The Unionist, Issue 39, 21 April 2006

In this week's Unionist we profile the launch of a global campaign for cleaners, and bring you details of Workers Memorial Day and May Day events.   Either read on, or you can download the printed version of The Unionist here (PDF file, 40 kb)

Global Cleaners Campaign Launched This Week

The Council of Trade Unions is right behind the global campaign launched this week targeting commercial building owners to make a principled decision to deliver better jobs for cleaners.

The Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota (SFWU) yesterday joined with unions in Australia, Europe and the United States to launch the Clean Start - Fair Deal for Cleaners campaign. Backed by a wide group of community supporters the cleaners pledged to begin a campaign which proposes building owners, tenants and contractors adopt a new Ten-Point Principles for a Clean Start.

The SFWU and its sister union in Australia - the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) - launched the campaign in 10 cities in Australasia, including Auckland and Wellington, and released a detailed report making the case for a new beginning to contracting for cleaning and security services in the property industry.

In the report, the two unions say that the property services industry is in crisis. Incomes for cleaners and security officers are so low the industry is incapable of attracting and retaining a workforce that is stable, well trained and competent.

The unions say there is an alternative. They called on all industry stakeholders to work together to agree on and implement benchmarks for contracting. They said that around the world there is a growing trend towards responsible contracting policies, and in the US, the UK and in some cities in Australia, building owners, contractors and unions together have recognised the benefits of quality jobs.

"When cleaning and security jobs are steady jobs with enough hours to earn a living wage, then good workers are attracted to those jobs and remain in them for years," the report said. "The level of experience among cleaners goes up and transience goes down. Owners benefit in a variety of ways - increased tenant satisfaction, reduced tenant churn, reduced operating costs, increased stability, higher industry standards, reduced OHS-related costs and minimisation of security risks."

CTU Secretary Carol Beaumont told the Wellington rally that Clean Start was an important part of a wider campaign by the union movement this year to end poverty wages in New Zealand.

The CTU campaign launched late last month is called Make Low Wages History, and it is about doing just that - ensuring that New Zealand fronts up to its low wage crisis.

"Unions are calling on government for a $12 minimum wage now - not in 2008, but we also want employers to agree to a $12 minimum wage now too," Carol Beaumont told the Clean Start rally in Wellington. She said that unions were also campaigning hard to end youth rates for 16 and 17 year old workers.

"The Clean Start campaign is all about making visible a group of workers who make an essential contribution to our economy and communities," said Carol Beaumont.

Carol Beaumont said the Clean Start campaign also formed an important part of a global union movement, which was increasingly working together to share campaign resources and strategies.

Events

Unions Local Events

Unions Palmerston North
April 28, 3pm
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palm Nth
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Northland
May 3, 5pm.
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Waikato (AGM this month)
May 4, 5.15pm
TUC, 34 Harwood Street, Hamilton
jamesr@nzdwu.org.nz

Unions Tauranga
May 8, 5pm
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd, Mt Maunganui
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Hawkes Bay
May 8, 5.30pm
TUC, 2 Lipton Pl, Napier
dhyde@nduunion.org.nz

Unions Otago
May 9, 4.30pm
NZNO, Level 3, 7 Crawford St, Dunedin
glendaa@nzno.org.nz

Unions Gisborne
May 10, 4pm
Trades and Labour Hall, Cnr Customhouse St. & Childers Rd, Gisborne
cryan@nduunion.org.nz

Unions Canterbury
May 16, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Auckland
May 18, 4pm.
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd, Auckland
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Wellington
May 18, 5pm
CTU, Lv 7, 178 Willis St, Wellington
pbolster@anet.co.nz

CTU Meetings, Training

CTU meeting of affiliates to discuss Tertiary Education Review.
May 1, 10.30am-1.30pm
CTU Boardroom Wellington.
carolb@nzctu.org.nz

Pacific Workers Cross Union Fono
May 2, 9am-4.30pm
TUC, 199 Armagh St, Christchurch
karenn@nzctu.org.nz

CTU International Committee
May 3, 9am-1pm
CTU Boardroom Wellington

CTU Women's Council
May 5, 9am-3.30pm
CTU Boardroom Wellington
sue.oshea@psa.org.nz

New Organiser Induction Workshop
Part 1 - 9, 10, 11 May 2006
Part 2 - 8 June 2006
Starts 1pm on 9th May, 9am - 5pm all other days
May Venue: - Lg Room, Ground Flr, Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Akld.
June venue: - Lenihan/Kennedy Room, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Akld.
karenn@nzctu.org.nz

Health and safety workshops for all Union staff
a) 10 May, 9am-1pm
62 London Street, Hamilton
oksanaz@nzctu.org.nz
b)17 May, 9am-1pm
EPMU, Christchurch
oksanaz@nzctu.org.nz

Workplace Productivity Education Programme (WPEP). Regional Workshops for Union Officials. All workshops 9.30am-12.30pm. 04 385 1334, ext 847 /
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz
a) Thursday 27 April at Hamilton
Trade Union Centre
34 Harwood Street, Hamilton
b) Friday 5 May at Auckland Trade Union Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Akld
c) Tuesday 9 May at Wellington
Morgan and Dick room, St John's complex
Cnr Dixon and Willis Street, Wgtn
d) Tuesday 23 May Christchurch, Meeting Room at EPMU Office
298 Cashel Street, Christchurch

Workers Memorial Day - April 28

Auckland: Sculpture design workshop for sculpture to be installed at Manakau Harbour foreshore
April 29, 10am-4pm
EPMU, 9 Madeira Lane, Grafton
fritz.drissner@epmu.org.nz

Waikato: WMD Event
April 28, 1pm
Museum of Art and History, 1 Grantham St Hamilton

Napier: RMTU WMD Commemoration Service
April 28, 10am
wbutson@rmtunion.org.nz

Wellington: WMD Rally
April 28, 8am
Waterfront between Te Papa and Circa Theatre
patb@nzctu.org.nz

Canterbury: WMD Rally
April 28, 12pm
Science Alive Reserve, Behind Hoyts 8 Theatre, Moorhouse Avenue
Karena.brown@epmu.org.nz

Otago: WMD Ceremony
April 28, 11:30am
Otago Workers Memorial Market Reserve, Princes St.
glendaa@nzno.org.nz

May Day - May 1

Auckland May Day Rally
May 1, 5pm (open mike), 5.30 rally starts, bottom of Queen St. Weather permitting. Alternate venue is Maritime Club.
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Auckland May Day Dinner
April 29, 6.30 pm. Tickets: linda.holt@psa.org.nz or gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Wellington May Day Dinner
May 1, from 6.30pm
Tickets: pbolster@anet.co.nz or your union

Palmerston North May Day Concert
May 6, 7.30pm
Regent Theatre, Palmerston North
natdisp@ihug.co.nz

Other events

Launch of EPMU Metals campaign
May 1. www.epmu.org.nz

Trade Union History Project Launch of book on the 1913 Strike
May 1, 5.30pm
Maritime Museum, Wellington

WEA Lunchtime Forum
CTU Vice President Maori speaking
May 1, 12.10pm
Betty Campbell Centre, Harbour City Tower, 40 Panama Street, Wellington

Contact

If you have any information about upcoming CTU events please contact:
Sam Huggard - (04) 802 3817, email: samh@nzctu.org.nz