MUNZ welcomes party support for coastal shipping and fair conditions for maritime workers

The Maritime Union of New Zealand has welcomed support from Labour, the Greens and the Alliance for its election policy proposals to rebuild coastal shipping and protect the pay and conditions of New Zealand port workers and seafarers.

MUNZ asked each political party for its response to five proposals:

• underwriting New Zealand-flagged, New Zealand-crewed ships to build a domestic fleet

• developing a National Ports Strategy built on public ownership

• funding transport projects on the benefits they deliver, regardless of mode

• extending New Zealand labour law and wages to seafarers on international ships in New Zealand waters

• requiring international shipping lines to be transparent about crew pay and conditions

Labour, the Greens and the Alliance provided supportive responses.

The other parties did not respond.

MUNZ National Secretary Carl Findlay says New Zealand needs a Government that backs the maritime sector.

“New Zealand is a trading nation, but we are overly dependent on international shipping lines to move our exports and trucks to move cargo domestically. Coastal shipping gives New Zealand resilience, cuts our dependence on expensive imported fuel, and provides good, well-paying jobs to Kiwis. It’s encouraging to see these parties backing our seafarers and port workers,” he says.

“We encourage our members to take these responses into account when they vote.”

Mr Findlay says MUNZ looks forward to working with these parties to turn their commitments into action.

Authorized by Carl Findlay, Maritime Union of New Zealand, 220 Willis Street, Wellington.