The Unionist, Issue 86, August 9 2007

The Unionist today reports on the youth rates campaign, home affordability and solidarity with pacific nurses.

Where else would you be in Auckland at 12 noon this Saturday?

The youth rates campaign steps up again this weekend, with an EndYouthRatesNow.Com mass youth protest march and gig in Auckland on Saturday at noon.

The event is being organised by NDU, Unite, Radical Youth and Youth Union Movement, and is being supported by youth rates petition stalls in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin in a national day of action against youth rates (times and locations below under 'events').

The rally gets under way at 12 noon at Britomart at the bottom of Queen Street in Auckland City, and heads up Queen Street to a concert headlined by Nesian Mystik, in an event designed to tell politicans that the  “200 hour ‘new entrant rate’ isn’t good enough and that it’s time to abolish youth rates for good”.

On Wednesday the youth rates bill, a members’ bill sponsored by Sue Bradford, heads back into Parliament for committee stages. 

The original intent of the bill was to extend the adult minimum wage to 16 and 17 year old workers, but the select committee considering the Bill has recommended the creation of a ‘new entrant’ provision to allow youth rates to continue to be paid in a young workers’ first 200 hours with any employer.

Two Sides To Housing Affordability Coin

“Home affordability is not just about house prices – it is also about incomes, and low wages means home ownership is now increasingly out of reach for low and middle income New Zealanders,” CTU president Ross Wilson told a select committee today.

The Council of Trade Unions this morning presented to the Commerce select committee on their inquiry into housing affordability in New Zealand.

"House prices are still outstripping wages by 4 to 1. In the year to June for example, wages rose by 3.1% while house prices were up 12.2%.  The significant gap between wages and house prices is worrying for many workers, in particular those trying to enter the home market for the first time.”

“The CTU does support a capital gains tax on investment housing and removing the offsetting of expenses for rental properties against income.”

“But regular wage increases are also vital in tackling the high cost of home ownership.”

“It will be important to ensure workers make use of the KiwiSaver provisions for first home buyers, and unions are currently running a campaign to make sure union members get the best opportunities to benefit from KiwiSaver.”

The CTU submission also focused on improving the supply of affordable housing through subsidised home lending programmes, freeing up land banked property, shared equity, more state housing, affordable housing quotas, and higher investment in skilled labour for residential construction.  It is available for download here: http://union.org.nz/policy/housing-affordability-June-07

Pacific Solidarity

The NZNO is appealing to all New Zealand unions and workers to support our counterparts in Fiji and in particular the Fiji Nursing Association by making a financial donation.

As many of you will be aware the situation for striking workers in Fiji is dire. It is suspected that many workers have had their bank accounts frozen by the government. These workers need your financial assistance to continue to fight for their rights to be respected.

The NZNO Fiji Nurses Hardship Fund has been set up now. Donations can be made by:
1.       Visiting any ANZ Branch and making a deposit into the ‘NZNO Fijian Nurses Relief Fund’, account number 01 0505 0087105 46
2.       Posting/ delivering your donation to the Chief Executive, NZNO National Office, P O Box 2128, L3 57 Willis Street, Wellington (cheques payable to ‘NZNO Fijian Nurses Relief Fund’)

Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local

Unions Tauranga
Mon 13 Aug, 4pm.
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd, Mt Maunganui. 
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Auckland
Thur 16 Aug, 4pm
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Wellington
Mon Aug 20, 4.30pm
NZCTU, Level 7, 178 Willis St.
pbolster@anet.co.nz

Unions Canterbury
Tues Aug 21, 7pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tue 28th August, 5pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Fri Aug 31, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Protest and gig - End Youth Rates.
AUCKLAND: 12 noon, Sat August 11
Starts at Britomart.
Details: http://www.endyouthratesnow.com/
Wellington: 12 noon Sat, stall in Manners Mall
Christchurch: 12 noon Sat, stall in Cashel Mall
Dunedin: 12 noon Sat, stall outside Meridian Mall.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE THE ROGER AWARD Nominations are now open for this most prestigious and keenly contested annual Award (won by Progressive Enterprises in 2006; the previous winners are: Westpac/BNZ, Telecom, Juken Nissho, Carter Holt Harvey, TransAlta Monsanto and TranzRail : 3 times). Nominations close on October 31.
[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0706/S00327.htm]

Welcome to The Red Flag Social Club’s CHILLI NIGHT
Come and warm the cockles of your heart with a hot bowl of chilli on a cold winter’s night.  Friday 10 August, Trades Hall, 149 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
From 5.00pm
For a hearty bowl of chilli (meat and vegetarian option)               
$10.00 per person

Workers Education Association
Monday  August 13th 12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
President of NZUSA
"University & Students"
Centre for Global Action
2nd Floor, James Smiths Bldg
cnr. Cuba St & Manners Mall
Wellington
pbolster@anet.co.nz

TALKING UNION
Have a no obligation listen/look
5:15 - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 16th August
NZCTU Board Room
7th Floor Education House
178 Willis Street
Wellington 

CTU Meetings/Training

Workplace Productivity Challenge Workshop

There is no charge to attend the Productivity Challenge 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

Monday 24 September, 9 am – 4.30 pm
St John’s Hall, Cnr Dixon and Willis Sts Wellington EREL deadline 10 September productivity@nzctu.org.nz by 17 September

Thursday 4 October, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Fairfield House, Nelson
EREL deadline 20 September
productivity@nzctu.org.nz by 27 September
 
Thursday 25 October, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Te Manawa Museum, 396 Main St
Palmerston North
EREL deadline 11 October
productivity@nzctu.org.nz by 18 October

Thursday 1 November, 9 am – 4.30 pm
St Columba’s Centre, Ponsonby
Auckland Central
EREL deadline 18 october
productivity@nzctu.org.nz by 25 October

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