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.”

Mr Han­son says the move will lead to improve­ments in con­di­tions for over­seas crew, mean­ing less cas­es of abuse and shipjump­ing.

“Local work­ers will once again be able to afford to seek work in the fish­ing indus­try.”

Mr Han­son says there is a lot of work that needs to be done but the ground­work is in place.

“The Mar­itime Union believes that this move is a pos­i­tive one for the future of the New Zealand fish­ing indus­try and those who work in it.”