Bunnings rejection recommended
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
www.firstunion.org.nz Official newspaper of the FIRST Union August 2012
Co-op Bank Page 2 Call centres join Page 3 Firework man Page 15
Bunnings rejection recommended
n NOT HAPPY: Bunnings workers want a decent pay rise
The bargaining team for the Bunnings collective agreement step adds about 2.5 per cent, the half a per cent the company
have taken the unusual step of recommending members
reject the company’s pay offer.
is offering is the equivalent of 3 per cent.
“What they want to do is discount the skills increase that INSIDE :
Retail Sector Secretary Maxine Gay said the offer simply workers pick up annually until they hit the top of their scale
isn’t good enough. against the quite separate annual pay rise the union negoti-
“It’s a disgrace really,” she said. “Bunnings are only offer-
ing 10 cents on the table rates for the current collective
ates,” she said.
Maxine said the bargaining team was unanimous in its
• ANZ national deal–p 2
agreement. That means anybody on the top rate or above the rejection of the company offer.
printed rates will only get a 10 cents pay increase. That’s
what the reward for the loyalty and skills of people who have
“Generally we find employers are wise enough to know
that if the bargaining team is recommending against an offer • STOPWORK photos–p 8 & 9
been with the company for five or ten years, or more, would they need to find something else. The company obviously
be–about half a per cent. believes they have offered enough of a carrot for members to
Some three years ago the union negotiated a pay scale
which provides for a pay increment of about 45 cents on an
accept their offer, but we think they are wrong.”
Maxine said if members reject the offer the next step for
• Support the White
annual step by step basis as people acquire more skills.
Maxine said the company is now trying to say that these
Bunnings workers would be to take various forms of indus-
trial action but no details of what they might be had been Ribbon campaign !–p 4
increments should be taken into account, and because each discussed yet.
Page 2 Union Express | August–2012 FIRST LOCAL NEWS www.firstunion.org.nz
ANZ National deal ratified
Full index
Sections
FIRST News 1,2,3
Movement news 4,5
International news 6
Stopwork Meetings -
Feature articles 11
Your rights -
Union business 13
Perspectives & Letters to Editor 14
Fun page 15
Photos/Notices 16
ews 5
In the community 4
Feature 1
LawyerFeature -
Training education dates -
From the Executiveur rights 14
General Secretaryerspectives 14
Caption competition 15
UNION EXPRESS
n SETTLED: ANZ
Editor– Bill Bradford,
Journalists–Sam Huggard, Bill Bradford, Rebecca Matthews
Authorised by FIRST Union, FIRST Union members at ANZ National “They refused to do that but we did get an negotiated by the union, along with the
120 Church Street, Onehunga. have narrowly voted to ratify the ANZ offer that would apply to anyone who was Australian Finance Sector Union, about
National offer for a new collective agree- made redundant in the event of ANZ and three years ago, and established two ten
ment. National bank merging their brands. People million dollar pots for people made redun-
Submissions The new agreement is for two years with in this situation would get an opportunity to dant as a result of offshoring. One of the
We actively encourage membership participation
in your newspaper, the Express. You may fax, email a 2.75 per cent increase for the first year and access the Career and Training Fund,” he funds pays up to $10,000 towards training
or dictate a story for the Express. We are here to help. 2.25 per cent for the second year. said. and the other is a hardship fund which can
Next submission due date: October 1 2012 Finance Sector Secretary Andrew Casidy “They are not saying they are going to pay out up to $15,000 in the event of a
said the union tried to get an agreement that merge brands, but will give access to the redundant worker still having financial dif-
All comments, letters to the editor, artwork, poetry,
photos, ideas, stories should be sent to the following would prevent offshoring during the term of funds if they do.” ficulties after their redundancy is spent.
contacts. the agreement. The Career and Training fund was
Thumbs down at Co–op Bank
Contact us
Email: bill.bradford@firstunion.org.nz
Phone: 0800 863 477
Fax: (09) 622 8353 attention Union Express
Address: 120 Church Street, Onehunga
Postal Address: Private Bag 92904, Auckland
Subscriptions: lynn.ocallaghan@ndu.org.nz
(09) 622 8520
Change of address: 0800 863 477
Photos
For FIRST photos, visit: www.flickr.com/photos/ndu
Disclaimer
Opinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily
represent the views of the FIRST Union.
FIRST Union
The FIRST Union is a democratic organisation run by
working people for working people. We organise for
a better future and for respect for ourselves and our
families through building power on the job, in our
industries and our community.
n NO DEAL: Coop Bank bargaining team
Union members at the Cooperative Bank Bank have been lagging behind other banks The bank has agreed to setting up a working
have rejected a proposed collective agree- for years and the bank had previously party to try to bring about pay equity with
ment offer from their employer. refused to accept there was a problem the rest of the industry but it wants a time
“Members have said the 2 per cent offered because they were not actually a bank, but frame of 24 months for implementation and
is just too low and the offer does not address they had changed their position since they our members are saying that is too long.”
other issues quickly enough,” said FIRST officially became a bank. The parties will go into mediated bar-
Union Finance Sector Secretary Andrew “To be fair, the bank has now accepted gaining to try to make further progress on
Casidy. that pay rates need to come up in principle, August 17.
Andrew said pay rates at the Cooperative but we are arguing about how and when.
Page 3 Union Express | August–2012 FIRST LOCAL NEWS www.firstunion.org.nz
FIRST BRIEFS
Better jobs at Progressive
A new collective agreement
covering the four Progressive
nFIRST welcomes minimum wage bill
Enterprises Distribution Centres
FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid
has limited the number of casual
has welcomed a Parliamentary Member’s
agency staff the company can
Bill, put forward by Labour MP David Clark, use and created more permanent
which proposes lifting the minimum wage positions.
to $15 an hour. Robert said although $15 is FIRST Union Transport and
still not a living wage the Bill will prompt Logistics Secretary Karl Andersen
Parliament to debate the issue of poverty said casual and insecure work is a
wages. He said it is completely impossible worldwide problem and the
for families to live on the present minimum supplementary labour agreement
wage of $13.50 an hour. Unions support an the union has negotiated with the
immediate rise to $15 an hour, then indexing company is a very good start to
the minimum wage to two thirds of the dealing with the problem.
average wage. “It creates 51 new permanent
jobs between now and Christmas n PERMAMENT JOBS: Casual workers capped at Progressive
nNew agreement at New Zealand and it also limits the number of the flexible crew,” he said. “The talks between the union and the recruit the new workers to the
Refining Company agency temps that can be used at flexibility has limits though and temp agency over pay and condi- union.”
Workers at New Zealand Refining Company any one time to 30 per cent. That the workers will be guaranteed 40 tions of employment. The new agreement is for a two
at Marsden Point have a new two year may sound quite high but at the hours’ work a week on five con- Auckland Distribution Centre year term with pay increases of
agreement with pay increases of 2.5 per cent moment it is sometimes as high as secutive days and have to be given delegate Soala Mano Corditz said 3.25 per cent each year. There is
from 22 June 2012, a further 2.5 per cent 60 -70 per cent,” he said. two weeks’ notice of roster change. she was pleased with the result of also an increase in the clothing
from 1 January 2013 and a final 2.5 per cent Karl said flexibility is a need for This flexible crew can never be the bargaining. allowance for union members and
from 1 January 2014. Improvements were logistics companies, especially more than twenty per cent of the “We have done well on the an extra day’s sick leave. Union
also made in several other areas of the those linked with supermarkets, workforce and the rest of the work- temps,” she said. “We were going members will get the pay increase
agreement. where orders came in electroni- ers’ rosters can’t be changed.” after that because we thought the two months before non-union
cally all day and night so picking is The company has undertaken to temps were going to outnumber us workers. The company will also
nSimultaneous bargaining done on a ‘just in time’ basis. employ the new workers from and we wanted to get more perma- pay the FIRST Union funeral
FIRST Union has just completed negotiating “What we have done is set up a among the existing temporary nents on the team. Now we have insurance cost for union members.
new collective agreements simultaneously team of people who are going to be workers and will also facilitate achieved this we will be trying to
with three pharmaceutical companies. The
companies, ProPharma, PWR and Health
Call Centres join FIRST Union
Logistics are all part of the Ebos group of
companies which are New Zealand based
and also operate throughout Australia and
the Pacific. Although each of the three
companies has separate collective
agreements, delegates and employer
representatives bargain together for the
agreements, which are virtually the same.
n1200 apply at New World
About six people applied for each position
available at a rebuilt supermarket in
Christchurch. The rebuild of the St Martins
New World is nearing completion and it will
open in late September after being badly
damaged in the February 2011 earthquake.
About 169 staff were made redundant a
month later. The owner of the store said
around 200 positions were advertised and
about 1200 applications were received.
nUnemployment rises
Unemployment rose to 6.8 per cent in the
Household Labour Force Survey released on
9 July. FIRST Union General Secretary Robert
Reid said the situation for workers in our
economy is getting worse. “Our union is
dealing on a weekly basis with redundan- n UNIONISED: Ioane Heke (left) and Peter Williams from Energy Watch
cies, particularly in the industrial sector,” he
said. “The manufacturing industry has been Workers at Australian owned call while Peter was an actor before he of the union but is not confined to Australian wages that they are
completely let down by the government’s centre Energy Watch were having came to Energy Watch about nine finance sector call centres. closing operations in Australia and
refusal to take any practical steps to address trouble getting paid on time so months ago. A few years ago banks, tele- setting up in New Zealand. They
our highly overvalued dollar. This is they called FIRST Union. “The original issue around pay phone and other companies were have a name for it: “near-shoring”
cannibalising exporters’ margins, and is Finance Sector organiser Joyce has been resolved and we have closing call centres in New Zea- as opposed to off-shoring”.
seeing manufacturing workers pay for Tui paid the company a visit to started the process for getting a land and sending them to Manila, Many call centres have been set
investigate what was going on. She collective agreement,” Ioane said. Bangalore, Mumbai and even up in Auckland over the last year
government inaction through job losses.”
met with staff and over the next “We have noticed a real change in Egypt. Over the last year there has including, Canon, Energy Watch,
Scores of workers have lost jobs at worksites
four days signed about 40 of them the workplace, especially from been a reversal of this trend and Woolworths Australia and Virgin
where FIRST Union has members in recent
up to the union. front line management who are a some NZ based companies are Airways. Some of these compa-
months, including at Summit Wool Spinners New delegates Ioane Heke and lot more tactful when dealing with bringing their call centres back to nies, like Energy Watch, are
in Oamaru and Norman Ellison Carpets in Peter Williams think joining the us.” NZ. For example Vodafone is setting up their own call centres,
Auckland. union was a good move. FIRST Union is the union for bringing a call centre back from while others are contracting to
Ioane has worked at Energy call centres in New Zealand. The Egypt. Some Australian compa- large multinational call centre
Watch for about six months and organising of call centre workers is nies are now finding that New Zea- companies such as Sitel, Datacom
previously worked for McDonalds undertaken by the Finance Sector land wages are so much lower than and Salmat.
Page 4 Union Express | August–2012 COMMUNITY NEWS www.firstunion.org.nz
Mill workers walk out NATIONAL BRIEFS
nMetals MECA settles
Workers at more than 100 engineering and
manufacturing shops will have guaranteed
pay rises for the next two years after EPMU
members voted overwhelmingly to ratify
the Metals & Manufacturing multi-
employer collective agreement. The
agreement provides for two pay rises of 2.8
per cent and 2.1 per cent as well as
increased protection for casual and
temporary workers. “This settlement
shows that despite the tough economic
times, workers who belong to unions are
still winning above inflation pay increases,”
said EPMU manufacturing organiser Louisa
Jones.
nUN Committee warms Key
Government
The United Nations Committee on the
Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women has warned
the New Zealand Government that it needs
to reconsider employment law changes it
has signalled it intends to make later this
year. CTU President Helen Kelly said the
n WALKED OUT: Workers at McVicar Timber got a pay rise
committee is concerned about the
Workers at McVicar Timber in “They offered us a zero per cent It took several more offers from at 19 weeks and a 10 dollar proposed employment law changes to
Christchurch walked off the job pay increase, a redundancy of the company before workers increase on their boot allowance. collective bargaining which will see new
when their boss refused them a three weeks ordinary pay for the finally voted to accept a payment “If we hadn’t gone on strike we workers not offered collective coverage and
pay rise. last completed year of service and of an extra 15 dollars a day for would have got nothing,” said possibly employed on inferior employment
FIRST Union delegate Alex one week for each previous year working 40 hours or more a week Alex. “The company was abso- conditions undermining employment
Hartley said the workers had two of service capped at 12 weeks,” and 17 dollars a day for working lutely adamant they didn’t want to rights. The committee wants an
main claims when they went into he said. “They wanted an 18 50 or more hours a week. They increase our pay.” independent evaluation carried out of the
bargaining for a new collective month term.” also got a redundancy deal of four The company is owned by the changes to ensure they do not negatively
agreement this year. One was for a The workers went on strike for weeks ordinary pay for the last McVicar family which appeared affect women’s employment and trade
pay rise and the other was for a five days before returning to work completed year of service and two on the NBR rich list year. union rights.
decent redundancy clause. and resuming bargaining. weeks for previous years, capped
nLCI shows wages barely keeping up
Support the
with inflation
The Labour Cost Index has increased by 0.5
per cent in the three months to June.
White Ribbon Campaign
This leaves wages and salaries no further
ahead compared to inflation than they
were six months ago and 2.5 per cent
behind where they were in March 2009. Yet
in Australia the comparable Wage Price
Index shows Australian wage and salary
The men on the FIRST Union the upcoming White Ribbon condemn violence against women from town to town. earners are 1.7 per cent ahead compared to
National Executive are urging campaign. White Ribbon is a and take action to prevent it. “It would be really great if some inflation in the six months to March and 2.5
male members to get involved in campaign led by men who Violence against women is of the men from the FIRST Union
per cent ahead of where they were in
endemic within New Zealand. felt motivated enough to take part
March 2009.
One in three women are victims in the ride, or at least take part in a
of violence from a partner, while small portion of it. Maybe organ- nMine incident at Waihi
on average fourteen women are ising a relay type event, for one The EPMU has again called for the adoption
killed each year by a member of rider to do a day and another rider of Queensland safety practices including
their own family. to take over the next day might be the workers’ election of an independent
FIRST Union executive mem- popular,” Colin said. safety representative after 28 miners were
ber Colin Hildreth said the men on To join the ride you must have a trapped 150 meters underground for
the executive had become inspired bike greater than 250 cc, and make
several hours after a truck engine caught
when they discovered the a personal pledge “that wearing
fire. The incident occurred at the Newmont
Maritime Union of Australia had the white ribbon means you will
Waihi Gold’s Trio mine. All the miners were
given support for the campaign, never commit, condone, or remain
and were proudly wearing the silent about violence towards rescued unharmed.
white ribbon and swearing an oath women.” The ride will be led by nJob cuts at Canterbury University
of nonviolence against women. the Patriots Motorcycling club. Canterbury University has decided to cut
In New Zealand the campaign Accommodation will be pro- 150 jobs over the next three years. The
revolves around a week long motor vided at Marae and Army/Navy
Tertiary Education Union describes the
bike ride through both Islands bases with meals at a cheap price.
decision to lay off the workers a grave
during the week before the White For further Information
mistake. TEU President Sandra Grey said
Ribbon day on 25 November. contact Colin Hildreth Phone 07
Events are arranged around the 8895733 or 021 081 73529 or by
although the Government is making
ride in various communities as the emailing dreamsayers@hotmail. deliberate financial choices that compel the
ride passes through. com university to cut jobs the university
Riders also have the opportu- Also refer to http://whiteribbon. management also needs to take
nity to share experiences and give org.nz/events/white-ribbon-ride/ responsibility for their actions and face up
testimonies to others as they go to the university’s duty to be a leader in its
community.
Page 5 Union Express | August–2012 UNION MOVEMENT www.firstunion.org.nz
Maori challenge asset sales
Controversial Government plans to water. This has also been the
flog off taxpayer owned assets have position of previous governments
hit a snag over who owns and and is based on English common
controls the water in our lakes and law which holds that only if water
rivers. becomes contained, for example in
The New Zealand Maori a bottle or a pipe, does it become the
Council has lodged a claim in the property of the person owning the
Waitangi Tribunal that says the container.
Crown has breached the Treaty of On the other hand Maori view a
Waitangi by failing to recognise lake or river as a single entity and do
Maori control and rangatiratanga not separate the water from the
over fresh water resources and has banks or bed of river so they
taken these resources without consider the water can be owned by
Maori consent. iwi or hapu.
The Tribunal has asked the New Zealand Council of Trade
Government to delay selling state Unions Vice President Maori, and
owned assets like Mighty River FIRST Union organiser Syd
Power, which are dependent on Keepa said the issue has been
water to generate the electricity around a long time but the
they sell, until after they have made Governments plans to sell off
a n i nt e r i m d e ci sion i n state owned assets has forced
September this year. Maori to make the claim
Prime Minister John Key and his “It’s not about ownership in the
Na t io n a l Pa r t y a r e of t h e European sense, it’s about n IT’S ABOUT KAITIAKITANGA: Syd Keepa, FIRST Union organiser and CTU Vice President Maori
o p i n io n t h a t n o b o d y ow n s kaitiakitanga or guardianship
rights and the responsibility to corporates use it to make their rules, and thinks the matter will end
protect the environment,” he profits but I don’t think it is about up in court, Syd believes the best
Kaitiakitanga is a holistic and long-established Maori system of said. money from a Maori point of view”. outcome from the Maori Council
“Water is us, water runs over the “It’s about our future. It’s not a five challenge would be for Maori water
environmental management with its roots deeply embedded in the whenua and without water we are year plan for us as Maori, we are rights to be recognised by the Gov-
code of tikanga (culture, custom, ethic, etiquette, lore). It is a system not here. This is a spiritual look i ng at protect i ng t he ernment.
concept and how we Maori environment for our children and “It would mean the water belonged
that ensures harmony within the environment and guards against see things.” Syd said there is no ou r mok upu na and thei r to us all with Maori kaitiaki and that
environmental damage. Kaitiakitanga is a broad notion which includes doubt water has a commercial value. mokupuna and for ever.” Although would be good for everyone in this
“Farmers use water to make money. he doesn’t trust the Government not country except the few selfish and
the ideas of guardianship, care and wise management. The power companies can’t make to try to sell the power companies greedy people that would benefit
money without water, and other whatever the Waitangi Tribunal from selling everything off,” he said.
SLANE'S VIEW slane.co.nz
FIRST
Member
Support
Centre
0800
863 477
The FIRST Union’s member support
centre is your ‘first’ port of call
whenever you need assistance from
FIRST. Centre staff work closely with
organisers and are able to answer
enquiries regarding your workplace
issues and your collective agree-
ments.
Before calling your organiser,
ring the Member Support Centre
first.
Page 6 Union Express | August–2012 INTERNATIONAL UNION MOVEMENT www.firstunion.org.nz
Fisher & Paykel in Thailand
INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS
nEgypt’s workers struggle over wages
The labour movement played a big part in
overthrowing former Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak but now it is locked in a
stalemate with big business over workers
employment rights not being enforced.
Since the revolution thousands of workers
have gone on strike demanding higher pay
and better conditions and a new
democratic labour movement. The Egyptian
Federation of Independent Trade Unions
has emerged to challenge the old Egyptian
Trade Union Federation which was the
industrial wing of the old regime and
disciplined radical union activists.
Unfortunately many employers are still
recognising the old trade union organisa-
tion and the interim government have
failed to enforce proper labour law in line
with international standards.
nFijian unionist reports
on Bainimarama
The Fiji Trades Union Congress leader Felix
Anthony has laid a complaint with the
police against the Fijian leader Commodore n SOLIDARITY: Fisher and Paykel unionists in Thailand
Frank Bainimarama. Mr Anthony alleges he
was assaulted by military officers, including When FIRST Union and the denied and then confirmed that The union leaders told Robert that This is in stark contrast to New
the Prime Minister and he has laid a EPMU made a statement on 19 more production was leaving the company refused to negotiate Zealand where F&P and the
complaint with police. July that Fisher & Paykel had just Auckland for Thailand with a loss a wage scale and relied on the unions have had a good relation-
announced that it was closing of 29 jobs. minimum wage for the region of ship over the years. However
nTurkish unionist jailed another refrigeration production The journalists then became just over $1.30 per hour (Thai Robert says that it is not uncom-
On June 25 Turkish police detained 71 trade line in Auckland and relocating it interested in the other comments Baht 264 per day). The only area mon for multi-national companies
union members and leaders in 20 cities to Thailand with a loss of 29 jobs, that FIRST Union General the workers could get more than to have good relations with their
under the pretext of an operation against the company replied that we were Secretary Robert Reid had made the minimums was for the end of home country unions but to try
an illegal terrorist organisation. This attack completely wrong. about the working conditions of year bonus, but the company and keep effective unionism out
is the latest in a number of acts of Two hours later the company’s the workers in Thailand. made this increase conditional on of its factories in other countries.
intimidation and harassment against trade chief executive Stuart Broadhurst Robert Reid has helped the reducing defects and re-works. Robert says that FIRST Union
unions and their members during the years made a statement saying F&P was Thailand F&P workers establish Robert Reid claimed to the New will talk to the EPMU about
under the rule of the Justice and Develop- not closing a line, it was shifting their union and visited union lead- Zealand Herald that since the involving the new manufacturing
ment Party. Last year 15 women leaders some models to Thailand, that it ers in Rayong, Thailand in early union has been formed the com- global union, IndustriALL, in
and activists from a number of unions were had not just made the announce- June. At this meeting the leaders pany has treated the union leaders seeking a framework agreement
arrested. No link has ever been found ment, it had made it a few weeks of the Thailand F&P told Robert as “lepers”. The company refuses with F&P to ensure that it recog-
between Turkey’s trade unions and any ago. He then confirmed that that they had just finished bargain- to let the union operate effectively nises trade union rights on all of its
29 jobs would be lost from its ing their first collective agreement on site and even refuses to let sites around the world.
terrorist organisation but the authorities
Auckland factory. with F&P, but that the company union officers meet with union
leave no opportunity untapped to refer to
Journalists were as mystified as was very aggressive in the members on site to discuss the
such an alleged link as an excuse for harsh we were as to why the company bargaining. employer’s offer.
and arbitrary repression. The International
IndustriALL formed
Trade Union Confederation and other global
union federations have condemned the
arrests.
nSpanish coal miners fight austerity
10,000 coal miners in Spain are having their
workplaces shut down by national budget
cuts to pay for the debts of banks. At the
end of May miners began an underground
sit-in triggering a massive regional
stoppage which was met with a violent
response. The Spanish government refused
to talk to the workers about the job losses.
nSwaziland teachers under attack
Teachers and other public sector workers in
Swaziland have been engaged in a battle that
has become increasingly hard to watch - police
have used rubber bullets and tear gas on
strikers. Nurses and civil servants have been
fired upon, and hundreds have been sacked
including the entire executive of the teachers
n NZ REPRESENTATIVES: Robert Reid from FIRST Union and Don Pryde from EPMU
union. Three global union federations
representing tens of millions of workers have More than 1,000 delegates from more than 350 unions across the globe paper, cement and building products, waste and recycling.
got together and launched a major online met in Copenhagen on 19 / 20 June to form IndustriALL, a new global Robert was elected as an alternate to the global executive of Industri-
campaign to send messages to the Swazi king union for manufacturing workers. ALL.
calling on him to “immediately engage in New Zealand was represented at the Congress by FIRST Union Gen- IndustriALL has resolved to push the Decent Work agenda. In particu-
dialogue with public servants and meet their eral Secretary, Robert Reid, and EPMU President, Don Pryde. lar IndustriALL is campaigning on the Living Wage and against Precari-
legitimate demands; and to ensure the IndustriALL brings together the global metal, textile and chemical and ous Work. IndustriALL is urging all its affiliates to mark the World Day
immediate and unconditional reinstatement of mining union federations and covers industries that FIRST Union organ- for Decent Work on Sunday 7 October.
dismissed public services workers and teachers.” ises such as textiles, clothing, laundry, energy, oil refinery, pulp and
Page
Page77 Union
UnionExpress
Express||August 2012
August–2012 FIRST NEWS www.firstunion.org.nz
www.firstunion.org.nz
Mixed news
on the buses
Members of FIRST Union and the months, and the first payment
Auckland Tramways Union voted made immediately. However the
overwhelmingly to reject an offer amount on offer was still consid-
from NZ Bus at a stop work meet- ered too low by members at a fur-
ing at Alexandra Park on July 5. ther stop work meeting on August
Members considered the offer 10 where 97 per cent of them voted n VOTED DOWN: NZ Bus bosses proposal rejected
too low and were disappointed no against accepting it. The meeting
pay increase would apply until took a further overwhelming vote a gap between the parties. money subsidies to run their “We got a lot of what we wanted
November although the agreement in favour of taking industrial “It’s when some of the payments Auckland bus services and should this year. There was not a lot of
expired in July. action if required to get a better are made that is the main prob- be looking after their drivers.” argument,” she said. “With a good
A further five days of bargain- offer. lem,” he said. Meanwhile drivers at other settlement, the union funeral
ing produced some improvements FIRST Union Transport and “NZ Bus made $46 million in Auckland bus companies have insurance and the credit union
in the offer with a proposed reduc- Logistics Secretary Karl Andersen profits last year. Bus companies completed bargaining and ratified available now, more drivers are
tion in term from 32 months to 27 said there is not really that much of receive large amounts of public new collective agreements. joining the union.”
Howick and Eastern Buses Murphy Buses have also settled
signed up to a 25 month deal that for a two year term with a 3
gives a total 8.3 per cent pay per cent pay increase a year. In
increase in three payments over addition casual drivers at Murphy
the term of the agreement in Buses have been brought up to the
October last year. same hourly pay rate as permanent
Birkenhead Buses also signed workers.
up to a two year deal that delivered Johnston’s Airbus has settled a
8.3 per cent pay increase in new two year collective agreement
October last year. for a 3 per cent pay increase each
Both Ritchies and Murphy year.
Buses have recently settled new FIRST Union also has bus
collective agreements. drivers in the Waikato and in
Angela Hepburn, FIRST Union Northland. Karl Andersen said
delegate at Ritchies Bus, said bar- pay rates are not good in these
gaining went well. The company areas.
and drivers have recently ratified a “Outside Auckland, in Waikato,
two year deal with a 7.2 per cent South Waikato and Northland, our
pay increase in total - 4.2 per cent membership density is much lower
for the first year and 3.0 per cent and pay rates suffer accordingly,”
for the second. he said.
n RITCHIES DELEGATE: Angela Hepburn
Farmers delegates from around
Farmers delegates prepared for bargaining
the country met in Auckland on
August 1 to prepare for this year’s
collective agreement bargaining.
FIRST Union organiser and
advocate for the bargaining,
Kathryn Tucker said the team is
going into bargaining on August
23 with a real sense of purpose and
unity.
“Our members have identified
what they need to keep food on the
table and are going to be pushing
hard to get it,” she said.
Manukau store delegate and bar-
gaining team member Jill Barron
said there are also other issues
they wanted to address.
“There is pressure on members
to be general workers rather than
just carrying out their roles,” she
said. “We want to keep our role
profiles. We don’t want to see eve-
rybody doing everything.”
The union has been steadily
increasing its membership at
Farmers. For example the Manu-
kau store has about 85 per cent
union membership with most of
the longer serving staff belonging
to the union and new employees
being systematically recruited.
“The more members we have
the stronger we are going into bar- n DETERMINED: Farmers workers want a decent deal
gaining,” said Kathryn.
STO P W O R K
More than 4500
FIRST Union members
attended one of the
44 meetings around
M E E T I N GS
July/August 2012
the country...
Page 10 Union Express | August–2012 Progressive/History www.firstunion.org.nz
Important centenary
Rich dodge the taxman
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions bottom 50 per cent own. Yet the bottom 50 per any inroads into it. “Governments worldwide
economist Bill Rosenberg questions how cent are more likely to be paying tax on every lose more than $3.1 trillion in annual revenue
many of the people on this year’s rich list paid dollar they earn while some of our richest because of tax evasion, according to a report
a fair tax on the income on their wealth. individuals are ducking paying tax,” he said. published in November last year by the Tax
“The rich list represents about 0.01 per cent of “In annual samples of 184 ‘high wealth indi- Justice Network.”
households but they own 5 – 10 per cent of viduals’ between 2009 and 2011, IRD found “Just a few days ago
household wealth – roughly the same as the that only 49.5% of them reported personal the same organisation
incomes of more than $70,000 (the top released further research
tax bracket). This indicates that some of our showing that between
wealthiest individuals are skirting on their tax US$21 trillion and
contribution.” US$32 trillion had
Bill Rosenberg said this is a worldwide issue been hidden in secret
that needs addressing, and the tax changes of tax havens by the
2010 which lowered income tax rates for these global super-rich.”
wealthy individuals don’t appear to have made
“the bottom 50 per cent are more likely
to be paying tax on every dollar they
earn while some of our richest
individuals are ducking paying tax”
n NZCTU ECONOMIST: Bill Rosenberg
Page 11 Union Express | August–2012 Community issues www.firstunion.org.nz
Sad end to historic mill
n CLOSED: 85 workers lost their job
The sprawling premises at 273 have continued the tradition of add- October 2011 when the company Barry had been concerned about strong and viable industrial sectors,
Neilson Street in Onehunga have ing value to New Zealand wool and shed 18 jobs. They made 26 further his future with the company for but is instead prepared to watch the
been used for processing wool since providing jobs in South Auckland at redundancies earlier this year and some time. anarchy of production run its course.
the Onehunga Woollen Mills the same site. about 40 workers also agreed to “After the layoffs earlier this year How many jobs have to go before
opened there in 1886. The latest company to operate out change their shift patterns to reduce I was telling people not to get too they realise there has to be a better
Although the original company of the premises is Norman Ellison capacity, at a cost to their take home comfortable,” he said. “The signs plan and support for the manufac-
has long since disappeared, a series Carpets which is owned by the Cav- pay. were on the news every night with turing sector?” he said.
of businesses involved in spinning alier Corporation. But it was not enough to save the stories about things not being good Robert Reid said the plant had 100
yarn, and latterly carpet making, Signs of problems emerged in plant and on June 27 the company around the world and people not per cent union membership and a
announced it was closing the factory having enough money. It is not a strong redundancy agreement so the
and the 85 workers still employed at good time to be trying to sell wool average redundancy payout was
it would lose their jobs. carpets.” about 26 weeks which is much bet-
The buildings that have echoed The company said the closure was ter than at non-union workplaces
with the sound of machinery and a reflection of weak building activity where workers can walk away with
people processing our wool crop on both sides of the Tasman and a nothing.
through two world wars and a great structural move away from spun At the union’s request, Norman
depression will fall silent. yarn to synthetic. It has two other Ellison Carpets has agreed to fund a
Barry Hohaia started work, at spinning plants at Napier and training allowance of up to $250 per
what was then a woollen mill owned Whanganui. worker and a redundancy support
by UEB, back in 1976. Apart from a FIRST Union General Secretary coordinator to assist workers to find
short period he spent in Australia Robert Reid said the closure was a new jobs.
Barry has worked at the Onehunga further example of this Govern- FIRST Union has also written to
factory ever since. ment’s do-nothing approach to mon- all of its Auckland employers
“About 470 people worked here at etary policy failing to protect jobs in seeking work for redundant work-
its peak,” he said. “When I started it industry. ers. There have already been
was a woollen mill but later it “The Government does not seem some positive responses
n LAID OFF: Barry Hohaia became a carpet manufacturer too.” interested in ensuring that we have
Easter safe for shop workers
Shop workers have cause to celebrate with the who lives in the area affected by the bill is pleased accommodating – but it’s not always possible.”
defeat in Parliament of yet another attempt to take it didn’t go through. “People still need time with “In my department there are only two of us who
away their guaranteed time off at Easter. their families and to go on holiday,” Countdown can do my role. One of us always has to be there,
National Party MP Jacqui Dean had a bill to Oamaru worker Jackie Brokenshire said. so when there are stat days on a Monday for exam-
open shops on Easter Sunday in her Waitaki Elec- She said retail workers already find it hard to ple, one of us has to come in.”
torate, covering North and Central Otago. take time off, especially if they come from a New Zealand already has very deregulated
Parliament rejected her bill, meaning the three smaller store without a large work base. trading laws.
and half guaranteed days each year when shops “Only having one day of at a time – it’s quite People can shop on 361 and a half days a year,
cannot trade remains. difficult. You can’t plan to go away very easily. We and on 51 of 52 Sundays of the year, and most shop
It was the 11th attempt in the past 15 years to need the time off, it’s quite limited already.” workers may be required to work on any of these
n JANET BROKENSHIRE liberalise shop trading laws, and a retail worker “They (shop management) try their best to be days.Page 12 Union Express | August–2012 UNION BUSINESS www.firstunion.org.nz
Don’t be the target of targets
– performance management
By Oliver Christeller, FIRST Legal Organiser
Wherever you work, performance you. Why are you not achieving
targets are likely to be part of targets? Are others also not achiev-
your role. ing targets? If you do not agree
Whether this is sales targets at a that the requirements are reasona-
bank or scan rates at a supermar- ble and achievable in the circum-
ket, these targets can be a big stances state this and the reasons
source of pressure and can create to your employer.
unnecessary stress in your work- • Your employer is required to
place. give you a reasonable time frame
Some employers use targets as a to improve.
part of formal performance man- • Remember that performance
agement and even take discipli- management is setting of expecta-
nary action when staff are not tions regarding competent per-
meeting them. formance. You do not have to be a
If this process happens you have superstar to be performing compe-
certain legal rights: tently.
• The expectations which are set
• Most importantly, you are enti- by your employer must be objective,
tled to be supported by your union. measurable and achievable
You can ring our membership sup- • If requested, employers are
port centre on 0800 TO FIRST required to give you information
(0800 863 477). Make sure you are that they have used in the process
supported by your delegate and of setting targets. Ask how they
colleagues throughout any per- have reached their view and seek
formance management process. information you think is relevant
• Your employer must be clear to a fair decision.
and articulate in explaining to you • Your employer is required to
why they do not think you are give you reasonable training and
n FIRST LEGAL ADVISER: Oliver Christeller
performing competently. This is other support to help you improve.
different to not meeting a target. Think hard about the best way this employer, make sure you are polite writing. Excessive targets are a are going through these processes.
• Your employer must set realis- could occur. If you want some- and confident. It is often a good health and safety issue. As union
tic and achievable requirements in thing, ask for it. idea to set out any concerns you members we should stand together
the circumstances. Look around When engaging with your have in an email, or otherwise in and support each other when we
Pro Drive seminar
ProDrive, the advocacy association for professional and
owner drivers, is holding a seminar on owner driver
contracting rights.
CEO Peter Gallagher said the seminar comes in the
wake of significant High Court rulings on contracting
processes that resulted from cases initiated by his organ-
isation.
The seminar will be led by Ben Upton, Senior Partner
with Simpson Grierson, who took the High Court cases,
and is intended to show participants how they can apply
the court rulings to their own situation.
Peter said the industry is suffering from intense com-
petition and contractors are often seen as the easy option
when it comes to reducing costs.
“There are only two components in an owner driver’s
business, one is the truck and the other is the driver,” he
said. “Once all possible cost savings have been achieved
with the truck the companies turn their attention to the
driver’s remuneration. The owner driver ends up taking
short cuts because they are under undue duress. This
seminar will let contractors know they now have estab-
lished rights and what those rights consist of.”
Contractors Educational Seminar
1 September 2012
Jubilee Building, 540 Parnell Road
Contact: Peter Gallagher 028 25804068
or email info@prodrive.org.nz n VICTORY AT COURT: ProDrive CEO Peter GallagherPage 13 Union Express | August–2012 UNION BUSINESS www.firstunion.org.nz
Ngongotaha Wood Company Limited
& Ngongotaha Wood Trust
Notice of Annual General Meeting
2012 FIRST UNION
2-8 Parawai Drive, Ngongotaha, Rotorua, Affordable Willowhaven Conference Centre
ANNUAL GENERAL
9am 25 September 2011
Business MEETING
To receive and approve the Audited Accounts for the Trust The 2012 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
To receive the minutes of the Trustee meetings since the last AGM
of FIRST Union is taking place during
the Biennial Conference in Auckland.
To receive the report on the activities of the Trust for the past twelve months The AGM is a meeting of members each
To report on future plans and activities/developments for the Trust year that has the authority to make
To elect one ordinary Trustee of the Trust who is also then elected as decisions for the union.
a Director of the Ngongotaha Wood Company Limited
All financial members of the union
Any Wood Sector member of the NDU/First Union is eligible to stand for election as an are eligible to participate and vote at
Ordinary Trustee. the AGM.
Rule 18.3, Appointment of Ordinary Trustees: A person may be appointed as an Ordinary Although anyone can come to the
Trustee by Ordinary Resolution of the Representatives. Two or more persons may be AGM, please remember it is not paid
appointed as Ordinary Trustees by a single resolution.
Rule 18.6, Termination of appointment as Ordinary Trustee: The appointment of an
time, unless you are attending the
Ordinary Trustee shall terminate on: Biennial Conference. If it is not your
The date of the third Annual Meeting following the Ordinary Trustee’s appointment as a day off, you would need to arrange
Trustee. unpaid/annual leave to attend.
Dennis Robert Dawson by rotation duly resigns his position as a Trustee and being eligible
for re-election offers his nomination for the position of Ordinary Trustee.
Other eligible members of the Wood Sector of the NDU/First Union may stand to contest
Wednesday 17 October 2012,
the vacant position of Ordinary Trustee subject to rule 18.3. Nominations will be accepted
up to the start of the AGM on the 25 September
2.00pm
All members of the NDU/First Union or associated unions are entitled to attend the AGM Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre
of the Trust. 58 Waipuna Rd, Mt Wellington,
Auckland
On behalf of the Trustees, Dennis Dawson, 24 July 2012
VOX POP : Delegates have their say...
Parliament is currently discussing a bill that would extend paid parental leave from the current 14 weeks to 26 weeks.
How would six months paid parental leave benefit working families?
Susan Winfield Lua Eni Wayne Read Amy O’Kane Mata Vili
ANZ Manners St Farmers Cuba St Farmers Cuba St BNZ Contact Centre Countdown Kilbirnie
It would be a great benefit. At our It would give more time for parents to People are a valuable resource, not just It would help the baby to have more of Kids come first, and they need to be
branch we see that when mums with spend with their babies before return- buildings and equipment. We need to both parents raising them. My friends given the best possible start. It would
small babies return to work too early, ing to work, and more time for the invest in people. We can’t afford not to with babies definitely want to spend have been great to have had six
they end up having to take lots of mother to recover from the birth and do something about it. more than the first few months at months paid leave when I had my
domestic leave when baby gets sick. recover mentally. It’s no good coming home. children.
And the bank doesn’t always provide back to work not having fully recov-
cover. It would give mothers more ered and no good for the baby.
chance to settle their babies before
returning to work.Page 14 Union Express | August–2012 PERSPECTIVES www.firstunion.org.nz
Time for a decent wage increase
From the GENERAL SECRETARY–Robert Reid
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) to negotiate wage increases of over wage increase in 2012: workers has increased by more
figures for the year ending June 5.3 per cent the bosses dreamed up • Very few of us got wage than 1 per cent.
2012 have just been released. every excuse possible to tell us increases of 5.3 per cent or over • If inflation is low then other
They show a drop from a high of why this was not possible. when inflation was that high. It’s employer costs are lower. The
5.3 per cent for the year ending With CPI now down to 1 per time for a catch up. If wage employer can therefore afford give
June 2011. CPI is a measurement cent employers are trying to use increases are much higher than us an decent increase even more
of inflation based of the increase this as an argument to keep our inflation then we finally get a real during periods of low inflation.
or decrease in the price of goods wage increases low this year. But wage increase rather than standing • The Government’s own predic-
that New Zealanders buy. there are many reasons why still or going backwards. tions are for a nominal wage
When inflation (CPI) went up to employers are better placed to give • While the CPI may be only 1 increase of 4.1 per cent for each of
5.3 per cent last year it was because workers a decent wage increase in per cent it measures many things the next two years. Let’s make
the Government increased GST by times of low inflation. that workers do not purchase, such sure that we get our share of this
20 percent, from 12.5 per cent to Here are some of the arguments as international airfares. It is and it doesn’t just go as extra
15 per cent. When the union tried that we can use to get a decent likely that the CPI for low income wages for those at the top.
Decent Work in banks
By Andrew Casidy – FIRST Union FINANCE SECTOR SECRETARY
FIRST Union has a priority to workers across the globe have banking, safety is a mental health most wealthy and powerful
campaign to get ‘Decent Work’ been fired since the financial crisis issue. When your job is to sell debt employers in the country doing
for its members, banks included. started. Here, we have roughly to meet targets set without your their bit for decent work in New
So, does decent work exist in 50% fewer bank workers today agreement and you face discipli- Zealand? I think not.
banking? than 30 years ago. Banks make nary action or dismissal if you They can and should do much
Decent work must involve work- full-time staff redundant and don’t meet those targets, the pres- more. Corporate social responsi-
ers having a ‘Living Wage’. A liv- replace them with part-timers. sure adds up! If you have daily bility in banking is skin deep. The
ing wage is about having an There is uncertainty about the teleconferences, ‘name and shame’ best thing banks could do is to
income that would allow a family impacts of mergers and takeovers boards in your tea room listing become better employers. In the
to live, enjoy life and contribute to on job numbers and work has been how you are doing compared to meantime, FIRST Union members
society, yet many bank staff don’t offshored to cheaper countries. others, and managers constantly will continue to campaign for
earn a living wage despite profits New Zealand banks refuse to give talking about what you have to sell ‘Better Banks’.
in the billions. job guarantees when they easily next, banking is not a safe industry
Decent work is ‘Secure Work’ could. for many.
but hundreds of thousands of bank Decent work is ‘Safe Work’. In So, I ask you, are some of the
STOP WORK
M E E T I N GS More than 4500
FIRST Union members
July/August 2012 attended one of the
44 meetings around
the country. . .Page 15 Union Express | August–2012 OUTSIDE WORK www.firstunion.org.nz
All lit up–fireworks man
NOT AT WORK
Murray Harnett had one of the best nights of his life at Waikaraka Park
Speedway this year.
“It was my 50th birthday and the sky was lighting up above me,”
he said.
“I was standing right under a fireworks display and feeling the
vibrations pass through me. It was the best feeling you could possibly
have.”
At that moment he also came up with the name for his part-time
business. Shockwave!
Murray who works at Crane Distribution and is a FIRST Union
member has been enthralled with fireworks since a friend asked him to
help out with retailing them about five years ago.
Fireworks can only be sold for four days leading up to Guy Fawkes but
that was enough to get Murray hooked.
Every year since then he has sold fireworks, first working for his friend
and more recently on his own behalf from a temporary shop set up in a
West Auckland factory.
Last year Murray started learning to do fireworks shows. This involves
doing a course, sitting a written test, then working under supervision for
six shows before a stage one license is earned. There are three stages of
license depending on the size of the fireworks used in a display.
So far Murray has been involved in four shows at Waikaraka Park, a
show at Whangaparaoa on the last night of the Rugby World Cup and an
election night celebration for a political party, so now he is nearly quali-
fied to do shows without supervision. n LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT: Murray Harnett loves fireworks
In fact he is spending so much of his time on fireworks that his wife
describes herself as a fireworks widow.
Nevertheless she is usually there to watch and support when Murray
has a show on. Safety is the prime consideration when doing a show.
GIFT VOUCHER CAPTION COMPETITION
“The training regime is designed for dealing with the things that go protecting Send your photo captions to: email bill.bradford@first.org.nz or postal to
Private Bag 92904, Auckland. The winner receives two gift vouchers.
wrong. Public safety comes first and you don’t get a second chance with
fireworks,” Murray said. the underdog
The fireworks Murray uses and retails are made in China but designed
for use in New Zealand and retailed under the name Thumping Thunder.
“Thanks to the ewe-nion
“They use Kiwi names. For example, volcano fireworks are named I now get a drinks break”
after local mountains like Ruapehu,” he said.
Murray’s workmates show a lot of
interest in his hobby.
“They are my first customers for fire-
works each year. As soon as I have my
price list I have to take it into work and
hand it to the boys and they make up their
minds what they are going to buy,” he said.
For more information contact Murray
Harnett phone 021 318087.
LETTERS &
Sending Artwork
SMO | KO | DU SUDOKU (medium) Congratulations to Ian Plant from Bunnings Glenfield who is the
Your letters are welcome. winner of the caption competition. Two vouchers are on their way.
Please keep them brief and no
Each row more than 200 words long.
contains Include your name, home
address and daytime contact
the number number. Letters are
1 to 9, each acknowledged and may be
column must edited for length. Emails are
also welcome and must
contain the include the information above.
numbers 1
to 9 and each Address letters to: Letters to
the Editor, Private Bag 92 904,
set of 3 x 3 Onehunga Auckland or email:
boxes must media@ndu.org.nz
contain the
Not the best writer but got
numbers 1 something to say? Why not
to 9. dictate your idea over the
phone? Call 09 622 8439 or txt
021 856 074 for a call back.
Solution at: http://www.sudokutoday.com/medium-sudoku-puzzle-i365-answers.html
ACC ISSUES? The Workplace Injury Advocacy Service can help you
access your ACC entitlements, prepare and provide support
0800 4 UNION for an ACC meeting, and a safe return to workPage 16 Union Express | August–2012 Our union. Our people www.firstunion.org.nz
STOP WORK
M E E T I N GS
July/August 2012You can also read
