Former maritime leader becomes Alliance Party spokesperson

Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday 24 November 2009

The Alliance Party has announced its new spokesperson for employment relations, transport and fisheries as former waterfront and maritime leader Trevor Hanson.

Mr Hanson recently retired from his position as General Secretary of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, and previous to that General Secretary of the Waterfront Workers Union.

He says that working class people in New Zealand have been under attack and have seen their share of wealth shrink even though they were working harder and longer.

"Some of the issues that need immediate attention include casualization and unemployment which are causing serious problems for working people and their families."

Mr Hanson says he is also concerned about contracting out and wants to make sure all registered unions operate independently of employers, which he believes does not always happen despite this being the law.

He says it is vital there is a strong left-wing voice in New Zealand politics to promote a secure society which could only come about through policies that the Alliance was promoting.

Mr Hanson says the transport industry is heading in the wrong direction and there needs to be a stronger emphasis on shipping and rail, for environmental, economic and social reasons.

He says there is also a need to protect New Zealand's fishing stocks which had been damaged by overfishing, and to ensure use of unionized local labour in the fishing industry to create well paid local jobs.

"We need to get in their and start actively fighting for our rights, rather than allowing New Zealand to drift further down the path of unconstrained greed and social breakdown."

ENDS