Washout puts Gisborne/Napier line in jeopardy - Rail and Maritime ...
Washout puts Gisborne/Napier line in jeopardy - Rail and Maritime ...
Washout puts Gisborne/Napier line in jeopardy - Rail and Maritime ...
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neWs<br />
“The consequences<br />
for work<strong>in</strong>g people <strong>in</strong><br />
NZ if this fight is lost<br />
will be to leave our<br />
children <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>children<br />
with far, far<br />
worse work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
conditions than we<br />
have <strong>and</strong> a long fight<br />
to get back,”<br />
Greens Party spokesperson on<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustrial relations Denise Roache,<br />
said the Greens are <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly<br />
more outspoken on employment<br />
matters despite it be<strong>in</strong>g a traditional<br />
Labour area. Unsurpris<strong>in</strong>gly, the<br />
Rena ground<strong>in</strong>g was a hot topic,<br />
<strong>and</strong> matched delegates’ strongly<br />
held view that the current lack<br />
of regulation <strong>in</strong> coastal shipp<strong>in</strong>g<br />
needs fix<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Casual labour<br />
questioned<br />
Geoff Davenport from McBride, Davenport<br />
<strong>and</strong> James spoke about casualisation.<br />
Helen Kelly, CTU.<br />
Geoff Davenport.<br />
Bill Rosenberg, CTU.<br />
Members, look<strong>in</strong>g<br />
around their workplaces,<br />
have begun<br />
to wonder about the<br />
employment status of<br />
colleagues <strong>and</strong> fellow<br />
Karen Fletcher.<br />
Wayne Butson.<br />
Peter Conway, CTU.<br />
Phil Twyford, Labour MP.<br />
workers. Does casual work give<br />
workers the ability to dec<strong>l<strong>in</strong>e</strong><br />
work one day <strong>and</strong> accept on<br />
another? Geoff also discussed<br />
holiday pay, ALT days, superannuation,<br />
access to collective<br />
agreement benefits, <strong>and</strong> more.<br />
Delegates were encouraged<br />
to assess the status of casual<br />
workers <strong>in</strong> their workplaces <strong>and</strong><br />
discuss developments with their<br />
organisers.<br />
Unacceptable<br />
CEA<br />
Joe Fleetwood <strong>and</strong> Mike<br />
Clark of MUNZ, spoke <strong>in</strong> detail<br />
about the POA dispute <strong>and</strong> its<br />
wider ramifications <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
current collective employment<br />
agreement. Joe said the ‘new’<br />
agreement proposed terms that<br />
were unacceptable to MUNZ <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
such th<strong>in</strong>gs as total flexibility<br />
of the workforce (read: at<br />
the beck <strong>and</strong> call of the employer<br />
24/7/365) with no ability to plan<br />
home <strong>and</strong> family lives <strong>and</strong> not<br />
know<strong>in</strong>g what their weekly wage<br />
would be each week. Joe asked<br />
for the cont<strong>in</strong>ued support of<br />
other port workers.<br />
“The consequences for work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
people <strong>in</strong> NZ if this fight is<br />
lost will be to leave our children<br />
<strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>children with far, far<br />
worse work<strong>in</strong>g conditions than<br />
we have <strong>and</strong> a long fight to get<br />
back,” Joe said.<br />
Delegates left with the clear<br />
message: We must plan <strong>and</strong><br />
strategically organise non-union<br />
labour across all ports <strong>in</strong> NZ.<br />
Naylor Young. Mike Clark, MUNZ. Craig Cooney. Phil Spanswick.<br />
15<br />
The Transport Worker June 2012
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