Monday 31 May 2004

Maritime Union brings industry campaign to Lyttelton

The Maritime Union is holding a public meeting in Lyttelton as part of its national campaign for secure jobs.

The public meeting is on Tuesday 1 June at 2.30pm, at the Maritime Union Rooms, 19 Oxford Street, Lyttelton.

Maritime Union Assistant General Secretary Terry Ryan (Auckland) and National Vice President Joe Fleetwood (Wellington) are speaking at the meeting.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the New Zealand economy depends on a vibrant maritime industry, but the industry was currently being torn apart by casualization and insecure jobs.

He says many industrial problems in New Zealand ports including Lyttelton are caused by permanent jobs being undermined by part time and casual jobs, a trend the Maritime Union wanted to reverse.

"The basic goal of our campaign is to ensure that New Zealand has a permanent, skilled and secure maritime workforce, through sensible regulation of the waterfront and a shipping system that gives priority to New Zealand ships in the coastal trade."

Mr Hanson says the lack of regulation in the industry is affecting New Zealand¹s biosecurity, reputation with trading partners, and the safety of ports.

The Maritime Industry campaign has so far visited North Island ports and will be travelling to all South Island ports in the week following the Lyttelton meeting.

ENDS

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