Showgirls Picket Success

The management of Auckland group Sante Fe Gold learnt a lesson in workers' rights they are unlikely to forget, after a picket sent a message directly to their wallets. The management of Santa Fe Gold who manage several major adult entertainment bars including Auckland Showgirls sacked five cleaners after they joined the Unite Union. The workers had contacted the union after being subjected to continual verbal abuse including racist comments. One worker was even assaulted.

Management also failed to meet minimum health and safety standards. They weren't being paid sick pay or days off in lieu for working public holidays. Workers had to work 6-7 hours without a break

After three weeks of attempted mediation, Matt McCarten, the Director of Unite, pulled the plug on mediation. McCarten said in an interview with Socialist Worker The employers are happy to sit in the courts and workers can often be marginalised by the legal process. We decided to use the lost art of applying pressure to the employer directly through their pocket.

The picket was held on Friday the 27th of June outside Showgirls in downtown Auckland. The picket lasted two hours despite police harassment, in that time only five people crossed the picket. The picket started with over 15 people and grew to over 40 at its height.

Two hours before the Saturday picket started Unite received a call from the management asked them not to go ahead. They claimed the picket the night before had cost them well over $10,000 and they would like to meet with the Union the next day.

At the Sunday meeting, the management agreed to investigate all the unions allegations and committed to remedy any wrongs and reinstate any worker found to be wrongly dismissed. They also agreed to consider favourably an employment agreement and acknowledged the freedom to join unions.

Unite is now watching to see whether the employer will keep their word, but is ready to carry the industrial struggle in to the streets again. The bosses don't like fronting up to the public to explain themselves. I know it works.

by John Anderson

unite.union@clear.net.nz
Unite Union
P.O. Box 27-214
Wellington
Tel: (04) 385 2529
Fax: (04) 385 2528