The Unionist, Issue 47, 30 June 2006

The Council of Trade Unions Maori Vice President Sharon Clair achieved a first for Maori women when she addressed an international conference in Geneva earlier this month, writes this week's Unionist. We also report on the Australian union movement's second day of national community protest against the new industrial laws.  
 
Either read on, or you can download the printed version of The Unionist here (PDF file, 70 kb).

First for Maori women in CTU Vice President's address to world labour conference

The Council of Trade Unions Maori Vice President Sharon Clair achieved a first for Maori women when she addressed an international conference in Geneva earlier this month.

Ms Clair, understood to be the first Maori women speaker representing workers to address the conference floor of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), received a special mention from the ILO Director-General for her contribution to the 95th ILO conference.

"Allow me ... to quote one speaker in particular whose words captured much of the spirit that inspires the commitment of delegates to the International Labour Conference," ILO Director-General Juan Somavia said.

"(Sharon Clair) said that "work is one of the most important avenues by which we come to know ourselves as people". I think we would all agree with that, and it is why the ILO is such an important place for people from all over the world to meet and come to know and respect each other."

In her address, Sharon Clair called on all worker, employer and government members of the ILO to reaffirm their commitment to a living planet where decent work is enjoyed by everyone.

"I pay homage to all those who throughout history have done so much to promote and defend the rights of working women and men, create social justice and fight for equality, human rights and democracy.

They have taught us that trade unions play a vital role in ensuring that we must continue to create a tomorrow that our grand children will value. It means workers must mobilise by applying a rights based approach that integrates the environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development."

Sharon's full conference address is available here: www.union.org.nz/about/maori.html (in the speeches/media releases section).

Australian Workers Second National Protest Against Industrial Relations Laws

Australian workers attended mass rallies and marches on Wednesday in the Australian union movement's second national day of community protest against the Howard government's draconian 'Work Choices' legislation.

Unions estimated 300,000 people attended rallies and other events, with Melbourne the largest turnout where 150,000 people filled the streets in the central city.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions said workers were coming out to protest after the new laws were cutting take-home pay and entitlements such as penalty rates and overtime payments.

"The Government's own Office of the Employment Advocate has admitted that every new AWA individual contract it has registered since the Government's new IR laws came into affect have removed at least one award condition and that 64% of AWAs have removed workers' right to leave loading; 63% cut penalty rates and overtime; 52% cut shift loadings; 40% stripped away public holidays; and 16% removed ALL protected award conditions," said ACTU President Sharan Burrow.

Events Calendar

Unions Local

Unions Waikato
Thur July 6, 5.15pm
TUC, 34 Harwood Street,
Hamilton
fiona.mcqueen@epmu.org.nz

90 Days No-Rights-Bill Campaign Events

Unions Auckland leafleting - Avondale and Otara fleamarkets
Otara - Saturday July 1, from 6am
Avondale - Sunday July 2, from 8am.
Garry Parsloe - gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz/ 021 326 261

Joint Union Delegates & Activists Meeting Wed 5th July 12:30 p.m.
Centre for Global Action
James Smiths Building, Level 2
cnr Cuba and Manners Streets, Wellington.
dropthebill@gmail.com

Unions Wellington leafleting
Monday 3rd July, Noon, Manners Mall
Tuesday 11th July, 12:30, Midland Park, Lambton Quay

Other

WEA Lunchtime Forum - "Corporatisation & the Public Sector"
3rd July, 12:10 p.m.
2nd Floor, Harbour City Tower,
40 Panama St., Wellington City
pbolster@anet.co.nz

"Talking Union"
Thursday, July 6th, 5:15 p.m.
NZCTU, Level 7,
Education House

Self-Determination In Action
Eye Witness Accounts from Venezuela, Philippines, Nepal.
Saturday July 8th, 9:00 - 5:00, Wellington Central Library, Victoria Street
Organised by WEA, with support from NDU, VUWSA and others.

Join the 2006/2007 Australia & New Zealand-Cuba Friendship
Societies/Work Study Brigade to Cuba. This will be the 24th
Australia-New Zealand work study tour to Cuba!
For further information contact Ina at
inashina.clear.net or Paul at wkcultur@ihug.co.nz

CTU Meetings, Training

One-day Union organiser Health and safety training Auckland.
Wed July 5, 9.00am to 4.30pm
40 Vermont Street,Ponsonby
Auckland
Karenf@nzctu.org.nz

CTU Meeting with MFAT about WTO/GATS
Thur 6 July, 2.30pm-5.00 pm
CTU Boardroom, Lv 7, Education House, 178 Willis St, Wgtn.
peterc@nzctu.org.nz

Skills of Organising - Akld
11, 12, 13 July, 9am-5pm
Lenihan/Kennedy Double Room. St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby.
karenn@nzctu.org.nz by 30 June

MUNZ Learning Reps Workshop
Thursday, 20th July, 9am - 1pm
MUNZ National Office, Level 1, Waterside House, 200 Willis St, Wellington
marym@nzctu.org.nz

ACC Partnership Programme Training For Union Representatives: Stage 1.
Thur 27 July, 9am-4pm.
Te Wananga O Aotearoa, Dinsdale Road, Rotorua.
thomasw@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

~~~~~~~~~~