Maritime Union backs Progressive workers battle

The Maritime Union is supporting locked out members of the National Distribution Union at Progressive Enterprises sites in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch. Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the Union has committed itself to financial, practical and moral support for the workers and their pickets. He says the situation is a serious one because it showed how multinational corporates in New Zealand are determined to create a low-wage economy.

The Mari­time Uni­on is sup­port­ing locked out mem­bers of the Nation­al Dis­tri­bu­tion Uni­on at Pro­gress­ive Enter­prises sites in Auck­land, Palmer­ston North and Christ­ch­urch.

Mari­time Uni­on Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Tre­vor Han­son says the Uni­on has com­mit­ted itself to fin­an­cial, prac­tic­al and mor­al sup­port for the work­ers and their pick­ets.

He says the situ­ation is a ser­i­ous one because it showed how mul­tina­tion­al cor­por­ates in New Zea­l­and are determ­ined to cre­ate a low-wage eco­nomy.

“It’s just a game for the man­age­ment who get paid fat salar­ies — and can afford full page ads — but it is the low paid work­ers in this battle who are put­ting them­selves on the line to ensure a decent income for their fam­il­ies.”

Mr Han­son says low pay and cas­u­al­ized jobs are a ser­i­ous prob­lem in New Zea­l­and, with many fam­il­ies strug­gling to pay for rising hous­ing, trans­port and food costs.

“The Mari­time Uni­on offers its solid­ar­ity and sup­port to these work­ers.”

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The Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and was formed in 2002 when the New Zea­l­and Water­front Work­ers’ Uni­on and the New Zea­l­and Sea­farers’ Uni­on joined togeth­er. We rep­res­ent water­front work­ers, sea­farers and related work­ers in New Zea­l­and.

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