The Unionist, Issue 66, December 1, 2006

New Zealand unionists took to the streets in Auckland and Wellington yesterday in solidarity with Australian workers, writes the Unionist this week.  We also report on Kris Rondeua's visit, two new books of interest to unionists, and give you the round up of upcoming CTU events, meetings and training.

Maritime Union’s Joe Fleetwood talks to members of the public about the Australian labour laws. He was part of a 20 strong team of leafleters in Wellington.

Either read on, or you can download a printable version here (PDF file, 150 kb).

Australian Solidarity

New Zealand unionists took to the streets in Auckland and Wellington yesterday in solidarity with Australian workers.

Hundreds of thousands of workers in Australia marched, rallied and held public meetings yesterday in 300 venues across the country, as part of the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ third national day of community protest against the Howard government’s Work Choices legislation.

The new law, introduced earlier this year, removes unfair dismissal protection for millions of Australian workers, and strips back many other terms and conditions.

In Auckland, unions leafleted commuters outside Britomart and the Ferry Terminal, while Wellington unionists set up in Manners Mall, Cuba St, Victoria St and Lambton Quay.

Some unions sent solidarity delegations across to Australia for the day, while others wrote to Australian companies they deal with.

The CTU and others in the South Pacific wrote to Australian Prime Minister John Howard to outline concerns with the laws, which are contrary to international labour standards.

CTU president Ross Wilson reminded workers in this country to remain on guard against attacks on their own rights. 

“Unions in New Zealand beat off an attempt by the National Party to remove rights at work for the first ninety days on the job, but as we inform New Zealand workers about what’s happening in Australian workplaces - the message is not to take their rights for granted.”

Summer Book Reading

The Unionist profiles two books this week, and has copies of each to give away.

In Christchurch yesterday, CTU president Ross Wilson launched ‘Words at Work: An annotated bibliography of New Zealand trade union literature’.  Compiled by long time trade unionist and Rail & Maritime Transport Union life member Paul Corliss, the book is an important reference work to the literature of organised labour in New Zealand.  Unions contributed to the cost of the book’s publication.

Words At Work	I See Red

‘I See Red: The shocking story of a battle against the Warehouse’ is written by Judith Bell, who as part of her crusade against the business practices New Zealand’s famous ‘red sheds’, changed her name by deed poll to Stephen Robert Tindall.  Bell story starts out as with her life as a manufacturer in the Bay of Plenty, but by the end of the book she has covered economics, trade policy and a lot more.  The book was described by Auckland University professor of Economics Tim Hazledine as a “powerful denunciation of the dark side of globalisation - at home and abroad.” 

Copies of both books are available in selected bookstores, or from Awa Press (I See Red): www.awapress.com, (04) 385-0740; or from Canterbury University Press (Words at Work): www.cup.canterbury.ac.nz, (03) 364 2914.

The Unionist has one copy of each book to give away.  Email samh@nzctu.org.nz with “Pick Me” in the subject line to go in the draw, or post to The Unionist, NZCTU, PO Box 6645, Wellington (you’re welcome to indicate a preference of which book). Entries close next Thursday December 7 at 5pm and winners will be announced in the following day’s Unionist.

Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local

Kris Rondeau, activist in the campaign to unionise Harvard University in the U.S., talks to SFWU’s Alastair Duncan at the ‘Think & Drink’ event in Wellington this week.  Also  pictured is Marie Manna, also from the Harvard Union of Clerical & Technical Workers.  Kris and Marie were brought to new Zealand by the Association of University Staff for their conference this week, and they also spoke at two CTU events in Auckland and Wellington.

Unions Tauranga
Mon Dec 11, 4pm
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd,
Mt Maunganui
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz 

Unions Canterbury Xmas drinks
Mon Dec 11, 5pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Southland
Tue Dec 12, 4pm
Trades Hall, 32 Jed St, Invercargill
Dayle.Belcher@nzei.org.nz

Unions Otago
Final meeting, Xmas drinks
Tue 19 Dec, TBC
glendaa@nzno.org.nz

Unions Manawatu Xmas Wind Up
Thurs 21 Dec, starts 3.30pm.  All welcome, BYO.
PSA House, 41-47 King St,
Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Other events and campaigns

First Friday Drinks
Friday Dec 1st, After Work,
Brix Bar, Abel Tasman Hotel
Cnr. Willis & Dixon Streets
Wellington

WWRC Red Flag – Trade Union Social Club
Christmas Party: “I’M DREAMING OF A RED CHRISTMAS”
Friday 1 December, 5.30pm onward
Trades Hall, 147 Great North road, Grey Lynn. Entrance $5.00.  Delicious bar food and our usual social club facilities. RSVP Ros Hiini, Ph 09 379 7906, wwrc@ihug.co.nz

CLEANERS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!
CHRISTMAS MARCH
Healthy Pay for Healthy Hospital OCS cleaners at Wellington Hospital and Kenepuru will combine with Commercial Cleaners’ Clean Start Campaign to fight for a fair deal for cleaners.
Assemble at Parliament, Molesworth st, Thursday December 7, 3.00 - 4.00PM
The cleaners will march from Molesworth Street and move up to the Terrace where we will focus on The Treasury Building, Unisys House, Spotless Main Office and the Capital on Quay Complex.  These buildings house the Department of Health, Department of Labour and Treasury.  They are owned by some of the biggest Building Owners, and Cleaned by Spotless, OCS and other Cleaning Companies.
From A Clean Start To One National Hospital MECA!
Contact: Mea’ole: 04 568 1045, 021 121 5076. meaole.keil@sfwu.org.nz

CTU Meetings, Training

CTU Flexible Work Meeting
CTU meeting on the DOL Discussion paper: Quality Flexible Work: Increasing Availability and Take up in New Zealand
Mon Dec 4, 10.30am-12/12.30pm
CTU Board Room, Level 7 – Education House, 178 Willis Street, Wellington
RSVP:  eileenb@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

CTU Migration Workgroup
Meeting
Note: Start time differs from that listed last week - now starting 1 hour later.
Agenda includes: skills shortage lists, AIP, the fishing sector, horticulture and viticulture and the review of the Immigration Act 
Wed 6 December, 2.30pm-5.30pm
CTU Meeting Room, Level 7 – Education House, 178 Willis Street, Wellington
Contact: andrewc@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.
Hamilton: 6 December, 7.15 – 8.45am, Waikato Trade Union Centre.  RSVP required by 29 November 2006 to waikatotuc@xtra.co.nz
Auckland – details following soon

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.  Remaining seminars:
Akld: Fri 8 December 1-4pm, NZNO, Symonds St.
nanette.cormack@psa.org.nz

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