Ports of Auckland workers to gather support at conference

Ports of Auckland workers to gather support at major union conference in Sydney

Maritime Union of New Zealand media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday 23 February 2012

Ports of Auckland workers are seeking support from a major union meeting in Australia next week as strike action closes the port from tomorrow Friday 24 February.

A delegation of workers is travelling to the four yearly conference of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) next week to gain support for their cause.

Maritime Union National President Garry Parsloe says MUNZ and the MUA work together closely and have a strong relationship.

"The issues of secure jobs and stopping contracting out attacks are well understood by workers around the world."

He says the delegation of Auckland workers will report to the Australian conference, and seek industrial and financial backing for the Ports of Auckland workers.

Mr Parsloe says many affiliates of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) would be at the Sydney meeting, as MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin was also the International President of the ITF, the global federation of transport unions.

"The Ports of Auckland dispute has been flagged as a major dispute by the ITF and we expect to be picking up ongoing strong support from maritime and transport workers internationally."

The delegates will also attend a meeting of the Mining and Maritime Initiative, a global network of mining and maritime unions, in Sydney this weekend prior to the MUA conference.

ENDS

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