Category: Unions

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Concerns with health and safety approach at Lyttelton Port Company

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says it has concerns about the approach of the Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) to mandatory fitness tests.

The concerns come after the sentencing of LPC in July 2024, following the death of MUNZ member Don Grant while loading coal on the ETG Aquarius in April 2022.

LPC pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 brought by industry regulator Maritime NZ.

Maritime Union National Secretary Carl Findlay says workers have welcomed the guilty plea and sentencing, but have concerns about the current approach of LPC to listening to its workers.

Mr Findlay says a lot has changed since the tragic death of Mr Grant, a friend and much loved colleague at Lyttelton.

“This is not only in work practices involving coal operations, but in Management and Governance and the relationships between LPC and Unions.”

Mr Findlay says LPC has many new members on the Board and a new Chair Barry Bragg.

LPC also have their third CEO in a short time in Graham Sumner, following the resignation of former CEO Kirstie Gardener and interim CEO Jim Quinn.

Mr Findlay says LPC have now announced a new mandatory fitness for work program for all employees.

He says this has been pushed through without regard to workers concerns over their financial protection and wellbeing of any members who fail the assessment, with the ultimate result of people losing employment if they don’t meet the standard. 

“In short, MUNZ see this as a breach of good faith and LPC not honouring our Collective Employment Agreement.”

Mr Findlay says the Union is agreeable to fitness for work health monitoring, but want LPC to negotiate in good faith.

He says LPC are imposing a fitness for work test and the consultation process was not working.

“MUNZ is very concerned how the death of a worker has been used to implement new policies without bringing along workers and listening to their voices.” 

Mr Findlay says workforce morale is sinking with a lack of commitment shown towards LPC by some Council leaders, and the ongoing churn of management and Board members.

“Former LPC CEOs Roger Gray and Kirstie Gardener took part in open engagement with the unions, and LPC container terminal was the 35th best performing terminal out of the top 415 terminals in the world.”

“Unfortunately, with ongoing changes at the top and a less open approach by Management,  LPC container terminal has now dropped to 385 in the list of the top 415 terminals in the world.”

MUNZ and LPC are attending mediation on 16 August on the issue of health monitoring.

“We are confident we can find a way forward with not only LPC, but also CCHL who manage LPC on behalf of Christchurch City Council.”

MUNZ is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of not only our members, but all workers in the port of Lyttelton, says Mr Findlay.

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Concerns for public broadcasting as TVNZ proposes more cuts – E tū

Source: Etu Union

Workers at TVNZ have today been notified about an upcoming change process at TVNZ which union members are worried could lead to further job losses as the state-owned broadcaster.

Management have initiated this process with the claim they need to increase their annual earnings by $30m, by either increasing revenue or reducing costs.

Earlier this year, TVNZ cancelled significant news and current affairs offerings as a cost-saving measure. E tū Negotiation Specialist Michael wood says today’s development demonstrates a worrying trend at TVNZ.

“E tū members at TVNZ and across media have been campaigning hard to ‘Save our Stories’ so that New Zealanders continue to have access to media that informs and holds power to account,” Michael says.

“As such we are concerned that TVNZ is looking into further significant changes that could lead to even larger cuts than we have already seen.

“The good news is that because union members at TVNZ have successfully campaigned on this issue, and defended their rights in the Employment Court, that there is now a proper process in place to have union members at the table and involved in discussion about possible change at a much earlier stage.

“We will be taking this process seriously. An ongoing move towards a digital future at TVNZ is a reality, however we will fight hard to ensure that as this change happens, that TVNZ fulfils its obligations to New Zealanders by ensuring that it produces high quality content, produced by skilled and experienced media workers. TVNZ, and the Government as the sole shareholder, cannot and must not use this process to walk away from news and current affairs, and telling the stories that matter to New Zealand.”

Michael says that further cuts at TVNZ demonstrate the need for rapid Government intervention to save our media landscape.

“Decent journalism is an absolute necessity in a well-functioning democracy. That’s why TVNZ needs to be supported as a public broadcaster.

“It makes no sense to allow such a crucial tool for information and accountability to gradually wither away as the traditional commercial model for media becomes less financially sustainable in the digital age.

“TVNZ, and the wider media landscape, must be supported by the Government to thrive – and we should all be gravely concerned about a future where purely commercial interests dictate the way we conduct our public discourse.”

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Finance Minister needs to explain ferry decision cost to taxpayer

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says the cancellation cost for the iRex ship build is likely to come in at more than NZ $300 million, and could run up to a maximum cost approaching a half a billion dollars (NZD) at current rates. 

This would be on top of around a half a billion NZD in sunk cost on the cancelled iRex project – figures the Maritime Union has been advised on after consulting with the maritime industry here and offshore.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay says the Finance Minister needs to explain how this happened and why she should keep her job. 

“This single decision is likely to have torched a billion dollars of taxpayer’s money with nothing to show for it. It’s fiscal arson.”

Mr Findlay says on top of this cost, New Zealand still needs to buy new ferries. 

He says unlike the iRex ferries cancelled by the Minister, which were purchased at a fixed price in 2021, their replacement will have to be bought at 2024 shipbuilding prices, which are currently at their highest since before the global financial crisis of 2008.

“Between that and our dollar being much weaker than it was when we struck the 2021 deal, the Government’s replacement ships could cost twice as much to build as the cancelled ones.”

Mr Findlay says industry players believe the Government is looking to hide some of this cost through a Private Public Partnership. 

He says we’ve seen time and time again all this would do is increase the expense, and shift it onto users and future taxpayers.

“Putting a private for-profit gatekeeper on the key freight route between our main islands is a recipe for economic disaster.

“Prime Minister Luxon needs to bite the bullet, try to salvage the iRex deal in whatever way he can, and admit the cost his Finance Minister’s commercial blunder has put on the taxpayer.

“He should also ask himself whether his Finance Minister should be left in charge of running our economy after making this colossal economic and commercial mistake.”

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NZCTU submit in opposition to charter schools

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

“The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi strongly opposes the reintroduction of charter schools in the education system and calls on the Government to withdraw this dangerous bill,” said Acting NZCTU Secretary Erin Polaczuk.

“It is outrageous that David Seymour has said that he is trying to undermine unions by amending the legislation to restrict the ability of unions to initiate bargaining for multi-employer collective agreements involving a charter school.

“We are demanding that the Government protect workers rights to redundancy and collective bargaining, and not breach it’s obligations under both the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and the ILO conventions.

“This Bill threatens to introduce a for-profit education model in schools and communities right across Aotearoa, with the potential to fundamentally reshape the education system.

“This significant reform to our education system is being hastily pushed through by the Government, which is restricting the ability for those affected by the Bill to have their say.

“This model is far worse than what was legislated for under the last National government – giving the Minister and ministerial appointees the unilateral power to convert state schools to charter schools without due process and agreement from school communities is unprecedented and contrary to the principles of Aotearoa’s education system.

“Children and parents have the right to expect a high standard of education delivered by qualified teachers and to have a say in how their schools are run.

“We are also deeply concerned that under these proposals charter school sponsors will not be under the same legal obligation as state school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” said Polaczuk.

Read the submission here:

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Charter schools will leave students vulnerable and undermine teaching profession

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

He was presenting PPTA’s oral submission on the proposed charter schools legislation, being considered by Parliament’s education and workforce select committee this week.

Kieran Gainsford said in the United Kingdom where charter schools- called academies – dominate the education system, research found that class-based inequality was widening because students were being denied access to qualified teachers.

“In New Zealand, Limited Authority to Teach (unregistered teachers) positions are meant to be a gap filler, not a way to circumvent the professional training and registration of our teaching workforce.”

PPTA Te Wehengarua recommended in its submission that the ability for state schools to be converted to charter schools be removed from the proposed legislation.

“The conversion of state schools to charter schools would have an extreme impact on school communities.The possiblity that just a single person from a school ‘community’ could team up with a sponsor and apply to have a state school converted is very concerning.

“We also have grave concerns about the possibility of directed conversions of state schools to charter schools. The proposed legislation enables the Minister alone to direct a school to convert. This is an outrageous and unwarranted exercise of Ministerial power with the potential to affect thousands of people . There is more than enough capacity within the current sytem to address issues that arise, rather than forcing a school into a conversion process.”

The proposed conversion provisions eliminate teachers’ employment protections and remove unions’ ability to initiate for multi-employer collective agreements covering charter schools –  which breaches international law.

PPTA Te Wehengarua also recommended that charter schools be required to teach the national curriculum.

“Our current curriculum works on both a national and local level. Internationally we have seen that many charter schools focus on extremely stripped back curricula and standardised or rote learning to ensure their contracts are continued. This is the opposite of innovation.”

PPTA Te Wehengarua submission

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Loss of Takutai Chief undermines New Zealand shipping and supply chain

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

 
 The loss of a New Zealand operated coastal freighter and 12 jobs due to the economic downturn threatens the viability and resilience of our supply chain.
  
Swire Shipping, the owners of Pacifica Shipping, have advised its second New Zealand coastal freighter Takutai Chief will be removed from service soon after a downturn in trade.
 
Mr Findlay says the Union accepts the reasons given for the decision, including current poor economic conditions and service changes by international lines reducing feeder volumes.
 
“Nonetheless, this is a major blow to New Zealand shipping and our maritime workforce, and reduces the resilience and future security of our supply chain.”
 
Mr Findlay says Pacifica has shown an ongoing commitment to New Zealand coastal shipping.
 
He says coastal shipping offers a low emission transport mode, and reduces congestion and wear on roads.
 
The situation reflect a larger crisis within the New Zealand maritime industry where there is a lack of stability due to failure in strategic policy, he says.
 
Mr Findlay says the dependence of New Zealand on overseas shipping was a major problem during COVID with serious disruptions when overseas shipping calls were delayed or dropped.
 
He says skilled New Zealand seafarers will leave the industry for opportunities in Australia, with an ageing workforce seeing a large number of seafarers retiring in the near future.
 
Mr Findlay says the uncertainty around the future of Interislander ferries is another aspect of the ongoing crisis in New Zealand shipping.
 
“Despite being a maritime trading nation, New Zealand has no clear strategy for a sustainable shipping industry, which leaves us exposed and vulnerable in a volatile global market.”
 
“New Zealand needs to build its coastal shipping capacity, with New Zealand owned, operated and crewed ships.”
 
Pacifica Shipping is an operating division of Swire Shipping (N.Z) Limited.
 

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ERA determination on public service job cuts a win for working people

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The Employment Relations Authority’s determination that the Ministry of Education failed to comply with their workers’ collective agreement when cutting jobs sends a strong message that workers’ rights must be upheld, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff.

“The Government’s reckless attack on public services and workers has been brutal, and aspects of it have now been deemed unlawful,” said Wagstaff.

“We welcome this decision from the Employment Relations Authority, as it shows that government departments can’t just get away with ignoring their obligations to their workers.

“The directive from cabinet ministers to public service departments to make sweeping cuts to workforces has directly led to this disregard for worker’s rights and conditions.

“The Government’s rush to axe jobs has been indiscriminate – workers should be retained when public services are already struggling to keep up with demand.

“Working people deserve respect and dignity, and for their rights to be upheld. Collective agreements must not be ignored in pursuit of the Government’s ideological agenda.

“We congratulate the PSA for taking this case and fighting to uphold the rights and dignity of their members in the public service.

“This decision sends a strong message that employers must uphold their agreements with workers and not rush ahead with indiscriminate job cuts,” said Wagstaff.

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Inflation data shows cost-of-living challenges continue

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Data released by Statistics New Zealand today shows that annual inflation was 3.3%, falling from by nearly half from a year ago (6% – June 2023).

 “This fall in inflation is welcome, but it is being driven by international factors rather than domestic actions. There are also costs for working people that continue to increase rapidly,” said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney.

“This data is also weaker than expected – suggesting problems within the wider economy. It supports other data which implies that we might be heading back into falls in economic output.

 “The falls in inflation were driven by reductions in the price of food, particularly fruit and vegetables. There are also falls in the price of furniture, household appliances, and the cost of second-hand vehicles. This data suggests a lack of demand in the economy and a lack of consumer confidence. There were also falls in IT equipment and international airfares – again suggesting that demand for these discretionary goods may be falling.

“Meanwhile, pricing for rents continues to increase rapidly – rising 4.8% annually. This is the fastest rate of growth for 17 years, which is as far back as the data goes. Local Authority Rates increased 9.8%. Insurance prices increased 14% annually, led by growth in property insurance (24%) and car insurance (24%). Petrol prices rose 14.7%. These are costs that are very difficult to avoid, and so will be hitting working people in their pocket.

 “This data will be welcomed by those looking for interest rates to fall. But they also suggest that economic growth is stalling, and that action is needed now to support employment and household incomes. The cuts in investment set out by the Government at the recent Budget are likely to exacerbate this problem even further,” said Renney.

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150 people picket against cuts to care at Ardiva’s Village at the Park – E tū

Source: Etu Union

This afternoon about 150 people joined a picket line outside Ardiva’s Village at the Park, a residential aged care facility in Newtown, Wellington.

The lively crowd included residents from Village at the Park, their families, workers, and neighbours from the wider Newtown community. The event was hosted by E tū and NZNO.

With Arvida proposing to cut over 400 hours a week from care workers, nurses, and activity coordinators, the picketers had deep concerns about the impact on affected workers and the care they can provide.

E tū delegate and care worker Rita Narendra, who spoke at the rally, worries about the impact of the proposed cuts on residents.

“With fewer staff, we won’t be able to care for all of them because there won’t be enough time,” Rita says.

“I don’t want any resident to stay in bed until the end of the shift. I don’t want to see residents not getting up to enjoy their life as they always do. I don’t want to see any resident ringing the bell with no one attending to them. It’s very sad.

“Cutting staff means we won’t be able to spend time with them, to listen and ask questions. It’s not just about care, it’s about listening to them and spending time with them, so they feel like this is still home. We don’t want to take anything away from them.

“I want Arvida to know they’ve been providing a beautiful service for years. Why change now? Their name is held in high regard. People talk positively about this place, so why go back? Why not continue providing quality life for these residents who appreciate it so much? That’s my biggest question.”

NZNO care workers Charith Weerasuriya Arachchige and Nama Wiejesinghe share the sentiment.

“We feel huge frustration. How am I to give my all? We are not working with machines, they are humans,” Charith says.

“It’s hard because we are dealing with emotional stress, not just physical, and we need to have good mental health,” Nama says.

Village at the Park resident Lew Skinner spoke on behalf of independent living residents at the facility. He knows that the proposed cuts don’t make sense.

“No one sees staff sitting around doing nothing – we see no fat in the system,” Lew says.

“These proposals affect all of us. Independent residents are part of the Village at the Park ‘Living Well’ community, many are one short step away from moving into the care units.

“Residents and their relatives are dismayed they had not been clearly told by Arvida what is happening – the two letters they’ve received had given no real information and had just confused people.

“We recognise there are financial challenges. We do not believe the solution to this problem lies in cutting the numbers of staff, who are the lowest paid and most vital to resident well-being.”

ENDS

If you are a worker or resident at Village at the Park, or would just like to help us stop the cuts, email joanna.wallace@etu.nz to get involved!

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Government desperately trying to patch up charter school model even before it’s started

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

“Cabinet’s decision to allow charter schools to have access to the same level of teaching resources as state schools, is an acknowledgement that the charter school model of state-funded private schools is unworkable.

“Charter schools are being sold on a model of bespoke, bulk funded, flexibility. However, as we know, this is not possible, especially when it comes to supporting students with additional needs. By allowing charter schools to have access to state specialist services such as resource teachers, they are admitting that the charter school system can’t work and that it needs to be able to cannibalise off the public functions of state education to provide some semblance of effective support for students.

“We saw this with allowing access to period products in schools as well. Unless charter schools are going to be charged for it, it’s an invisible increase to their cost, which is already higher than the state system. The Government is trying to patch up a model that doesn’t work, before it has even started.

“It increasingly looks like things are being made up as this process is rushed along, to shore up failings in the model and to protect private sponsors from the actual costs of meeting student needs, instead passing these costs back to the state. This will inevitably mean less funding for the needs of students in the state school system.”

Chris Abercrombie said the Cabinet’s decision to not allow unions to negotiate multi-employer collective agreements for charter schools staff, was a significant departure from New Zealand’s current employment law.

“No school is an island – evidence shows that schools do better when they don’t compete. Having core terms and conditions that are consistent across charter schools would be a good thing, not a limitation.

“If people want to run a charter school, then multi-employer collective agreements should be something that they can easily participate in.”

Chris Abercrombie said these last minute changes to proposed legislation showed the weaknesses of trying to introduce massive structural changes to the education sector under urgency.

“This is not how legislation should be made and the Attorney General Hon. Judith Collins has already warned the Prime Minister about the dangers of rushed legislative processes.”