Media Releases 2007

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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

The Port of Napier faces industrial disruption and international union solidarity actions as local workers prepare to defend their livelihoods.
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.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand is going to continue with negotiations at the Port of Napier despite describing the result of an initial meeting today as unsatisfactory.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says a meeting today between the Union and Port of Napier management did not resolve the situation over jobs.
"The Union is not backing down on its position to protect secure local jobs, however both parties are keeping lines of communication open."
Mr Hanson says the Union will consult with its national executive before continuing with negotiations.
"If we can't get a solution through negotiation, which we prefer, we will have to consider what form of industrial action will be taken around the country and if necessary with international unions."
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.

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

The Maritime Union of New Zealand is stepping up efforts to secure the future of Napier maritime workers.
The four national officials of the Maritime Union are arriving in Napier tomorrow (subs: 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.

The Maritime Union is gearing up for national and international action to protect secure local jobs at the Port of Napier.
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.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says the release of the draft Government coastal shipping strategy 'Sea Change' last night is a positive move that has been welcomed by the Union and maritime workers.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the new strategy identifies how coastal shipping will be an increasingly important part of New Zealand's transport system.
He says the goal of moving 30 per cent of domestic freight by coastal shipping by 2040 is a good start.