The Unionist, Issue 84, July 13 2007

The Unionist today reports on the actions of Spotless Services in locking out 800 low paid hospital workers this week, and on the recent CTU Women’s Conference.

Spotless Take On The Whole Union Movement 

"Service and support staff in hospitals are some of the lowest paid workers in the country and by locking out hundreds of hospital workers Spotless Services are taking on the whole 350,000 strong union movement,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

The lockout of nearly 800 hospital cleaners, orderlies and kitchen staff by Spotless Services Ltd continued today.  The workers were locked out from midnight Thursday following strike notices issued by their union in support of their campaign for a Multi Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) covering 3,000 hospital workers.

After several months of negotiations a number of District Health Boards across the country and three other contractors (ISS, OCS and Compass) have accepted a proposed new pay scale to pass on $16 million of government funding to lift the wages of these workers, but Spotless has not signed up. 

There were several rallies and pickets in support of the workers yesteday and today, including two outside Spotless head and branch offices in Auckland and Wellington this afternoon.

Tonight SFWU's Alastair Duncan said that the union had written to Spotless Services offering a way to resolve the two day lockout of its union members.

He said that the union has offered to withdraw pending strike notices until 7.00 am next Tuesday to enable the parties to meet over the weekend. 

"We have asked Spotless to reciprocate and lift its lockout notices for the same time to allow us to attend mediation." 

Alastair Duncan said the strength of the locked out workers over the past two days coupled with a growing level of community support may have contributed to Spotless changing its position in several key areas. 

Earlier today the CTU today reminded Spotless of the unprecedented level of action that was prompted when another Australian company locked out workers last year.

“New Zealand workers and communities stood up and fought back when Progressive Enterprises locked out 500 supermarket supply chain workers last year, and support for these workers quickly became international,” Ross Wilson said.

“Spotless should take note of the growing community support for the hospital service workers they have locked out, including the Mayors of two cities and other workers and members of the public attending pickets in several parts of New Zealand.”

Click here for pictures and videos from the pickets and rallies 

Enthusiasm, energy and union strength at CTU Women’s Conference

A feeling of enthusiasm, energy, union strength and warmth was present throughout the two days of the recent CTU Women’s Conference, which organisers believe was the largest ever, with 180 union women present from 17 affiliated CTU unions.

“Overall there was a feeling that in reviewing the last two years and looking ahead, while there have been achievements, and notably amazing campaigns by union women which have lead to those achievements there is a lot of work to do to improve women’s working lives and achieve greater equity for women in the workplace, community and home,” CTU Policy and Programme Analyst Eileen Brown said.

The conference was opened by CTU Vice President Maori Sharon Clair who paid tribute to union women who were not present over the two days.  Keynote speakers included Prime Minister Helen Clark, Green MP Sue Bradford, CTU officers Carol Beaumont, Sharon Clair and Helen Kelly, Komiti Pasefika Co Convenor Taima Fagaloa, ACTU industrial officer Cath Bowtell and many other women who presented and participated during the conference.

“Participants were very positive about the workshops which provided an opportunity to drill down into the specifics of several issues: paid parental leave, flexible working hours, women and industrial action, a joint union campaign on precarious work, women and superannuation, pay equity and  equal employment opportunities,” Eileen Brown said.

“Responses back from participants were overwhelmingly positive; delegates really enjoyed the two days and appreciated the opportunity to hear the keynote speakers, attend the workshops and to learn from and interact with women from other unions.”

Pacific themes, many visual displays, posters, speakers, information stands and a lot of singing added colour, interest and vitality to the venue and conference.

“Cath Bowtell’s session was rated by participants as one of the most significant, with shock and disbelief expressed by delegates after learning what is happening for Australian workers with their so called reforms.”

Following Carol Beaumont’s presentation on international unionism, CTU Burmese intern Toe Toe spoke on the goals and aspirations of the Burmese Women’s Union.  Delegates spontaneously raised nearly $1000 for the Burmese projects.

Eileen Brown gave thanks to unions for supporting so many union women to come.

“A great conference was made possible not only by those who presented and shared their wisdom and their stories with us but also by the support from unions, their leaders and their delegates,” she said.

Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local

Unions Canterbury
Tues July 17, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tue 24 July 2007, 5pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Fri July 27, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Gisborne
Thur Aug 9, 4.30pm.
Trades & Labour Hall, Corner Customhouse St. & Childers Rd.
Colleen.Ryan@ndu.org.nz

Unions Southland
Tues Aug 14 2007, 4pm,
Trades Hall, 32 Jed St, Invercargill
Dayle.Belcher@nzei.org.nz

Unions Wellington
Mon Aug 20, 5pm
NZCTU, Level 7, 178 Willis St.
pbolster@anet.co.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

* Hear a speaker from Western Sahara - Africa's last colony. An inspiring example of resistance and survival. 
Malainan Lakhal, a journalist, was forced to flee Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara in 2000 after being targeted by the regime for his activities as a leader of Saharawi resistance. He now works in the camps for the Saharawi Press Service, bringing news of his peoples' struggle to the world. He will speak of the struggle in the Moroccan-occupied territories today and the life of Saharawis in the camps.
- Wellington: Thursday, July 19, open doors at 5.30pm, meeting at 6pm, Turnbull House, Bowen St. Ph Awras 027 3036037
- Hamilton: Friday, July 20, open doors at 7pm, meeting at 7.30pm, Methodist Church Centre, 62 London St. Hosted by Corso
- Auckland: Monday July 23. 7.30pm , Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Hosted by Global Peace and Justice.
- For More information: www.awsa.org.au  Contact: Annalucia Vermunt 09 5257407, NZ Western Sahara Group Patrick Rooney juntomundo@gmail.com

* VISIT CUBA THIS SUMMER
Registrations are open for the 25th Southern Cross Brigade to Cuba. Members of the Brigade, which is made up of Australians and New Zealanders, spend approximately four weeks in Cuba, leaving 27th December and returning 24th January.  The programme is varied and includes social occasions, dance lessons, cultural events, talks by community groups e.g. the Women’s Federation, visits to schools, hospitals and trade unions, resorts and national parks, as well as free time in Havana, and some voluntary work is included in the programme.
The trip, suitable for people of any age group, all up costs $5500, including airfare, spending money and all accommodation and meals.  For further enquiries including a more detailed description of the trip, and registration, email Ina at inashina@clear.net.nz or Paul at wkcultur@ihug.co.nz, or telephone Paul on (03) 732-4010.

CTU Meetings/Training

CTU KiwiSaver Meeting
Tues 17 July, 9.30 to 12.30
NZCTU, Level 7, 178 Willis St, Wellington.
peterc@nzctu.org.nz

CTU Learning Reps Training, MUNZ, Auckland
Tues & Wed, 31 July & 1 Aug, 9.00 to 4.30
Onehunga Community House, 83 Selwyn St, Onehunga
marym@nzctu.org.nz

Seminar for union representatives on the boards of Industry Training Organisations and Institute, Wananga and University Councils.
24th July Anzac House, Willis St, Wellington.
Because this seminar is externally funded full travel costs will be reimbursed for reps from outside of Wellington. 
This is the first of a series, with the goal of ensuring that our reps in these roles are supported, informed and networked. 
The seminar will cover the new tertiary education strategy, unions as stakeholders in tertiary education and training, and above all, ways the system can better meet the needs of workers. 
For more information Donf@nzctu.org.nz

Union Organiser KiwiSaver seminars

* Please register for these free seminars with Gabriel Brettkelly gabrielann@slingshot.co.nz, 09 436-5563, 0274 365-003

Invercargill:
Tues 17 July, 10am – 12.00 – venue tbc – please register your interest

Christchurch:
Fri July 6 – full  (another Christchurch seminar will be held late July early Aug – please register your interest)

Greymouth:
We have been asked to run a seminar on the Coast and are organising dates – please register your interest.

Nelson:
Tues July 10, 10 – 12.00, Fairfield House, Trafalgar St Sth, Nelson

Wellington:
Wed July 11, 10 - 12.00, St Johns Hall, Wellington
Mon July 23, 10 - 12.00, SFWU training room, Petone
Wed July 25, 10 - 12.00, St Johns Hall, Wellington

Palmerston North:
Fri July 13, 10 - 12.00, Te Manawa Museum seminar room, Palm Nth

Rotorua:
Mon 16 July, 10 – 12.00, Willowhaven, 31 Beaumont St, Ngongataha

Napier:
Friday 3rd August, 10am – 12.00, Trade Union Centre, 2 Lipton Place, Onekawa 

Auckland:
Mon July 9, 10 – 12.00, Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn
Mon July 23, 10 – 12.00, Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn

IN HOUSE:
Service & Food Workers Union - Auckland, July 16
Police Assn – Wgton Thurs 9th Aug 

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