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New Zealand maritime union calls off protest to make way for talks
10 November 2006
Seafarers in New Zealand called off a protest last weekend after a shipping company agreed to discuss the future of crew on board one of its vessels plying the trans-Tasman route.
Members of the ITF-affiliated Maritime Union of New Zealand stopped the Hapag Lloyed ship Rotoiti from being unloaded in the ports of Auckland Bledisloe last Saturday. The union feared that plans to retire the 31-year-old vessel would see trans-Tasman cargo carried on ships owned by other companies, putting New Zealand seafarers out of work. It is demanding that some berths on the replacement ships be reserved for New Zealand seafarers.
Bowing to pressure from the union, Hapag Lloyd later that day agreed to discuss the issue of ongoing employment for the seafarers on the route.
Maritime Union Auckland Seafarers Branch Secretary Garry Parsloe commented: "We feel this is a positive result as we wanted dialogue with the company, and they have accepted they have some social responsibility towards New Zealand seafarers."
A meeting between the union and the company is scheduled to take place on 15 November.
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