it is deliberately undermining collective bargaining – a device which could lift wages, protect job conditions and reduce inequality in New Zealand. showing great solidarity. And we are reaching out to all sorts of What we need is an improved employment law that provides groups – churches, iwi leaders, environmental groups and so many for industry standard agreements and more collective bargaining more. We are pushing hard on the petition for a referendum on – not less. assets sales and we will continue to campaign hard – particularly So there are many challenges. But the union movement is in support of workers locked out. 18 News Woodville steam celebrations oodville’s 125th celeb- rations held on Saturday March 24 Wremembered the 125 years since rail came to the town. For the event, the Feilding and Districts Steam Rail took its Wab 794, and F 163 – which is rarely seen on the main line – to Woodville, along with their four 56ft steel carriages and FM guards’ van. The F 163 had a primary role in the celebrations, being its main ‘guest locomo- tive’. It was used to re-enact the first train arriving at Woodville. Steam Incorporated were also asked to contribute and sent a Da 1431, which hauled a ‘Round the Block’ excursion called the ‘Tararua Scenic Daylight’ up the Wairarapa Line to Woodville and then later headed through the Manawatu Gorge and back to Paekakariki down the North Island Main Trunk. KiwiRail contributed a DC, a DSC, two OM milk wagons and one each of the new type of curtain side container wagon for display at Woodville Station. The Pahiatua Railcar Society had planned to contribute a Standard Railcar Rm 31 and also an Rm 5 on the back of a truck. However, the Rm 31 is still at Hutt Workshops after their open day having en- countered a problem preventing its return

Steam engines abound at Woodville's 125th celebrations bringing out enthusiasts on the side line and in the cabs. Far left is Kevin Woodward dressed for the role of driving an F 163.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Daniel Garland

home. The Rm 5 didn’t attend. of activities was during the celebrations, Nevertheless, the event was good and was a bit thin. it was wonderful to see the F back on the Well done to the organisers for putting main line, despite information on what was it all together! The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The happening for the event and what the order NEWS 19 Members advised to tread care- fully when reviewing claims recent case involving an RMTU After Aon received the review application His comments at the meeting were member and Aon and KiwiRail has they asked to meet with the injured person recorded in writing by Aon’s representa- Arevealed some dodgy practices in order to discuss the dispute further, tive. Fortunately, Ben was able to answer which may prejudice his decision to take prior to the matter going to a hearing as on his behalf, simply confirming that he Aon and KiwiRail to review after they de- per the Act. disagreed with Aon’s decision, had lodged termined to cease paying his compensation Fortunately, Ben Thompson, a senior a review accordingly, and that he wished to for an entitled work-related injury. associate with Hazel Armstrong Law, ac- have this issue considered by an independ- Aon recently decided to cut off his companied him to the meeting. ent Review Officer as per the relevant law. entitlements, claiming that his ongoing Ben said he found the meeting to be Ben advises that if any Union member incapacity was no longer due to his covered “inappropriate and potentially prejudicial” challenges a decision from Aon via the workplace accident. The RMTU member to the RMTU member’s case. review process they should not attend a disagreed and applied to have the decision “After going through what they saw meeting of this kind. independently reviewed. to be the strengths of their case, Aon’s/ “They are not legally obliged to do so,” The independent review process is Kiwirail’s representatives then asked the he said. “By attending meetings of this provided for in the Accident Compensation RMTU member whether he thinks his injury nature and entering into dialogue with Act 2001. Both sides make their submis- was caused at work or not,” said Ben. “This Aon’s representatives, the member could sions and the Review Officer will issue an is the very issue which is to be decided at be at risk of prejudicing their chances independent decision on the matter. review – the crux of the case – and is a of success at the review hearing. In our However, it appears that Aon and matter for comment by medical specialists.” experience, ACC do not seek to discuss KiwiRail have decided to insert an extra The member had not yet had the oppor- review applications with their clients in stage into this dispute resolution process. tunity to obtain his own medical evidence. this manner.”

New campaign Naenae Railway Station HE Service and Food Workers Union (SWFU) have begun a Tnew campaign to reduce the gap between the rich and poor. Called ‘Living wage Aotearoa New Zealand’ the campaign aims to help those New Zealanders who receive low wages enough to meet their needs, enjoy their lives and participate in society. The RMTU has endorsed the cam- paign and urges all its members to follow suit. The principle statement of the cam- paign says: A living wage is the income necessary to provide workers and their HE then Wellington to Hutt Valley branch families with the basic necessities of line to Waterloo was opened on 26 May life. A living wage will enable workers The Transport Worker June 2012 T1927 and was extended to Epuni and to live with dignity and to participate as Naenae on 7 January 1946 and then to Taita active citizens in society. We call on the on 14 April 1947. Double track went only as Government, employers and society as a far as Naenae but was extended to Taita on 22 whole, to strive for a living wage for all February 1953. With the opening of the section households as a necessary and impor- to Haywards (now called Manor Park) from 1 March 1954 and the closing of the Melling- tant step in the reduction of poverty in Haywards section, this route became the main route to Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa. New Zealand. Meanwhile, Naenae Station is closed from 14 May until 19 August 2012 to allow a rebuild For more information contact Annie of the station to take place including a new platform shelter, resurfacing of the platform Newman 0800-864-661 and renovation of the subway connections to Cambridge and Oxford Terraces. 20 News Workers' Memorial Day orkers who gave up their lives at year on April 28 work were remembered again on growing tall. WApril 28 with services throughout The newly res- the country. urrected Timaru In the Waikato their small ceremony Branch have ac- was performed by Rick Kuka their new knowledged the Maori liaison officer for Te Kupenga Mahi day and in their together with his wife Donna. It has been process of becom- reported as an “exceptional effort”. They ing a fully func- also felt privileged that RMTU president tioning branch Aubrey Wilkinson his wife together with promise to make Phil Spanswick from Tauranga were pre- it part of their cal- sent. Aubrey spoke on behalf of the Union endar next year. focussing on the importance of the day. The memorial Theo De Bruyn spoke about some of his site in Dunedin’s past experiences, Wayne Menehira spoke of Market Reserve his near misses counting himself lucky to be once again was among the living considering some of the the spot to gather old work practices and lack of true safety to remember dead plans. Paul Jensen finished our service with comrades. a few inspirational words and a prayer while Meanwhile Ray Brown provided the waiata expertise. at Port Napier At Hutt Workshops the commemoration around 50 people was brought forward to the Friday when a met at the Cor- wreath was laid on-site within their memo- ban Frickleton Mike Williams, Lianne Dalziel and John Kerr at the Christchurch rial garden with the assistance and support Memorial Tree to memorial. from National Office and Hutt Workshops remember those management. we have lost or been injured as a conse- organisers and reps from the EPMU, SWFU, Representatives of the RMTU also at- quence of a work place accident. Local PSA ,MUNZ, PONL and HBSS management. tended the service at Lyttelton Port held at industrial chaplain, Neville Stevenson, led Prayers and poems were read and all ac- the Science Alive Reserve behind the old the proceedings and speeches were given knowledged the need for us to look after Railway Station on Moorehouse Ave in view by Viv Bull PONL HR, Adam Harvey OP each other and the right for everyone to go of demolition workers carving through the supervisor and Tom O’Neill, SFWU who home at the end of the day. brick of the condemned railway station. spoke on behalf of the CTU. A touching memorial day for us as it Fortunately the Reserve remains in good A strong showing of RMTU members was seven years to the day that we lost our nick with the cabbage trees planted each – port and rail – were present, along with brother Corban.

Ben's back UST shy of two years ago, I left NZ to take up a position in England with JThompsons Solicitors, a large law firm representing the vast majority of UK trade unions. During that time I acted for workers from many different unions who had suffered injuries either in the UK or abroad. After working in the fault-based UK legal system, my faith in NZ’s no-fault personal injury scheme has been renewed. I am very happy to be back at Hazel Armstrong Law, and to be working closely with the RMTU once again. The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The NEWS 21 The dawn of a new era! Mani Raumati reports T is with mixed emotions that we say goodbye to the grand old ladies of our Ination’s rail fleet and welcome some 21st century technology with the changeover of rolling stock on Wellington’s Johnsonville line where Wellington’s historic English Electric multiple units were officially recognised as relics of a bygone age. This brings to a close a truly extra- ordinary era of faithful commuter service on one of the most challenging lines in the country. The line was opened on July 2, 1938 presided over by the then Railways Minister, Dan Sullivan and Wellington Mayor, Thom- as Hislop. In joint tribute to an outstanding operational career and in celebration of the inaugural Johnsonville ‘Matangi’ service, a special ceremony was arranged on Monday March 19, 2012 with appropriate pomp and nados, interested members of the public ceremony. Representatives of both local and staff alike. and central Government interests were Invited guests, including Jerry Brown- present with their respective entourage of lee, the incumbent Minister of Transport advisers for the photo opportunity! and Wellington Mayor, Celia Wade Brown, Sentiment aside, what was truly inter- were greeted with a special morning tea esting was the overwhelming interest and within the newly refurbished Onslow Brass participation of present and past employ- Band Hall. ees. In a generous gesture, Tranz Metro Sadly, although not entirely unexpect- Wellington arranged a special morning tea ed, what was missing was any recognition in celebration of this milestone, with invites of RMTU staff and delegate involvement made to many past employees. throughout the lengthy design stages of In a farewell gesture, the inaugural the Matangi units. Through an extensive, Matangi service to Johnsonville ran in thorough, and at times trying process, Fred Hamer & Phil Gibbs – over 100 years conjunction with the final journey of a four the RMTU Wellington rail branch design experience carriage English Electric consist with both team in conjunction with KiwiRail and the services crossing at Ngaio, thus affording Greater Wellington Regional Council are interested members of the public an op- now able to enjoy the fruits of their labour. portunity to participate. As Wayne Butson, general secretary of Media interest was high. Armed with the RMTU so succinctly put it: “We now cameras and microphones, journalists have 21st century trains with 21st century bustled for prime position with rail aficio- cabs!” The Transport Worker June 2012

(l to r) Mani Raumati, Mahesh Chunilal and Ray Ali Joe Byrne & Greg Smedly 22 News Pro-union Old sleepers (an occasional column taken from the annuls of NZ book railway history) HE book Wealth Vs. Work by Allan HE Loco Record was the Journal of the There are numerous articles throughout Ornstein describes how the US NZ Loco Engine Drivers’ Firemen and these early publications of comparisons Thas been divided into separate TCleaners’ Association (NZLEDFCA) between New Zealand and Australia and estates, with catch phrases that harshly and its stated aim was to give ‘details of the it would seem that the NZLEDFCA kept a sort people into “winners” and “losers”, work carried on by the Council’. close eye on our neighbours over the ditch. Wall Street and Main Street, and rich One of the intentions of publishing the Apparently, not a lot has changed! and poor (or working poor); and how Loco Record from its commencement in the government of the people has been January 1910 was ‘to give the correct wages Some other interesting items of interest replaced by big business and financial and conditions for Loco Men throughout from the same volume include: interests. Australia’. n That the average number of men em- The author says it is a pro-labour, The first edition published the follow- ployed on New Zealand railways during pro-union, pro-working-class tracing ing: the year ended 31st March 1910 was the history of ordinary, working people 12,224 against 12,505 the previous year. over centuries. It outlines the need for a A FRANK STATEMENT BY OUR n That the loads of engines on the Culver- fair and just society, one that sets limits MINISTER OF RAILWAYS den line were becoming excessive, and trains are made up to anywhere between on the accumulation of wealth and Loco. Wages Lower in N.Z. Than in 60 and 70 wagons. Australia. n That the sheep traffic on the Incline is E.F. and C.A. Official’s Statements re falling off, and the Creek men are not Australian Loco. Wages Substantiated sorry. by Our Minister. n That 48,990 miles is run in New Zealand A NEW ZEALAND VISITOR for every one locomotive failure and constitutes an excellent record. The Hon. J.A. Millar, the New Zealand n That a ‘compound engine’ broke down Minister of Railways, has been in Aus- and a tunnel had to be dug underneath tralia for nearly a month inquiring into to get at the broken gear. the systems of railways management. n That ‘last year’s’ (1909?) Railway State- He has been in New South Wales, ment showed that in the Manawatu 259 Victoria, Queensland, and South permanent hands resigned, 64 retired Australia, and he left Sydney by the on superannuation, 38 died, 132 were Moana on Saturday. dismissed, 932 were engaged and 322 “I have been received with the great- transferred. est kindness all round,” said Mr Millar, n That the Australian Commissioners told “and have been shown everything I the NZ Minister of Railways that the wanted to see. But if there is further loco unions never asked for anything complaint about our management, inherited privilege, and includes safety unreasonable. compared with Australian manage- nets for middle-class and working-class n That a Christchurch driver reported the ment, when I return, I’ll simply publish people. delay to No 8 in this way:- our freight rates, our passenger rates, Other topics include excellence “The wind was high, the steam was and our wages scale in parallel col- vs equality, education and income, low, umns alongside the Australian figures. social mobility and stratification, manu- The train was heavy and hard to tow; I am confident that the New Zealand facturing jobs, outsourcing jobs, unions The coal was slack and full of slate, rates are fully 15 per cent lower than and collective bargaining, unfettered That’s why No 8 was late.” the mean of Australian rates. Striking capitalism, millionaires and billionaires, n That a loco foreman did not see the hu- an all round balance, our passenger tax reform, college tuition and pension mour of this report and recommended rates are about 10 per cent lower, and plans, merit and talent, innovation and a fine. we pay wages considerably higher, technology, immigration, China and n That the hand of the Department fell except in one or two cases, such as India and emerging global issues. rather heavily on the running staff on those of locomotive engine-drivers. n For more details go to: the Westland section when 16 loco men - Vol. 1. No. 4. June 1, 1910 wealthversuswork.com/ and seven guards were fined £1 each for The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The breach of bridge regulations. NEWS 23 Are you a policy- Branch sponsors two children holder with AIL? HE Lyttelton branch of the RMTU recently agreed VER the last 10 years, many you'll need a Hospital Discharge to sponsor two children via the Familial Trust, an RMTU members have taken form. You may then also be eligible Torganisation that works with families struggling Ofamily life insurance policies for a recuperation benefit when you with addiction such as alcoholism, drug abuse, etc. with American Income Life Insur- come out. Again, you will need the The branch has sponsored the two children for ance (AIL). If you are one of these ACC medical certificate to show how 10 weeks through a Kids members, you and your family may long you have been off work. Group term time pro- well be covered for accident injuries Remember, the sooner AIL has gramme aimed at helping too - both on and off work. that documentation, the sooner they them learn boundaries, If you or a family member has can pay a claim. safety, it’s ok to say no, that to go to the doctor, A&E or hospital If you have any questions, would they’re not alone and to to get treatment for an accident, be like to review your policies with an give them self esteem, con- sure to retain the ACC certificates agent, or would like to know more fidence, trust and sharing you are given - you'll need these for about AIL programmes, please call and social skills through positive modelling of behav- your claim documentation. AIL's PR manager Mario Soljan on iour through leaders. To lodge a claim, you'll need to freephone 0800 894 121 or email at The branch agreed that as a union this type of sup- fill in an AIL claim form. These can be [email protected] port is part of its wider social and community respon- found in your Policyholder Service n Visit their websites at sibility and have agreed to look at further sponsorships Folder. Send this in with a copy of www.ailnz.co.nz either continuing the Kids Group programme or spon- the ACC certificate. or soring a child through the Familial Trust Children’s If you have been in hospital, www.ailife.com Holiday Programme.

New RMTU apparel

New T-shirts for RMTU members to show their union-loyalty and affiliation. In red, grey or black they come with a variety of slogans and symbols and are designed to stand out in a crowd. Order yours today by completing an order form on the RMTU website or by The Transport Worker June 2012 contacting Julia on 04-499-2066.

RMTUnion.org.nz 24 Around the Branches

PHOTO ROUNDUP FROM THE BRANCHES

(above) Lyttelton's security team. (l) Eddie Dickson and Paul Corliss at the Heathcote Valley Inn in Christchurch. (below) Wayne Wilson and Marty Duncan in Dunedin.

(above) Aymee Geaves, Port Timaru. (r) Willy Grant, train manager, Christchurch. Middleton's servicing shed.

AUCKLAND RAIL BRANCH Meanwhile work is progressing steadily on here are a lot of changes occurring up all the time. Owing to tight timetables the new Wiri depot which is planned to on the network here. Shortly we will most of this work is being done at night and be ready to receive the new EMUs in the Tlose the Papakura signal box leaving some of the gangs won’t have seen the sun second half of 2013. only Pukekohe in the Auckland region, as for some time. The branch has recognised the plight of the re-signalling programme continues. A stage 2 mockup of the new EMU the Affco workers and has made a financial The rail electrification programme is is to arrive in June. This will consist of a contribution to their cause. We are also en- also continuing with new pylons going whole carriage complete with drivers cab. couraging members to make any individual donations they can manage. Unions have a long tradition of international solidarity.

Becoming a Kiwi Solidarity member is a modern way of expressing that solidar- ity and helping vulnerable workers in developing countries in our region get a fairer deal. Sign up to UnionAID today UnionAID is the only New Zealand overseas aid agency that places workers’ rights at the centre of its work. tel: 04 385 1334 (ext 810), fax: 04 385 6051, write: P O Box 6689, Marion Square, Wellington, email: [email protected] Or phone 0900 UNAID (0900 862 43) to automatically donate $30. www.unionaid.org.nz The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The Around the Branches 25

(l) Mike Kilsby, an Otira LE.

(above) Dion (l) Wiremu Te Huia, Steve McNatty, train Russell, Pete Rickerby and manager, Christchurch. George English all Mk3 tampers. (r) John Reizinger, RCO, (above) Keiran Frell, Tony Mann Middleton. & Mike Nijssen, Port Timaru.

IRST up we would like to mention WAIKATO RAIL BRANCH the departure of three of our driv- the most exceptional years production wise. of running south, especially during severe ers to the dusty paddocks of the F Which may allow a little respite from the weather, only to be told it cannot be used Pilbarra. Dave Coleman, Jessica Gage and chronic staff shortages we are experiencing during bad weather as it may get messy and Bob Clarke, from the servicing side of the at the moment. our staff need to mend their ways before it operation. We also lost Michael Peacock We have a drivers school in at the will be allowed to be used. Sounds a little to Forest-field somewhere south of Perth. moment with one or two targeted for Te silly but we don’t make the rules and it is Good luck to you all. Those of us left at your Rapa and another school being advertised worth a chuckle. former depot wish you and your families presently. Loco rosters seems to be a major prob- good health and good fortune. We have been allocated a 4wd vehicle lem. We don’t seem to be able to get a roster Back here in the most productive dairy after a long drawn out debate over the that is workable. They all seem to be loaded region in the world, we are experiencing the necessity of such a vehicle for the purpose with too much forward rotation, too many annual slow down for Fonterra after one of

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WAIKATO RAIL BRANCH [cont] inspirational words and a prayer. Ray Brown provided the waiata expertise. It was a good night shifts, too many single days off and for Te Kupenga Mahi. We thank you and gathering with a good kuapapa. too few drivers to fill the links. Single man your wife Donna for the exceptional effort Our network brothers have voiced their servicing, although there may be someone and time taken to remember our fellow concerns over the prospect of contracting shown on the roster to assist, often times workmates from all industries. Tena koe te out some of their work, which may be a that person is out doing other jobs like run- rangatira, tena koe ki to mahi e mahi ana warning sign for all of us. It brings back ning trains, fueling cars, looking through the mo tatou. some bad memories of the TranzRail days computer to fulfil some other tasks, assisting Also, we had the privilege of having our and we definitely don’t want that again. the team leader or the LOM – the list goes president Aubrey Wilkinson his wife and Phil To each and every member of the RMTU on. But the servicing staff are left on their Spanswick from Tauranga present. Aubrey remember we are stronger together, own to service locos including sanding, spoke on behalf of the Union with a focus on The Waikato branch wish you all well fueling and cleaning, radio test – the list the importance of the day. Theo De Bruyn Kia tau ki a tatou katoa goes on. It’s a problem we need to remedy spoke about some of his past experiences Te atawhai a to tatou Ariki a ihu karaiti yesterday but we keep running into a lot of on behalf of the company, Wayne Menehira excuses and promises. spoke of his near misses and counts himself Me te aroha o te atua We gathered together for Workers' Me- lucky to be here considering some of the old me te whiwhingatahitanga ki te wairua tapu morial Day with a little ceremony performed work practices and lack of true safety plans. ake ake ake. by Rick Kuka our new Maori liaison officer Paul Jensen finished our service with a few PORT NAPIER BRANCH started off on the coal face at Napier Port over 40 years ago – Warren Kohlis – who E finally got sign-off of the main group who choose to opt for the regulated put plenty of time and energy into helping collective agreement. The pro- work patterns; offering set guaranteed resolve this project because it did face it’s Wcess seemed to lag at the tail end hours of work and time off, including the critics. Also thanks to Chris Atkins, RMTU however, the back pay put an end to all ability to work extra hours as a choice. A lot shipside delegate and Phil Spanswick our the ‘whys and wherefores’. One of the new of work went into creating the roster from organiser. The other provision of note provisions achieved is the initiation of ros- both sides. Our thanks to one particular was for the introduction of twilight/sunset tered hours for the members of the shipside member of the management group who $1,500 AD&D All members of RMTU are now covered by a $1,500 Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit, including $500 spouse coverage and a further $500 coverage on dependent children.

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The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The Please note: To qualify for the $10,000 of additional ADB coverage, an AIL representative must visit you, obtain an enrollment form and collect premium for the first year. You may renew annually thereafter for $5. Around the Branches 27

clauses. Overall a good outcome for us as PORT NAPIER BRANCH [cont] the rosters fly in the face of the POA dispute and the attempted dismantling of these a record turnover in box numbers across on our brothers and sisters at Hillside and types of conditions by their management. the wharf. Empty containers also have had the plight KiwiRail has exposed them to. The deal is for a three year term. an impact. It will be another couple of One does not need to go into the ramifica- The next bout of talks will be for the months or so before we see the drop off tions of such a mind boggling situation but crane drivers’ Gottwald agreement expiring as the apple crop kicks in. An estimated we must give our full support in whatever at the end of June. 10 million cartons of apples for export will way is needed. The season is now in full swing and like come out of Hawkes Bay this year, with kiwi Finally, on the local front we say good- most ports, space, man power and enough fruit to follow. bye to two of our long-serving members hours in the day are at a premium. This is a On the political front, there is so much on the marine section who are being made time when H&S is essential – being vigilant bullshit rolling out of this government redundant as a result of the de-manning to operations and practices. If it isn’t safe and its partisan approach with its business of the tugs. don’t do it! cronies toward the working people – and Brian Harber, 45 years, and Ron Bland, As a consequence of the POA dispute it just keeps growing! As a consequence, 25 years. All the best in your retirement and increases in rail volumes we have had necessity now dictates we must now focus gentlemen, stay active.

T is with some upset that we write these HUTT WORKSHOP BRANCH notes. The I & E Group is suffering two tion of the structural soundness of our main was no exception. Thank you to all who Ibouts of ‘restructuring’. The first is the buildings and allied testing. We haven’t had attended to recognise and honour the For Sale sign that has been tagged to our any preliminary updates as yet but there was railway men and women who laid down Hillside Workshops brethren in Dunedin, a tracked drilling rig taking samples around their lives during the wars. To round-off and the second is the Tier 3 & 4 manage- the site. Despite its size and intense opera- April we brought forward our Workers' ment shake-up at head office level. We can’t tion, no oil or gas fields were found! And I Memorial Day to the Friday and laid our add to the better informed commentaries don’t think any underground services were wreath on-site within our memorial garden. already made about what’s happening at interrupted either! Again we acknowledge the assistance and Hillside except to say that perhaps the support from both National Office and Hutt Activist editor’s comments (Issue 4) which Training day at PN Workshops management associated with best summed up the more pragmatic op- Mid-April saw our branch officers attend these very important ceremonial occasions. tion given the progress to date. As for the a branch chair and secretary course held by management shake-up, we are all waiting Todd in Palmerston North. It was a great op- GM turns up to see which apples fall from the tree. Let’s portunity to once again share our thoughts, Last month we finally got to have the hope the outcomes are a win-win for all experiences and the odd frustration with group general manager (Rick van Barn- concerned and not a step backwards in an our colleagues from other branches. The eveld) to meet the troops after being our attempt to structure the company into a topics were many and Todd worked damn head sherang for something like the last lean and slick operation according to some hard to get us all through the tough agenda 6+ months. He was onsite to acknowledge unproven mantra. for the day, even taking a correction on the our recently publicised milestone of having Again, our workload continues on a chin when Myles pulled out the Rules and three groups of staff achieve 10 years LTI more or less steady course and again, there Standing Orders booklet and quoted chap- (lost time injury) free and present a plaque are no indications of progress with the Ganz ter and verse when he didn’t agree with an marking the occasion. Accordingly, Bruce (EMU) project. We are however, kept busy answer. Well done Todd. McKnight accepted the plaque on behalf of with the out-of-course work which is some- Later in April we had our flag ceremony the staff (Bruce has been actively involved thing we continue to do very well. at the ANZAC Memorial Flagstaff at Petone in H&S initiatives for many years). Rick Last time we wrote we indicated that Railway Station. Each year this ceremony Continued on the next page there is an on-site investigation and evalua- sees an increase in attendees and this year The Transport Worker June 2012 28 Around the Branches

HUTT WORKSHOP BRANCH [cont] also joined us for a modest light lunch to Consulting at coal face little closer to the coal-face? We know what mark the occasion and to chat with some of Aaah statistics, don’t they make inter- to watch for when trying something new. the troops. We hope that future visits will esting reading? You all would have read Recent communiqués from National involve him getting around the site and The Activist #4 by now and noted the Office indicate that the squaring-off for the chatting to more people on the shop floor performance of the mainline locomotives. wage round has begun but there are two and making himself known to all. There is a bit of implied irony in one class sticking points impeding the bargaining A call to members: Have you changed of locomotive out-performing the very process. Let’s hope they turn out to be your contact details over the last couple of class of locomotive that was meant to have nothing more than determining who will years? If so, grab your membership card sounded its death knell! Methinks once make the tea and who will provide the and please contact your delegate to fill out again someone will have to rehash their biscuits! The bargaining team have our full a form to update those details or get on thinking when it comes to bringing about confidence and support. the Union website and do it yourself! Your real (and effective) change within the rail Until next time, dear readers, remember MECA is to be renegotiated and voted on. company. Would it be asking too much – we are stronger together. You must be in to win! for those in charge to consult with those a

WELLINGTON PORT BRANCH Much has already been reported on this dispute by the media and other sources. At ITH the political climate over the strengthened our resolve and commitment the time of writing, MUNZ and the POAL past few months providing trying to do battle with these ‘rogues’. are currently in facilitated bargaining. It Wtimes for unions with increasing is hoped that the outcome is favourable pressure from anti-union employers, it has POAL dispute Continued on the next page Sickness, accident & death The New Zealand Locomotive Engineers’ Sickness, Accident and Death Benefit Fund

In the last 10 years 230 locomotive engineers had to retire due to medical reasons. They received a total payout of $4,737,097 from the above Fund. LEs who didn’t belong to the Fund and who were forced to retire did not receive anything. You could be next to miss out! For as little as $403 a year your future – or those of your next of kin – could be better assured.

Contact: Julia Harrison, PO Box 813, Wellington Telephone: (04) 499-2066 Attention LEs Fax: (04) 471-0896 Join this Fund now for Email: [email protected]

The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The your own peace of mind Around the Branches 29

for the union as I am sure other port com- panies around the country are watching WELLINGTON PORT BRANCH [cont] with a vested interest. This has been a the C3 siding and the slip road has been turn goes towards completing a National well-orchestrated attack on working con- closed to all port traffic except the logging Certificate in Stevedoring level 3. Congratu- ditions together with the casualisation of trucks and loaders. lations Toa! permanent workers’ jobs. We cannot ignore this nor let them get away with it. A ground- Port CMP Rangitikei swell of national and international support After experiencing an increase in TEU The branch sponsored two families from for our Auckland brothers culminated in a the past year, forecasts are looking a wee the recent dispute at CMP Rangitikei. Many strong protest rally on March 10. Wellington bit bleak for the upcoming year. At a recent thanks go to members who supported these port delegate Pat Pikari and casual cargo monthly barbecue put on by the Port com- families, the koha was greatly received. handler Bennett Field attended to support pany, CEO Blair O’Keefe stated that we are the Wellington MUNZ supporters and to on budget for this year but only by way of Talley’s Affco fly the RMTU flag. the Auckland dispute bolstering our box The Meat Workers Union and its mem- numbers from the ships diverted to Wel- bers are under attack from one of the richest C3 lington. New business is on the horizon and families in NZ – the Talleys. Hundreds of We welcome aboard the Wellington Port it is hoped that we will benefit from this. working class freezing workers have been log marshallers, C3, to the RMTU. Currently locked out in a Dickensian approach to RMTU organiser Todd Valster is trying to Training starve them into submission. This branch nail down a collective for the lads at C3. Casual cargo handler Toa Tareha has condemns these outlandish attacks. Again, Hopefully all will progress well. Of note, just completed straddle training on our this seems to be another orchestrated attack C3 have just started receiving logs via rail. Peiner and Noell straddles. All our drivers on workers’ rights and conditions and shall New safety barriers have been installed on are trained to NZQA standards and this in not – and will not – be tolerated.

nion members at Lyttelton Port LYTTELTON PORT BRANCH continue to work around a port cramped Portacoms because their lovely May 1 was celebrated at the newly Ubeing put back together piece by recently-renovated building, albeit still built Valley Inn in Heathcote Valley just piece. Despite the rocking and rolling (we standing, hasn’t made it through the quakes on the town side of the Lyttelton Tunnel stopped counting months ago) LPC’s half in good nick. It’s great news that these guys and a small crowd attended the drinks and yearly report states: will finally be getting a fuller complement nibbles. The old Valley Inn was lost in the ‘The Group has continued its strong of staff and can carry on with the work of February quake and it is lovely to see the performance and has delivered a 55.5% putting the Port back together. new one and how well it is being patronised increase in its earthquake adjusted trading On a less happy note, security staff are by Cantabrians. result for the six months to 31 December faced with yet another change proposal The RMTU completed our host duties to 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. from the Company. Security went through a the Unions Canterbury meeting on May 11. This was achieved in spite of earthquake difficult restructure two years ago and to be The Lyttelton Branch provide a light supper damage continuing to restrict operational faced with another one is nothing short of once a year at these monthly meetings, now flexibility.’ galling. At a meeting recently they decided held in the EPMU offices as the CTU build- This is code for ‘it’s bloody hard to the proposal was not workable and are now ing is no more. Unions Canterbury meetings get around the Port because it’s a mess, writing their own version to send back. are for affiliated unions to meet and discuss wear your seatbelt, and watch out for Representatives from the RMTU at- relevant union and political issues, locally, the never ending stream of trucks taking tended the Workers' Memorial Day service nationally and globally. All RMTU members Christchurch’s demolition remains to the held at the Science Alive Reserve behind are welcome. Unions Canterbury extend reclamation. the old Railway Station on Moorehouse the invitation to the Labour and Green The report continues: ‘The ongoing

Ave. The demolition diggers are working MPs to attend every second meeting and The Transport Worker June 2012 delivery of excellent customer service their way through the brick of the railway value direct contact with local MPs – many despite these challenges over the past 18 station although it is not apparent yet how of whom we have longstanding working months has strengthened relationships and much will come down. Fortunately the relationships with us. is supporting the growth of our customer’s Science Alive Reserve, the site of the old That’s about us. To our comrades revenues.’ shunting yards, remains in good nick with around the country, kia kaha. It’s not that LPC will employ five more skilled gen- the cabbage trees planted each year on April long till we have another general election eral hands in the civil maintenance area – 28 growing tall. It’s a sign of how long we and can get rid of this utterly odious Tory some positive news. The Civil Maintenance have been commemorating this day on this government. Make sure your family and staff have been working with reduced site when the first trees planted are now friends are on the roll and get out to vote numbers for some time out of a couple of heading to two metres. when the time comes! 30 Around the Branches

WEST COAST RAIL BRANCH T’S been busy times here with lots of work left to do. There was good programme of thinking. KiwiRail are pushing safety and changes, losing good experienced track recently on TV3 which showed bits of the health. It’s actually up to us to protect that. Iguys to loco,lots of new employees and enquiry from the Strongman Mine and how It’s the old story, health and safety at any not a lot of experience. after all these years wives, husbands, sons cost – BUT, really, no cost. What’s your life New members for the RMTU, which and daughters are still affected. Some of worth? Stop and think. Yeah, sure you can. raises a very important issue as the new those old miners were told things would guys, in a lot of cases haven’t had it so good be shut down if they told the truth. Good place for a they can not see the sense in being in a un- vacation ion, do not realise the struggle it has taken What's life worth? Well sad to say the good weather has to get this far. They only see it being eroded Well, my brothers and sisters, sad to say, passed us by. It now looks like the wet by the smiling assassin and his team. So even after all those sad happenings, this is season is upon us so take care and for all those of you who voted National – shame actually happening in our workplace today. you hopefuls, the West Coast had the best on you. I do hope you are at the forefront It seems no matter how bad the tragedy, summer and fishing throughout New Zea- of all battles to come. people just want the money over all else. land – something to think about for those It’s sad that the current review of the Otira next holidays. Ongoing ramifications Tunnel comes to mind when hearing peo- Hopefully NZ will wake up and demand Very sad with the ongoing Pike River in- ple state that they would not say anything as this government steps down. Scary stuff. vestigations. It seems that though the court they may loose their jobs when the tunnel Well take care out there. of enquiry is finished there is still a lot of gets closed. I find it hard to fathom this sort

TIMARU PORT BRANCH our profile and building a group identity among our membership. HINGS are ticking along at Prime posed a few challenges although we’ve Mike Nijssen and Naylor Young at- Port. The membership is growing worked through these with management. tended the Ports Forum and their input was Tand we’re sticking to holding regular very well received from delegates with years meetings and ensuring we do all the basic Beanies wanted of experience. We’re getting the basics right One item of RMTU clothing that mem- organising that’s so important. here in Timaru. We know there is plenty bers have requested are beanies and we’re We’ve been watching developments at more we could do, for example next year working with National Office at getting Ports of Auckland and we sent a message of we could look at doing something to mark some of these for winter. We appreciate the solidarity to our brothers and sisters there. Workers’ Memorial Day, but we also know value of RMTU branded gear in maintaining The change in our regular ship day has we have to learn to walk before we run.

been fortunate in attracting Brian Byas PORT OTAGO BRANCH from a similar position at Port Lyttelton. Export season conducted and interesting. With the subject Brian is a very keen RMTU man and we Although the traditional ‘export season’ is centering on negotiations, the information look forward to him playing a role within currently in place it doesn’t really feel like provided will prove extremely useful dur- our local branch. it. One of the most obvious areas where ing our forthcoming contract negotiations volume has been slow is the reefer cargo. starting very soon. Cruise ships April 19 saw the final cruise ship for the Shipping Security season depart. The new season will kick off On all services we are seeing a lot more ves- During March we were visited by repre- again on October 14 with the arrival of the sel changing than in the past. The issues on sentatives from the American Coast Guard Sea Princess. Currently we have 86 cruise the Auckland waterfront has had minimal and Maritime New Zealand who were con- vessels booked for the 2012 - 2013 season. impact on our operation, though vessels ducting security inspections and discussing running late caused by congestion in north- security in general. The object being to Productivity ern ports has been the major disruption. ensure we are complying with both the The Ministry of Transport has recently Maritime Safety Act and the International released statistics on container vessel RMTU training Shipping and Port Security Code. productivity for the main NZ ports. On a Seven members of our branch executive net productivity measure, Port Otago has attended a training session over two days Harbour control moved from 6th to 3rd rated over the 2011 in April. The training was conducted by Due to a retirement, a position was opened year.

The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The John Kerr and was very well organised, at our harbour control centre. We have Around the Branches 31

S you will be aware, KiwiRail has decided to sell the workshop as HILLSIDE BRANCH Athere is no future work for us. This by the cost of supporting the KiwiRail in- is because KiwiRail decided to sell our jobs frastructure. KiwiRail told us last year that off-shore, buying wagons and locomotives it was $10/hour; our independent expert that are proving to be troublesome at least. quoted $30/hour. The announcement has destroyed any Frustration is high: this process is be- remaining morale, and is leading directly yond our control, and, if we can believe Jim to staff leaving to gain some surety over Quinn, a sale will be a lengthy process. We their futures. have to keep doing our job to the best of KiwiRail, with the support of the Key our abilities, look out for each other, and Government, have systematically ground believe there’s light at the end of the tunnel. the spirit out of Hillsiders. They obviously On a different topic, there has been a lot don’t value our skills and abilities. They’ve of industrial action locally and around the sent our jobs off shore, made 44 of us country, and it is set to increase as workers redundant and now seek new owners who are squeezed by increasingly bold employ- might bring their own work, negotiate for ers. Unfortunately there are no shortage of KiwiRail work, and tender for wagons or disputes, and as union members we need other work in the future. We know this from to be out with our brothers and sisters on our meetings with the Dunedin City Coun- their picket lines, rallies, collections etc. We to access the Australian market through the cil’s Business Development Department are all in the same struggle for fair pay and back door with the advantages CER brings. and the Otago Chamber of Commerce. conditions. Remember, ‘an injury to one Cutting the tie with KiwiRail will benefit There is interest out there. Prospective is an injury to all’. Our notice boards will Hillside. No longer will we suffer from de- buyers want the skills staff bring. Here is have info of any upcoming action, so let’s sign changes costing us money and delaying an opportunity for an engineering company get out there and show our support! delivery, and we will no longer be saddled

S reported in The Activist, a suc- OTAGO RAIL BRANCH cessful training session was held in ‘They could build their wagons here’! Plus they were dispensed with. The outcome is ADunedin that has resulted in your the usual comment about local industry all too evident. delegates having a much better under- and relocations. Then the papers got onto We need focus. Sure we have to live standing of bargaining. Although having the downstream affect on companies which within our budget, but we need the right a heavy rail representation, our maritime supply raw product or services. Then we people in the right places with the right branch was still well represented. The were greeted with the so-called state of the knowledge, even if it’s leaner and meaner. training allowed for the free interchange nation address, which has already seen the We don’t need 40 managers to supervise of information, giving us all a better insight financial knife slice through senior manage- 10 employees. to each other’s employer and the problems ment and some rearrangement of responsi- Members have to watch for incursions we share. bilities amongst divisions. The rumour mill by contractors into their areas of expertise. Solidarity between groups was further is now working faster than the speed of a We already have seen major companies extended, when rail members joined their viral email. We are a transport company and undertaking track work. maritime counterparts on a picket line at realise that we must live within our income. Then there are those who have left and Port Otago, in support of the reduction of But the word ‘contractor’ is being bandied gone to the dark side; contracting. They staff. Albeit one member affected, but that about, and those of us who survived the last may be your mates, but they are taking, as member is an important part of the security lot of contracting out can only say we hope the branch secretary is fond of saying, ‘the and information area of the port. they learned from the last time. Yes, we are food from the mouths of our wives and April 28 was Workers' Memorial Day going full circle, but I fear we will lose too children’. They may wind up taking your and once again a gathering was held at the many who have a ‘railway’ focus. job. Don’t view them as a quick expedient The Transport Worker June 2012 Memorial site in Market Reserve. Whilst You only have to look at Pike River to get the job done faster. other unions were well represented it was where the Mines Dept. lost its focus and Just remember Workers' Memorial Day disappointing to see the turnout from the its inspection regimes. Some 30 years ago remembers those who have lost their lives RMTU considering the efforts put into this contributor was given a tour of the at work. If management carry on as they advertising. underground workings at Wairio where he are, it may become a celebration of the job Then there was the bombshell: HILL- was escorted by an underseer (an inspec- that was. Lastly, the Taeiri Gorge Railway SIDE. With management indicating their tor appointed by the Mines Dept much the was rewarded for their efforts in the travel intentions as to the future of the site, the ru- same as our track inspectors). But in the industry with an Excellence in Tourism mour mill kicked into high drive, with such name of progress and the loss of focus, award from the local councils. comments as the Chinese were interested. 32 Around the Branches

CANTERBURY RAIL BRANCH Earthquake effects rumble on E mourn the loss of one of our for Western Aust- relay room personnel, Phillip ralia. We do not have WCooke (pictured) – not a good enough drivers for start for the our own system. With year. Cookie the radio system fail- was well known ing big time on the to all for his West Coast this has love of trains Linwood loco turntable lifted about half a metre and had caused us to double-man and memora- to be removed. Now sitting on blocks. trains which is a detrimental bilia. In tragic and significant drain on circumstances the roster system which is he was a casu- already drum tight. Money alty of the earth- does fix some problems quake tragedy. but I do not think money is Under extreme going to fix this very quickly. personal and extending reasons Cookie Recruiting staff, training and took his own life which has rocked the transferring new people is KiwiRail fraternity and its extended family. a giant logistical problem. Cookie is now travelling on that train of We now have a ticking time life with all of our blessing. To the Cooke KiwiRail IE building where staff had to evacuate last month. bomb among us. There are family we extend our heartfelt sorrow and They don't know if it is to be strengthened or demolished. more coal mines opening sadness in your loss. up which want to freight This again shows the on-going effects their coal by rail. Meanwhile, we have of the Canterbury earthquakes and the rail staff wanting a change of lifestyle by pressures people down here are still under travelling to Ocker land where they will be trying to get their lives back to something treated with high wages and significantly like normal again. It is important to remind better working conditions. everyone to look out for their workmates Remits from our last branch meeting during these stressful times and be a little rolled in to the good attending crowd bit more patient when dealing with people recently. There has who are obviously under stress in their been some debate work and home lives. It’s not ‘soft’ to ask which had merit and for help if you need it. which did not. At the The Australians are headhunting our end of the day some loco drivers again. Advertising appeared of us took time and in the local rag recently wanting drivers effort to put on paper what we would desire The Linwood locomotive depot which is to be demolished at the next wage round. So because of its unsafe condition. if you did not put a remit in then you must be a very happy camper and the status quo will be to your liking. What will come out fairly quickly is how far we want to go to get what we want – and at what point the company will say ‘go fly your kite sonny’. The old Putty shops built 1928 where the passenger trains are supposed to be The tent at the refuelling depot to serviced. The roof is asbestos and needs service the loco fleet at the Middle- major bracing. Work is now underway. ton yard. The entrance faces the The Transport Worker June 2012 Worker Transport The south toward all the bad weather.