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Campaign for a Living Wage Newsletter, Thursday Feb 25th 2010 Another 300 mostly Asian Kiwis signed the Living Wage petition at the Chinese and Korean New Year Festival in Northcote on Sunday, and gave the nearby National Party stall both barrels of their wrath at a 25 cents min wage increase and a proposed 15% GST rate. Melissa Lee and John Banks both ran for cover as Living Wagers let them feel the heat! We are now appealing to everyone whose been watching the Movement of the Working Poor gain momentum to join us for the last battles, harvesting the mass support thats out there. Get off your facebook, get into your worksite, campus or community with the petition. We can create an earthquake if we get enough signatures for thereferendum - one that will wipe that cheesy grin off John Key's face. Either way, this campaign is making history, giving low paid workers the confidence to challenge the arguments coming from National, the Corporations, the bosses and their mates in the media. But we don't want to let down those hundreds of people in Otahuhu, Henderson, Northcote, Lower Hutt, Invercargill and Dunedin. We are on course to get 200,000 signatures- which will be a phenomenal result from a small union and our allies. With one last push, we can get 300,000, and then give this government a crushing defeat in the Referendum- guaranteed. Let's fight that bit harder for a better Aotearoa- if you haven't done it before- pledge to get 100 signatures yourself. Get the petition here People are lining up to sign!
Unite on Campus Nearly half a million workers are trying to make ends meet on less than $15 an hour. We think that people who are working hard deserve a Living Wage- enough money to afford the essentials in life and have a little bit left over, without having to get into debt. That’s why we’ve gathered over 100,000 signatures in support of a Living Wage- and why we’re campaigning hard out in the next two months to get 200,000 more! IF YOU ARE A STUDENT- WE WANT YOU. We want you to join us and fight for the rights for the workers and the poor. When you join the Unite Club, you’ll meet like minded people who are committed to campaigning, organizing and spreading the good news that its time our society changed. Some of the things Unite on Campus will be doing- Signing up as many students as possible on campus to support the Living Wage Campaign Demonstrating in marches, protests and strikes for many union and social causes Organising public meetings, benefit gigs and solidarity for striking workers Holding debates, forums and film screenings to educate students about unions and their rights. Poverty and debt force many students into working their way through college, mostly in low paid jobs on or just above the minimum wage. In response, Unite Clubs are being set up on campus in the University of Auckland, AUT, MIT, UNITEC, Massey Albany and in Polys and Unis throughout the country, to organise students who are pro worker and pro union. The biggest task over the next two months will be to gather tens of thousands of names in the lecture halls and on campaign stalls for the Campaign for a Living Wage referendum. We need students, campus workers and academic staff to help us build these clubs and harvest the support that is out there. Are you on one of the campuses above? Would you be free to help on the stalls during O week and after? 25 joined the Unite on Campus Club in UNITEC in one hour last Tuesday. Over 40 have joined in Massey Albany, and a huge 95 in WINTEC in Hamilton. We are bringing the movement of the working poor onto the campuses of the nation and we aim to sign up every lecture hall, student, academic and campus worker in the next two months.
For decades the right wing economists have argued that any increase in the minimum wage will lead to an increase in unemployment. The ACT party is actually opposed to any minimum wage. They use economic models that don’t exist in the real world to justify their claims.
Instead of using a model for an economy that does not exist, we can use the actual changes that have occurred in New Zealand over the last decade. What is the evidence?.... read more. Unite parliamentary workers support SFWU cleaners strike Keith Locke, a tireless battler for social justice and the Green Party’s industrial relations spokesperson was there and spoke about the need to support Unite’s $15 hr campaign and encouraged people to sign the petition as it was passed around.
A study carried out by UK think tank the New Economics Foundation, says hospital cleaners create 10 pound of value for every 1 pound they are paid while bankers actually destroy social wealth for every dollar they earn.
Rupi Leaupepe, AWUNZ Delegate at Allied Workforce Penrose Branch: 40+ signatures collected.
Why are you supporting the campaign? " What should the campaign be doing now?
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Upcoming events in Auckland Lantern Festival in Albert ParkThis weekend we are doing stalls from 5pm till 10pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights . The festival is HUGE so we are asking everyone to come and get 100 names each over the weekend. Datsuns: Saturday Feb 27 Nixon Park from 1.30pm till 6pm. 100 x 100 x 10 We also have stalls round MIT, UNITEC and Massey Albany for the student groups during different times of the day. Next week
Get in touch with the $15 campaign Send a text to 029 445 5702 or email to sign up as a working class hero.
Order a bulk order of badges (30 cents each) and T-shirts ($15 each) from the Unite office - click here. Click here for more campaign information.
Joe wants you!
WHANGAREI AUCKLAND HAMILTON COROMANDEL and THAMES ROTORUA PALMERSTON NORTH WELLINGTON CHRISTCHURCH DUNEDIN
Website: www.unite.org.nz National Office |
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The $15 an hour Campaign for a Living Wage has been initiated by Unite union. To subscribe to this newsletter please use this link. To update your subscription details or change the format this newsletter is sent to you in (HTML or plain text) use this link. To forward this newsletter to a friend use this link. |
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The EPMU has sent out 45,000 petitions with its magazine, the Metal, and the National Distribution Union is mapping out its 100 biggest sites across the nation. 
Unite on Campus is a club for students who are workers, and workers who are students.
We are tired of low pay, poor conditions and inequality of wealth and power in our society. 
Roger Douglas has had his bill to reintroduce youth rates drawn for discussion in Parliament.National voted against the effective abolition of youth rates when in opposition. Both claim the abolition of youth rates has lead to higher unemployment for young people. The assertions are not based on fact.
Kate Strack, an Executive Assistant for the Green Party and Unite delegate, said, “It was wonderful that members of different Parliamentary unions came together with Green and Labour MPs to support and empower the hardworking cleaners at parliament asking for a Living Wage.”
“It was heartbreaking to hear delegates from the cleaners talk about working so hard and still struggling to support their families. But it was inspiring to hear them stand up and say this isn’t good enough for our whanau”.
Heleyni Pratley, is a 23 year old health care assistant, set designer, artist, and a leading member of the Worker’s Party. She’s been collecting signatures for the Campaign since June ’09. Unite spoke to her about her involvement. 
"How do you feel about becoming a working-class hero?" 
Put the $15 an hour web banner on your website or blog - click 