Posts
There
are several bits of NZ news. The closure of the container port at
Timaru demonstrates both the declining state of shipping as well as
the nature of globalised capitalism.
The Railways were privatised and sold by a right-wing government, run down and asset-stripped by a succession of foreign owners and then bought back at great expense by the government. It is little surprise, especially with another right-wing government that favours road transportation that the railways are in trouble.
The response of Maori to the government's plans to sell key infrastructure assets (as well as the arrogant response of the govenment) will hopefully spell political trouble. Maori opposition respresents the only chance to ensure that the massive rip-off does not proceed
Timaru
port to lose all container work
Timaru's
port has confirmed it is losing all its container shipping work,
threatening about 50 jobs
10
July, 2012
PrimePort
Timaru told staff on Tuesday morning that shipping companies Maersk
and Hamburg Sud have decided to stop calling there from 17 September
this year.
The
companies have run a combined service which has supplied the South
Canterbury port with almost all its container trade.
Prime
Port chief executive Jeremy Boys says the decision means the town
will no longer have a container port. The company has about 85
permanent and casual staff, and many will be affected.
The
South Island organiser of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union says
staff had no idea before Tuesday morning that the shipping lines were
pulling out.
John
Kerr says 90% of PrimePort's operations staff are involved in
container handling and expects that more than 50 jobs will go.
Mr
Kerr says the decision is devastating for the workers and will have a
massive impact on Timaru.
After
September, the containers will be offloaded at Port Chalmers in
Dunedin and sent to Timaru by rail, he says.
Maori
Council complains over PM's comments
The
Maori Council's legal team has complained to the Waitangi Tribunal
over the conduct of the Prime Minister John Key amid a hearing into
water rights
10
July, 2012
The
tribunal is hearing from Maori claimants who want ownership and
management issues settled by the Crown before the partial sale of
selected state-owned assets.
The
Mixed Ownership Model Bill passed in Parliament by 61 votes to 60 on
26 June this year. The legislation opens the door for the sale of up
to 49% of shares in Genesis Energy, Meridian Energy, Mighty River
Power and Solid Energy.
The
tribunal began urgent hearings at Waiwhetu Marae in Lower Hutt on
Monday on water claims the Maori Council hopes will delay the
Government's plans to sell asset shares.
On
Tuesday, lawyers told the tribunal they are concerned Mr Key's
comments in the media about the outcome of the inquiry could be seen
as an attempt to influence the tribunal.
John
Key has said he does not think there is merit in the Maori Council's
water claim and the tribunal's findings are not binding on the
Government.
Crown
representatives at the hearing on Tuesday have been ordered to
investigate the statements and to report back next Monday.
Mr
Key said on Tuesday afternoon the Government will listen to what the
Waitangi Tribunal has to say on water rights, but he is acting in
good faith.
"We're
going through a process. We'll be interested to see what the Waitangi
Tribunal says; we're acting in good faith. We take the process
seriously - but that doesn't mean we're bound by it and that's the
law in New Zealand."
Earlier,
the Prime Minister acknowledged that a court injunction could delay
the progress of the partial asset sales programme.
John
Key says the tribunal hearing's outcome would not prevent the
Government proceeding, but action taken through the courts would be a
different matter.
Mr
Key says he hopes any court action would be decided quickly, given
there is already a proposed date for the first share float.
At last the Maori Party (in a coalition with the National Party) is expressing anger at PM Key - GO HERE
KiwiRail
set to cut up to 220 jobs
KiwiRail
plans to cut between 170 and 220 jobs by October, saying it needs to
reduce expenditure by $200 million in its Infrastructure and
Engineering Department in the next three years.
10
July, 2012
In
a consultation document obtained by New Zealand First, the
state-owned enterprise says the move could save it about $14 million
a year in wages and also indicates that further job losses are
likely.
KiwiRail
has been holding meetings with employees throughout New Zealand, with
the final meeting to be held in Invercargill on Friday.
It
says it is operating in tough trading conditions compounded by the
Canterbury earthquakes and the proposed changes will help it achieve
financial sustainability by 2020.
The
Rail and Maritime Transport Union says its members are angry and
shocked.
The
Council of Trade Unions says the plan is reckless and will compromise
passenger safety and create uncertainty for freight companies.
President Helen Kelly says employment should be being created, not
wiped out.
False economy, says Labour
The
Labour Party says cutting jobs is false economy. Transport
spokesperson Phil Twyford says the Government should put more capital
into KiwiRail because it is an important asset.
SOE
spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove says the cuts are further evidence that
KiwiRail is being prepped for sale and the Government wants to
convince people that KiwiRail is no longer a viable company and
therefore should be sold.
Green
Party co-leader Russel Norman says the Government's transport policy
is to blame. Dr Norman says the Government is directing vast sums of
money at new motorways and under-funding investment in rail.
However,
Prime Minister John Key says KiwiRail's proposal to cut the jobs is
an operational matter for the state-owned enterprise.
Mr
Key says it is up to the management to make the right decisions to
make the business profitable and the Government will not intervene.
The
Government has no plans to sell KiwiRail, he says.
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