Port of Napier Campaign 2007

VICTORY!

admin — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:07:36 +0000

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)

admin — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:34:37 +0000

Music on the Picket Line

The weather has turned bad but spirits are high as workers from NZ and Australia enjoy a singalong at the Port of Napier picket on 18 December 2007

Global solidarity actions shut down Port of Napier

admin — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:09:49 +0000

The Maritime Union of New Zealand has claimed a major victory in its battle to save secure local jobs at the Port of Napier.
The container vessel Canberra Express left the Port of Napier last night (Wednesday 19 December) at approximately 11pm with no cargo discharged after sitting idle at the port.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says this is a major development in the dispute and a victory for local workers.
“The ship wasn’t worked. Ships are now going past Napier and will continue to go past Napier, until agreement is reached that no jobs will be lost.”
Mr Hanson says that following massive international support from global transport Unions, the ship owner had decided to take the vessel to Australia without it being worked in the Port of Napier, due to the escalating industrial situation in the port.
“The damage to the local economy and reputation of the port is unnecessary, and is a direct result of the management at the port deciding to launch an aggressive attack on secure local jobs.”
Mr Hanson says local workers have no place to go, and the Maritime Union and its international affiliates were committed to ongoing action.
Mediation between management and the Union continues today with New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly arriving in Napier to join the mediation.
Moves by the Port of Napier to contract out stevedoring work threaten 25 permanent and 60 casual jobs at Hawkes’ Bay Stevedoring Services, in what the Union says is a move to destroy secure local jobs and undermine wages and conditions.
A continuous picket has been held at the port gates around the clock since 6am Saturday 15 December with local workers being joined by delegations of maritime workers from around New Zealand and Australian ports.

Napier maritime workers boosted by international support

admin — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:02:07 +0000

Workers on the Maritime Union picket line at the Port of Napier were told early this morning that tens of thousands of dollars of solidarity donations were flooding in from around the world.

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.

11.22pm on the picket line, 16 December 2007

admin — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:22:26 +0000

maritime_youth_2007.JPG, originally uploaded by Maritime Union of New Zealand.

The Port of Napier picket is being run around the clock. Workers are there 24 hours a day.
These young workers are both local Maritime Union members and supporting members from other ports.
They realize how this dispute is resolved will determine their future in the maritime industry, and they are showing their dedication by standing on the line in the early hours of the morning.

Community Picket, Port of Napier, 16 December 2007

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:42:10 +0000

Community Picket, originally uploaded by Maritime Union of New Zealand.

This photo sums up the solidarity and strength of local workers and their families and friends coming together to defend secure jobs, union jobs and local jobs.
The picket continues.

Dock workers deserve better from Port of Napier

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 06:45:36 +0000

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has backed the Maritime Union’s campaign to save 85 jobs on the Port of Napier, following a decision by the Hawkes Bay Regional Council owned Port company to change stevedoring contractors, without securing employment protections for the current workers.

“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.

Hawkes’ Bay maritime workers stand strong

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:26:36 +0000

hawkes_bay_crew.JPG, originally uploaded by Maritime Union of New Zealand.

120 workers including delegations from New Zealand ports and the Maritime Union of Australia have been on the picket line defending secure jobs at the Port of Napier since 6am Saturday 15 December 2007.

Maritime workers take fight for jobs to the Napier port gates

admin — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:13:48 +0000

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.

Send a message to Port of Napier CEO Garth Cowie

admin — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:12:35 +0000

You can now send an automatic email message to Port of Napier CEO Garth Cowie to tell him that you think his company has a responsibility to ensure secure local jobs at the Port of Napier.

International trade union website Labour Start are promoting this email campaign at their website - send a message here!