THE UNIONIST: Green Party, Wages, ACC, Burma

In The Unionist this week: the Green Party's plans for workers, political parties challenged on wages and work rights, National's ACC privatisation questioned, and the first anniversary of the Saffron Revolution in Burma.

Election 08: Greens' vision for workers a positive one 

“The Greens vision for workplaces is a positive one for workers, and will build on their work in Parliament that is already making life better for working people,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said last Wednesday, following the release of the party’s industrial relations policy.

“Their vision and policies, including decent wages for all, a minimum wage set at two thirds of the average wage, continuing work on pay and employment equity and safe workplaces, are in accordance with our ideals for the workplace of the future, set out in our vision statement Te Huarahi mo nga Kaimahi.”

“The Greens already have proud record of supporting worker rights, in particular through their work in Parliament to guarantee the full adult minimum wage for most 16 and 17 year olds, giving people with care responsibilities the right to request flexible work, and their work in the Buy Kiwi Made project.”

“A Green Party presence in the next Parliament is essential so that this work can continue.”

“There is a clear contrast for workers this election, between a group of parties who have, and are continuing to, strengthen their rights at work, and a group of parties who want to take their rights away,” Helen Kelly said.

Other reaction: National Distribution Union --- Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union --- finance sector union

Election 08: Political parties challenged on wages and work rights

Political parties were challenged last week on their policies and plans to lift wages and retain and improve rights at work.

On Thursday the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union sent its Work Rights Survey to political parties, saying in an election where the rising cost of living and the wage gap with Australia are major issues it is vital that all parties clearly state their plans for work rights and raising New Zealanders' wages.

The survey is based on the EPMU's Work Rights Checklist, which was endorsed by 16,500 union members across 25 rallies last month, and EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said the results of the survey will be reported back to all of the EPMU's 50,000 members.

"Thousands of working New Zealanders contributed to and voted unanimously on our checklist and we expect all political parties to respect the democratic mandate this document has and reply before our deadline.

"Work rights are some of the most important rights New Zealanders have because they provide the legal framework that allows them to get higher wages and better conditions. They are the rights Kiwis use to put food on the table and improve their lives."

Meanwhile on Friday, the Council of Trade Unions said it was time for political parties to spell out in detail how they will lift wages, following comments from National's deputy Bill English on the wage gap with Australia.

"Unions agree with Bill English when he states that the ‘the real wage gap’ is an issue that impacts on net migration to Australia," CTU Economist Peter Conway said.  “But it is the difference in real wages that matter - it is not just an issue about tax, infrastructure and productivity in the government sector as Bill English suggests."

“As the Dominion Post’s editorial of 9 September 2008 noted, “… the Government’s reluctance to cut taxes is not the prime cause of the exodus. Wages and salaries across the Tasman are now a third to a half higher than in New Zealand. Tax cuts will barely make a dent in the imbalance.”

“The wage gap with Australia grew by over 50 percent in the 1990s in a period where National removed industry-based wages for workers and only lifted the minimum wage by 87 cents. Since 2000, the wage gap has shrunk by 2.5 percent and the minimum wage has gone up by $5.00,” he said.

Election 08: National’s ACC privatisation questioned following AIG collapse

The Council of Trade Unions is challenging National leader John Key to state whether he is still in favour of privatising accident compensation, following the US government bailout of insurance giant AIG.

“John Key said in July it was “almost certainly likely” that National would privatise the ACC work account,” CTU president Helen Kelly said last week.

“The last time National let the private insurance industry loose on our accident compensation one of the providers, a subsidiary of HIH Insurance which had up to 40 percent of workplace cover, went bust with losses of around $1 billion.  Fortunately by the time of their collapse the government had renationalised the scheme.”

“The bailout of AIG sends a strong warning to voters – National wants our accident compensation and rehabilitation managed by firms just like these ones.”

“No one wants this ACC privatisation policy – health professionals, workers and the business community have said there is no appetite for change.”

“National has ignored the evidence from PricewaterhouseCoopers which noted ACC was a world leader, and they are continuing with their plans to privatise it.  We don’t think workers’ health and safety is worth the risk,” Helen Kelly said.

Anniversary of Saffron Revolution in Burma

The Council of Trade Unions last week launched a series of panels on Burma, at an exhibition in Wellington marking the first anniversary of the Saffron Revolution, in the country which has suffered under military dictatorship since 1962.

In September 2007 hundreds of thousands of Burmese took to the streets to protest against the military junta’s mismanagement of the country’s economy. Led by Buddhist monks the protests were dubbed the “Saffron Revolution.”  Soldiers raided dozens of monasteries across Burma, beating and killing monks. The next day 50,000 citizens gathered on the streets of Rangoon. Soldiers opened fire on the crowds, killing at least nine unarmed protesters.

Speaking at the exhibition was Naing Ko Ko, a student leader in the 1988 student pro-democracy uprising who spent 7 years in prison.  He is Director of the New Zealand Office of the National Council for the Union of Burma after entering New Zealand as a refugee at the end of 2006.

He said that while he had been released from prison, there were almost three thousand people currently behind bars, suffering inhumane torture, simply because they had dared to speak out for freedom.  Many of these people have suffered in prison for almost two decades, while the rest of the world has remained silent, preferring to enjoy the economic benefits of supporting a cruel and ruthless military regime guilty of crimes against humanity, he said.

Naing Ko Ko requested three actions be taken by the New Zealand government and the New Zealand people: to help train a new generation of future democratic leaders of Burma, for New Zealand to establish an MPs caucus regarding Burma and introduce legislation to help the democratic movement, and for New Zealand to refuse to engage in any economic activity with the dictatorship.

Click here to view the panels on display at the exhibition (warning: large file sizes). And for more on the Council of Trade Unions' Free Burma campaign, click here.

Weekly Events Calendar

Someone Else's Country Screening and Panel Discussion
Massey University College of Creative Arts (Wellington), Lecture Theatre 10A02,
Monday, September 29, 6pm.
With a panel discussion hosted by White Fungus Editor Ron Hanson with Alister Barry, Nicky Hager and Tim Bollinger talking about the film, 'Rogernomics' and related issues.
More info: http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=27695

NZEI Papakura Branch - Education election meeting
Thursday 25 September, 5-7 pm,
Papakura RSA.

Unions Canterbury Election 2008 Meet the Parties Meeting
Tuesday 30th September, 7.00 pm.  Bar open from 6pm.
Top West Room, Woolston Club, 86 Hargood Street, Christchurch
For more information contact Karena Brown: karena.brown@epmu.org.nz

Te Puke and Tauranga NZEI - Meet the Candidates evening
Tuesday 30th September
Totara Room, Bureta Park 
Starting at 6.30pm 
 

Unions Local - remaining meeting times in September. For more info on Unions Local, including contacts for other areas not listed below, click here.

Unions Northland
Tues Sept 23, 5pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Friday Sept 26, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Newcastle People's Chorus - New Zealand Tour
From Oct 2 – 12, the Newcastle People’s Chorus will tour New Zealand, performing in Auckland, Wellington, Westport, Greymouth and Christchurch.  The tour is called “Stand Together”, a reminder that we must continue to work together collectively for a more just and peaceful world. More information available here.
Auckland
6pm, Friday 3rd Oct. Trades Hall, 147 Gt North Rd, Grey Lynn
Wellington
7.30pm, Saturday 4th Oct, Irish Society Rooms, Fyfeshire Ave, off Cambridge Tce.  Doors and bar open from 7.
Westport
Wednesday 8th Oct.
Greymouth
Thursday 9th Oct.
Christchurch
7pm, Saturday 11th Oct. Media Club (next door to Trade Union Centre), 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch

All Unionists Welcome To Attend A Forum
Claiming our identities and responsibilities: A reflection on the experiences of Maori workers in asserting and supporting diversity in the workplace and in the union movement
This session hosted by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Runanga will share and reflect on our experiences around the framing and promotion the indigenous values of whanaungatanga (solidarity/relationships) in the workplace and in the union movement. In articulating and developing our practice of whanaungatanga as an organising strategy we will reflect on how this embraces and supports communities of diversity in the workplace and the broader union moment. The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Runanga will reflect on the relationship developed with Pasefika and other new migrant workers organising in the workplace.
Please contact: Helen Te Hira and Syd Keepa, Te Runanga o NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi. Email: helent@nzctu.org.nz or phone 09-303-9018 or 021-055-4969. 
Venue: Level 12, Unite Building, 300 Queen St
Brought to you by Maori Models of Organizing Project

“Talking Union” - RMTU Offices, Level 1, Tramways Bldg., Thurs Sept 25th 5:15 – 7:00 pm - all invited:  tvalster@rmtunion.org.nz

CTU Meetings, training

Workplace Productivity Challenge Workshop 
There are places available in the following workshops - please register now:
- Tuesday 7 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Hamilton
- Friday 10 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Wellington Central
- Tuesday 28 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Christchurch
- Tuesday 28 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Mangere East
- Thursday 30 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Dunedin

Registration forms for these workshops and dates for others are on the CTU website. 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 using EREL or other leave) and other associated costs.

We are also seeking expressions of interest for a workshop at Tauranga, tentative date 6 November. Please email Sandy O'Neil if you and / or delegates and other members are keen to attend at this location.

Email Sandy - productivity@nzctu.org.nz. See the WPEP website for registration forms & more information: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity