The Unionist, Issue 50, 21 July 2006

Workers braved the cold in Wellington yesterday to protest National’s Get-the-sack-in-90-days employment Bill, writes the Unionist this week.

Either read on, or download a printable version here (PDF file, 97 kb).

90 Days Bill Rallies and Events Send Message to National

Workers braved the cold in Wellington yesterday to protest National’s Get-the-sack-in-90-days employment Bill.

The rally, organised by the EPMU, attracted over 1,000 workers from several unions.

In Dunedin 80 protesters gathered outside National MP Katherine Rich’s office, and there were rallies and leafleting in Nelson, Hamilton and Auckland also.

As National goes on the lookout for things 'cool', the PSA reminds them that fair employment laws are a good start. Click here for more.

CTU president Ross Wilson addressed the rally and said that the Bill’s sponsor Wayne Mapp was misleading for calling it a ‘probationary employment’ Bill.

“Genuine probationary employment raises a reasonable expectation of continuing employment,” he said. “National’s Bill would strip all working New Zealanders of their legal rights for the first 90 days of their new job.”

“That is not probation - it is a new second class of disposable worker.”

The next stage in the campaign is a rally in Christchurch tomorrow (Saturday), from 12 noon, meeting at Victoria Square, cnr Colombo and Armagh Streets. Postcards to MPs from several unions are continuing to be sent, with a large stack sent away after yesterday’s activities in Hamilton. 

The Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament in March, and is before the Transport and Industrial Relations select committee, which is also hearing evidence on the Bill to end youth rates for 16 and 17 year olds. 

Labour, the Progressive party and the Greens opposed National’s Bill at first reading, but it passed with the support of United Future, New Zealand First and three Maori party MPs.  The CTU will lead off the select committee oral submissions this coming Thursday.

Widespread Concern with National’s Bill - Survey

Meanwhile a survey released by the Engineering Printing and Manafacturing Union on the eve of the rally showed that most working New Zealanders think  National’s Bill will make it easier for bosses to get rid of people at will.

The independent research, carried out by ConsumerLink for the EPMU, polled 500 people.

Of the 284 respondents aged 15+ employed either part-time or fulltime, 81 per cent said that they thought if the bill was passed into law it would make it easier for employers to get rid of people for no good reason.

Sixty-three per cent said it would make life very difficult for people learning a new job, with just 22 per cent saying it would make it easier to find a job.

Events Calendar

Unions Local

Unions Northland
Tue July 25, 5pm.
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Fri July 28, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St,
Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Other Campaigns and Events

SuperSizeMyPay.Com - Akld
McFight Night – Every Friday Night.  5-6.30pm.
Pt Chev McDonalds, Gt Nth Rd, Auckland (09) 845-2132,
help@unite.org.nz

Motivate the members -
Articulate your message!
Learn the skills at “Talking Union”
 – a Wellington Union Toastmasters group
Meets at the NZCTU twice a month
Contact kimw@nzctu.org.nz

SuperSizeMyPay.Com - Wgtn
Fri Aug 4 - Picket, McDonalds
Manners Mall. 4pm.
Ph: 385 2529, kathryn@unite.org.nz

Death (and love) in Gaza, homage to a young activist, based on the life and writings of Rachel Corrie and other Internationalists.
BATS Theatre, Wellington, July 25 to August 5, Tues to Sat, 7.00pm.  Bookings 802 4175

Working Women’s Resource Centre Mid Winter Christmas get together and dinner.
Fri July 28, 5.30pm-8pm.
Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Akld.  $5.00 per person
09 379 7906, wwrc@ihug.co.nz

90 Days No Rights Bill - Rally
Weds August 23, 12:30pm
Aotea Square, Auckland.

CTU Meetings, Training

Youth Union Movement Akld
Fri July 21, 5.30pm
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Road
erinp@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

Gilda Chacon - visiting trade unionist from Havana, Cuba.
Auckland:
Mon July 24, 4-7pm
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Road
linda.holt@psa.org.nz, 027-2713572
Wellington:
Thur July 27, 1pm
CTU, Lv 7, 178 Willis St.

Unions at Work:  Cross Union Delegate Seminar 
Tue Aug 22, 9.00am – 4.30pm
Invercargill – venue to be advised. karenn@nzctu.org.nz before 1 Aug.

Contact

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