Time to expose conditions of overseas crews on New Zealand coast
The Maritime Union says the weekend incident when a group of Chinese fishermen jumped overboard in Wellington Harbour should be setting alarm bells ringing.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the incident is just one of a continuous series of ship jumping and problems experienced by crew onboard foreign and joint venture fishing boats.
“The Maritime Union has been continually pointing out that there is something badly wrong as overseas crews are being subjected to abuse and exploitation while they are in New Zealand waters, and even New Zealand ports.”
Maritime Union backs ‘Aratere’ ferry investigation
The Maritime Union says it supports the Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) decision not to allow the interisland ferry ‘Aratere’ to sail until it was satisfied the ferry was safe.
The ‘Aratere’ suffered steering problems yesterday evening in Wellington harbour.
Lithuanian workers issue has opened container of worms
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says there are two major issues at stake – firstly the status of imported workers doing jobs on the waterfront, but living aboard ships, and a second issue of safety and working conditions.
He says it appears that employers are now trying to get around immigration regulations by accommodating workers on board overseas ships, then getting them down the gangplank to work within New Zealand each day.
Mr Hanson says the workers were moved from their current accommodation in converted containers on the waterfront because the Lyttelton Port Company did not believe they were situated safely.
Overseas workers living in converted containers on Lyttelton waterfront
The Maritime Union is concerned that a group of overseas workers are living on the Lyttelton waterfront in converted containers. Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says inquiries by union officials into the living conditions of five Lithuanian riggers in Lyttelton had uncovered a disturbing situation. The workers were flown in from Germany to work […]
Labour shortage claim has been blown out of water
The Maritime Union says that its fears about short-term casual labour being introduced into New Zealand have been confirmed.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the introduction of more cheap foreign labour into the New Zealand fishing industry is the death knell for New Zealand fishing employment.
Maritime Union backs calls for Methyl Bromide inquiry
The Maritime Union is supporting calls for an inquiry into the toxic gas Methyl Bromide, used as a timber fumigant in New Zealand ports.
A group of Nelson widows has called for the inquiry after six former port workers contracted the rare and fatal motor neurone disease, which has already led to the deaths of five.