Workers under threat from slack regulation of industry standards

The Mari­time Uni­on is warn­ing that New Zea­l­and work­ers are under threat due to lack of reg­u­la­tion and enforce­ment of stand­ards in industry.

Mari­time Uni­on Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Joe Fleet­wood says a lax atti­tude and a view that work­ers are expend­able is present in industry and Gov­ern­ment.

“The Prime Min­is­ter espe­cially has worked hard to dis­con­nect him­self as being respons­ible for any­thing except appear­ing on the cov­er of magazines and radio chat shows.”

Mr Fleet­wood says the real­ity is that New Zeal­anders and over­seas work­ers were being harmed in the work­place due to slack reg­u­la­tion.

He says there are three clear examples that should be mak­ing people ask ques­tions.

“As the inquiry for the Pike River dis­aster goes on, we are see­ing a pic­ture of lack of reg­u­la­tion and lack of respons­ib­il­ity in key areas. Why are we not demand­ing account­ab­il­ity at the top level?”

“The Prime Min­is­ter has said the bod­ies of the work­ers would be recovered but this had not happened.”

“The Prime Min­is­ter has stated that New Zea­l­and min­ing reg­u­la­tions are inferi­or to Aus­tralia. What has he done about it, and what is he intend­ing to do about it?”

Mr Fleet­wood says the deaths of work­ers in the mari­time industry included two as yet unex­plained sink­ing of over­seas fish­ing ves­sels work­ing out of New Zea­l­and ports, the Oyang 70 and the No 1 Insung.

“Once again, the poor stand­ards that are per­mit­ted in this industry are likely to have been a con­trib­ut­ing factor.”

The recent ground­ing of the Rena should have been a fur­ther wake up call about the decline of stand­ards in the mari­time industry, but even this dra­mat­ic event had failed to cause last­ing con­cern.

“The European Uni­on is cur­rently decid­ing wheth­er it will even per­mit Filipino trained sea­farers in their waters. This is not even an issue in New Zea­l­and. Why not? Are we happy just to wait for the next incid­ent?”

He says Mari­time Uni­on mem­bers work in the off­shore oil and gas industry and would insist on high stand­ards, but there was no con­fid­ence in the Gov­ern­ment’s atti­tude.

Mr Fleet­wood says the real­ity is work­ers have to take the lead and make the work­place safe.

“In the cur­rent envir­on­ment, profit comes first for many employ­ers and that has a big impact. Unless we have strong uni­ons on the job to defend health and safety, and legis­la­tion that is backed with some teeth, then we will see more and more pre­vent­able deaths and injur­ies.”