October 23, 2008

The Mari­time Uni­on says that action must be taken to pro­tect both loc­al jobs and over­seas work­ers in New Zea­l­and indus­tries after recent com­ments from Oppos­i­tion immig­ra­tion spokes­per­son Lock­wood Smith about over­seas work­ers caused an uproar.

Mari­time Uni­on Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Tre­vor Han­son says a pro­gress­ive down­ward pres­sure on wages, con­di­tions and loc­al jobs is spread­ing through­out large areas of the New Zea­l­and eco­nomy, includ­ing the hor­ti­cul­ture and vit­i­cul­ture sec­tor.

“We are very aware of this prob­lem in the fish­ing industry and with flag of con­veni­ence ship­ping, and also with attempts to dis­place water­front labour.”