The Unionist, Issue 42, 12 May 2006

Unions have intensified their campaign against Wayne Mapp's 90 days bill, writes the Unionist this week.  

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Unions Stepping Up Campaign Against Nats' Unfair Sacking Plan

Parliament is currently considering a members' bill from National Party MP Wayne Mapp, which would strip away any rights of appeal against unfair dismissal for workers in their first 90 days on the job.

"Unions are becoming increasingly active in a number of different ways on this issue," said Carol Beaumont, Council of Trade Unions Secretary. "Posters, leaflets, meeting kits, postcards, rallies on Parliament are just some of the activities that unions have been up to in the past month to build awareness and opposition to National's plan."

"The National bill is a major attack on the rights of all workers," said Carol Beaumont. "It removes basic employment rights for every worker in our society. Although this bill will particularly affect short term, casual and seasonal workers it would apply to every single one of us each time we start a new job."

The CTU published a submission guide on the bill and have since put out a leaflet and sample submission, and established a campaign website, Beaumont said. Many other unions have been developing resources for their members, and are working collectively to build opposition to the bill.

The Public Service Association have developed extensive resources including posters, fact-sheets, a cartoon (right), postcards and a kit for workplace meetings, and the Finance Sector Union (Finsec) sent out a special campaign update to delegates this week and have an attractive campaign poster.

Earlier the Association of University Staff launched a mass postcard campaign to MPs which many other unions took part in, and at a National Affiliates Council meeting yesterday, unions endorsed a plan by the EPMU for a rally on Parliament on Thursday July 20th.

"Many other unions are sending out regular information to their members, and are building opposition on the ground to this dangerous plan," said Carol Beaumont. "This issue has mobilised people - they know that the National plan is a direct attack on their basic rights at work."

Unions and local affiliates councils are organising events, holding worksite delegates meetings, leafleting at flea markets, and signing campaign postcards and sending them off to the politicians to make their views known.

The CTU, and many individual unions, will be finalising their submissions in the week ahead, before the due date next Friday. "The CTU is looking closely at international connections and will be highlighting case studies from overseas as part of our work on the bill," Beaumont said.

Submissions to the bill close next Friday May 19. There is a submission guide and other resources, including links to the campaign pages for other unions, which you access by clicking here.

Young Union Activists Descend on Wellington

New Zealand is playing host to a group of young union activists next week. The group, from countries ranging from the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific are here for an International Confederation of Free Trade Unions - Asian and Pacific Regional Organisation (ICFTU-APRO) youth committee meeting in Wellington

The Co-Chair of the committee is Erin Polaczuk, until recently AUS' Women's Officer before she joined the CTU organising centre in Auckland last month.

There are two events that unionists in Wellington are invited to attend:

A CTU function for the committee, and an opportunity for Wellington unionists to meet and hear from some of the participants in the Youth Committee meeting. This will be on Tuesday May 16, 5.30-7pm, at the CTU Boardroom, Level 7, West Block, Education House, 178 Willis St. (Please rsvp to julial@nzctu.org.nz for catering purposes.)
A joint activity between the APRO Youth Committee and YUM - leafleting on youth rates and the low wage campaign. Manners Mall, Wednesday 17th May 4pm - 6pm.

Events

Unions Local Events

Unions Canterbury
May 16, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Wellington
May 15, 5pm
CTU, Lv 7, 178 Willis St, Wellington
pbolster@anet.co.nz

Unions Auckland
May 18, 4pm.
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd, Auckland
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
May 26, 3pm
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palm Nth
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

CTU Meetings, Training

"Unions talking Health and Safety"
17 May, 9am-1pm
EPMU, Christchurch
oksanaz@nzctu.org.nz

Workplace Productivity Education Programme (WPEP). Regional Workshops for Union Officials. 9.30am-12.30pm. 04 385 1334, ext 847 / sandyo@nzctu.org.nz
Tuesday 23 May Christchurch Meeting Room at EPMU Office
298 Cashel Street, Christchurch

Learning Reps Seminar for Organisers
May 19, 9.30am-12.30pm
SFWU Seminar Room, 35-39 George St, Kingsland, Auckland
marym@nzctu.org.nz

ACC Partnership Programme Training,
Stage Two
a) May 31, 9am-5pm
Baptist Church, Oxford Tce,
Christchurch
oksanaz@nzctu.org.nz
b) June 9, 9am-4.30pm
Concord Room, Hotel Grand
Chancellor, Auckland Airport
oksanaz@nzctu.org.nz

Skills of Organising
June 13, 14, 15, 9am-5pm
McKenzie Room, St Johns Church Cnr Willis & Dixon Streets, Wellington
karenn@nzctu.org.nz

Leadership Development For Young Workers
June 20, 9am-4.30pm
Big Hall, St Johns Church Cnr Willis & Dixon Streets, Wellington
karenn@nzctu.org.nz

Training Skills
Part 1: June 20 & 21
Part 2: July 25 & 26
EPMU, 9 Madeira Lane, Grafton, Auckland (For Parts 1 & 2)
1st Day 9.30am - 5.00pm
2nd Day 9.00am - 5.00pm
karenn@nzctu.org.nz

Contact

If you have any information about upcoming CTU events please contact:
Sam Huggard - (04) 802 3817, email: samh@nzctu.org.nz