The Unionist, Issue 77, May 11, 2007

A plant operator and EPMU member at New Zealand Steel in Waiuku has won this year’s ‘Most Influential Employee Award’ at the annual Safeguard Workplace Health and Safety Awards, writes the Unionist this week.

Either read on, or you can download a printable version here (PDF file, 65 kb)

Waiuku Plant Operator Takes Out Health and Safety Award

A plant operator and EPMU member at New Zealand Steel in Waiuku has won this year’s ‘Most Influential Employee Award’ at the annual Safeguard Workplace Health and Safety Awards.

The CTU sponsored category recognises an employee or elected health and safety representative who has acted as a champion of health and safety and who has had a significant positive influence on the health and safety culture of his or her organisation.

Ricky Dunstan has been a union delegate and OHS rep at the NZ Steel Pipe Plant for a number of years. CTU Health and Safety Organiser Karen Fletcher said he has always had an interest in health and safety.

Award winner Ricky Dunstan, with Bronwynn Maxwell (CTU Director of Organising), at the award evening

“He has earned himself a reputation as being a ‘dog with a bone’ when working through issues that need resolving. His manager says the health and safety improvements wouldn’t have happened so quickly if it hadn’t been for Ricky’s persistence.”

Ricky has been instrumental in having a comprehensive ventilation system installed to improve air quality in the plant, and has also worked with management to provide a better standard of protective equipment for workers, she said. His concerns about the quality of drinking water at the plant also saw significant improvements in this area.

“We are delighted for Ricky”, said Fritz Drissner, Health and Safety Officer for the EPMU, Ricky’s union.  “Ricky deserves to be acknowledged for years of hard work and dedication to his mates.”

Jan Dunn of Christchurch was also a finalist in the category.  Jan is a PSA Health and Safety Rep at the Ministry of Social Development, and has been the staff OHS representative for eight years.

Health and Safety Council

Meanwhile, a new union, employer and government leadership group on health and safety has been established.

The Workplace Health and Safety Council will provide advice to government on health and safety legislation, standards and policies, and on ways to progress the implementation of the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy, initiated in June 2005.

Union representation on the Council includes CTU secretary Carol Beaumont and finsec General Secretary Andrew Casidy, and the CTU president also holds a position ex-oficio, in a rotating Chair basis with the Business New Zealand CEO and the Minister of Labour.  Employers are represented by Paul Jarvie from the Employer and Manufacturers Association (Northern) and barrister and consultant Panu Raea.

CTU president Ross Wilson said that the strategy and Council needed to be backed up by action at all levels.

“There are many reasons why unions must organise around health and safety, not least of which is the massive toll that workplace injuries, accidents and illness takes on workers. 

“We know that the costs of workplace disease and injury are born largely by injured workers and their families, and this is backed up by the 2006 NOHSAC report which estimated the full cost of occupational disease and injury to be $20.9 billion annually, and that only 2% of these total costs are compensated by government agencies such as ACC and Work & Income.”

As reported in last week’s Unionist, the CTU is launching stage three of the Health and Safety Rep training programme during May with events in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington.  The CTU/ACC joint venture has been running for four years and has seen more than 15,000 reps trained.

CTU Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local

Unions Tauranga
Mon 14 May, 4pm.
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd, Mt Maunganui. 
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Canterbury
Tues May 15th (AGM) – 7pm (note different time). Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Auckland
Thur May 17th, 4pm
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Fri May 25 , 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St,
Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tue 29 May 2007, 5pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Ongoing throughout May: Human Rights Film Festival, Akld, Wgtn, ChCh.  Brochures in cafes around town, or
www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz

Weekend protests for sacked Dunedin subway worker Jackie Lang
Both on Saturday at 1pm.
Auckland: Subway, 155 Queen St, City
Wellington: Subway, 13 Manners St, City.
Organised by Workers Charter

Workers Education Association Forum
Carol Beaumont, Secretary NZCTU
“DECENT WORK - What it is, How we achieve it & What is the role for Unions”
Monday 14th May 12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Centre for Global Action, 2nd Floor, James Smiths Bldg, cnr. Cuba St & Manners Mall
Wellington
pbolster@anet.co.nz 

Talking Union
The Union Toastmasters Group
Thursday 17th May, 5:15 - 7:00 p.m.
NZCTU Boardroom
Come & have a look/listen
Patb@nzctu.org.nz
 
NZ Troops Out Now Community Dinner
Saturday 12 May, 7pm start
St John’s Hall (Willis Street)
$8 unwaged/$12 waged
Come along and learn more about Peace Action Wellington’s NZ Troops Out Now Campaign and how you can get involved, while also enjoying a community dinner.   More info: nztroopsoutnow.org or email peacewellington@hotmail.com

Clean Start international day of action Tuesday 15 May.
In Auckland cleaners will be demonstrating outside the AA building on Albert St at 12 noon.
Multinational cleaning firm ISS, who have more than 400,000 staff worldwide, hold a cleaning contract at the AA building. Despite agreements made internationally, ISS in New Zealand refuses to be a responsible contractor and treat cleaners fairly. Cleaners are asking “why are we treated differently in NZ”?
Cleaners will also be supporting EPMU members who are AA call centre workers currently in negotiations with the company.
Both the cleaners and call centre workers are calling for their companies to treat them with respect
All Welcome

Dennis Maga - Free Ka Bel Movement
Hear Dennis Maga, trade unionist and spokesperson for the Free Ka Bel Movement in the Philippines, speaking in New Zealand later this month.
Auckland:
Mon 21 May 7.30PM Trades Hall
147 Great Nth Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland.
Also in Auckland, meeting for union organisers on Thurs 31 May, 4pm at the NDU in Onehunga.
Wellington:
Wed 23 May, 7pm, 2nd Floor, Anzac House 181 Willis St, (near Cnr Willis and Dixon Sts) 
Christchurch:
24th May (Thursday)  7.30pm at the Trade Union Centre, 1st Floor, 199 Armagh St
Northland: events at the end of May, check back next week for details.

CTU Meetigns/Training

Stage One: Partnership Programme Training-AUCKLAND 
This is an inter-union EREL approved one-day practical course for union delegates and H&S reps who are employed by companies who are in the ACC Partnership Programme (PP).  Union officials are also encouraged to attend.
23 May 2007, 9.00am to 4.00pm
Columbus Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland. More info: robl@nzctu.org.nz

CTU-ACC Workshop: WELLINGTON
This is a two-day workshop for union officials involved in ACC policy and legislation and the Accredited Employers Partnership Programme (PP).   The purpose of the workshop is to inform CTU’s ACC policy in the lead-up to the next general election.
16th-17th May 2007, 9.00am to 4.00pm
Day One: RSA, Willis Street
Day Two: CTU Boardroom, 178 Willis Street, Wellington.  More info: robl@nzctu.org.nz

Union Super KiwiSaver Campaign Meeting
10 am to 12 noon Friday 18th May
CTU Meeting Room, Wellington.
Peter Conway: peterc@nzctu.org.nz.

Learning Reps Training, for IDEA Reps
Tuesday/Wednesday 22nd & 23rd May, 9am-4.30pm, Meeting Room, NZCTU 7th Floor, Education House, 178 Willis St, Wellington marym@nzctu.org.nz

Learning Reps Training, for Rail & Port Workers Tuesday/Wednesday 29th & 30th May, 9am-4.30pm, venue to be confirmed, Timaru marym@nzctu.org.nz

CTU Women’s Council Biennial Conference
Building our Power – Union Women in Action.
This is being held on the 29th and 30th June at the Mercure Hotel in Wellington.
The event includes national and international speakers, workshops and an opportunity to meet with around 150 women unionists from throughout the country.
If you are interested in attending, contact your union. It is EREL approved and registrations close 14 June.

Workplace Productivity Challenge: Exploring Workplace Productivity Issues. 
There is no charge to attend the Productivity Challenge, and some assistance is available for travel and other associated costs.  Seminars are as follows:
Wed 16 May, 9am-4.30pm
Barge Park Showgrounds, State Highway 14, Manu, Whangarei EREL deadline May 2 sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by May 9
Thurs 31 May, 9am-4.30pm
Willowhaven, 31 Beaumont Rd, Ngongotaha, Rotorua EREL deadline 17 May sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by May 24
Tues 5 June, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Te Manawa Museum, Palmerston North,
EREL deadline 22 May
This workshop is almost full so register now to avoid missing out sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by May 29
Thurs 7 June, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Trade Union Centre, 2 Lipton Place, Onekawa, Napier, EREL deadline 24 May sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by May 31
Tues 12June, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Invercargill, (venue t.b.c.),
EREL deadline 29 May
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by June 5
Wed 13 June, 9 am – 4.30 pm
St Johns Hall, Wellington Central,
EREL deadline 30 May
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by June 6

More details and registration forms at:
http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity.html

Stage Three Health and Safety Training Launches
An RSVP is required for all events, to Renee Habluetzel: reneeh@nzctu.org.nz.  For more info contact Renee or visit www.worksafereps.org.nz. Remaining evetns are as follows:
Wednesday 16th May 5-7pm
Trade Union Centre,199 Armagh Street
Christchurch
 Monday 21st May 5-7pm
Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
Auckland
Wednesday 30th May 5-7pm
Edgar Centre, Portsmouth Drive
Dunedin
A Wellington event will be announced shortly.

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