MaritimesThe Issue 10 • July 2005 Magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand ISSN 1176-3418 Solidarity on the waterfront Election 2005 Fishing Industry Crisis Toll Conference Full Steam Ahead with UNION POWER Kent dispute • Bottom trawling • Port Roundups • Union Training 1 Industry problems have clear solutions by Trevor Hanson This problem has been widely This would serve many purposes, General Secretary discussed in the industry and general especially taking into account the media, with the general consensus we rationalization of ports brought about I told a recent meeting of the Maritime are reaping the result of decades of by shippers increasing their vessel size Safety Authority the voluntary regula- short-sighted, greed driven, right wing and decreasing ports of call. tion of stress and fatigue problems by economic policies. It would provide a common set of employers are not enough to protect Vital areas such as training were left qualifications amongst all registered our members. to the "free market” with the result that employees. Due to the extreme competition nothing happened. This would allow workers to enter within the maritime industry, standards We now have a labour shortage, and the industry with a career in mind, in will continue to sink to the lowest massive pressure to import labour while the knowledge that their qualifications common denominator as the most tens of thousands of New Zealanders would allow them to change ports if aggressive operators attempt to maxi- remain unemployed or trapped in low- work in their current port declined. mize their profit. skill work. The other area of benefit would be Most operators agree to some level of The Maritime Union says urgent excellent records for security, with stress and fatigue prevention, but there attention must be focussed on the lack of increasingly stringent measures taken by is continual pressure to "get the job younger trained Seafarers coming our major trading partners. done" with the inevitable conclusion of a through. This would not prevent employers preventable workplace accident taking We are aware that both the employ- from recruiting new entrants, but it place. ers and the Government are beginning would ensure workers are trained to The situation is one where lip service to examine the current situation, but industry standard, making them is given to the rules and regulations, only because of the dire situation we available to the industry as a whole. then everyone goes ahead and does find ourselves in. This would again reinforce a long what they want. The Maritime Union position is that term, strategic approach to the industry A light handed enforcement of health the process of training Seafarers needs to giving stability to both employers and and safety standards that relies on be hastened. workers, that is fair to all. voluntary compliance has failed in our We do have expectations of New industry. Zealand Seafarers having the right to be Where to from here? The inherent fear of loss of contracts employed in the immediate future The Maritime Union has continually ensures the rules are set aside, and particularly on coastal hubbing ship- raised these issues since the era of Port health and safety will always come ping. Reform in 1989. second to the pressures of a competitive I predict that within the next decade, Many of the injuries and fatal environment. a major change in transportation and accidents that are still occurring in the These problems increase as the logistics will take place as oil reserves industry are the direct result of the demands of "just in time" logistics, 24/7 are outpaced by demand and environ- fragmented and deregulated develop- labour requirements with shift work and mental problems increase. ment of the industry since that time. irregular work patterns have a heavy The cost effectiveness and environ- The majority of current problems are impact on and off the job for workers. mental advantages of shipping will the responsibility of overseas owned The answer is to press for regulations probably lead to a resurgence of the shipping companies, who make their with more teeth, that are enforced industry. demands with absolute assurance that strongly, in order to set a new tone in the Further developments such as the the New Zealand employers will fulfill industry. recently released design of a high-tech their requests no matter what the cost. But the other vital part of keeping wind/solar powered ship by Sweden The burden falls directly on our control of health and safety on the job is point the way to the future. members – particularly in the area of through an informed and active mem- National register casualization and insecure employment, bership and delegates. stress and fatigue, and the uncounted I realize there are numerous pres- The Maritime Union has continued social consequences, the cost of which sures to cut corners, but once we go to urge the establishment of an indepen- falls on the wider society in which we all down the path of caving in to every dent register of all Seafarers and Water- live. demand by employers and letting front workers. The 2005 election will give members ourselves become isolated, then sooner This should be nationally based and a chance to ensure that we make or later someone will pay with an injury funded by employers. progress towards a stable and secure – or worse. The register should contain all society, rather than succumb to the dog- Training current Seafarers and Waterfront eat-dog world of short-sighted greed workers’ details including qualifications that was a hallmark of the 1990s. In both Sea and Waterfront areas and training. A guide to the election for members there are insufficient trained employees, The administrators should have a set is included in this edition of the in particular gear and machinery of rules in respect to health and safety, in Maritimes. operators, to meet the requirements of particular hours of work. our industry. 2 ‘The Maritimes’ Time to focus Edition 10, July 2005 Contents our minds Trevor Hanson Report ............... 2 Phil Adams Report ................... 3 Kent Dispute .......................... 4 by Phil Adams Education, health, housing, unem- Ferry Incidents ....................... 5 National President ployment and sickness benefits will all Toll Conference ...................... 6 be chopped. These things should be provided for Fishing Industry Crisis ............... 7 Election Year by the community for the community. Bottom trawling ..................... 8 The big upcoming issue that should Large companies with big profits Vice President’s Report ... .... ..... 9 focus all of our minds is the 2005 and those on high incomes get the ITF News .............................. 10 election. benefit from tax cuts, not the workers. Delegate Training .................... 14 It is vital that all members take note Working people should stick to- that we need to return a centre left gether and protect our collective Election Special ...................... 16 Government. interests. Seafarers’ Conference .............. 19 Under our MMP voting system the That is the Maritime Union way of Port Roundup ......................... 20 doing things. next Labour-led Government will also Tridale Dispute ....................... 21 need support from minor parties to United we stand, divided we fall, is form an effective Government. the message we should remember in Seafarers’ Strategy Conference ... 23 We would like to see left-wing pro- 2005. Letters................................. 30 worker parties in there. Health and Safety on the Job Seafarers’ Retirement Fund ........ 31 The Maritime Union does not tell its The Back Page ........................ 32 members who to vote for but we One issue that needs to be looked at certainly recommend a vote for Labour is the need for health and safety on the or another left party such as the Greens job. ‘The Maritimes’ is the official national or Alliance. We have recently seen fatalities and magazine of the Maritime Union of New This edition of the Maritimes has accidents in the industry and need to Zealand, published quarterly. information on the maritime policies of ensure we remain aware and vigilant on the political parties for you to read. the job to make sure we look after ISSN 1176-3418 I do not need to stress enough that if ourselves and our workmates. a National Government gets back in The Maritime Union is continuing to National Office: there will be another round of direct build our health and safety and training PO Box 27004 attacks on workers and maritime systems to make sure we are up to Wellington workers will be right in the firing line. speed. New Zealand This is because we stand up for Make sure you make the most of any Telephone 04 3850 792 ourselves and have fought back against opportunities to attend union training Fax 04 3848 766 casualization and other anti-worker or become a delegate. Email: [email protected] tactics. The Union is also continuing to work Web: www.munz.org.nz Across the Tasman, the Australians for better laws and regulations to re-elected the Howard Government protect workers. Edited and designed by Victor Billot Email: [email protected] which has already moved to attack Unfortunately in today’s greed- maritime workers. driven industry if profits can be made Editorial Board: Do not think the same thing can not by cutting corners then workers suffer Trevor Hanson, Phil Adams and Joe Fleetwood happen here. the consequences. One thing that worries me is that Toxic chemicals such as methyl Thanks to the photographers including Terry every time elections come around bromide continue to cause concern to Ryan, John O’Neill, Garry Parsloe, Corrine Paraore, Mike Lysaght, and others. people hear this call for “tax cuts.” us, and recently we had a scare with This sounds great in theory. radioactive material in Port Chalmers. Cover photo – New Zealand and Australian But in practice what does it mean? We all need to take care while wharfies at ITF training, Newcastle, Australia, The “tax cuts” have to be paid for out of working dangerous cargoes and stay including Grant Williams (MUNZ Local 13 cutting the vital services that we take informed.