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           Shipping Stevedoring Port Services Hydrocarbons Diving  Jul-Aug 2008        |
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Women@Work: Strong Unions Need WomenMUNZ Women’s Seminars 2005Congratulations to the women of MUNZ, following is a report from Rachel Goddard, womens delegate, MUNZ on their inaugral womens conference. "The Maritime Union of New Zealand has had a huge success for working Women in the Maritime industry. It has taken a lot of time and effort to kick start our Inaugural Women’s Seminars but our first two sets of two day seminars were held on 15, 16 and 21, 22 of November in Wellington RSA and Ngongotaha, Willow Haven.
Our very own education program gave 30 MUNZ women the chance to be educated and take an active participation in examining the barriers for women working on the waterfront, including identifying reasons why some employers do not have women working on the waterfront. It has launched strengths for encouraging more women onto the waterfront and provide them with the knowledge and skills to enable them to develop strategies for increasing involvement in their workplace, through health and safety committees, branch committees and as health and safety reps. The women also identified the importance of working with other women to identify problem solving processes and help resolve workplace issues. As part of an active session on 15 November all our Wellington Seminar Women joined other MUNZ members, our National Executive, MUA National Officials and other NZ based unions and activists and went to the Protest against Johnny Howard's Industrial Relations legislation held at the Australian Embassy in support of our brothers and sisters across the Tasman. There we heard from various speakers including MUA General Secretary Paddy Crummlin. Afterwards our women gathered and asked Paddy Crummlin brainstormed questions about Issues with men not working with women - (isolation, segregation), Equal opportunity, Pay parity and Paid Parental Leave in our collective agreements for men and women better than legislation. The Women then asked the same questions to Maxine Gay a long time Women activist in the Trade Union movement of NZ with her father as a Merchant Seaman and mother as a Clothing worker; and its remarkable how similar their responses were. It then became apparent for us to look at education on the job for our members and for union officials for men and women regarding women's issues; knowing that they are union issues. Breaking down the cultures of ignorance so that men and women can work together to fight the boss as one, as Paddy said "Sexism is the bosses tool to divide us" and Maxine Said "Women and Men have to work together and any thing other than that can only lead to destruction". Maxine and Paddy also talked about the fact that if we don't work for emancipation especially in our Male dominated industry then we simply become "Re-active Unions" rather than proactive, progressive unions. Rick Newlyn MUA Assistant National Secretary and MUA Paddy Crummlin's PA Joanne White also joined in on our Wellington Seminar giving us a run down on what women in the MUA are up to before watching the LA Mining and Maritime Conference on DVD. The Women set similar Tasks for the future at both of our seminars and we have to commemorate the MUNZ Women in the Port of Tauranga Branch for achieving their first task set. We now have two elected Women Cathrine Haerewa and Whetu Mathews on the executive of Tauranga Branch. That in its self is an historical moment. Also at Willow Haven in remembrance of November 25, International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women, MUNZ women wore White Ribbons after reading the letter sent from our Asia/Pacific regional women's co-ordinator Nishi Kapahi. The Women in these seminars quickly became eager to be active in many areas of their union MUNZ and the ITF that we are all proud to belong to. We would all like to give innumerable thanks to Phil Spanswick and the steering committee that help set the foundation for this program to happen, if were not for their effort we would not be miles ahead in the pursuit of greater awareness. Immeasurable thanks go out to our wonderful National Educator Fred Salele'a who has not only brought about his own understanding of discrimination, being a Pacific Islander himself, but has helped give women the tools to educate other women. We love you Fred! Janitia Barton and I are truly thankful also to having to opportunity to contribute together as Watersider and Seafarer to the content of our planned sessions also the education of how to deliver education to workers giving us opportunity to Co-Facilitate along with Fred Salele'a and then by ourselves. We have around 180 Women in our union and we have 150 more women to educate but a growing foundation has been initiated with a strong network for continual development. Maxine Gay said it is a Marathon not a Sprint. Rachael Goddard
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