The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed a Green Party pre budget announcement this week of $50 million to go towards insulation of state housing, writes The Unionist this week. We also report on the meat industry redundancies, as well as give the weekly wrap of events, meetings and campaign dates.
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State housing insulation programme welcome
The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed a Green Party pre budget announcement this week of $50 million to go towards insulation of state housing.
“There are so many reasons why investing in healthy and warm homes is beneficial to low income families in state houses,” CTU vice president Maori Sharon Clair said yesterday.
“It has a hugely positive impact on the health of families and in preventing problems such as respiratory illnesses, not to mention the cost saving for tenants through reduced energy use. With many Maori on low incomes and in state housing, this is particularly important for Maori families.”
“We are also aware of the subsidies available to the private rental sector for this work, and hope to see more retrofitting across the board.”
“The CTU has supported the government’s climate change agenda, but said that a number of measures needed to work alongside emissions trading, such as community and work-based education campaigns and other energy conservation measures.”
“This announcement is a positive step in this direction,” Sharon Clair said.
The CTU is also working with the Government and Business NZ on an awareness raising programme for workers and employers on energy efficiency, and another project about to start examines the trade skills needed for a sustainable economy.
Ends. Click here for recent CTU policy statements and submissions on climate change [2].
Meat industry needs to get moving on merger
“The meat processing industry owes it to its workforce to get back to the table on discussions for a meat industry merger,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said on Tuesday, following redundancy announcements by PPCS at its Oringi plant.
PPSC announced on Tuesday it had started a two week consultation period over a proposal to close its Oringi plant, near Dannevirke, and make 466 workers redundant.
Meatworkers Union national secretary Dave Eastlake said that news of the proposed closure at Oringi was not unexpected and they expected more closures around the country in the coming months
"We are aware there has been a reduction in stock numbers, so we are aware that some closures would be inevitable."
Last month, a vote among meat worker delegates at the union's annual conference resolved to support the changes suggested for the industry by the Alliance Group for a new combined entity for the meat industry.
“The Union support the concept as an innovative and timely proposal to remedy the over capacity in the industry,” Dave Eastlake said in April.
“While accepting that such restructuring would inevitably result in significant redundancies and plant closures, the Union believes a planned and structured rationalisation is preferable to chaotic closures resulting from Company failures.”
The CTU has backed the workers call for a more coordinated approach to the industry.
“The CTU endorses the recent vote by Meat Workers Union delegates in support of the proposal for a new entity to control meat procurement and marketing,” Carol Beaumont said on Tuesday.
“This would deliver a more coordinated meat sector and some much needed security to the meat workforce in New Zealand. Food manufacturing is a vital part of the New Zealand economy, and the meat industry owes it to the country to work this proposal through.”
“This announcement is a hard one for the workers, and for the wider Tararua district,” Carol Beaumont said.
“The workers need the support of government agencies and other groups such as industry training organisations to ensure they are getting all possible assistance to find new work.”
“Unions have been part of a tripartite process looking at a strategic approach for the future of the meat industry, including support for workers affected by redundancies, but this needs to be backed up by a concerted effort from the companies to these merger talks.”
Weekly Events Calendar
Unions Local - remaining meetings in May
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 [3]
Unions Canterbury
Tues May 20, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch
karena.brown@epmu.org.nz [4]
Unions Northland
Tue May 27, 4pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz [5]
Unions Waikato
Weds May 28, 5.15 pm
Trade Union Centre, 34 Harwood Street, Hamilton.
rob.george@nzei.org.nz [6]
Unions Manawatu
Friday May 30, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz [7]
Unions Gisborne
Wed June 4, 5.15pm
Trade Union Centre - Cnr Childers Rd and Customhouse Street
Colleen.Ryan@ndu.org.nz [8]
Other Events and Campaigns
Post Budget Briefings
- AUCKLAND: Child Poverty Action Group, eighth annual Post-Budget Breakfast. Speakers: Dr Steve Poletti (University of Auckland, Economics and School of Business; author – tax chapter, CPAG’s ‘Left Behind’), Alan Johnson (senior policy analyst, Salvation Army; CPAG housing author and spokesperson incl ‘Left Behind’), Emcee Dr Susan St John co-editor CPAG’s ‘Left Behind: How social and income inequalities damage NZ children.’ 7:30am – 8:45am. Friday, May 23rd. RSVP please with advance payment for catering: click here for full details (PDF document) [10]
- WELLINGTON: Public Health Association of New Zealand Post-Budget Breakfast
Friday 23 May 7.15 am – 9.00 am. Speakers: Anne Else: Writer, and campaigner, Child Poverty Action Group; Peter Conway: economist, NZ Council of Trade Unions; Celia Wade-Brown: Wellington City Councillor and President of Living Streets Aotearoa; Ana Fetu & Kayla Fonoti: students at Viard College and winning speakers at University of Otago, Wellington’s recent Pacific Students Leadership Day. RSVP - full details click here (word document). [11] 
Drinking Liberally - promoting democracy one pint at a time
Like politics? Like drinking? If you answered yes to both these questions then join us for the launch of Drinking Liberally, a fortnightly event aimed at building ties among left-leaning people. So come along on Wednesday, grab yourself a pint and meet our guest speaker Nandor Tanczos, Green MP.
WHAT Launch of Drinking Liberally Wellington
WHEN 6pm, Wed 21st May
WHERE Southern Cross, Abel Smith Street
SPEAKER Nandor Tanczos, Green MP CONTACT wellington@drinkingliberally.org [12]
30 year commemoration of the eviction at Bastion Point – an invitation to unionists, whanau and friends
Ngati Whatua invites all people to attend the remembrance and reconciliation ceremony at Orakei Marae
Date: Sunday 25th of May, Powhiri at 10am – Hakari (lunch) 1pm
10am: Powhiri with reconciliation ceremony led by Sir Paul Reeves and Takutai Wikiriwhi
11am: Hikoi to Takaparawha
1pm: Hakari – shared lunch
Location: Orakei Marae, Auckland City
Contact: bastionpoint@gmail.com [13]; or phone 09 528 6747 or visit aucklandcitylibraries.com
The Red Flag Social Club
invites you to a wine option evening (wine tasting quiz)
$5.00 per person,
Friday 16th May, Trades Hall, 149 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
The Social club will open at 5.00pm, the Wine Quiz will start at 6.00pm
Light refreshments will be served.
Ros Hiini, Organiser, Working Womens Resource Centre, 09 379 7906, wwrc@ihug.co.nz [14]
CTU Meetings, Training
Skills Strategy Consultation 
Unions, business, the government and industry training organisations launched consultation on the New Zealand Skills Strategy late last month. 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. Consultation will run till early June, and more information about the strategy is here [16]. 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 [17].
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 [18] 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 [19]
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 30 June, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Dunedin – NOTE Changed Date from previous advertising
- 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 [20].
Check out the WPEP website for more information: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity.html [21]