Maritime Union statement on Gaza and Port protests

The Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and says it sup­ports the right of the com­munity to take part in peace­ful protests at ports and else­where.

Com­munity protests are planned against Israeli-con­nec­ted con­tain­er ships at the Port of Auck­land as inter­na­tion­al pres­sure mounts for a cease­fire in the Gaza con­flict. 

The Cont­ship Dax oper­ated by ZIM Integ­rated Ship­ping has already been the focus of protest action in Aus­trali­an ports last week and the ship will be call­ing in New Zea­l­and ports in the next week, includ­ing Taur­anga, Auck­land and Lyt­telton.

Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and Nation­al Sec­ret­ary Craig Har­ris­on says the Uni­on is back­ing inter­na­tion­al calls for a cease­fire in the Israel–Gaza con­flict.

He says the Uni­on endorses calls by Labour Party lead­er Chris Hip­kins, the New Zea­l­and Coun­cil of Trade Uni­ons, and the Inter­na­tion­al Trans­port Work­ers Fed­er­a­tion sup­port­ing a cease­fire and a polit­ic­al solu­tion to the con­flict.  

“The Mari­time Uni­on con­demns any attacks on civil­ians, and we recog­nize the long stand­ing polit­ic­al issues includ­ing the oppres­sion of the Palestini­an people that have con­trib­uted to the cur­rent cata­strophe.”

Mr Har­ris­on says protests at ports are occur­ring through­out the world and are likely to become more com­mon as con­cern mounts at the rising death toll of civil­ians in Gaza.

He says the Mari­time Uni­on strongly opposes any form of reli­gious or eth­nic dis­crim­in­a­tion includ­ing anti-semit­ism or anti–Muslim pre­ju­dice.

“As a Uni­on we are united as work­ers and sup­port all efforts towards inter­na­tion­al solid­ar­ity, justice and peace.”