Bluff Waterfront Scene of Double Industrial Action

Bluff workers, local townspeople and supporters from as far north as Port Chalmers will be picketing the log boat Northern Light from early on Saturday morning at Southport in Bluff.
The Northern Light is being worked by Mainland Stevedoring and their bussed-in employees.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says the heart of the issue is about decent wages, working conditions and a sustainable industry, all of which are being put under threat by "rogue operators" such as Mainland.

The MUNZ picket comes at the same time as members of the other waterfront union, the Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU), picket the waterfront in support of a pay rise.

Members of both unions are supporting each other's pickets.

"Mainland thought they could introduce their divide and rule tactics in the Deep South, but werent expecting the continued resistance to their methods," said MUNZ general secretary Trevor Hanson.

"The Maritime Union has resisted Mainland and resisted casualisation in ports throughout the South Island and we welcome the opportunity to work with other port unions against casualisation and eroding conditions."

MUNZ Bluff branch secretary Ray Fife says local union members are
defending local jobs and the local economy in a case of "southern solidarity".

He says they will continue resisting out-of-town stevedores Mainland "as long as it takes" in order to defend local jobs and conditions.

"We dont like how Mainland treat workers, the way they do work and how they impact on local communities," says Ray Fife, who has worked on the Bluff
waterfront for more than 20 years.

"If Mainland becomes established here, we know what the effect will be on
Bluff workers and the local economy, and we are not going to let that
happen."