Maritime Union Of New Zealand News

The Maritime Union of New Zealand is concerned about the reduction in monitoring of international shipping by Maritime New Zealand, the Government agency responsible for ensuring a “safe, secure and clean” maritime environment. Less than half of “Priority 1” vessels (49%) coming into New Zealand were inspected in the 2014/2015 year, according to Maritime New Zealand’s annual report. That is well beneath the target of 70% inspections for the year, and the 82% of inspections achieved in the 2013/2014 year. Maritime Union of New Zealand national secretary Joe Fleetwood says the monitoring and investigation of compliance by international shipping was a key role of the agency.

The troubled German-owned, Liberia-flagged containership 'Vega Auriga', which was last week banned by Australia from entering its ports for three months, has now arrived in New Zealand, where it has been detained, informs ITF Seafarers. The ship – described by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority as a "repeat offender" for breaches of seafarer welfare and ship maintenance – was detained in Tauranga after Maritime New Zealand found 14 deficiencies, with 11 to be rectified before it can leave. However, the Filipino crew have now received some of their back pay due; ITF inspector Grahame McLaren reports that they have received their June and July wages, although pay for August was still outstanding.

International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) president Paddy Crumlin has met with key stakeholders in Auckland, New Zealand, about the ongoing campaign to secure NZD30 million in unpaid wages for fishers in the region. The ITF has contributed to Slave Free Seas’ campaign to claim outstanding wages in the vicinity of NZD30 million through the New Zealand courts. Crumlin met with senior union representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, the Slave Free Seas advocacy group and the Merchant Service Guild as part of the Regional Maritime Federation meeting.

ITF President Paddy Crumlin lauded Ports of Auckland’s undertaking to halt plans to make nearly 300 dock workers redundant, cease outsourcing operations, and re-enter negotiations with the Maritime Union of New Zealand.   “This really is a victory for common sense, and a ringing endorsement of MUNZs decision to resist the port company’s plans and challenge them in law,” said Crumlin.  “The workers and their union have been sincere all along in seeking a negotiated settlement. If the company can genuinely match that willingness – and prove that they are committed to a negotiated solution – then an end to this dispute and the damage it has done to the port’s reputation could be within reach.”

A maritime union has welcomed the government’s plans to invest $28m in coastal shipping. The ITF-affiliated Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has claimed that the release of the government’s final domestic shipping strategy, “Sea Change”, last week was a positive move for shipping. MUNZ Vice President Garry Parsloe said that funding to develop coastal shipping over the next four years was a major boost. Parsloe also welcomed the announcement that the government would aim to see 30 per cent of all inter-regional domestic freight moved by coastal shipping by 2040 and planned to clarify Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, which deals with the movement of coastal cargo by international vessels between domestic ports.