The Unionist, Issue 63, Nov 10 2006

Community coalition says that  all workers should have the  right to request flexible hours, writes the Unionist this week.

Either read on, or you can download a printable version here (PDF file,  76 kb).

Flexible Working Hours Coalition Launched

A group of more than 20 professional, business, community groups and trade unions came together this week to campaign in support of the right for all workers to request flexible working hours.

The Coalition for Quality Flexible Work was launched at Parliament on Monday, and is campaigning in support of Green MP Sue Kedgley’s flexible working hours private member’s bill, which will be re-considered in Parliament early next year.

The coalition is calling for the bill to be extended to all employees, giving everyone the right to request flexible working hours.

The Council of Trade Unions, and a number of affiliates individually, are among supporting members of the coalition.  Other members include the Parenting Council of New Zealand, the Federation of Business and Professional Women, YWCA, the Tertiary Women’s Focus Group, Rural Women NZ, NZ Playcentre Federation and the Coalition for Equal Value Equal Pay.

Speaking at the launch, CTU president Ross Wilson said that unions were committed to seeing progress on the introduction of legislation.

“We will continue our advocacy for a legislative right for all workers to request flexible working hours, to help establish a culture that recognises workers’ considerable responsibilities outside of the workplace, and to support quality of family life.”

In March this year the select committee considering Sue Kedgley’s bill reported that the need for flexible working hours was agreed, but that the mechanism for delivering flexible hours wasn’t.  They decided to ask for further consultation and research to determine the best way to introduce flexible working hours.

The launch of the coalition on Monday was timed to coincide with the Department of Labour’s announcement that they were seeking public feedback on the best way to ensure employees have the option of flexible working hours, where it is practicable for their workplace. 

Feedback is required by December 15 this year.   Early next year Parliament will decide whether to support Sue Kedgley’s bill.

What You Can Do
The most important thing you can do is make sure you take part in the Department of Labour’s consultation on flexible working hours.  There are sample submissions, action alerts and resources on the coalition’s website (see below).  Say that you support legislation providing the right to request flexible working hours for all employees as the best option.

http://flexihoursnow.wordpress.com

Time To End Youth Rates CTU Tells Select Committee

The CTU told the select committee considering the youth rates bill yesterday that the arguments put up by business that young workers will suffer if youth rates are abolished were starting to wear thin.

“Various business lobby groups have used the publicity generated by Sue Bradford’s youth rates bill to paint a picture of dreary employment prospects for young workers should it pass,” CTU president Ross Wilson said.

“Business’ track record doesn’t help them however.  Dire predictions on the effects of changes in labour law, the re-nationalisation of ACC, paid parental leave and regular increases in the minimum wage have all proved wrong. Time after time the business lobby has proved themselves wrong on labour reforms, and we would be happy to add youth rates to that list.”

Also appearing at select committee yesterday were Caritas, the Children’s Commissioner, the Human Rights Commission and Vic Young Labour.

The Human Rights Commission said that youth pay rates for 16 and 17-year-olds were discriminatory and breach the basic concept of equal pay for work of equal value.

“Young people are justifiably angry about working for less pay alongside adults doing exactly the same job. Some employers also recognise that it is unfair and discriminatory and have moved to abolish youth rates and they should be congratulated,” EEO Commissioner, Dr Judy McGregor said.

Weekly Events Listings

Unions Local

Unions Tauranga
Mon Nov 13, 4pm
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd,
Mt Maunganui
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Hawkes Bay
Mon Nov 13, 5.30pm
TUC, 2 Lipton Pl, Napier
dhyde@nduunion.org.nz

Unions Canterbury
Tue Nov 14, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Auckland
Thur Nov 16, 4pm.
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Wellington
Mon Nov 20, 5:00 p.m.
CTU, Level 7, Education House, 178 Willis St., Welington
pbolster@anet.co.nz

Unions Manawatu
Fri Nov 24, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St,
Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tue Nov 28, 5pm.
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Wellington Workers Education Association Forum
Lisa Beech, Caritas on “The Catholic Church & the Environment”
12:10-1:00 Monday Nov. 13th
Betty Campbell Centre, 2nd floor,
Harbour City Tower, Panama St.,City.

SFWU Clean Start Campaign.
Thursday November 16th – C.S.I - Clean Start Investigates!
Come along and find out what cleaners have discovered about some inner city buildings.
Auckland. Protest action. Meet at Britomart at 12noon, Thur Nov 16.
Wellington. Protest action. Meet at Parliament at 12noon, Thur Nov 16.
Contact: Kirsty McCully
Kirsty.mccully@sfwu.org.nz

Summit on Resourcing for Quality Public Education
Quality Public Education Coalition (QPEC) is organising a one-day summit ‘Resourcing for Quality Public Education’ to be held on Wednesday November 22nd at St Columba Centre, Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland from 10am.   QPEC advise more details will be posted as they are finalised.   Contacts: www.qpec.org.nz. National Secretary, P.O. Box 56 482 Dominion Road, Auckland. 

Think & Drink
Thursday November 30, 4 -7pm
Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road
Guest speaker - Kris Rondeau, Activist and workplace leader in the campaign to unionise Harvard.
Kris Rondeau and her fellow activists employed a new organising strategy to unionise Harvard University in the US. Believing that standard organising approaches are often contrary to ‘women’s ways of organising’, Kris rejects the idea that organising should centre on arousing anger and be solely focussed on ‘issues’, believing instead that organising should be based upon establishing relationships, common values, and building staff communities. This type of organising, known as ‘Relational Organising’, is being seen within the labour movement as an alternative to the more traditional ‘Issues-based Organising’.
RSVP: karenn@nzctu.org.nz

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/Training

Workplace Productivity Challenge: Exploring Workplace Productivity Issues.  Remaining seminars as follows:
  Wed 15 November, 9am-4.30
St Johns Church, Cnr Willis & Dixon Streets, Wellington
Contact: sandyo@nzctu.org.nz

PaEE Training
CTU short training sessions for union organisers, educators, negotiators and senior delegates participating in pay and employment equity reviews, focusing on the pay investigation and remedial pay settlement aspects of the reviews.
Akld: Fri 8 December 1-4pm, NZNO, Symonds St.
ChCh: Thurs 30 Nov, 11-2pm, NZEI, 199 Armagh St.
Contact: nikkib@nzctu.org.nz

YUM video conference.
4.30pm, Friday 17 Nov
Wellington- PSA House Aurora Tce
Auckland- PSA House, beside Trades Hall on Gt North Rd
erinp@nzctu.org.nz

Working For Families
Breakfast Meeting on Working for Families – aimed at organisers and lead delegates to provide information and resources for worksites, about accessing WFF entitlements.
November 29th, 8am -9am, CTU, Level 7, Education House, 178 Willis St., Welington
RSVP Ed Goode before 23rd November
edwardg@nzctu.org.nz

Wellington CTU-Government Forum
The CTU-Government Forum provides union delegates with an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and key Ministers to debate policy issues of importance to people in the workplace. 
Tue 5 December, 4.30pm-9.30pm
Overseas Terminal, Chaffers Marina, Wellington
Contact: andrewc@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