Latest news with #RMTU
Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Stopping ratepayer-owned asset sales main focus for union members
Union members are ramping up a campaign ahead of October's local body elections, urging voters to back candidates opposed to the sale of ratepayer-owned assets. They are concerned if the Lyttelton Port Company was sold or partly sold to private interests, jobs could be lost or wages and conditions affected. Debate over asset sales like the port company, the airport, Orion, Enable and Citycare is a long-running political football in Christchurch elections between left and right-leaning mayors and city councillors. A key figure in the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) says members will ask people to vote for candidates who are against selling the city's assets. They will not endorse particular candidates. Said RMTU Lyttelton Port branch secretary Mark Wilson: 'Your vote is your vote. But we ask that voters consider what a candidate's stance is on selling public assets and infrastructure.' The campaign does not have the formal support of the two port unions, RMTU and Maritime Union. But Wilson said it has 'very significant' support among members of both organisations. 'The unions and us as workers do have to be careful about what is said as employees of LPC, but this campaign is more about what the council might do rather than our employer.' Under the banner of new political pressure group, New Zealanders for a Democratic Economy (NZDE), union members and supporters are organising public events, demonstrations and are canvasing public places to drum up opposition to key asset sales. Although the new group is not directly endorsing candidates, Wilson said the campaign is likely to favour left-leaning candidates and the Labour-aligned The People's Choice candidates who oppose key asset sales. Wilson believes Mayor Phil Mauger and right-leaning city councillors support selling the port and other key assets either through full or partial sale of shares. But Mauger says he remains firmly committed to 'protecting Christchurch's ownership and value in strategic assets.' Mauger did not respond to further questioning from The Star asking whether he would support partial sales of key assets and in what form. "During my campaign and since being mayor, I have made it clear these key assets should be controlled by the council,' he said. Mauger has no issue with the union members' campaign, saying they have every right to 'engage in public debate on matters like asset ownership.' Wilson said NZDE want a more clear position from Mauger on asset sales. "It will make things a lot easier for us. We hope he and councillors will clearly lay out what they have done in the past term on asset sales and what they plan to do next term.' Wilson believes a sale of the port company or other key assets could lead to worker unions being sidelined. "Private-owned companies, particularly some big, foreign multicorp is just interested in making as much profit as possible, so they don't have much of an interest in good pay or safety for workers.' The People's Choice chair Paul McMahon welcomed the campaign and said some of the group's candidates will be present at anti-asset sale events. "We're happy to work with anyone to oppose asset sales.' McMahon said there is a one-seat majority of city councillors currently opposed to asset sales. He believes if one more city councillor who favours asset sales is elected, there will be a new push for sales next term. An LPC spokesperson declined to comment and referred questions about a possible sale to Christchurch City Holdings Ltd (CCHL) which owns city assets on behalf of the city council. A CCHL spokesperson said there are no current investigations into selling shares in key assets and any sale decisions rest with the city council.
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Scoop
Port Nelson Fine Highlights Maritime Safety Issues
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) says the $110,000 fine imposed on Port Nelson, following a stevedore's terrifying 12-metre fall from a container ship, shows the urgent need for stronger health and safety enforcement in New Zealand ports, and a crackdown on substandard foreign-flagged vessels. The company was sentenced on 6 May at the Nelson District Court after earlier pleading guilty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to breaching its duty of care to ensure the health and safety of workers. The incident, which occurred during the night of 16 January 2023 when a faulty guard rail gave way on the container ship Maersk Nansha, left an RMTU member with physical injuries and serious emotional trauma after plunging into the sea at night. RMTU General Secretary Todd Valster says while the fine acknowledges a breach of duty by Port Nelson, the issue is a systemic one. "This was a horrifying ordeal for our member that could have easily been fatal. It highlights a dangerous confluence of lax health and safety standards in ports and the unacceptable condition of some overseas ships," Mr. Valster says. "The fact that known issues with the ship's guard rails were not adequately addressed is a serious indictment. Our members, and all port workers, have the right to go to work knowing they are safe. This incident demonstrates a clear failure in that fundamental duty of care." Mr. Valster says the spotlight needs to go on the seaworthiness and safety of international vessels calling at New Zealand ports. "For too long, we've seen a race to the bottom with some international shipping lines operating rust buckets with little regard for the safety of their own crews or port workers who work on these vessels. This incident, involving a major international shipping line, shows even well-known operators are not immune to serious safety failings on their ships." Mr Valster says port companies and shipping operators must be held fully accountable for ensuring a safe working environment. This includes rigorous checks on the seaworthiness and safety compliance of all visiting vessels, proper training, and safe staffing levels. "The RMTU will continue to advocate for the safety and wellbeing of all rail and port workers.'
