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Maritime workers support Prison Officers protest against privatization

The Mar­itime Union of New Zealand is sup­port­ing the Cor­rec­tions Asso­ci­a­tion in their protest today against prison pri­va­ti­za­tion at the open­ing of Par­lia­ment.
Mar­itime Union of New Zealand Gen­er­al Sec­re­tary Joe Fleet­wood says the safe­ty and secu­ri­ty of work­ers comes before cost cut­ting mea­sures, and the Gov­ern­ment has lost the plot in its pris­ons poli­cies.

Maritime Union wants answers to Government involvement in Methyl Bromide organization

The Mar­itime Union has attacked com­ments by the group Stake­hold­ers in Methyl Bro­mide Reduc­tion (STIMBR) which down­plays valid con­cerns about the use of the poi­son gas.

Mar­itime Union of New Zealand Gen­er­al Sec­re­tary Joe Fleet­wood has con­demned a state­ment from STIMBR (1 Feb­ru­ary 2010) enti­tled “Gas links with dis­ease unfound­ed” that asserts there is no proof that methyl bro­mide is con­nect­ed with motor neu­ron dis­ease.

New methyl bromide research a major positive step

The Mar­itime Union of New Zealand says that new research on methyl bro­mide gas at the Uni­ver­si­ty of Can­ter­bury is vital to ensur­ing work­ers and local res­i­dents are not at risk from the use of the tox­ic fumi­gant.

Mar­itime Union Gen­er­al Sec­re­tary Joe Fleet­wood says the ear­ly reports of a pos­si­ble link between methyl bro­mide and nerve dam­age, while not sur­pris­ing, should make it clear that use of methyl bro­mide must be imme­di­ate­ly stopped while fur­ther research is car­ried out.

Overseas trade endangered unless New Zealand has a maritime strategy

The Mar­itime Union of New Zealand says that New Zealand’s over­seas trade could be in jeop­ardy unless the Gov­ern­ment has a plan for ports and the mar­itime sec­tor.

Mar­itime Union Gen­er­al Sec­re­tary Joe Fleet­wood, respond­ing to com­ments from the Min­is­ter of Trans­port Hon. Stephen Joyce, says it is not good enough for the Gov­ern­ment to leave it to chance when 99% of New Zealand’s imports and exports are shipped.

He says that there is wide­spread con­cern in the indus­try that in future car­go could be hubbed through a large Aus­tralian port, with com­plex and neg­a­tive effects for New Zealand.

Lack of plan for maritime industry a serious problem

Mar­itime Union of New Zealand Gen­er­al Sec­re­tary Joe Fleet­wood says recent state­ments from Min­is­ter of Trans­port Stephen Joyce and retir­ing Paci­fi­ca Ship­ping Chief Exec­u­tive Rod Grout on New Zealand ports and ship­ping show the need for imme­di­ate action in the mar­itime indus­try.

Mr Fleet­wood says it is incor­rect for the Nation­al Gov­ern­ment to say they want mar­ket forces decide the future of the mar­itime indus­try, when mas­sive tax­pay­er invest­ment was direct­ed at roads and rail.

He says that a “hands off” approach to the mar­itime indus­try means major mar­ket play­ers would dom­i­nate the mar­ket and make deci­sions that could harm New Zealand’s trans­port infra­struc­ture.

We support West Australian offshore workers

The Mar­itime Union of New Zealand is sup­port­ing strike action by Mar­itime Union of Aus­tralia (MUA) mem­bers in the West Aus­tralian off­shore oil and gas indus­try.

Mar­itime Union of New Zealand Gen­er­al Sec­re­tary Joe Fleet­wood says many New Zealan­ders work in the Aus­tralian mar­itime indus­try.

He says that the Mar­itime Union of New Zealand works close­ly with the MUA and oth­er unions in inter­na­tion­al alliances such as the Trans Tas­man Oil and Gas Alliance.

Mr Fleet­wood says the Aus­tralian work­ers had the full sup­port of mar­itime work­ers around the world.

Union meets with Labour Party on Ports of Auckland

On Wednes­day 23 Decem­ber rep­re­sen­ta­tives from the Mar­itime Union of New Zealand, Auck­land Branch, Local 13 met with Labour MP’s Trevor Mal­lard, Phil Twyford and Darien Fen­ton regard­ing the future of key Auck­land assets under the pro­posed Super City leg­is­la­tion.

Maritime workers oppose Ports of Auckland privatization sneak plan

The Mar­itime Union of New Zealand says any attempt to pri­va­tize the Ports of Auck­land will be met with mas­sive oppo­si­tion.

The Gov­ern­ment wants to repeal a law requir­ing a ref­er­en­dum before shares are sold in the port as part of Super City leg­is­la­tion.

Mar­itime Union Auck­land Branch Local 13 Sec­re­tary Rus­sell Mayn says the work­force at the port is firm­ly opposed to any part or full pri­va­ti­za­tion of the port.