The Unionist, Issue 61, Oct 27 2006

New figures on union membership see record growth - the biggest jump since 1991, writes the Unionist this week.

Either read on, or download a printable version here (PDF file, 63 kb).

Unions Grow in 2005

Victoria University of Wellington’s survey of union membership in 2005, released today, showed an increase of 23,290 union members last year.

The survey, conducted annually by the university’s Industrial Relations Centre found there was 377,348 union members as at December 31, 2005.

Private sector union membership increased by 11,488, or 7.0 per cent in the last year, and public sector membership was up 11,802, or 6.2 per cent.  These combine to an overall increase in union members for the year of 6.6 per cent.

Welcoming the news, CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today that “the record union membership growth in 2005, in particular in the private sector, is the strongest signal yet that workers are choosing to organise collectively in unions to get a better deal at work.”

“Union numbers have increased by 75,000 since 1999.  Last year’s growth of 6.6% is the strongest since the survey started in 1991, and union density is at its highest level since 1998, at 21.9 %,” she said.

“Highly effective union campaigns such as ‘Fair Share in 05’ have been delivering more power to workers on the job.  They are voting with their feet and are increasingly confident of joining together in unions to improve wages and conditions.”

“The challenge for the union movement remains in the growth industries in private sector services, and 2006 has seen a concerted effort by unions in industries like fast food and supermarkets.”

The full report will be available shortly on the Industrial Relations Centre website at: http://www.vuw.ac.nz/vms/disciplines/IRC/index.aspx

CTU Releases Low Wage Report on Labour Day

The Council of Trade Unions marked Labour Day weekend just past with the release of a new report on low wages in New Zealand.

“The 40 hour working week which was fought so hard for is not a reality for many low income workers,” said CTU secretary Carol Beaumont, in launching the report.

“Years of rising economic growth and people working longer and longer hours have failed deliver a fair deal for all, and the CTU is marking Labour Day this year with a call to action on low wages.”

“A fair minimum wage is one that is set at two thirds of the average wage, and we are calling for the minimum wage to be indexed at this level. In the meantime we need a $12 minimum wage now, not in 2008, and an end to youth rates.

“Unions have been very active this year in campaigning for justice in wages, for cleaners, for support staff, for hospital and aged care workers, factory workers and many other low income workers. The report reflects on the strength ordinary working people have when they organise together in unions to get a fairer deal at work.”

The report is here (PDF file, 302 kb).

Weekly Events Listing

Unions Local

Unions Northland
Tue Oct 31, 5pm.
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Waikato
Thur Nov 2, 5.15pm
TUC, 34 Harwood Street,
Hamilton
fiona.mcqueen@epmu.org.nz

Unions Gisborne
Wed Nov 8, 4pm.
Trades & Labour Hall, Corner Customhouse St. & Childers Rd.
cryan@nduunion.org.nz

Unions Otago
Wed Nov 8, 4.30pm
NZNO, Level 3, 7 Crawford St, Dunedin. 
glendaa@nzno.org.nz

Unions Tauranga
Mon Nov 13, 4pm
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd,
Mt Maunganui
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Hawkes Bay
Mon Nov 13, 5.30pm
TUC, 2 Lipton Pl, Napier
dhyde@nduunion.org.nz

Unions Canterbury
Tue Nov 14, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Auckland
Thur Nov 16, 4pm.
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Wellington
Mon Nov 20, 5:00 p.m.
CTU, Level 7, Education House, 178 Willis St., Welington
pbolster@anet.co.nz

Unions Manawatu
Fri Nov 24, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St,
Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Talking Union
5:15 p.m. Thurs Nov 2nd
NZCTU Boardroom, Education House, 178 Willis St., Wgtn
Kimw@nzctu.org.nz

First Friday Drinks
After work, Friday Nov 3rd
Brix Bar, Abel Tasman Hotel
Cnr. Willis & Dixon St., Wgtn

Guy Fawkes
The Red Flag Trade Union Social Club (previously known as the Working Women’s Resource Centre Trade Union Social Club) cordially invites you to celebrate this month’s theme evening with us.
The theme is REVOLUTION and we will be celebrating that favourite old revolutionary, Guy Fawkes on Friday 3 November at Trade’s Hall,147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn.  Entrance $5.00.  Bar food and a free sparkler provided along with our usual social club facilities.  RSVP Ros Hiini. Working Women’s Resource Centre, Phone  09 3797906 or email wwrc@ihug.co.nz

TUEA Reunion
This year marks 20 years since the establishment of the Trade Union Education Authority – a milestone worth celebrating.  Staff, members of the original task force, Board members and those associated with TUEA are invited to a reception at Parliament on Thursday 9th November.  There is a dinner for staff to follow. Contact:Suzanne McNabb suzanne.mcnabb@aus.ac.nz or (04) 801-4798.

Parihaka - Jan 5-7 2006
The 2nd Parihaka International Peace Festival runs January 5th 6th 7th  2007.  You are invited to buy ticket/s to our next festival directly off us through the festival’s website e-ticket facility. The offer runs from now through to 4th November 2006.  The special price before November 4 is $99 per adult, after which is will be $135 for the remainder of the year.  All children up to 15yrs and adults over 60yrs are $10 at all times.  Tickets at the discounted price can be purchased from www.parihaka.com

CTU Meetings and Training

Workplace Productivity Challenge: Exploring Workplace Productivity Issues.  Remaining seminars as follows:
Thurs 2 November, 9am-4.30
A’fare, Lower Dent Street, Whangarei.
Wed 8 November, 9am-4.30
Te Manawa Museum, 396 Main Street, Palmerston North
Wed 15 November, 9am-4.30
St Johns Church, Cnr Willis & Dixon Streets, Wellington
Contact: sandyo@nzctu.org.nz

CTU Women’s Council
Nov 3 2006.  CTU, Level 7, Education  House, Willis St, Wgtn
Make sure your union is represented. Contact Eileen Brown for details eileenb@nzctu.org.nz / 802 3813

PaEE Training
The CTU is running short training sessions for union organisers, educators, negotiators and senior delegates participating in pay and employment equity reviews.
The training will focus on the pay investigation and remedial pay settlement aspects of the reviews.
Akld: Mon 6 Nov, 1-4pm
Wgtn:Weds 8 Nov, 9am-12
ChCh: To Be Confirmed
Contact: nikkib@nzctu.org.nz

Seminar on Workplace Financial Education, Superannuation and KiwiSaver
Wednesday 8 November, 0930-1230
RSA Boardroom, 2nd Floor, 181 Willis Street (opposite the CTU), Wellington. Contact: andrewc@nzctu.org.nz, (04) 385 1334 x 836

YUM video conference.
4.30pm, Friday 17 Nov
Wellington- PSA House Aurora Tce
Auckland- PSA House, beside Trades Hall on Gt North Rd
erinp@nzctu.org.nz

Contact

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