THE UNIONIST: Skills, action on child poverty and May Day celebrations

Lifting the nation's skills tops the agenda of this week's issue of The Unionist, as well as a new report on child poverty, May Day and the Emissions Trading Scheme. 

Skills focus top of agenda

"Increasing workers' skills is at the heart of economic transformation and is key to lifting New Zealand's productivity.  A concerted effort to take a wider look at skills development beyond routine training issues is welcome," Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said this week.

Unions, business, the government and industry training organisations are getting together to lift the focus on skills, and this week launched consultation on the New Zealand Skills Strategy.

A discussion document released by the groups identifies the importance to New Zealand of addressing not only how we develop the skills of our workforce, but how we make best use of those skills in our industries and workplaces.

The proposals in the Skills Strategy Discussion Paper form what the partners in the project believe will be effective ways to ensure that as a nation we have the skills necessary to drive economic growth.  Consultation will run till early June.

"Supporting workers to improve their skills in areas such as literacy and numeracy is critical to building the high wage, high skill economy that everyone wants.   8 out of 10 workers of the workforce of 2017 are at work today and so a good place to invest in people is directly at the workplace," Carol Beaumont said.

"The wider social benefits of increased skills investment will be felt in many ways including workers having more access to employment opportunities, supporting their children's learning and being able to take part in a wider range of community activities."

"The workplace of the future must be a learning organisation focused on lifelong learning for workers. A national discussion about how to build the skills of the entire workforce is something we are very pleased to be part of, and one which we will continue working with employers, industry and government on,” Carol Beaumont said.

More information about the strategy is here.  There are a series of workshops in 23 locations to seek feedback from workers, employers, trainers and others about the strategy.  Click here for details of events in your area.

Child Poverty Action Group commended

“The Council of Trade Unions commends Child Poverty Action Group for their persistent work in keeping child poverty in the public domain and on everyone’s agenda,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said on Monday, following the release of CPAG’s latest research report.

“This is very important research from leading social and economic researchers who are committed to showing how it is for less privileged people in our country.  CPAG’s goals of eliminating child poverty and ensuring access to decent incomes, health services, education and housing will clearly resonate with most New Zealanders.”

“We agree with many of the points made in the report, and especially the need for targets to reduce child poverty.  This has been important in the United Kingdom.”

“We also recognise changes that have been made by this government that have benefitted low-income people and working people.  20 hours free early childhood care, lower cost doctors visits and prescriptions and free childhood medical care, paid parental leave, regular minimum wage increases and Working for Families have all been very important in bringing in higher family incomes and beginning to reverse the terrible inequalities of the 1990s.”

“The CTU has consistently said that we need to front up to New Zealand’s low wage problem.  We completely agree with CPAG about the need for decent work, decent employment conditions and decent wages.”

Carol Beaumont said that unions share concerns that CPAG has raised about income reductions that some people experience when losing work.  Recent redundancy announcements have highlighted a concern that many workers in receipt of in-work payments through Working for Families will suddenly experience big income reduction at a time of extreme need and in times of high distress, she said.

“It’s an important discussion to have with Government and political parties, and the report opens up the debate on the kind of policies and protection that is needed,” Carol Beaumont said.

An executive summary of the report can be downloaded here from CPAG's website (PDF file).

May Day Celebrations

May Day celebrations got underway last night, with marches, dinners and other trade union events around New Zealand.  They end tomorrow night with the annual Unions Auckland May Day dinner, and the Manawatu May Day Cup (see details in events section).

Earlier in the week the CTU set out the case unions would be making for decent wages increases this year for workers, many feeling the pinch with rising food and petrol costs.  Click here to see CTU president Helen Kelly on TV3's sunrise programme on Monday, and click here to hear Carol Beaumont on Radio NZ's Morning Report.

On Monday, there were several events marking Workers Memorial Day.  Pictured to the right is Helen Kelly speaking at the Wellington event, and behind her is the Rail & Maritime Transport Union's Sam Kahui, with the memorial plaque.

Emissions Trading Scheme needs work

Unions Local

Unions Wellington
Tuesday May 6, 4:00 p.m.
NZCTU Boardroom, Wellington
pbolster@anet.co.nz

Unions Tauranga
Mon May 12, 4pm.
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd, Mt Maunganui. 
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Unions Auckland
Thur May 15, 4pm
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Unions Otago Candidates / MP’s forum
Friday 16th May 2008, 5pm.  Followed by drink at Duke of Wellington bar afterwards.
Seminar room, 3rd floor, Victoria Chambers, 7 Crawford Street, Dunedin.
Indication of attendance appreciated: Jenny McCullum on 477 6578 or jennym@nzno.org.nz

Unions Canterbury
Tues May 20, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch
karena.brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tue May 27, 4pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Friday May 30, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Gisborne
Wed June 4, 5.15pm
Trade Union Centre - Cnr Childers Rd and Customhouse Street
Colleen.Ryan@ndu.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns, including remaining May Day events

May Day - Auckland
* May Day Dinner will take place on Saturday 3 May, starting at 6.00pm at the Onehunga RSA, dinner will be served at 7.30pm, with short speeches and entertainment.  There will be a cash bar, the bar prices are extremely reasonable and affordable (at club prices). 
linda.holt@psa.org.nz

Manawatu MayDay Concert
The 14th annual Manawatu MayDay Concert, celebrating International Workers Day, will be held at 7.30pm Saturday 3 May at the Regent Theatre in Palmerston North. Its a great night of fun and solidarity in the form of song, music, dance and performance art from union, community groups and individuals from throughout NZ. Entry fee is a mere gold coin donation thanks to major support by the NZCTU. For more info contact dion.martin@ndu.org.nz

"Blackball 08" - Wellington Commemoration
Saturday May 10th  2008, 10.30 a.m. – 4.30pm
WEA Rooms, 3rd Floor Anvil House, 138 Wakefield St – opposite Fowler Centre
Refreshments provided.  Lunch break 1pm – 2pm in the local cafes
Entry - $10 or koha

Following the overwhelmingly successful Blackball ’08 Commemoration in Blackball at Easter, the Wellington WEA and the Trade Union History Project would like to offer Wellington people a chance to hear some of the main speakers and experience some of the other highlights of what was an extremely memorable and important occasion.  Speakers include

• Brian Wood An Overview
• Melanie Nolan (tbc) The View from over the Hill. Urban Unions and Blackball
• Peter Clayworth Pat Hickey and Other Matters
• Peter Franks The Blackball Strike and the Foundation of the Labour Party
• Andrew Little Industrial Relations 2008
• Alan Windsor Blackball – an Icon in Working-Class History and Myth
• Mark Derby The International Context of the Blackball Strike
  MUSIC: The Spanners in the Works, featuring Peter Conway and Ross Teppett, will present a short unplugged version of their brilliant performance at the Greymouth Regent.

RSVP to Rod Prosser communitymedia@paradise.net.nz as soon as possible, because we need to know approximate numbers.

Workers Education Association
"The Politics of Debt" Forums
Monday May 5th  12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Pat Bolster, President Wgtn Cuban Friendship Soc.
"How Cuba escapes the debt trap"
W E A Rooms, 3rd Floor, Anvil House
138 Wakefield Street
Wellington
pbolster@anet.co.nz

CTU Meetings, Training

CTU Climate Change Working Group
Tues 13 May, 2-4pm
CTU Meeting Room, 7th Floor, Education House, 178 Willis Street, Wellington.
Agenda items will include a report from Marilyn Head from NZNO who is attending on behalf of the CTU the ILO Green Jobs Research Conference: Green Jobs for Asia and the Pacific at Niigata, Japan from 21-23 April 2008, an update on the Emissions Trading Bill and a progress report on the CTU Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Project with Business NZ and EECA.
peterc@nzctu.org.nz

Union briefing from MFAT on China FTA
Weds 14 May, 2 - 4pm
Fellowship Room, St Johns Conference Centre, cnr Willis & Dixon St
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.

Developing Human Capability.   
A CTU session for union leaders and those with an interest in the field - with three visiting academics all involved in research on skills acquisition, and the application of skills in the workplace and links with productivity.  Ewart Keep - (Cardiff University), Ken Mayhew -(Oxford University) and John Buchannan – (Workplace Research Centre , University of Sydney).   John is best known for his work on developing Skills eco-systems in Australia.  
At the CTU  6th June – morning (probably 9.30 am – exact time will be advised).
More info: donf@nzctu.org.nz

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 3 workshops - Register now for one of these workshops:
- Thursday 22 May 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm - South Auckland
- Monday 9 June, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Whangarei
- Friday 20 June, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Dunedin

- We are also seeking expressions of interest for workshops to be held North Shore, Palmerston North later in June and Wellington in July.

Dates for 2008 workshops and Registration forms for these workshops 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