The Unionist, Issue 58, Sept 29 2006

Training for unions in integrating pay and employment equity into their bargaining and negotiations got underway in Wellington this week, writes the Unionist today.  We also report on another workshop series on productivity, as well as the weekly listing of CTU events and training and other events about the place, including special information about the Parihaka 2007 festival, which is moving to early January.

Either read on, or download a printable version here (PDF file, 79 kb).
 

Embedding Pay & Employment Equity in Union Bargaining

Training for unions in integrating pay and employment equity into their bargaining and negotiations got underway in Wellington this week.

‘Embedding Pay and Employment Equity into Collective Bargaining’, a two day course for union organisers, educators, negotiators and senior delegates to explore how pay and employment equity can be integrated into organising and bargaining, had its first session in Wellington this week.

The courses followed on from the earlier Pay and Employment Equity training run by the CTU.

L to R: Phil Dodds (ASTE), Denise Eilers (PSA) and Barb Crozier (NZNO) doing a mapping exercise at the training in Wellington this week

CTU Pay and Employment Equity project coordinator Nanette Cormack said that the implementation of  Pay and Employment Equity in the public service, public health and public educations sectors is providing unions with the opportunity to work with employers on a range of issues that are often outside the traditional scope of bargaining. 

The course is designed to enable union officials to develop techniques around embedding Pay and Employment Equity into the work of unions, and participants found the sessions useful. 

“The training was really great - I wish it could be available to the whole organisation to understand Pay and Employment Equity as an important part of organising, and the every day work of unions,” said Lyn, a participant from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.

The courses are the latest phase of a project the CTU has been involved in since  the government established a taskforce in 2003 to advise on the gender pay gap in the public service and public health and education sectors. 

The courses move to Christchurch on October 10 & 11 and is in Auckland on October 16 & 17.

Unions Launch New Productivity Initiative

Meanwhile regional training on workplace productivity is also getting underway shortly. 

The CTU is piloting a series of workshops to increase understanding of productivity in the workplace and to promote productivity initiatives.

A diagnostic tool has also been developed for workers to use in assessing how well their workplace is performing and to identify areas of potential improvement.

The workshops, an initiative of the CTU’s which is supported by the Department of Labour and Business New Zealand, are part of a larger education programme that builds on productivity initiatives that some unions are already involved in.

The workshops will provide opportunities for workers to discuss their views of productivity, including the benefits of lifting productivity and the risks.

In Brief

• The CTU is organising regional and national debrief sessions on the NDU/EPMU lockout.  More next week on this.
• Youth Union Movement’s camp last weekend was a succsess.  There will be a report on the camp and the youth rates campaign in next week’s Unionist.

Weekly Events Listing

Unions Local

Unions Manawatu
Fri Sept 29, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St,
Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Otago
Tue Oct 3, 4.30pm
NZNO, Level 3, 7 Crawford St, Dunedin.  glendaa@nzno.org.nz

Unions Tauranga
Mon Oct 9, 4pm
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd,
Mt Maunganui
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Hawkes Bay
Mon Oct 9, 5.30pm
TUC, 2 Lipton Pl, Napier
dhyde@nduunion.org.nz

Unions Wellington
Mon Oct 16, 5:00 p.m.
CTU, Level 7, Education House, 178 Willis St., Welington
pbolster@anet.co.nz

Unions Canterbury
Tue Oct 17, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Auckland
Thur Oct 19, 4pm.
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Fri Oct 27, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St,
Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tue Oct 31, 5pm.
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

“Talking Union”
Thurs, Oct 5th, 5:15 pm
CTU Boardroom, Education House’
178 Willis St., Wellington

Workers Charter Conference
Speakers include Andrew Little, Laila Harré, Sue Bradford.
Saturday 7th October, 11am - 5.30pm.  Followed by shared dinner and social.
Auckland Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland.  Contact: daphne@randomstatic.net, (027) 220 9552

Parihaka Peace Festival 2007
The 2nd Parihaka International Peace Festival runs January 5th 6th 7th  2007.  You are invited to buy ticket/s to our next festival directly off us through the festival’s website e-ticket facility. The offer runs from now through to 4th November 2006.  The special price before November 4 is $99 per adult, after which is will be $135 for the remainder of the year.  All children up to 15yrs and adults over 60yrs are $10 at all times.  Tickets at the discounted price can be purchased from www.parihaka.com

CTU Meetings and Training

‘Embedding Pay and Employment Equity into Collective Bargaining’
Christchurch 10 & 11 October (Tuesday/Wednesday). Auckland 16 & 17 October (Monday/Tuesday).
Registration for the Wellington training closes on Friday 15th September - contact Nikki Burrows on nikkib@nzctu.org.nz or (04) 385 1334 xtn 840

Workplace Productivity Challenge: Exploring Workplace Productivity Issues. 
Seminars are as follows

Wed 4 October, 9am-4.30
Trade Union Centre, 34 Harwood Street, Hamilton
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Sep 22

Thurs 5 October, 9am-4.30
AMI Building, 2nd Floor
Cnr Ronwood Ave/Osterley Way
Manukau
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Sep 22

Wed 11 October, 9am-4.30
Edgar Sports Centre
Cnr Portsmouth Drive and Midland Street, Dunedin
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Sep 29

Thurs 12 October, 9am-4.30
EPMU, 298 Cashell Street, Christchurch. sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Sep 29

Thurs 19t October, 9am-4.30
St Columba’s Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland Central
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Oct 6

Thurs 2 November, 9am-4.30
A’fare, Lower Dent Street, Whangarei. sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Oct 20

Wed 8 November, 9am-4.30
Te Manawa Museum, 396 Main Street, Palmerston North sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Oct 27

Wed 15 November, 9am-4.30
St Johns Church, Cnr Willis & Dixon Streets, Wellington sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Sep 15

Contact

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