Maritime Union 4th Triennial Conference

Maritime Union of New Zealand media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday 7 November 2012

The Maritime Union is holding its 4th Triennial Conference this week in Wellington.

The conference runs from Tuesday 6 November to Friday 9 November (noon).

Maritime Union of New Zealand General Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the Conference concludes a three year period of intense activity for the Union.

He says that the Ports of Auckland dispute was on the agenda, along with many other campaigns the Union had been involved in, ranging from opposing port privatisation, promoting secure jobs rather than casualization, and advocating for much tighter health and safety regulations in the maritime industry.

He says the Maritime Union will continue to play a leading role in advancing the interests of maritime workers and the wider working class.

The Maritime Union had strengthened its alliances with the global union movement, and was hosting a number of international delegates and speakers at the Conference.

These include the International President of the International Transport Workers' Federation, and Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, Paddy Crumlin.

The four senior international officers of the ILWU, representing dock workers on the West Coast of North America and Hawaii, are in attendance, including International President of the ILWU Robert McEllrath.

Three officials of the ILA, the dock workers union from the east coast of North America, will attend for the first time, led by Kenneth Riley, President of ILA Local 1422, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Other international unions represented at the conference include the Maritime Union of Australia, CFMEU Mining and Energy Division (Australia), Electrical Trades Union (Australia), Australian Workers' Union, All Japan Dock Workers Union Zen Kowan, RMT (UK), and ILWU Canadian Section.

Mr Fleetwood says the four national officers of the Maritime Union of New Zealand were recently re-elected unopposed.

ENDS

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