VOLUME 22 — APRIL 2023
The Maritime Worker Te Whanganui-a-Tara NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON BRANCH OF THE MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND
NELSON DEMO BACKS NZ COASTAL SHIPPING Members, Congestion in ports is a real issue but by dumping New Firstly, thanks to the Nelson Branch for organising the Zealand crews is not the answer! demonstration to highlight the need to continue pressure on Maersk have removed two New Zealand crewed ships only to replace them with three ships manned the government in regard to Section 198 of the Maritime by foreign crews and trading to Australian ports. Transport Act. After 30 years this negative legislation is still affecting This does not fix the port congestion issues, both coastal shipping and the trans-Tasman trade instead it is all about exploiting the loophole in ending with our domestic supply chain. Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act to This overall situation along with the seafarers allow foreign ships to carry coastal cargo between New who recently lost their jobs on the two Maersk Zealand ports. ships Maersk Nansha and Maersk Nadi in the What is now needed, more than ever, is further Coastal Connect service shows the need for the pressure to continue on the Government with any Government to act. form of action similar to Nelson being essential We need job security for New Zealand for the campaign by continuing to get the message Seafarers and secure domestic supply chains. across in the public domain. This is where all members have to play their part in These massive global shipping corporates prefer to exploit cheap foreign labour rather than employ their respective ports when any action is organised. Even New Zealand seafarers in their own coastal industry on decent though it wasn’t a massive turn out I think it was effective in wages and conditions. once again getting our message out there. Continued on page 2