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Hi [FIRST NAME],
Welcome to the November Unite News for members and supporters. To change your subscription details use the links at the top or bottom of this email.
A bit stretched between pays?
There's a good reason for that...
 Since 1982 wages have lost 25% in real value. That means we have to work 5 hours to buy the same things our parents only had to work 4 hours for. Unite National Director Mike Treen has been looking at the official measures of wages, prices and debt and it isn't a pretty story for low-paid workers.
The pain hasn't been spread evenly, of course. It's estimated that hotel housekeeping staff are now paid only 60% of they earnt in the 1980s, while taxes for the wealthiest have been slashed in half.
Families have had to respond by working harder (productivity has increased by 80% in the same period), longer (families working 50+ hours a week went from half in 1981 to two thirds in 2001) and getting into debt (15 years ago household debt was 60% of our national GDP - now it is 160%).
It all makes a pretty compelling argument for raising the minimum wage so workers can begin to get back a little of what they have lost in the last generation. Read the full article here .
 Living dead demand a Living Wage
The Halloween Trick or Treat march on Friday 30th October was colourful, noisy, humourous and made quite an impact on Queen Street. It was pretty well impossible to miss Unite's giant inflatable rat, accompanied by hundreds of zombies, vampires, ghosts and the odd pirate - who all seemed to be particularly lively and happy despite being dead.....
Video on You Tube and more photos here along with others you can share on facebook here.
Other $15 an hour campaign news - hear campaign co-ordinator Joe Carolan take on everybodys favourite Thai kickboxer Richie Hardcore to see who will be one of the Spartan 300 Warriors on BFM.
Click here for more $15 an hour campaign information.
Who's that with the the Unite delegates?
At the recent Council of Trade Unions conference in Wellington the SEA-Unite delegates made some new friends with some of the guest speakers. Apparently these people have some sort of cushy government jobs in the capital....
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SEA-Unite delegates Arbie Te Paa, Prime Minister John Key and Liane Henry at the recent CTU conference in Wellington |
| SEA-Unite delegate Candy Sherman with Labour Leader Phil Goff, Arbie and Liane. |
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Candy with Greens Leaders Russell Norman and Metiria Turei, Arbie and Liane. |
Unite against the wage freeze
In October thirty attendants who are members of Unite at the Waikato District Health Board held a one-hour stop-work picket to stand up against the public sector wage freeze (pictured below). The action was taken in support of the national day of action initiated by the Service and Food Workers Union. The picket sent a strong signal to the DHB that the unions will give mutual assistance to get better results for their respective memberships.
Know your rights:
Temp & Casual workers rights
Bosses are increasingly trying to use temporary workers instead of hiring permanents. Temporary workers include fixed term and casual workers and it is important to know when temporary workers can be used and what your rights are.
If you are told to sign a causal or fixed-term agreement, say you want some time to check the agreement out. You should also check if there is a collective agreement at your work because some collective agreements limit the length of time a person can be put on a temporary agreement and can make you a permanent employee after a set period of time.
Fixed term
A boss can only put you on a fixed term agreement for a “genuine reason”. A genuine reason does not include “company policy” or to test you out to see if you can do a good job. The agreement must clearly state in writing when your employment will end and the reasons for it ending then. Once the fixed term agreement ends you are not entitled to any more work.
If you are being asked to sign a fixed term agreement and you are not sure whether the boss has a genuine reason you should contact your union rep. If the boss gives you a new fixed term agreement when the previous one ends the boss needs another genuine reason and it should be in writing.
If you are on a fixed term agreement you are still entitled to sick leave, annual leave and public holidays. If the fixed term agreement is for less than 12 months your boss can pay your annual leave with your ordinary pay at the rate of not less than 8% on top of your gross pay and you won't be able to take annual leave – unless the boss agrees.
Casual agreements
Casual agreements can only be used when you work for short periods of irregular hours with gaps in between when you work. If you are a casual worker the boss does not have to offer you any more work after the agreed work has finished and you do not have to accept an offer of further work.
If you are on a roster, you have been working at the same place for a while and you have to call in and let the boss know you cannot make it to work you are likely to be a permanent worker rather than a casual worker.
If you think you have been dismissed unfairly just because the boss said you were 'casual' you should contact your union rep.
Casual workers are entitled to sick leave, annual leave and public holidays. If you work is irregular your boss can pay your annual leave with your ordinary pay at the rate of not less than 8% on top of your gross pay and you won't be able to take annual leave – unless the boss agrees.
written by Clare Abaffy, NDU Senior Lawyer
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Mobilising to challenge 'feudal era' management
 Every thinking New Zealander should go and see Michael Moore's film Capitalism: A Love Story that is now out in cinemas. I've been a fan of Moore ever since his first film, Roger & Me, which had him chasing down Roger Smith - the then head of General Motors - after Moore's father and thousands of other auto workers were laid off in Flint, Michigan. His television series, The Awful Truth, was compulsory viewing each week. His Oscar-winning documentary, Bowling for Columbine, and his last film Sicko, posed serious challenges to corporate capitalism.
Moore's latest film is the most politically potent of all. It's a full-frontal attack on his usual target of corporations and on the whole capitalist system. It has all the usual "corporate greed versus ordinary people" stories, which have parallels in New Zealand. But what particularly resonates is his defiant critique - that corporate capitalism is evil, immoral and undemocratic...... read more of Matt's latest Herald on Sunday column. Read Matt's previous columns here
Check it out
Unite is a supporting partner in the ‘Drop the Rate Mate’ campaign which is looking to lower the cost of mobile phone charges to New Zealanders by getting rid of mobile termination rates.
For anyone who doesn’t know, mobile termination rates or ‘MTRs’ are charges incurred when you call or text someone on a different network – or call them from your landline. Their network charges yours a fee for receiving the call or text and it gets included in the price you pay. The campaign needs your support so please go to www.droptherate.co.nz and sign the petition.
If you have already signed the petition pass it on to everyone you know to help us give Kiwis a fairer deal on mobile charges.
If you can't stand
the cold.....
All three of Iceland's McDonald's restaurants in the capital Reykjavik will close this weekend, as the franchise owner gives in to falling profits caused by the collapse in the Icelandic krona.
"The economic situation has just made it too expensive for us," said Magnus Ogmundsson, the managing director of Lyst Hr., McDonald's franchise holder in Iceland. Lyst was bound by McDonald's requirement that it import all the goods required for its restaurants, from packaging to meat and cheeses, from Germany. A Big Mac in Reykjavik retailed for 650 krona (NZ$7.08).
There are plans to re-open the restaurants under new branding and using locally sourced products.
Joe wants you!
 Community activist, teacher and Unite union delegate Joe Carolan is leading the $15 an hour campaign full time. He brings a wealth of experience in social justice movements in Ireland and Aotearoa. If you want to be a Working Class Hero then email him here , text 029 44 55 702 or become Living Wage's friend on Facebook.
Joe is looking for volunteers for some big events in Auckland in addition to the weekly petition stalls on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays:
Ry Cooder & Nick Lowe,
The Civic, 16th Nov, 8pm
Dave Dobbyn, Powerstation,
19th & 20th Nov, 6.30pm
Glen Campbell
The Civic, 20th Nov, 7pm
The Original Wailers, Powerstation, 21st Nov, 6.30pm
Grand Finale,
Auckland Town Hall, 26th Nov, 8pm
Grey Lynn Park Festival,
28th of Nov, 9am - 6pm
Santa Parade
Queen Street
29th Nov, 2pm
Auckland Orchestra Birthday, Town Hall, 29th Nov, 5pm
Christmas Free Concert,
Town Hall, 4th Dec , 7.30pm
Xmas in the Park,
Auckland Domain, 12th Dec, 7pm
Green Day, Vector Arena, 18th and 19th Dec, 6.30pm
SEA-Unite News
Download the latest SEA-Unite newsletter here (292KB PDF file)
....view previous SEA-Unite newsletters here.
Unite in the media
Read Unite Organiser John Minto's latest Frontline blog:
Voters need the power to recall MPs
Read John's previous columns here
Contact Unite
Website: www.unite.org.nz
National Office
phone: 0800 2 UNITE
Fax: 09 846 9509
email: support@unite.org.nz
postal address:
PO Box 7175
Wellesley St
Auckland
Northland/Auckland Office
phone: 09 845 2132
address:
6A Western Springs Road
Morningside
Auckland
email: support@unite.org.nz
Waikato/Bay of Plenty
Jared Phillips
mobile: 029 494 9863
email: jared@unite.org.nz
Wellington & Marlborough Office
phone: 04 384 2946
Matt Jones
mobile: 029 201 3837
email:matthew@unite.org.nz
Christchurch
Joe Davies
mobile: 029 201 3859
email: joe@unite.org.nz
Unite Organisers & Staff
Click here for the contact details of all Unite Organisers and staff. |
