17 October 2011

Fishing Inquiry Needs to Deliver – SFWU

The Service and Food Workers Union Ngā Ringa Tota, which represents over 2,000 land-based workers in the seafood industry, supports the submissions to the Government Inquiry Into Foreign Charter Vessels of the NZ Council of Trade Unions and the Maritime Union NZ.

NZCTU and MUNZ were to present to the Inquiry today. SFWU plans to present to the Inquiry in Auckland on 26 and Nelson on 27 October.

SFWU spokesperson Neville Donaldson said it was vital the Inquiry made strong recommendations to address the appalling conditions on foreign vessels fishing in our exclusive economic zone.

“But it is also vital that the outcome for the Inquiry addresses issues raised in the CTU submission of the huge job losses and loss of income for New Zealand through value-added processing going off-shore,” he said.

“Over the past 10 years the land-based fishing industry has been devastated by the use of foreign charter vessels and sending our fish resource offshore to be processed on the cheap. Now is time for action.”

Neville Donaldson said the SFWU welcomed the announcement last week that Ngai Tahu intends to develop a fishing cadetship for Māori workers.

“Well done Ngai Tahu for taking this initiative. Māori workers have traditionally made up a large percentage of the fishing workforce and, with Māori unemployment over 16%, fishing jobs are more important than ever,” he said.

“But it will be wasted unless Government takes steps to regulate to ensure there are employment opportunities after the training is completed.”

ENDS

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