Over 100 workers have gathered outside the gates of the Port of Napier today to protest the loss of secure jobs this morning from 6am.
Mediation between the Maritime Union and Port Company will take place this morning.
Moves by the Port of Napier to contract out stevedoring work threaten 25 permanent and 60 casual jobs, with workers to be thrown on the scrap heap just before Christmas.
65 maritime workers have arrived in Napier from other ports and ships to support their fellow workers, all members of the Maritime Union of New Zealand.
A further delegation of six Australian maritime workers have flown in from Australia in a solidarity action by the Maritime Union of Australia.
Local Labour list MP Russell Fairbrother has joined the workers at their protest in support of local jobs.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the actions of the Port of Napier management are aimed at creating an insecure and divided workforce, resulting in a plunge in safety, professional standards, wages and conditions.
“This dispute is a national and an international dispute, because what the Port Company is trying to do in Napier threatens maritime workers everywhere.”
The actions of the Maritime Union have the support of the other waterfront union, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, as well as the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.
Mr Hanson says the Port of Napier risks being identified as a “port of convenience” by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which could have major implications for its viability.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Liz Leader // Dec 16, 2007 at 4:20 am
My partner and I are proud to be part of this picket. It is OUR jobs and OUR co workers jobs and the fact that ISO is NOT a member of MUNZ. Pete and I would like to thank ALL those non Napier members who are supporting us, your presence and voices are not unheard comrades, and that is being proven by the noise the locals made when they passed our picket line, NAPIER PEOPLE ARE BEHIND US. You witnessed it… we all did. SOLIDARITY AND DISCIPLINE WILL PAVE THE WAY. God Bless you all.
2 stoney // Dec 18, 2007 at 10:20 am
I wont send a message to cowie ,as there is none to dumb as those who wont hear ..
but I would like to say ,,”look out the window arsehole ,,and who turned up to yr xmas party today ?”
3 Phil Adams // Dec 19, 2007 at 9:30 pm
As president of MUNZ it was indeed a proud moment to stand along side our brothers and sisters from Napier last weekend.The staunch nature of the picketers means we will win this battle and rid the port of not only an uniformed idiot like Cowie but rid the port of ISO as we did when they tried to start up in my port of Port Chalmers.Good luck Napier and remember all of our great union are behind you at this time
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