Maritime Union holds 4th Triennial Conference 6–9 November 2012

The Maritime Union held its 4th Triennial Conference in Wellington from Tuesday 6 November to Friday 9 November (noon).

Maritime Union of New Zealand General Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the Conference concludes a three year period of intense activity for the Union.

He says that the Ports of Auckland dispute had been on the agenda, along with many other campaigns the Union had been involved in, ranging from opposing port privatisation, promoting secure jobs rather than casualization, and advocating for much tighter health and safety regulations in the maritime industry.

He says the Maritime Union will continue to play a leading role in advancing the interests of maritime workers and the wider working class.

The Maritime Union had strengthened its alliances with the global union movement, and hosted a number of international delegates and speakers at the Conference.

These included the International President of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, and Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, Paddy Crumlin.

The four senior international officers of the ILWU, representing dock workers on the West Coast of North America and Hawaii, were in attendance, including International President of the ILWU Robert McEllrath.

Three officials of the ILA, the dock workers union from the east coast of North America, attended for the first time, led by Kenneth Riley, President of ILA Local 1422, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Other international unions represented at the conference included the Maritime Union of Australia, CFMEU Mining and Energy Division (Australia), Electrical Trades Union (Australia), Australian Workers’ Union, All Japan Dock Workers Union Zen Kowan, RMT (UK), and ILWU Canadian Section.

Mr Fleetwood says the four national officers of the Maritime Union of New Zealand were recently re-elected unopposed.