Port Protestors in Auckland

[Susurrus]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10791149

[Grenzer]

I haven't heard much about the worker's movement in New Zealand, thanks for the article.

The cost of living over there is pretty high, so I can imagine that things there might take off a bit sooner than they would in other developed nations, but it's hard to say. I'll admit to not being particularly well informed on the circumstances surrounding New Zealand, and I've never met a comrade from there.

[Small Geezer]

It was a good demo. About 5,000 turned out. Representatives from Labour Party (the equivalent of British Labour), Mana (Left Maori sovereigntist party) and Greens. Also many NZ unions as well as representatives from the Australian Maritime Union and the US ILWU.

The Great Recession has hit NZ but not as savagely as most OECD countries.

Our sovereign debt has been 'managed well', meaning there have been relatively few cuts in social expenditure. Unions are extremely weak, having by no means recovered from the 1991 Employment Contracts Act which effectively destroyed trade unionism in New Zealand.

There is a 'centre right' party in government at the moment, into their second 3-year term.

The cost of living is high and wages are low. Tax on the rich is a joke and they are allowed to avoid paying tax through many loopholes.

New Zealands economy basically survives on it's dairy commodities with East Asian countries as our main buyer.

Governments, for decades, have refused to fund R&D in order to diversify the economy. However the current Labour Party opposition as well as the other 'Left' parties now support more R&D.

The most left party in parliament is the Mana Party (link in my signature).
Two Marxist parties have joined, Socialist Aotearoa and Workers Party of New Zealand.

The Mana Party propose policies which would massively restore Trade Unionism in NZ, increase taxes on the rich, raise the level of Social Welfare Benefits, raise the minimum wage and pull our troops out of all foreign entanglements as well as enacting fairer Maori land policies.

[Small Geezer]

Striking Wharfies block access to port




http://news.msn.co.nz/img/article/feb12/march12-port.jpg
Police have been called to Auckland ports after striking wharfies attempted to stop vehicles and other workers entering the sites (Getty)






Police have been called to Auckland ports after striking wharfies attempted to stop vehicles and other workers entering the sites.


It comes amidst a six-week strike by Maritime Union members after Ports of Auckland announced it will make nearly 300 workers redundant so it can introduce competitive stevedoring by outside contractors at its Fergusson and Bledisloe container terminals.


The union says the work will be on a casual basis, destroying the family life of workers, who are on a six-week strike following the announcement of their job losses.
The workers formed picket lines at port entrances from about 4am on Monday and tried to stop trucks and staff reaching work, Ports of Auckland says.
It caused disruption to a cruise ship and a container ship due to berth at the port.


Pickets were blocking access to the Fergusson Terminal, Tinley Street, Captain Cook, Princes Wharf and Wynyard Wharf.


Police warned of traffic congestion on Tamaki Drive caused by picketing.
Ports of Auckland says those on the picket line are being investigated over reports they forced cars to stop, verbally abused their occupants and demanded information about why they were entering the port, photographed licence plates and hit the car of a staff member.


The actions come as union representatives meet with Auckland Mayor Len Brown.


Mr Brown offered at the weekend to mediate with both sides, but it is not clear whether Ports of Auckland representatives will attend a meeting.
Ports of Auckland chairman Richard Pearson told Radio New Zealand "a sinister element" in the union is preventing workers from applying for the contracted roles, but he is confident many workers will sign up.


Maritime Union president Garry Parsloe says that is unlikely.
"I'm told that none of them are going to and if they do, they do - that's their prerogative.
"If somebody wants to go down there, I certainly [am not] going to stop them. But that's not the direction they're telling me."