The Unionist, Issue 67, December 8, 2006

Two hundred union delegates from 22 affiliates around the Wellington region met on Wednesday for the 3rd CTU-Government Forum of the year, writes the Unionist this week.  We also report on Fiji, and annouce the winners of last week's book giveaway!

Either read on, or download a printable version here (PDF file, 101 kb).

Promoting Collective Bargaining, Ending Low Wages Hot Topics At CTU-Govt Forum

Two hundred union delegates from 22 affiliates around the Wellington region met on Wednesday for the 3rd CTU-Government Forum of the year, at the overseas terminal on Wellington’s waterfront.

The talk was wide-ranging, but two issues stood out: the importance of ending low wages and youth rates, and the need to promote multi-employer collective agreements.

In between giving media interviews about the unfolding coup in Fiji, Prime Minister Helen Clark addressed the delegates and took questions from the floor.

Delegates also had the opportunity to look at specific issues in more detail with one of four Government ministers – Steve Maharey, Trevor Mallard, Ruth Dyson and David Benson-Pope – in workshops on the state sector, economic transformation, employment relations and Working for Families.

Wednesday was International Volunteers Day, and at the forum CTU secretary Carol Beaumont acknowledged the contribution delegates made to the union movement. 

“Union delegates and activists have important voluntary roles within unions, and are the lifeblood of our movement.  Delegates take on the role on top of their paid work
commitments, and we know that union members are active in many other aspects of community and civic life.”

It was the 3rd Forum held this year (the others were held in Palmerston North and Auckland) and the 14th since the first Forum was held in 2003.

NZ & Aust Unions Call For Peace in Fiji

Unions in Australia and New Zealand are supporting the call for working people in Fiji to demonstrate peaceful resistance to the failing coup, the Australian and New Zealand Councils of Trade Unions said yesterday.

“The Fiji coup is clearly failing because it doesn’t have support of Fijian people and their leaders, and the emerging pro-democracy coalition, which includes the Fiji Trade Union Congress, is encouraging Fijian people to show their support for democracy,” ACTU president Sharan Burrow and NZCTU president Ross Wilson said.

“The union movement internationally is opposed to this coup and will support action by the Fiji union movement and the many other pro-democracy supporters in their opposition to this attempt at illegal military dictatorship.”

“We support peaceful diplomatic solutions, without external military intervention, and the immediate restoration of democracy and democratic rights.”

“It is the ordinary working people of Fiji who suffer when democracy is overthrown by military and other elites.  And it is ordinary working people who can peacefully demonstrate their power and support for peace and democracy.”

Book Competition

Congratulations to the winners in last week’s book competition.  We were giving away one copy each of Words at Work: An annotated bibliography of New Zealand trade union literature’, by Paul Corliss and ‘I See Red: The shocking story of a battle against the Warehouse’, by Judith Bell.  Philippa Hall and Gail Opie were the lucky winners. 

Weekly Events Listing

Unions Local

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

Unions Canterbury Xmas drinks
Mon 11th Dec, 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 Wellington
5:00 p.m. Monday Dec 18th
NZCTU 7th Floor, Education House
Willis Street, Wellington
pbolster@anet.co.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

Human Rights Day  Forum
Sunday, December 10, 2.30pm, St Columba Centre, Vermont st, Ponsonby
The theme “FIGHTING POVERTY. A MATTER OF OBLIGATION, NOT CHARITY”. A panel of expert speakers will be followed by plenty of time for questions and discussion on: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Margaret Bedggood; Human Rights, Poverty and Peace: Edwina Hughes; Poverty/housing – effects on children: Alan Johnson; New Zealanders in Action Against Poverty; Psychiatric Survivors and Poverty; Workers rights: John Minto; Fair trade and Poverty.  Gold coin koha would be appreciated.

Hospital Service Workers take Strike Action against their employers…
(District Health Boards, Spotless Services, OCS & ISS Facility Services).  Wednesday 13 December 2006, 11.30am - 1pm.  Events happening in several areas, contact your local SFWU or check out www.sfwu.org

Radical Youth Auckland are organising a national youth hui in January to learn new skills, have fun and find out what everyone else is up to.
The event will be held on the 20th and 21st of January in Auckland at the Trades Hall. A mixture of practical and theory-the weekend will include workshops,movies, music and a focus on youth action.
This is a chance to meet other young people interested in social and environmental change from around the country and to learn some new tools. Accommodation is available to those coming from out of town with Auckland Radical Youth Members.
There will be no cost to attend the weekend but a small koha or donation may be helpful to cover costs.
Lunch will be provided to those attending the weekend and breakfast and possibly dinner will be provided to those requiring accommodation.
Workshops will include Youth Organising, Struggles in the pacific, Direct action, Animal Rights, Organic Gardening and introductions to anarchism andcapitalism.
Entertainment is still to be confirmed and any offers will be gratefully considered.
As an event organised by and for young people a general guideline of 25 and under only will be followed but to talk about this just contact us.
Registration forms are at http://radicalyouth.org.nz/. Please send back to us at: PO Box 7523, Wellesley St, Auckland

CTU Meetings, Training

Working For Families - Akld
Breakfast Meeting on Working for Families – aimed at organisers and lead delegates to provide information and resources for worksites, about accessing WFF entitlements.  The Auckland meeting will be held on December 14th at the Masons Homestead Café, 70 Hill Road Manurewa from 7.45 am to 8.45am  (a nice and healthy breakfast will be provided). Please rsvp to Karen Newson (karenn@nzctu.org.nz)  by  Tuesday 12th December .

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