For further information contact Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson on 021390585

or Maritime Union Communications Officer Victor Billot on 021482219 (photos available)

A hardship fund is being set up to look after the workers, many of whom are casual workers, as they face a tough Christmas.

A round the clock picket has been held since 6am Saturday and will continue until resolution of the dispute.

Rain has not dampened the spirit of the workers who are receiving strong support from local people.

Groups of workers have been arriving from around North Island ports today to relieve the picket line.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says some local workers have spent nearly every waking hour on the picket line, and have been told by the Union to go home and get some rest.

“The level of commitment here is incredible.”

Mr Hanson says the workers have the full support of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) that represents millions of workers around the world.

“The ITF have identified the Port of Napier as a port that is attacking secure jobs, and this is already having a major effect on shipping in the port.”

Mediation takes place today in Napier between the Union and management.

“The loyal, long serving dock workers on the Port of Napier deserve better,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.

“The company has given no guarantee that the current workers will be employed by the new contractor, and if they are it is almost certain their wages and conditions will be reduced,” Helen Kelly said.

“These workers are not disposable units that can be tossed about in the pursuit of a quick buck, they are members of families, and of the Napier community.”

“The Council of Trade Unions National Affiliates Council expressed its extreme concern over the recent action at its meeting last month. Affiliates representing the over 300,000 members of the CTU pledged their ongoing support.”

“We call on the owners of the Port to consider the impact on the local workforce and community that would result out of this decision, and reconsider their decision,” Helen Kelly said.

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.

The Employment Court in Wellington today declined to put an injunction on possible pickets by workers at the Port of Napier as pickets loom over the summer.
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.
The case was heard yesterday under urgency, and the Employment Court today ordered parties back to mediation.
The two waterfront unions, the Maritime Union of New Zealand and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, both appeared at the hearing, and were pleased by the result.
Maritime Union of New Zealand General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the issues at stake are far wider than one Port and the situation had already gone international.
“The issue here is whether employers can use contracting out to dismantle secure jobs, to attack wages and conditions, to casualize jobs – and workers are going to take it to the wire.”
The workers whose jobs are threatened are Maritime Union members.
Mr Hanson says Port of Napier CEO Garth Cowie was badly mistaken if he thought the issue was going to fizzle out.
“This situation is going international, and the damage to the reputation of his port is already being done. This is line in the sand stuff for workers and we won’t be backing down.”
The Union had high level support from the Council of Trade Unions, the Maritime Union of Australia, and the International Transport Workers’ Federation, which represents 4 500 000 affiliated transport workers globally.
Mr Hanson says the ITF are considering declaring the Port of Napier a “port of convenience” – a first for New Zealand.
“This means the Port of Napier will come under a major international spotlight as part of an ongoing ITF global campaign to protect secure jobs, which will have a major impact on their ability to successfully function as an international port.”
The port company was already the target of an international email campaign based in London  (www.labourstart.org/munz) with messages pouring in from around the world.
Mr Hanson says that substantial solidarity delegations of workers will be arriving in Napier shortly to support their fellow workers, including a group from Australia.
RMTU Organiser Todd Valster says his members are standing strong on critical issues of health and safety.
“This is a Port with a very poor safety record, and contracting out to under trained workers puts everyone at risk”.
“We are not going to train up a underskilled workforce to take the jobs of people who already do a great job.”

For more information, contact:

Maritime Union of New Zealand General Secretary Trevor Hanson on 021390585
Rail and Maritime Transport Union Industrial Officer Todd Valster on 0274454691

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says management actions are putting secure local jobs in jeopardy and threatening the future of the port.

A decision by management to contract out container stevedoring will affect around 25 permanent jobs and around 60 casual jobs at Hawke’s Bay Stevedoring Services in the Port of Napier from the start of next year.Maritime Union of New Zealand General Secretary Trevor Hanson says a special national meeting of the Union with representatives from all New Zealand ports and a delegation from the Maritime Union of Australia was held in Wellington this week to plan a major fightback.

“We have made every effort to talk to the Port Company, but they seem determined to hit the self-destruct button and have left us with no option but to take this dispute to the next level.”

Mr Hanson says the situation has already had an enormous impact on local workers, and will lead to inevitable attacks on wages, conditions and health and safety in the future.”

We have a situation here where secure local jobs that benefit the local community are being dumped through what is effectively a contracting out process.

The Maritime Union will do whatever it takes to ensure that secure local jobs are protected.”

He says the Maritime Union of New Zealand has the support of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

Mr Hanson says the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council owned Port of Napier has a responsibility to the local community and should operate in the public interest.

“This port company promotes itself as ‘our port’ but they behave as if they have no responsibility to the local people of Hawke’s Bay.”

He says Port of Napier management have made a bad error of judgement that will cause all sorts of problems for the Hawke’s Bay economy.

“Their actions have led to a situation where the viability and success of the port is put in danger.”

Mr Hanson says the answer to the problem is simple.

“Management need to sit down with the Union to find a solution that is mutually acceptable, before they cause major harm to the local workforce, their business and the entire economy of Hawke’s Bay.”

For further information, contact Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson on 021390585

The four national officials of the Maritime Union are arriving in Napier on Thursday 8 November to meet with Port of Napier Limited CEO Garth Cowie at 11am.

The Port of Napier has awarded a container stevedoring contract to out of town company ISO who are a notorious anti-union employer.25 permanent jobs and 60 casual jobs at Hawkes Bay Stevedoring Services are in jeopardy as a result.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the message they will be bringing to Napier is that the Port Company has a responsibility for their workers and to ensure secure local jobs.

“If we don’t get a satisfactory result we are going to be forced to consider national industrial action.”

Mr Hanson says the situation is snowballing with strong interest from international unions and the maritime industry about the outcome of the talks.

He says the Maritime Union is in contact with overseas Unions including the Maritime Union of Australia and the International Transport Workers Federation head office in London.

Support has also been guaranteed by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union who also have members at the Port of Napier.

“We are in the process of contacting all shipping companies that use Napier to explain to them the serious situation and the possibility of delays and disruption.”

For further information contact:Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson on 021390585Maritime Union Napier Branch Secretary Bill Connelly on 0276175441

Members of the Maritime Union employed at Hawkes Bay Stevedoring Services have been threatened with job losses after a container stevedoring contract was awarded to Mount Maunganui based stevedore ISO.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the decision by the port company has already generated a major backlash, with a national meeting of the Union today calling for solidarity action with the Napier workers.Mr Hanson says the decision will affect around 25 permanent jobs and around 60 casual jobs in the Port of Napier from the start of next year.

“We are not going to allow a situation where local jobs are disrupted and destroyed.”

Mr Hanson says the port workers in Napier were gutted and angry by the decision by the Port of Napier Limited.

“Our members have worked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the Port Company and generated big profits for the Hawkes Bay Regional Council and the local people.”

Mr Hanson says it appears that ISO were going to try to use Napier maritime workers to train their own staff in the meantime.

“This is not going to happen.”

The Maritime Union was talking with the Council of Trade Unions and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) about the situation, and would be approaching overseas unions including the Maritime Union of Australia and the ILWU on the USA west coast for assistance.

The Maritime Union was already in touch with shipping companies to register their concerns and all branches of the Union had offered support to the Napier workers.

Mr Hanson says the Union’s case had already received some high level support.

Napier MP Russell Fairbrother had said today that the Ports of Napier, owned by Hawkes Bay Regional Council, had a responsibility to being a good Hawkes’ Bay citizen and he had asked local people to contact the Port Company and Regional Council with their concerns.

The Union agreed with Mr Fairbrother’s comment that the port was there to serve us, not to exploit us.

For further information contact:Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson on 021390585Maritime Union Napier Branch Secretary Bill Connelly on 0276175441

The four national officials of the Maritime Union are arriving in Napier Thursday 8 November to meet with Port of Napier Limited CEO Garth Cowie at 11am.

The Port of Napier has awarded a container stevedoring contract to out of town company ISO who are a notorious anti-union employer.

25 permanent jobs and 60 casual jobs at Hawkes Bay Stevedoring Services are in jeopardy as a result.Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the message they will be bringing to Napier is that the Port Company has a responsibility for their workers and to ensure secure local jobs.

“If we don’t get a satisfactory result we are going to be forced to consider national industrial action.”

Mr Hanson says the situation is snowballing with strong interest from international unions and the maritime industry about the outcome of the talks.

He says the Maritime Union is in contact with overseas Unions including the Maritime Union of Australia and the International Transport Workers Federation head office in London.

Support has also been guaranteed by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union who also have members at the Port of Napier.

“We are in the process of contacting all shipping companies that use Napier to explain to them the serious situation and the possibility of delays and disruption.”

For further information contact:

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson on 021390585

Maritime Union Napier Branch Secretary Bill Connelly on 0276175441