The Unionist, Issue 91, Oct 30 2007

The Unionist today reports on the recent Council of Trade Unions biennial conference, a seminar marking the 70th anniversary of the Federation of Labour, and the Australian federal election.

Biennial Conference

A new leadership team, a political strategy leading into election year, the five core areas making up the CTU’s view on the workplace of the future and a farewell to the outgoing president were among the features of the CTU biennial conference in Wellington this month.

A new aspect of conference was ‘affiliate snapshots’, which saw presentations from several unions on major campaign or organising projects they had been involved in.  The conference also heard from CTU representative groups, political parties and from overseas speakers Guy Ryder and Sharan Burrow.

The conference elected Helen Kelly as new CTU president.  CTU secretary Carol Beaumont and vice president Maori Sharon Clair were re-elected, and Richard Wagstaff was elected vice president.

The 200 delegates at conference paid tribute to outgoing CTU president Ross Wilson in a touching ceremony on Tuesday afternoon and evening.  CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said “Ross has been spectacularly successful in un

Carol Beaumont, Richard Wagstaff, Helen Kelly & Sharon Clair

ifying the New Zealand union movement and leading a positive, constructive and active union agenda.”

Earlier in the week, Ross set the scene for conference in his opening address with a reminder of the importance of unions, and a lead-in to the political strategy launch on Wednesday.

“Unions are the political voice for workers. That is a huge responsibility and if we are not recognized as the legitimate voice for workers then there is unlikely to be an effective voice for them,” he said.

“This conference provides the union movement the opportunity to review our work and strategies, and to launch our political strategy and vision for the workplace of the future.”

Political strategy launched
On Wednesday, the CTU set out the agenda for working people on which it would base its campaign in election year. 

“Our political strategy sends a strong and unequivocal signal that there is a very significant role for unions in politics,” CTU president Helen Kelly said in her speech at the launch the political strategy.

“Protecting and enhancing workers rights, stronger public services, and higher wages. These are the planks of our political strategy, and the ground on which we will campaign in election year. Importantly, they spell out a vision beyond 2008.”

CTU secretary Carol Beaumont outlined the shift in union campaigning signaled by the launch.

“This is about doing our politics differently,” she said.  “It is about recognizing specific political roles for union members, and it’s backing up our political strategy with union activism. This work programme is about building a social movement, and building our political voice. This means that our political work must be a core ongoing component of our work as unions not just in election years.”

Click here for documents from the launch.

Workplace of the Future booklet
The CTU’s vision of the workplace of the future was presented in a new booklet launched at conference, Te Huarahi mo nga Kaimahi. 

Te Huarahi mo nga Kaimahi sets out what the CTU thinks are the five features that will define decent work and the modern workplace.

It will be high wage and high value; it will be highly skilled; workplace practices will be based on fairness and respect; industries will be well networked and the importance of public services understood; and it will be healthy, safe and sustainable.

“As a union movement we should be leading the debate on the future of work.  Te Huarahi mo nga Kaimahi sets out what we are doing now to build the workplace of the future and looks at the challenges going forward,” Helen Kelly said.

Click here to read the booklet.

The New Zealand Federation of Labour 1937-1987

The seventieth anniversary of the Federation of Labour is being marked at a seminar in Wellington next month.

The Federation of Labour was formed in 1937.  In 1987, the Federation joined with the Combined States Unions to form the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. 

The seminar is being organized by the CTU and the Trade Union History Project, and full details about the forum are here on the CTU website.

In Brief

* The Australian federal election will be held on November 24, and the election campaign is well and truly on.  The Australian Council of Trade Unions have run a strong campaign against John Howard's "Work Choices" legislation that has stripped away many employment rights and conditions. 

There are many Australians living in New Zealand who may be eligible to vote.  The electoral roll has now closed, and people can check whether they are enrolled on the Australian Electoral Centre website (the specific page of the website to check details is here: https://oevf.aec.gov.au)

There is information on voting in New Zealand on the website of the Australian Embassy in New Zealand.  (This site refers to a postal vote application form on the AEC website, and that page is: http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2007/pva.htm)

* A reminder that nominations close this Wednesday October 31st for the annual Rodger Awards.  More information is here: www.cafca.org.nz. 

Events Listing

Unions Local 

Unions Northland
Tue Oct 30 2007, 4pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

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

Unions Otago
Mon Nov 12, 5.15pm.
NZNO, Victoria Chambers, 7 Crawford Street, Dunedin. 
glendaa@nzno.org.nz

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

Unions Canterbury
Tues Nov 20, 4pm (note revised time)
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tue Nov 27 2007, 4pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

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

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

Unions Gisborne
Thur Dec 13, 4.30pm.
Trades & Labour Hall, Corner Customhouse St. & Childers Rd.
Colleen.Ryan@ndu.org.nz

Unions Canterbury
Thurs Dec 13, 4.30pm (Xmas drinks)
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Other events and campaigns

The Bruce Jesson Foundation and the Faculty of Arts  present the2007 Bruce Jesson Lecture
Friday 9 November, 6.30pm
Maidment Theatre  University of Auckland Alfred Street
Speaker: Laila Harre, National Secretary National Distribution Union
THE RELEVANCE OF UNIONS IN 21st CENTURY AOTEAROAFor 20 years unions have been engaged in a struggle for relevance - relevance to both workers and the wider social and economic environment in which we organise. This lecture will look at possible futures for the union movement and the potential and need for workers to organise industrially and politically. More than ever we are dependent on what happens at work and what we get from doing it. The question is not whether we need unions, but what sort of unions we need.
The bar will be open from 5.30pm.  A collection for donations to the Bruce Jesson Trust will be taken.

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:

Thursday 1 November, 9 am – 4.30 pm
St Columba’s Centre, Ponsonby
Auckland Central
This course is FULL, please register interest in further workshops in this area productivity@nzctu.org.nz by 25 October

Tuesday 20 November, 9 am - 4.30 pm
EPMU Training Room, 298 Cashel Street
Christchurch
EREL deadline 6 Nov
productivity@nzctu.org.nz by 13 November

Thursday 22 November, 9 am - 4.30 pm
Edgar Centre, Cnr Portsmouth Dr and Midland Street Dunedin EREL deadline 8 November productivity@nzctu.org.nz by 15 November

* KIA HIWA RA!
KIA HIWA RA!
He tono tenei mai Te Runanga o Nga Kaimahi o Aotearoa - Te Kauae Kaimahi ki nga kaimahi me nga uniana o te  motu, nau mai haere mai!
A call to unions and workers around the motu to register for an educational day of reflecting, refreshing and refocusing around union kaupapa, whanau, hapu and iwi development.
Where & When
Wellington - 1 November
Whangarei - 7 November
Napier - 14 November
Auckland 21 November
Contact Helen Te Hira
Helent@nzctu.org.nz / 09 303 9018 or 0210554969 Or Karen Newson, NZCTU Organizing Center karen@nzctu.org.nz / 09 303 9048