Issue 34 • Winter 2011 Magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand
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The Issue 34 • Winter 2011 MaritimesMagazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand ISSN 1176-3418 www.munz.org.nz The Maritimes | Winter 2011 | 1 1951 Maritime Union of New Zealand General Secretary Joe Fleetwood (left) and National President Garry Parsloe (right) present a certificate of appreciation to Australian miners to CFMEU Mining and Energy Division National Vice President Ian Murray at the 1951 60th anniversary commemorations, 18 May 2011 1951 lockout remembered Maritime unionists gathered in Wellington Both of these guests received special Former union officials represented in May to remember the 1951 waterfront certificates and the personal thanks of included Dave Morgan, Dave Graham, lockout. MUNZ officials for the role played by their Jimmy Woods and Gerard Hill, with an An early evening function on Wednesday unions in the 1951 dispute, supporting apology received from Trevor Hanson 18 May to commemorate the 60th New Zealand workers. and former editor of the Transport Worker anniversary of the struggle was hosted by A special DVD message from ITF President Dick Scott. the Maritime Union. and MUA General Secretary Paddy Historians David Grant and Grace Millar The location was the former board room Crumlin was played on the big screen. were also present, along with the National of the Wellington Harbour Board, which The ILWU were also invited but unable to Executive of the Maritime Union of New is now part of the Wellington Museum attend and also sent a video message of Zealand and rank and file observers who of City and Sea, formerly the Wellington support. were in Wellington attending the national Maritime Museum. Certificates were also presented to New executive meeting. Special guests were veteran 1951 Zealand unions with a connection to the The event was filmed by Rod Prosser and watersiders Mr Charles Finall (aged 89) 1951 dispute including EPMU (miners) Ian Anderson of Community Media, and and his wife Doreen, and Mr Russell represented by Paul Tolich, AWUNZ DVD copies and a YouTube video will be French (aged 84), and his wife Thelma. (laborers) represented by Ray Bianchi, available soon. Maritime Union of New Zealand General RMTU (rail workers) represented by Secretary Joe Fleetwood says one of the Aubrey Wilkinson, NDU (drivers) motives for holding the event was to represented by Sam Huggard, and the acknowledge the support of many of the Meatworkers Union represented by Dave Unions, especially international unions. Eastlake. Two Australian guests who attended Other guests included Labour Party from the international movement were spokesperson Darien Fenton MP, CTU Assistant National Secretary of the President Helen Kelly and CTU Secretary Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Ian Peter Conway, NZEI Secretary Paul Bray and National Vice President of the Goulter, union lawyer Peter Cranney and CFMEU Mining Division Ian Murray. the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba Jose Luis Robaina Garcia. 2 | The Maritimes | Winter 2011 www.munz.org.nz EDITORIAL A knock at the door Edition 34, Winter 2011 The editorial is always the last thing that I work on for each issue of the Maritimes. Contents It’s sometimes hard to think of something original to write after 1951 remembered 2 putting all the news and views of other people into the magazine. Editorial 3 National executive report page 5 Tonight though, the problem was solved. In the depths of a General Secretary’s Report 4 southern winter, after 6pm is pitch black outside, a freezing misty National executive report 5 rain is drifting over the city, and there is a forecast for snow. News 8 Families with children are putting them down for the night or ITF 10 Book reviews 15 having dinner. Election statement 16 Then there is the knocking on the door. Who could it be? Port roundups 19 A forlorn young woman in an electricity company jacket stands Retirement savings 27 there and reels off a pitch to get my business. Obituaries 28 I politely decline and she trudges off with a faded automatic smile Letters 31 into the cold darkness. Branch contacts 31 I think to myself that she is likely a casual worker or on commission, probably being paid a pittance. One of the many ‘The Maritimes’ is published quarterly by ITF Week of Action 2011 page 14 the Maritime Union of New Zealand. young people who are grafting for corporates on shabby wages. That’s the thing which it comes down to. ISSN 1176-3418 The corporate managers with their bonuses and golden parachutes, and the big shareholders, won’t be door knocking in National Office: the mid winter night, and nor will their families. PO Box 27004 That is left for the workers – the people who create the wealth, Wellington and who are disadvantaged and used by the system to provide New Zealand riches for a few. Telephone: 04 3850 792 Fax: 04 3848 766 Our industry, the maritime industry, is a demanding industry and all workers in it deserve secure, safe and well paid jobs. Email: [email protected] Election priorities page 16 Web: www.munz.org.nz So do all workers. But so many no longer even enjoy these basic necessities Editor: New Zealand in 2011 is a strange and somewhat corny place. Our Victor Billot priorities are back to front and our communities under siege from Mobile: 021 482219 a pernicious culture of greed and individualism. Fax: 09 9251125 Contact the There is something rotten when the Prime Minister can jet back Email: [email protected] Mail: PO Box 339, Dunedin Maritime Union into the country and blandly announce that the inferior New New Zealand Zealand safety regulations that failed to protect the Pike River National Office miners are a generation behind standards in the Australian Editorial Board: Telephone: 04 3850 792 mining industry. Joe Fleetwood, Garry Parsloe and Ray Fife Fax: 04 3848 766 There is something rotten when tens of thousands of people are Address: PO Box 27004, Wellington thrown into unemployment, and a Government of millionaires Office administrator: Ramesh Pathmanathan Deadline for all Port reports, submissions, tries to portray the jobless as workshy and irresponsible. photos and letters: Email: [email protected] There is something rotten, and simply wrong, when a wealthy 1 September 2011 for next edition General Secretary: Joe Fleetwood elite can award themselves tax cuts while young families Cover photo: Direct dial: 04 8017614 are saddled with unaffordable housing, student debt, and Photo by MUNZ member Mike Will. Mobile: 021 364649 skyrocketing food prices including hikes in GST. The MV Aquila Explorer is a old supply Email: [email protected] These are industrial issues, political issues, social issues and at the vessel converted to a seismic survey ship end analysis, personal issues, because they affect us all sooner or National President: Garry Parsloe in 2007, recently carrying out surveys off later. Direct dial: 09 3034652 the east coast of the South Island and The Maritime Union must continue to advocate for workers in an Taranaki. Mobile: 021 326261 Email: [email protected] uncompromising and direct manner. For more on-line photos, see With our unity comes strength – the power of the Union. www.flickr.com/maritimeunion Assistant General Secretary: Ray Fife Direct dial: 03 2128189 In this editon of the Maritimes magazine Thanks to all our photographers including Mobile: 0274 475317 Enclosed with this magazine are two inserts. Mike Will, Alf Boyle, Peter Torrance, Luke Email: [email protected] Appleby, and others. One is a leaflet explaining the advantages of the MMP voting ITF Inspector: Grahame MacLaren system. The General Election this November will feature a Authorized by Joe Fleetwood, 220 Willis Direct dial: 04 8017613 referendum on whether to keep MMP as our voting system. Street, Wellington Mobile: 021 2921782 The Maritime Union and the CTU support MMP. Email: [email protected] Read this leaflet for some of the reasons. We also enclose a postcard to send freepost to Prime Minister Communications Officer: Victor Billot Mobile: 021 482219 John Key asking him to stop free trade deals like the TPPA (Trans Fax: 09 9251125 Pacific Partnership Agreement) which threaten New Zealand’s Address: PO Box 339, Dunedin independence and workers rights. Email: [email protected] For more information, see www.nznotforsale.org www.munz.org.nz The Maritimes | Winter 2011 | 3 GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT Hard issues facing workers in 2011 1951 Offshore industry As part of our commemorations of the As the offshore industry continues to 1951 waterfront lockout, the Maritime grow, the Maritime Union is pushing for Union held a special function during the more inspectors and keeping an eye on May national executive meeting. conditions and standards in this industry. On the evening of Wednesday 18 May, There is great potential for New Zealand union representatives plus some special here, but only if the industry is run to the guests gathered at the Wellington Museum highest standards and the returns come of City and Sea. to all New Zealand workers rather than Special presentations were made to unions given away by a few multinationals. that had assisted maritime workers in 1951, including two international guests, Tauranga Ian Bray of the MUA and Ian Murray of We note the election of a new secretary the CFMEU Mining and Energy Division. at Tauranga Mount Maunganui branch. We were also very lucky to have two 51’ We look forward to working with Selwyn veterans, Russell French and Charles Russell in this important port and branch. Finall, in attendance with their wives. A full report and photos are later in this National and international unity edition of the Maritimes. The Maritime Union continues to play its Budget part in the wider union movement.