The Unionist, Issue 60, Oct 13 2006
A rally in Wellington in a couple of weeks is putting the youth rates campaign back on the agenda, writes the Unionist this week.
Either read on, or download a printable version here (PDF file, 115 kb).
Campaign To End Youth Rates Continues
The youth rates campaign was firmly on the agenda at the recent Youth Union Movement camp in Northland, where around 20 activists from several unions and youth activist groups came together. See a report on the camp below.
The bill to end youth rates - the Minimum Wage (Abolition of Age Discrimination) Amendment Bill - is a members bill in the name of Sue Bradford, and has been before the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee since March.
Not all oral submissions have been heard – the committee have heard some submissions in Auckland and Wellington, but there are still many groups who have not yet been called for their oral submission. This may take place in coming months, or early next year.
The Bill passed its first reading in February. At the first reading, Labour supported it to the select committee but have not yet fixed on a final position on whether they will continue to support it.
Meanwhile a group of student activists and young workers in Wellington are working on a march and rally in late October. The action till start at 4pm in Manners Mall on Wednesday October 25 and a ‘human float’ will proceed to Parliament.
Youth Union Movement have youth rates stickers printed and you can get them from either the CTU Organising Centre in Auckland or the CTU in Wellington.
YUM Camp
The youth rates campaign was one of the many issues looked at by a group of young unionists at the Youth Union Movement camp in Northland recently.
21 high school students, young workers and organisers got together over the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of September at the Kotare Centre in Wellsford, for the biennial YUM camp.
 |
|
Delegates at the YUM camp |
Most of the delegates were aged between 15 and 25, and included representation from AUS, NZNO, finsec, SFWU, Unite!, NDU, and the EPMU, said CTU Education Organiser Erin Polaczuk, one of the facilitators at the camp.
The camp was a mix of discussing issues affecting young workers, such as youth rates and globalisation, and practical tools and setting plans for the future work of YUM.
Delegates at the camp all worked on their own commitments to continue the work of YUM, following the camp.
Action on youth rates was a common theme among commitments people made, Erin said. Other action points ranged from talking to their union about getting youth reps, strengthening networks with other groups like Radical Youth, trying to get YUM active in other cities, educating workers, and “telling everyone at my workplace about how good YUM camp was!”
The group discussed the need to mentor new people into leadership roles within YUM, and cinema worker Francis Nu’u was voted as a future co-convenor into the role.
The camp concluded on Sunday and the following day there was a youth rates protest organised by Radical Youth outside the electorate office of Prime Minister Helen Clark.
MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY
The Service and Food Workers’ Union has organised events marking the International Day for the Eradication of World Poverty next Tuesday 17th of October. Full details are below in the events section. There are rallies at 5pm in Auckland and 12 noon in Wellington on Tuesday, and a public meeting in Auckland on Thursday also.
MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Aotearoa is taking part in the global Month of Mobilisation (September 16 - October 17), culminating in the International Day this Tuesday.
The campaign’s key objectives in Aotearoa are more and better aid to overseas countries, the cancellation of all external debts of the most impoverished countries and the establishment of a fair and transparent debt arbitration process; fair trade; and a systematic plan and timetable from government to end child poverty in New Zealand.
Weekly Events Listing
Unions Local
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 - note revised date.
Fri Oct 20, 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
Wgtn WEA Lunchtime Forums
Monday October 16, 12.10pm,-1pm
Flr 2, Betty Campbell Cntr Harbour City Tower, Panama Street, Wgtn
Today: Sharon Clair, CTU VP Maori
Tuesday October 17th – International Anti Poverty Day.
Service and Food Workers Union’s Clean Start Campaign - events in Auckland and Wellington.
• Auckland. Rally and March. Meet at Britomart at 5pm on Tues.
• Wellington. Rally and March. Meet at Parliament at 12noon on Tues.
• Thursday October 19th – Anti Poverty Forum. 6.30pm, Nga Tapuwae Community Centre, 253 Buckland Rd, Mangere.
For more information about these, contact Kirsty on (09) 375 2687 or kirsty.mccully@sfwu.org.nz
Talking Union
Thurs, Oct 19th, 5:15 pm
CTU Boardroom, Education House’
178 Willis St., Wellington
Department of Labour Consultation – Online Holiday Entitlement Tool.
Give your feedback on a proposed DoL website to help employees work out their holiday entitlements.
Wellington: Thursday 19 October, 1000-1200, CTU Meeting Room, Level 7, Education House, 178 Willis Street.
Auckland: Wednesday 25 October, 1000-1200, NZNO Meeting Room, 1 New North Road, Symonds Street.
Contact: andrewc@nzctu.org.nz, (04) 385 1334 x 836
Labour Day Party
Chris Knox & several great bands
7:30-11:00 p.m, Monday 23rd October
Bar Bodega, Ghuznee Street
Wellington
Youth Rates Rally
Weds Oct 25
Starts 4pm Manners Mall, Wellington. marches to Parliament, or meet Parliament 4.30pm.
www.youthratessuck.com
TUEA Reunion
This year marks 20 years since the establishment of the Trade Union Education Authority – a milestone worth celebrating. Staff, members of the original task force, Board members and those associated with TUEA are invited to a reception at Parliament on Thursday 9th November. There is a dinner for staff to follow. If you are interested, please contact Suzanne McNabb suzanne.mcnabb@aus.ac.nz or (04) 801-4798 for further information and details about this event.
Parihaka - Jan 5-7 2006
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’
Auckland 16 & 17 October (Monday/Tuesday). Contact Nikki Burrows on nikkib@nzctu.org.nz or (04) 385 1334 xtn 840
Workplace Productivity Challenge: Exploring Workplace Productivity Issues.
Remaining seminars are as follows
- Thurs 19th 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
Seminar on Workplace Financial Education, Superannuation and KiwiSaver
Wednesday 8 November, 0930-1230
The first part will focus on financial education in the workplace and a presentation from the Retirement Commission. The second part will focus on KiwiSaver.
RSA Boardroom, 2nd Floor, 181 Willis Street (opposite the CTU), Wellington. Contact: andrewc@nzctu.org.nz, (04) 385 1334 x 836
CTU Women’s Council
Nov 3 2006. CTU, Level 7, Education House, Willis St, Wgtn
Make sure your union is represented. Contact Eileen Brown for details eileenb@nzctu.org.nz / 802 3813
Contact
If you have any information about upcoming CTU events please contact:
Sam Huggard - (04) 802 3817, email: samh@nzctu.org.nz
