Seamen step up call for more jobs

Press, 2 June 1984, Page 7

Seamen step up call for more jobs

PA Wellington Seamen say they are facing serious unemployment because ships are being laid up. They are stepping up their campaign to get more jobs in overseas-owned ships to compensate for lost job opportunities at home. “We face real problems in the next two months,” said the Seamen’s Union national president, Mr David Morgan. “The only answer for us is to expand into the overseas trades, both liner and bulk.” Ships facing lay-up include the Cook Strait rail ferry Aranui, the bulk carrier New Zealand Alliance, and the cement carrier John Wilson. More than 120 seamen’s positions would disappear in the next two months. Scores more seafarers from other maritime unions would also be affected, Mr Morgan said. A plea to the Government for the New Zealand Alliance, the bulk carrier run jointly by the Shipping Corporation and Jebsens, to carry coal and phosphate had been unsuccessful. The union had suggested the ship carry coal from New Zealand to Japan and return with phosphate from the Pacific Islands. A New Zealand-crewed New Zealand Alliance could carry the coal for costs within 41c a tonne of foreign flag vessels, the union said.

“If that is not competitive, we pose the question what is?” Mr Morgan said. The Acting Minister of Transport, Mr Malcolm, has told the union its calculations could be correct where the ship was continuously trading. But its cost comparisons would not apply to spot trading. Mr Morgan said the union intended stepping up its campaign for more job opportunities in overseasowned ships trading through New Zealand ports. “We are determined to remind people that we are

still around,” he said. The union had formed an overseas trade campaign committee and had recently printed thousands of $l2 “banknotes.” The look-alike “banknotes” follow a similar approach adopted by Australian seafarers. Messages printed on them include: “12 dollars represents the share every New Zealander has in the Shipping Corporation,” and “This note is as phoney as the Government’s White Paper on shipping.”