The Unionist Issue 31, December 8 2005

Download the Unionist here - PDF file (70kb)

Union counter proposal to Air New Zealand released todayUnions representing the 617 workers who Air New Zealand wants to make redundant have released their counter proposal to the company in Auckland this morning. A warrior presented the wero, or challenge, to the company outside its corporate office in downtown Auckland.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little said that simply closing the heavy maintenance operation down and shipping the work overseas is not the only option. "The engineering expertise at Air New Zealand is world-class, the peak of the engineering industry in New Zealand," he said. "If we let it go we will never get it back. This decision is too important to our future to be rushed, and we will be asking Air New Zealand and the government to take the time necessary to make the best decision."

The EPMU have launched a Fix Our Planes At Home campaign, and you can download leaflets and posters, and send messages directly to the company on the campaign website:www.fixourplanesathome.com

Kindergarten Teachers Strike

For only the third time in 121 years, kindergarten teachers are today taking national strike action after negotiations for their new collective agreement broke down. A major issue of contention relates to increasing the direct contact hours kindergarten teachers have with children.

The teachers are members of NZEI Te Riu Roa, and their President Colin Tarr said that not having term breaks and increasing contact hours to unsustainable levels will cause kindergarten teachers to burnout.

"Kindergarten teachers and the children they teach need term breaks, just like the teachers and students at primary and secondary teachers need term breaks," he said. "The teachers are now going on strike because they're determined to protect the quality of education that they provide."

SFWU Pay Parity Campaign at Hamilton Casino

Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota, members at SkyCity casino in Hamilton have begun an email campaign to get their employer to recognise their right to a fair share and pay parity with their Auckland co-workers. To support these workers there is an urgent-action campaign being run on the LabourStart website. To see details of the campaign and to send an email to the boss, go to: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=64

Union Economic update

CTU Economist Peter Conway's final Economic Update for the year was published last week, and includes commentary on ongoing business pessimism, provides an economic snapshot for unions, as well as the regular updates on the latest data on wages, unemployment, trade, price indexes, retail trade, housing, crown accounts, population, business numbers and migration. Always a good read, check the latest issue out online at http://www.union.org.nz/policy/113339165828121.html

Great Christmas Present Idea If you live in Wellington, then the CTU has some lovely scarves made in Burma for sale. They are a fundraiser for the Federation of Trade Unions Burma. Come to the CTU office to look at them, or contact robert.reid@claw.org.nz

Recent Additons to the CTU website

Several additions have been made to the CTU website in the past week. These include:
* CTU Economic Update - http://www.union.org.nz/policy/113339165828121.html
* Several upcoming events in December - http://www.union.org.nz/events
* Updated Local Affiliate Councils page - http://www.union.org.nz/about/local.html  
* New campaign links on the frontpage: Workers Voice at the WTO, Finsec Health and Safety campaign, EPMU Fix Our Planes At Home, Labour Start's new TV website and Community.Net's campaigning toolkit
* December Health and Safety Newsletter - http://www.worksafereps.org.nz
* New jobs in the union movement - http://www.union.org.nz/about/unionvacancies.html  

Events

CTU Events

Waikato LAC Thur 8 Dec, 5.15pm TUC, 34 Harwood St Hamilton jamesr@nzdwu.org.nz

Palmerston North combined unions Xmas function Thur 22 December, starts 3.30pm 1st Floor, PSA House, 43 King Street, Palmerston North john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Nelson LAC Tues 13 Dec, 10-12, followed by lunch together Trailways Nelson Motor Inn, Trafalgar St. CHorn@nduunion.org.nz

Canterbury Unions social event Fri 16 Dec, 5.30pm onwards Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh Street, ChCh Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Otago LAC Mon Dec 12, 4.30 pm NZNO, 7 Crawford St, Dunedin Cynthia.McInnes@nzei.org.nz

Human Rights for Women in Burma. Speaker: Seik Nyan, CTU Intern Fri 9 Dec, 12-2pm CTU Boardroom samh@nzctu.org.nz CTU Food Industry Group Mon 12 Dec, 11am CTU Boardroom

Other Events

'Now We Are Fearless' documentary Thur 8 Dec, 5.30pm. $10 entry. City Art Gallery, Civic Square, Wellington WDRC.friends@delta.net.nz

Human Rights and Poverty Fri 9 Dec, 12.30 Training Rm, Archives NZ, 10 Mulgrave St, Thorndon, Wgtn RSVP reqd, to moragm@hrc.co.nz

Make Poverty History Street Outreach Day Saturday Dec 10 Various locations http://www.makepovertyhistory.org.nz

The WTO in Hong Kong: Make or break time for neo-liberalism? Wed Dec 14, 7pm St Johns in The City, Cnr Willis & Dixon Sts, Wgtn browning.institute@gmail.com