Reprinted from The Common Good, No 8, Pentecost 1998
A NATIONAL DISGRACE - RUSSIAN SEAMEN ABANDONED IN NZ
People have always admired the beauty of Lyttelton Harbour. Beyond the church spire, the waters of the Pacific carry the fleets of the world to their destinations. It is a beauty that has been marred these past eight months as the rusting hulks of five Russian trawlers sit immobilised in a far corner of the inner harbour, tied together like prisoners on a work gang. On board, at times without electricity, water or food, remains what is left of 114 Russian seamen, stranded by a court order against their New Zealand employers.
ItÕs been a sorry saga for many reasons. At its heart was criminal offending by the NZ based Abel Fisheries Ltd, who had a joint venture with a Russian-Liechtenstein company called Karelrybflot (literally, Karel's fishing fleet). The only problem was Abel's breached quota regulations in a massive way, and upon arrest, they went bankrupt. This left the crew stranded waiting for their $1.1m in wages. The contracts had been signed with Abels in New Zealand on ships registered in New Zealand, with the stipulation that the crew be paid in New Zealand dollars. The crew rightly decided to dig in and await the outcome of their pleas to be paid. Meanwhile Abel Fisheries, charged with 79 offences, has been fined $162,000 for fishing without quota and misreporting catches. Its two directors were fined a total of $67,000.
Regrettably, it has not been a very happy wait for the crew. As the months rolled by and the government sought to repatriate them to Russia via a free flight home but without their wages, the anguish and anger of the crew intensified. Everyone believes them to be totally innocent of any wrong doing. The average crew member was only earning $57.50 per week for a 12 hour day, seven days a week work. Many have families whom they have not seen for more than one year. None have any money, not even for cigarettes. Neither do their families at home. They are owed approximately $8000 each. Income Support refused them a benefit point-blank when application was initially made. This is despite the fact there are emergency provisions to provide benefits if people are stranded and destitute in New Zealand.
The Minister of Fisheries, Mr Luxton, had an agreed settlement placed before him early in May which would have seen the ships sold and all creditors including the crew paid a certain proportion of what is owed. This agreement was accepted by all parties including the receiver - except the government. Instead, Mr Luxton said the ships were to be sold, the monies kept exclusively for the Crown, and the sailors given a free trip home where, he assured them, Karelrybflot had guaranteed their pay. This was given in the face of the fact that 70 percent of the crew who have already returned home have not been paid. Some crew here have been threatened by Karelrybflot that they will not get paid on their return for being ÔtroublemakersÕ.
People throughout New Zealand who have met the Russians and heard their stories have been moved to great anger at the inability of the authorities here to work out a reasonable solution to suit their needs. When justice goes and any feel for the common good vanishes, we are left with self interest and greed. That is the position of the NZ Government.
The crew's demands for full compensation have dwindled to the acceptance of something reasonable. The crew have no trust in the government here or at home, in Karelrybflot or in promises of payment on their return. They point to the instability of the economy in Russia, the flakiness of the company's bank, Barrets, (here today, gone tomorrow was one description of them) and the role the Russian Mafia play in the day to day life of industry in Russia. Some are genuinely frightened of what might happen to them on their return. Others have families who have been threatened already. More than sixty have already left without guarantees of payment because the pressure got too great and their families at home were desperate.
The combined churches in Lyttelton formed a committee to help and have given more than $3000 in money and goods to date. Much of this has gone as a direct gift of $US50 given to each crew member as he boards the plane. Most are being landed hundreds of miles from home. They have joined with the Seafarers Centre and the Salvation Army in keeping hope alive and seeking some semblance of justice for the crew. Food has been the biggest need and donations have come in from all around to help. They also led a prayer vigil on the wharf and have spoken out in the media about the plight of the sailors. They have provided transport to the crew who were collecting signatures each day in Cathedral Square on a petition to the government seeking a just solution. Two crew went on a hunger strike for a week but eventually succumbed to the cold.
Another 10 marched to Wellington to demand a better deal. Despite warnings about the distance, nearly 400 miles, the harsh winter weather and their inadequate clothing and footwear, they set forth on Queen's Birthday. They spent the first night under a bridge at Leithfield then proceeded to advance at between 30 and 40 miles per day, until they arrived in Wellington eleven days later. Country parishes en route provided food and shelter at various points including Cheviot, Kaikoura and Blenheim. A motelier provided accommodation overnight in Picton and ships' crews helped them to the Wellington end. It was a crazy venture which reflected both the sailors' frustration and their desperation. It was made possible by their tremendous spirit and courage, and by the hospitality they received. It was a truly co-operative effort.
At the heart of the impasse lies the decision of Mr Luxton to treat the Crown as the first and only beneficiary of any sale of the boats. This is plainly unjust and once again reflects the mind of a government with no soul. How could any official not respond to these men in their just demands to be paid as promised? How could any self respecting man go home after all this time, work and hassle, without a bean in his pocket and be expected to retain self respect? Their claim for wages will be heard in the High Court in Christchurch on 27 July. God's justice fully supports the demands these men are making. It is up to the government here in New Zealand to set aside their economic blindfolds and treat the crew as we would like to be treated ourselves - with justice, sensitivity and compassion.
ARE THEY BEING PAID?
The Minister of Fisheries, John Luxton, claims that Karelrybflot, the hiring company in Russia, will pay the seamen upon their return, if only they will trust them. Should they? It seems not. Below we print a report from Russia, published in THE MURMANSK DAILY, 21 March 1998.
There is a crowd of sailors hanging around the head office of Karelrybflot every morning, hoping something will happen. It was on one of these mornings that these conversations took place.
How are you living? We haven't got any choice. We are hungry. Some times we are lucky to pick up casual work. My wife is knitting something and selling it. We come back from the sea in October and still didn't get our contracted salary, as agreed, just a day-to-day living allowance, that's all. We've been fed on promises.
When was the last time you saw money? I don't remember, it was so long ago. This is the third year we've been waiting. Even after taking our case to the courts, we still remain unpaid. The legal system does not want to know. I went to sea for four months. My salary was $1000. I have to pay for my daughter's education. My son has an illness which could be cured if I could take my son away from such a cold climate as in Murmansk. But I cannot afford this.
So what are you going to do? What can you hope for? The government is changing, there are young people coming in. Maybe guns will be legal. Yes, that's an idea. The last time my wife received money was in October 1996. Mr Klimashevich, an official of Karelrybflot, reported on TV that the sailors on the ships in New Zealand had all been paid. I have met these sailors. They are friends of mine. They are all very angry because they have not been paid. I have just arrived back from New Zealand and I have not seen any money yet.