Maritime Union campaign comes to Port Chalmers

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

The public meeting is on Thursday 3 June at 2.30pm, at the WIC Bureau Hall, next door to the Port Otago building, in Beach Street, Port Chalmers.

Maritime Union Assistant General Secretary Terry Ryan (Auckland) and National Vice President Joe Fleetwood (Wellington) are speaking at the meeting, which will be chaired by Maritime Union National President Phil Adams, of Port Chalmers.

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 are caused by permanent jobs being undermined by casual jobs, a trend the Maritime Union wanted to reverse.

Mr Hanson says the local branch of the Maritime Union had worked hard for the employment practices used at Port Otago, which provided a career path for young workers and led to secure permanent jobs.

He says this system has provided the foundation for the successful operation of the port and should be emulated elsewhere.

"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 is on the road in the South Island this week visiting port communities for meetings.

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