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October 9, 2006

Maritime Union says minimum wage free trade deal will meet industrial resistance

Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Tre­vor Han­son says the Uni­on will res­ist any attempt to under­mine wages and con­di­tions through short term cas­u­al work­ers impor­ted under free trade deals.

He says that com­ments by Trade Min­is­ter Phil Goff on the China free trade deal are dis­turb­ing for work­ers and not in line with the Labour Gov­ern­ment’s com­mit­ment to a high skill, high wage eco­nomy.

There will be no incent­ive for train­ing or pay­ing for skills if busi­nesses are able to step out­side the nation­al labour mar­ket and pull in trained staff on the min­im­um wage, says Mr Han­son.

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9 October 2006 No Comments

Maritime Union congratulates Government action on overseas fishing crews

The Mari­time Uni­on says the new rules to improve wages and con­di­tions for over­seas fish­ing crews announced today are good news for work­ers.

Mari­time Uni­on Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Tre­vor Han­son says the announce­ment means the industry will be brought into line with the rest of New Zea­l­and busi­ness.

“Des­pite a co-ordin­ated cam­paign by spe­cial interests in the industry, the Gov­ern­ment has made the right decision and the prin­cipled decision.”

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9 October 2006 No Comments