The Unionist, Issue 85, July 27 2007

The Unionist today reports on the Spotless workers’ victory earlier in the week, youth rates, productivity education and the upcoming VUW employment trends seminars.

Victory For Low Paid Workers Over Aggressive Health Contractor

"Spotless Services should never have dragged the chain over government funding that was not theirs to hold out on, and this was a completely unnecessary lockout," CTU president Ross Wilson said on Tuesday.

Following an Employment Court ruling that Spotless’ lockout of 800 workers was illegal, the company reached agreement with the Service and Food Workers Union on a wage settlement to bring them to the same level already agreed to by DHBs and three other contract companies.  The two will continue negotiations over other matters in the collective agreement in the next two weeks. 

Public funding to lift the workers’ wages had been provided by government.

"It was unconscionable for the company to try and hold out on the hospital workers getting their pay increase," Ross Wilson said.

"These workers stood strong collectively in their union and wouldn't let the company starve them back to work.  Good on them," he said.

SFWU are seeking a court ruling to get the workers' wages back for the period they were locked out.

Youth Rates Bill Debated

Parliament debated and passed the second reading of Sue Bradford’s Minimum Wage (Abolition of Age Discrimination) Amendment Bill on Wednesday night.  It will come up for committee stages in the House in coming weeks. 

Earlier in the day the CTU called on politicians to keep an open mind on strengthening the youth minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds as the Bill progressed through the House.

“Young workers face discrimination in the workplace, purely because of their age, and there is broad public support for the abolition of youth rates,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said. 

“The select committee recommendation creating a new entrant provision of 200 hours work before a 16 or 17 year old reaches the full minimum wage has problems of principle and practicability.”

“Unions will continue our campaign to show public support for the removal of youth rates, including through the rally and concert in Auckland next month, and industrially to remove youth rates in employment agreements through collective bargaining with employers.”

“The Government has a proud record over the past 8 years in lifting the minimum wage and partially removing youth wage discrimination,” Carol Beaumont said. “It is now time to again demonstrate strong leadership on an important matter of principle and abolish this discrimination in our law completely.”

CTU Productivity Education gets a big tick

After 18 months of developing resources and trialing education sessions, the Council of Trade Unions’ Workplace Productivity Education Project (WPEP) has received positive feedback in an independent evaluation conducted for the Department of Labour.

1,193 workers have completed training in productivity through the project, and participants enjoyed meeting other union members, hearing about the diversity of work environments and experiences, and the use of stories and case studies to explain productivity and the issues this topic brings up.

The education programme continues through to the end of 2008.  The CTU will continue to run its ‘Productivity Challenge’ workshops for delegates and other members across the country, as well as contribute to a larger education programme that builds on productivity initiatives that some unions are already involved in.

The practical focus supports the aim of increasing understanding of productivity in the workplace and promoting productivity initiatives. Resources include tools for workers to use in assessing how well their workplace is performing and to identify areas of potential improvement.

The next workshop will be held in Hamilton on 11 September. More details about the project are on the CTU website here.

Bargaining Trends & Employment Law Update Annual Seminars

The 2007 update on New Zealand wages and conditions will be released at a series of seminars being held in late July and early August by Victoria University's Industrial Relations Centre.

The VUW seminars are a key source of information on current wages, conditions, and employment relations practices in New Zealand.  The Centre’s director, Professor George Lafferty will report on wages and conditions contained in New Zealand’s largest database of collective employment agreements and Peter Kiely will review current trends in employment case law and emerging legal issues.  Topics also covered in the seminars include working time and leave, work-life balance, and skills development.

Dates are:
31 July: Christchurch
2 Aug:   Dunedin
8 Aug:   Hamilton
10 Aug: Auckland
15 Aug: Wellington
17 Aug: Napier

Register online at: http://www.vuw.ac.nz/irc 

Weekly Events Calendar

Events and Campaigns

Protest and gig - End Youth Rates.
12 noon, Sat August 11
Britomart.
Details: http://www.endyouthratesnow.com/

The Red Flag Social Club invites you to come and warm the cockles of your heart with a hot bowl of chilli on a cold winter’s night (Vegetarian option available)
At Trades Hall, 149 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
On Friday 10 August, from 5.00pm
$10.00 per person
This is a Working Women’s Resource Centre fund raiser.
For further information contact Ros Hiini 09 379 7906 or email wwrc@ihug.co.nz

Talking Union
All Welcome
5:15 - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 2nd August
NZCTU Board Room
7th Floor Education House
178 Willis Street
Wellington 

Workers Education Association
Monday 30th July 12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Panel discusses "What Role for the WEA ?"
Centre for Global Action
2nd Floor, James Smiths Bldg
cnr. Cuba St & Manners Mall
Wellington
pbolster@anet.co.nz

First Friday Drinks
The regular monthly get together
After work
Friday August 3rd
Brix Bar
Abel Tasman Hotel
Cnr.Willis & Dixon Streets

CTU Meetings/Training

Dunedin CTU-Government Forum
Tues 31 July, 4.30pm to 9.30pm
Fullwood Room, The Dunedin Centre, 1 Harrop Street, Dunedin
andrewc@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

Workplace Productivity Challenge Workshop
There is no charge to attend the Productivity Challenge and financial assistance is available to help with travel, wage reimbursement (if not on EREL or other leave) and other associated costs. Next courses are:
Tuesday 11 September, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Methodist Centre, 62 London St
Hamilton
EREL deadline is 28 August
productivity@nzctu.org.nz by 4 September

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