10 March – Today was a True Labour Day!
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Yesterday, thousands of ordinary folk - many from overseas – marched through the streets of Auckland in protest at unfair treatment, and in support of maritime workers. The numbers ranged from 2,000 to 3,000 to 5,000 to simply ‘thousands‘ – but regardless how many took to the streets, it was a grand effort,
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Workers, families and supporters of Auckland's port workers who are currently striking over working conditions, make their way along the waterfront in protest at being made redundant by the company.
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The March was a testament to the sense of fairplay and support for the underdog, that many New Zealanders hold dear and cherish as a value.
And it will continue to grow. When citizens discover the raw power that they wield, they use it to stunning effect. Just ask any dictator in the Middle East , or former leaders from Soviet-era Eastern Europe.
This industrial bonfire has been sparked by a Ports of Auckland Ltd (POAL) Board and CEO, Tony Gibson, who have engaged in dishonest tactics; unprofessional behaviour; a sham negotiation process; and are now wasting tens of thousands of ratepayers’ dollars on full page ads in the Herald (which are nothing more than one-sided propaganda).
But it’s hardly surprising really, that Gibson is trying to destroy the Maritime Union and de-unionise the port. A de-unionised workforce is cheaper and more readily exploited for port companies and shipping lines – shipping lines like Maersk, which have been playing off Auckland and Tauranga Ports against each other.
Maersk – the shipping company Tony Gibson used to work for,
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No divided loyalities or conflict of interest there, I hope, Mr Gibson?
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Meanwhile, true loyalties were expressed when local Auckland councillors, Community Board members, Members of Parliament, and unionists came from around the world to support port workers and their families.
Photos courtesy of various good people who were fortunate to attend the March (I am so incredibly envious!!!) and presented in no particular sequential order,
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Greg Presland, Denise Yates, chair of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board, Patricia M Reade, Julie Fairey, Michael Wood and Leau Peter Skelton. (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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Labour Party; Moira Coatsworth, Darien Fenton, Phil Twyford, David Cunliffe, Sua William Sio, Moana Mackey, Charles Chauvel, and Megan Woods. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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10 March - Aucklanders support port workers. (No acknowledgement details available)
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Denise Roche, David Shearer, Sally Wilson, Moira Coatsworth, Darien Fenton, Phil Twyford, David Cunliffe, Sua William Sio, Jacinda Ardern, Moana Mackey, Andrew Little, Charles Chauvel, Megan Woods and Louisa Wall Labour Manurewa. (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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David Shearer, Labour Leader, speaking on the mound. In front of him, a crowd of thousands gathers to support MUNZ workers. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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CTU President, Helen Kelly (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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The tide has turned and it is sad - Michael Wood and Enzo Giordani. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Mana Party's flag (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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Garry Parsloe, President of MUNZ. We're in this for the long haul- oh yes we are. With Carol Beaumont, Helen Kelly, David Shearer, Moira Coatsworth, and Darien Fenton. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Thousands march!(Acknowledgement for photo: save our ports.com)
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Labour's Sunny Kaushal, Charles Chauvel, David Cunliffe and Carmel Sepuloni. (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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Really happy to be supporting MUNZ workers. Really upset at the Mayor I campaigned for. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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The Workers' Haka! (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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Helen Kelly, President of the Council of Trade Unions, makes her point. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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An Auckland Citizen making her feelings known! (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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Nga Ringa Tota - Len Richards and Jill Ovens. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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With Anahila Lose Suisuiki and Josephine Bartley. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Somewhat to the point, I believe. A call from the people that their leader should lead! (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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With Kate Sutton and Richard Hills at 10 March rally for workers. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Meat Workers do the Haka. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Fighting for our children - this is what it's all about! (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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With Kymberley Inu at the march. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Is it me.. or does David Cunliffe look like that bloke from "Gladiator"? Quick, someone give him a sword, shield, and Union Agreement and send him into POAL's Boardroom! There - sorted!! (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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Supporting Auckland port workers - 10 March (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Solidarity with Port Workers! David Cunliffe second from right. (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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"mum and dad" New Zealanders who demand better treatment for our fellow workers - before everyone buggers off to Australia! (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Speakers at the March to support Auckland Port workers - Denise Roach in green. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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ACT's representation on the March! (No acknowledgement details available)
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With Tele'a Andrews at the march. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Community Board representatives, Leau Peter Skelton and Tafafuna'i Tasi Lauese; Labour MP Louisa Wall (at back); and Labour MP, Sua William Sio. (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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With Anahila Lose Suisuiki, Josephine Bartley, Moana Mackey, Megan Woods and Richard Hills. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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With Green Party MP, Denise Roche and Ray Familathe, International Transport Workers Federation representative. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Labour MPs Ross Robertson, Louisa Wall Labour Manurewa and Sua William Sio. (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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With Megan Woods and Moana Mackey. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Folks are p----d off, and they ain't going to take it no more! (Acknowledgement for photo: Greg Presland)
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New Zealanders who've had a gutsful at the way we treat our fellow workers. (Acknowledgement for photo: Gina Giordani)
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Those at the center of this dispute; workers and their families. (Acknowledgement for photo: Save Our Port.Com)
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- Roll Call of Honour -
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Members of Parliament
Jacinda Ardern, MP, Labour
Charles Chauvel, MP, Labour
David Cunliffe, MP, Labour
Darien Fenton, MP, Labour
Hone Harawira, MP, Mana Party leader
Parekura Horomia, MP, Labour
Andrew Little, MP, Labour
Moana Mackey, MP, Labour
Nanaia Mahuta, MP, Labour
Sue Moroney, MP, Labour
Ross Robertson, MP, Labour
Denise Roche, MP, Green Party
David Shearer, MP, Labour leader
Sua William Sio, MP, Labour
Rino Tirakatene, MP, Labour
Phil Twyford, MP, Labour
Louisa Wall, MP, Labour
Megan Woods, MP, Labour
Auckland City Councillors
Cathy Casey
Sandra Coney
Mike Lee
Community Board Members
Josephine Bartley, Tamaki Subdivision of the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board
Leila Boyle, Tamaki Subdivision of the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board
Shale Chambers, Waitemata Local Board
Christopher Dempsey, Waitemata Local Board
Julie Fairey, Puketapapa Local Board
Graeme Easte, Albert-Eden Local Board
Catherine Farmer, Whau Local Board
Grant Gillon, Kaipatiki Local Board
Peter Haynes, Albert-Eden Local Board
Richard Hills, Kaipatiki Local Board
Vivienne Keohane, Kaipatiki Local Board
Tafafuna’i Tasi Lauese, Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board
Simon Mitchell, Albert-Eden Local Board
Greg Presland, Waitakere Ranges Local Board
Patricia M Reade, Waitemata Local Board
Leau Peter Skelton, Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board
Lydia Sosene, Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board
Michael Wood, Puketapapa Local Board
Denise Yates, chair of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board
International Trade Unionists
Ray Familathe, International Transport Workers Federation representative
Mauro Viera, Sydney stevedore
& many others!
Young Activist Heroes!
NZ First Youth
And last, and most important,
The People of Auckland who Marched!
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Additional
Fairfax: Thousands march in support of port workers
TV3: John Campbell interviews Auckland Mayor Len Brown
TV3: Unions band together against ‘vicious employers’
TV3: Mana, Greens, Labour join ports rally
TVNZ: Thousands rally for sacked Ports workers
TVNZ: Port dispute ‘causing ripples’ overseas
TVNZ: Port’s growth target questioned
TVNZ: Q+A: Transcript of Paul Holmes interview with Len Brown
Metro: Every Storm in the Port
Matt McCarten/NZ Herald: Mayor’s leadership feeling the strain
Brian Rudman/NZ Herald: Mayor’s paralysis in port dispute leaves role of leader vacant
Auckland Now: Shipping firm quits port amid protest
NZ Herald: Auckland, Tauranga ports ‘cutting each other’s throats’ – Mike Lee
NZ Herald: Noisy march gives heart to wharfies
NZ Herald: C-words that don’t help anyone except bosses
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Other Blog Reports
Dimpost: Destroying the village to make it more efficient
Dimpost: ‘We’re going on a journey . . .’
The Jackalman: Richard Pearson – Asshole of the Week
Tumeke: In defense (and immediate criticism) of Mayor Scab Brown
Tumeke: What was said on the protest march
Bowalley Road: Frightening The Government
Waitakere News: Len Brown and POAL – Its your time Len
Waitakere News: Is Auckland’s Port’s labour costs cheaper than Tauranga’s?
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Cheers Frank and good stuff. The person next to me in the top photo is Denise Yates, chair of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board. We have a good progressive board and Neil Henderson, Janet Clews and Judy Lawley are also supportive.
Thanks for the heads-up, Greg. It all helps to fill in the picture of where our community leaders are at.
And I’m definitely happy to have others adding their names here, as supporting the port workers! The more the mightier!
Felt great representing what was right against the Right.
We were all totally blown away by the level of support the march received from both local and international quarters. When the Firemen turn out, you know it’s a noble cause!
Also loved the reaction the NZF Youth crew got; not meaning to blow our own trumpet or anything, but it was a great feeling having dock workers and unionists come up and shake your hand for lending a sign and a presence to their cause!
I’ve never been a fan of trade unions. At my age i remember some of the crap we had to put up with in the 1970s.
This time though I think the maritime workers are in the right and they’ve been rightly shafted by their bosses. I get more information from blogs like yours Frank and others than I do from the media which gives us useless sounbites and not much else.
As an Aucklander I’ll be thinking real carefully who I vote for at the next council elections. So your list above is verey useful.
+1
NZF? New Zealand First? I voted for Winston last year. I’m glad to see he made it back.
Rock on, mate. When young folk get politically conscious and involved, there’s hope for us yet.
Good to see NZ First, Labour, Greens, Mana, et al, working together – this is what the public want to see. It reassures voters that voting for any of the opposition parties is a good thing because they are reassured of collaborative co-operation between disparate groups.
There will always be differences, and we work through those with compromises and good will.
Where we agree, we rocket ahead, and leave the Right in our dust…
Funny you should say that, ‘gg’, I was pretty much the same in the 1970s and early 1980s; quite right wing in my attitude toward Unions.
Over time, I realised their purpose; to counter the imbalance of power between workers of their bosses. As I grew older and witnessed the abuse that some workers experienced at the hands of some quite nasty employers and managers, that’s when the ‘light went on’ for me.
Without Unions we end up with an exploited, low-paid workforce, like the Foreign Chartered Vessels that were recently revealed abusing their workers; http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/a-slave-by-any-other-name/