SERVICE AND FOOD WORKERS UNION NGA RINGA TOTA

MEDIA ADVISORY

2 August 2011

Union Seeks Select Committee Support For Extensive Fishing Inquiry

The Service and Food Workers Union Ngā Ringa Tota will present to the Primary Production Select committee on Thursday 4 August in support of a petition, signed by over 12,000 people, called for an inquiry into the fishing industry.

The union, which represents over 2,000 workers in the seafood industry, is seeking the committee’s support for an extensive inquiry, which includes an investigation into the devastating job loss that has occurred in the industry as a result of changes in the past decade.

Service and Food Workers Union spokesperson Neville Donaldson said: “The issues in the industry go much further than ending the disgraceful exploitation of foreign workers fishing within our economic zone. Thousands of New Zealanders have lost jobs in the industry in the past 10 years and any inquiry must investigate the causes and the lost opportunity for future employment. It must also consider measures to ensure New Zealand and New Zealanders benefit from our fishing industry.

“Upskilling of New Zealand workers, and the impact on employment and job skills of Māori workers, who have traditionally made up a large percentage of the workforce, is a critical issue.”

The Service and Food Workers Union runanga will introduce a presentation by Neville Donaldson. Chrissie Campbell Hutana and Victor Norman, long-serving workers in the seafood industry, will speak about the human impact of changes in the fishing industry.

Joe Fleetwood, National Secretary of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, will address off-shore issues.

Fishing industry petition

10am, 4 August

Select Committee room 4, Parliament Buildings

ends

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