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 (Editorial note: PDF
attached). 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.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
