THE UNIONIST: National's worker policies, working women's day and Iran

Today the Unionist reports on emerging details of National's worker rights policy, International Working Women's Day and a global campaign to free an Iranian unionist.

National’s Worker Rights Agenda Becoming Clearer

National needs to explain its worker rights policies to workers, Council of Trade Unions said this week after mixed messages from the party on the matter.

On Wednesday, the CTU said National should start spelling out exactly what it would do with worker rights, following National Party industrial relations spokesperson Kate Wilkinson’s speech to a business audience in Auckland on Wednesday morning.  Wilkinson outlined National's approach to worker rights this election, but gave very little detail.

“The one area that Kate Wilkinson was clear on today was that National is still promoting a law change that would expose 700,000 working New Zealanders to unfair sacking and discrimination every year, after their 90-Days-No-Rights bill was resoundingly beaten in Parliament in 2006,” CTU president Helen Kelly said Wednesday.

“Given National has opposed every decent piece of employment policy over the last nine years, including four weeks annual leave, paid parental leave and time-and-a-half for statutory holiday work, it’s important if things have changed that they let people know how.”

Yesterday, John Key told a Christchurch radio station that his spokesperson's comments this week weren't at odds with previous statements on the party's website, confirming that the contents of a May 2007 speech by Kate Wilkinson on National's website was still National’s policy.

Helen Kelly said however he did not clarify why they were so reticent yesterday to continue promoting it.

“Despite the softly, softly approach from Kate Wilkinson yesterday, it’s not surprising they’re reticent."

“We are still waiting for any policies which will actually benefit workers."

 “Rather than try and reassure workers that all will be well if they are elected, National needs to be upfront with their intentions and let workers scrutinise them,” she said.

Last year Wilkinson admitted that under National:
• Employers would have the right to dismiss workers unfairly for a probationary period, and perhaps indefinitely in small business
• Workers could be forced to sell their fourth week of annual leave
• Vulnerable workers (such as cleaners) would lose rights to keep their jobs after a business was sold or transferred.
• Employers could force workers on to individual agreements
• ACC would be privatised
• Statutory holiday pay could be cut
• Union rights would be reduced
• Benefits and Working for Families would be reduced to force people into low paid work.

International Working Women's Day

Marie Bell, a speaker at the event in Wellington last night.

International Working Women's Day is tomorrow, and the CTU Women's Council marked it with an event in Wellington yesterday, with music and speakers including Minister of Women's Affairs Steve Chadwick.

International Working Women’s Day, celebrated world wide, honours working women and women’s struggle. It began on March 8 1857 when garment workers in New York City marched and picketed, demanding improved working conditions, a ten hour day, and equal rights for women. They were beaten up by the police. Fifty one years later, on March 8 1908 women in the needle trades in New York marched again, honouring the 1857 march, demanding the right to vote, an end to sweatshops and child labour.

Meanwhile, the International Trade Union Confederation has released a new report on the eve of International Working Women's Day. The Global Gender Pay Gap (pdf) reveals that on average, women are paid 16% less than their male counterparts. 

“Despite decades of anti-discrimination legislation and changes in company rhetoric, the pay packets of women, whether they are in New York or Shanghai, are still significantly thinner than those of men. The positive news for workers around the world is that trade unions are succeeding in bridging the pay divide, as the data in this report confirms. Through collective bargaining, women and men get a better and more equal deal,” said ITUC President Sharan Burrow, also president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Latest New Zealand figures were highlighted by the CTU in October last year, and showed the gap being 14 per cent. 

CTU backs campaign to free Iranian unionist

The Council of Trade Unions has backed the campaign by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) to free an Iranian unionist and bus driver jailed for standing up for worker and union rights.

“Mansour Osanloo was sentenced to 5 years jail for standing up for basic worker rights in Iran.  His case is just one example of a repressive approach to union activity in Iran, and it is an unacceptable breach of human rights for worker representatives to be intimidated and detained in this way,” CTU president Helen Kelly said yesterday.

“Unions are the foundation of civil society and must be free to organise for better conditions at work and speak up for the rights of working people, and we condemn the treatment of worker representatives by the Iranian government.”

“We express our solidarity with Mr Osanloo and the workers of Iran, and join with the ITF in calling for his release, and for an independent trade union movement in Iran.”

Unionists rallied outside the Iranian Embassy in Wellington yesterday, joining an International Day of Action lead by the ITF.

ACT NOW: send a message via the LabourStart campaign page here:
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=339 

Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local

NOTE: Last week's issue had an incorrect date for March's meeting of Unions Auckland.  It is this Thursday March 13, not the 20th.

Unions Tauranga
Monday 10 March, 4pm
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd, Mt Maunganui. 
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Unions Otago
Mon 10 March, 4.30pm
NZNO, Level 3, 7 Crawford St, Dunedin. 
glendaa@nzno.org.nz

Unions Auckland
Thursday 13 March, 4pm.
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Unions Canterbury
Planning meeting
Tuesday 18 March 2008, 7pm.
Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh St Christchurch
karena.brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tuesday 25 March, 4pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Friday 28 March, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Waikato
Wednesday 2 April 2008, 5.15pm
Trade Union Centre, 34 Harwood Street, Hamilton
waikatotuc@xtra.co.nz

Unions Gisborne
Wed 9 April, 5.15pm
Trade Union Centre - Cnr Childers Rd and Customhouse Street
Colleen.Ryan@ndu.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Red Flag Social Club
Friday March 7th, from 5.30pm.
Trades Hall, 149 Gt North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
wwrc@ihug.co.nz

WORKERS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Forum Series on “The Politics of Debt”
Mondays 12:10 - 1:00 p.m. starting March 10th with Norman Smith, on “What is Energy Poverty?”
At the new Wellington W E A Rooms
3rd Floor, Anvil House, 138 Wakefield Street, [opposite the Michael Fowler Centre]
pbolster@anet.co.nz

Privitisation By Stealth
Why This Discredited Practice Is Still On the Political Agenda, Sunday, March 16th 2008
11.00 a.m. – 5.30 p.m.  Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Bill Rosenberg, of CAFCA, on the international pressures driving privatisation.  Laila Harre, former Cabinet Minister, on the internal and external pressures on Government to privatise. Sue Newberry, Associate Professor of Accounting, Sydney University, on the structures in place which enable some privatisation initiatives to proceed without the public being aware.  For more info click here (PDF).  Roger Awards follow conference, see below:

The Roger Award
For the worst transnational corporation operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand last year (2007).  The 2007 Winner(s) will be announced on Sunday, March 16th, @ Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh St, Christchurch, 7.30pm. For more info click here.

Working Women's Resource Centre workshops
THE WORKING WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTRE is proud to present the following Legal Seminars designed and presented by Barristers Helen White and Usha Patel and funded by the ASB Community Trust:
WOMEN COVER YOUR ASS…ETS
These seminars are provided free of charge, are open to all Women and light refreshments will be provided.  The seminar will cover important things to know about FAMILY LAW including the benefits, the pitfalls and the costs of: Wills, Family Trusts and The Relationship Property Act.
* Thursday 6th March
Venue: Otahuhu Town Hall
Lower conference room
Corner High Street and Great South Road
6.00pm to 9.00pm
* Thursday 27th March
Venue:  Glenfield Community Centre
Corner Bentley Ave and Glenfield Road
6.00pm to 9.00pm

* Choose which seminar suits you best and book your place by contacting  Ros Hiini Ph 09 379 7906, Fax 09 375 2681, Cell 021 2992921 or Email wwrc@ihug.co.nz

CTU Meetings, Training

Learning Reps Training - Rangitikei Meatworks
Thursday & Friday, 13th & 14th March
9am to 4pm
Venue to be confirmed
georgel@nzctu.org.nz 

CTU Manufacturing Meeting
Thursday 13th March 2008, 1pm to 4pm
CTU Boardroom, Wellington
peterc@nzctu.org.nz

CTU Low Pay meeting
Tuesday 8th April 2008, 9.30 to 12.30
NDU Offices, 120 Church Street, Onehunga, Auckland
peterc@nzctu.org.nz

Maori Models of Organising - Nga Momo Whakaritenga
6 courses commencing in July across the country. Details will be advised closer to the time, but early enquiries to helent@nzctu.org.nz or 09-303-9018.

Workplace Productivity Challenge Workshop
There is no charge to attend the Productivity Challenge which is an EREL-approved course.
Financial assistance is available for travel, wage reimbursement (if not on EREL or other leave) and other associated costs. There are places available in the following workshops:

Wednesday 12 March 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm - Dunedin
Friday 14 March 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm - Hamilton
Wednesday 2 April 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm – New Plymouth
Friday 4 April 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm – Palmerston North
Friday 11 April 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm – Petone, Wellington

Register now for one of these workshops.
Dates for 2008 workshops and Registration forms for these workshops above are on the CTU website. If you wish to register interest in a future workshop please tell us your name and location and details of how to contact you. We will cater to demand and arrange something to suit you if you cannot find a location that suits you.
Email Sandy - productivity@nzctu.org.nz.
Check out the WPEP website for more information: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity.html

Contact
For information about the Unionist, or to list upcoming CTU events, contact CTU Communications and Campaigns Organiser Sam Huggard on 04-802-3817, or email samh@nzctu.org.nz.