Maritime workers are celebrating tonight after a successful resolution of the Port of Napier dispute in mediation this afternoon.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the week long dispute had been about secure local jobs being preserved at the port.
“We wanted shipping companies to be able to use stevedores where secure local jobs could be achieved. Shipping companies wanted a solution, we supplied one, and the port is back in action as of now.”
Mr Hanson says officials went down to the picket line this afternoon to break the good news shortly before 3pm.
“We’ve had our members out on the port gates for nearly a week, and today there was a great sense of relief that these workers will have work tomorrow and into the future.”
Mr Hanson says the picket will be taken off the gates immediately, and workers will be working around the clock over the weekend to clear the backlog of work before Christmas.
“The port was effectively shut down during this dispute and now it will be back to business as usual.”
Mr Hanson says the dispute had been unnecessary, and had caused damage to the reputation of the port, but the Union would seek to ensure a successful year in 2008 as long as secure jobs were available to local people.
He says the defining moments of the dispute were the tenacity of the local workers who manned 24 hour pickets on the port gates, the support of other unions and the CTU, and the massive global support from the international working class including the Maritime Union of Australia and the International Transport Workers Federation.
For further information contact Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson on 021390585
or Maritime Union Communications Officer Victor Billot on 021482219 (photos available)
16 responses so far ↓
1 OJ // Dec 21, 2007 at 6:44 am
At long last common sense prevailed, you have been vindicated. Work hard… work long and look after your colleagues
2 Angela Marshall // Dec 21, 2007 at 9:07 am
Thanks OJ, it has been a long campaign, but the amazing long hours that everyone has put in has been the strengh of this fight, WELL DONE MEN< I AM TRULY PROUD
3 Michael Pye // Dec 21, 2007 at 9:37 am
Congratulations
4 DOGS // Dec 21, 2007 at 10:41 am
Well done,the workers united will never be defeated!Merry Christmas to all workers.
5 C.J.VANE/ / MUA BRISBANE // Dec 21, 2007 at 11:16 am
Congratulations to all , It was agreat effort by all. But still keep your eyes open as the company may still employee the SCABS, as we still must still work with them in Australia. Do not forget the 1998 April 7th LOCKOUT by PATRICKS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW.
6 C.J.VANE/ / MUA BRISBANE // Dec 21, 2007 at 11:16 am
Congratulations to all , It was agreat effort by all. But still keep your eyes open as the company may still employee the SCABS, as we still must still work with them in Australia. Do not forget the 1998 April 7th LOCKOUT by PATRICKS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR.
7 Martine Drapeau // Dec 21, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Je suis très contente que vous avez gagné votre bataille!! Vous pourrez ainsi sauvegarder vos emplois et ça, c’est très important pour les travailleurs et leurs familles. Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you and your families.
8 Mick Williams Geo Atlantic // Dec 21, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Conrgatulations to you all in this hard stuggle.
Workers of the world unite.
9 Tania Kahui ( Womens Executive) // Dec 21, 2007 at 7:43 pm
It was a hard and long campaign, it was a struggle ,but the end result was well worth it. Big ups to everyone that had something to with this fight. Have a good Christmast and a happy New Year. BEEP BEEP TOOT TOOT
10 Liz Leader // Dec 21, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Many Many Thanks to everyone all over the world who supported. We knew you were behind us every step of the way. Huge Kudos to the WOMEN who stood by their husband’s sides, the children that stood and held placards up, the people who dropped off Koha, and my fellow workers for keeping me laughing. Well done to all of us. THE WORKERS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED. To Victor Billot, Trevor Hanson, Joe from Wellington, Dean and the boys from Wellington, and all those I can’t remember your names, BEEP BEEP TOOT TOOT, QUACK QUACK, HONK HONK, and HUGE HUGSSSSSSSS
11 shaun // Dec 21, 2007 at 11:00 pm
good result when we stick together
great things happen
mua hear to stay
munz hear to stay
12 B // Dec 22, 2007 at 8:35 am
hooooraaaah!!!!!!!!!!!! way to go!!!!!solidarity for USA
13 Barry Howe // Dec 22, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Congratulations,
I salute your Victory over the forces of global Capitalism, solidarity is the only way forward over the forces of reaction & scabbery. All power to you in the future.
Barry Howe.
Levin.
14 shaun // Dec 23, 2007 at 1:24 pm
bloody fantasic result keep it in your hearts and this is a just victory for the workers the port of naiper will never be the same
MUNZ here to stay
MUA here to stay
cheers big bird
15 Little Joe MUA // Dec 24, 2007 at 8:12 am
Congratulations to all who stood the line, gave support andnever lost the Faith.As an Aussie who came to support all the MUNZ members whos lively hood was challenged by that maggot Cowie and his scabs, I salute youand I stand proud to say I was part of it, thank you all, god bell and a merry xmas
16 stoney // Jan 3, 2008 at 12:00 am
many thanks to you all ,for your support ,,kookaburros your contributions were great …martine,merci pour votre message..meilleux veux pour 2008..
best wishes to you all from h.bay stevedoring
Leave a Comment