Workers prepare to rally for Fairness at Work 20.8.10

Workers across New Zealand will come together at a series of Fairness at Work rallies on Saturday and Sunday in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin to voice their opposition to the employment law changes introduced to Parliament on Thursday.

The rallies, organised by the Council of Trade Unions will feature live music and entertainment alongside the speeches and mark the start of the campaign to end the unjust attacks on the working conditions and job security of all New Zealanders.

“We are making a positive call for Fairness at Work this weekend,” said CTU President Helen Kelly. “The Government is relentlessly negative and disrespectful in its treatment of New Zealand workers, stripping away their rights and making them easier to fire unfairly. Ordinary hard-working New Zealanders know what fairness is, and they know that it isn’t what the Government is proposing which brands them as lazy, sickie-pulling cheats.”

“These are issues which will affect every worker in the country, reducing their job security and their ability to negotiate fair conditions with their employers. It’s not just workers but their children in the future too who will suffer lower wages and worse conditions if these measures are not removed.”

Each of the rallies will be addressed by ordinary workers, some of whom have suffered unfair dismissal with no right of appeal under the current 90 day trial law. There will also be live music and entertainment to bring a party atmosphere to the events with a variety of bands, choirs and performers in each centre. In Wellington Michele A’Court will MC the rally and in Auckland the Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua will take the helm, with Tigilau Ness performing. The Eastern and Cris Fulton (of Ruby Fusion) will entertain crowds in Christchurch, while touring US singer Dave Rovics will sing at Sunday’s rally in Dunedin.

“These rallies are just the start of our campaign. We will be vigorously making our points to the select committees on the Holidays and Employment Relations Acts, and we will be taking our message to Parliament, to employers, to workplaces and to the public over the coming months,” said Kelly.

Notes to editors:

Rally venues and times:
Auckland
1pm, Saturday 21st August
QE2 Square (bottom of Queen St, opposite Britomart)
Wellington
1pm, Saturday 21st August
Civic Square
Christchurch
1pm, Saturday 21st August
Cathedral Square
Dunedin
11am, Sunday 22nd August
Assemble at Dental School, Great King Street
March to rally at the Octagon

For further information contact:

Fraser Pettigrew, Communications and Campaigns Advisor
04 802 3817 / 027 243 7031 / fraserp@nzctu.org.nz

Helen Kelly, President, CTU
04 802 3812 / 021 776 741

AUCKLAND RALLY Saturday contact:
Hannah Coleman, SFWU, 027 204 6329

WELLINGTON RALLY Saturday contact:
Lyndy McIntyre, NZEI, 027 276 7131

CHRISTCHURCH RALLY Saturday contact:
Marty Braithwaite, 021 187 2091

DUNEDIN RALLY Sunday contact:
Victor Billot, MUNZ, 021 482 219