The Unionist, Issue 70, March 16, 2007

Over 100 hundred delegates including Maori leaders, representatives from unions, government, education institutes and businesses were hosted by the Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi at a hui on Maori workforce development this week, writes the Unionist this Friday.

Either read on, or you can download a printable version here (PDF file, 72 kb).

Good Turnout At Maori Workforce Hui This Week

Over 100 hundred delegates including Maori leaders, representatives from unions, government, education institutes and businesses were hosted by the Council of Trade Unions  Te Kauae Kaimahi at a hui on Maori workforce development this week.

“Leave No One Behind” – was held yesterday in Wellington, and was supported by Hui Taumata Trust, Business New Zealand and the Department of Labour. 

“For New Zealand to succeed, we need Maori workers to succeed.  That was the Hui’s focus – making sure we ‘leave no one behind’,” Council of Trade Unions vice president Maori Sharon Clair said yesterday.

The Hui was aimed at developing multi partner approaches in key areas of Maori workforce development.

The day featured panel discussions, union views, input from business, and workshop sessions on career information, guidance and mentoring, and discussion on stage two of the CTU’s H.A.N.G.I project – Helping Advance Nga Mahi in Growth and Innovation.

The CTU’s work in this area follows the second Hui Taumata in 2005, twenty years on from the first Hui in the 1980s.  Progressing Maori-led economic development initiatives are continuing through the Hui Taumata Trust, which the CTU is represented on.

“The Hui Taumata identified two groups within the Maori population, in particular, which are reservoirs of untapped potential: young Maori who leave school without qualifications, and older Maori who have been experiencing disadvantage because of their experience in the 1980s and 1990s,” CTU president Ross Wilson said in a column this week.

“The largest increase in the Maori working age population between now and 2021 will be in the 40 to 64 age group. That group are already of working age now which emphasises the vital importance of work-based training and lifelong learning.”

“Although the Maori workforce of 2021 will be younger than the general population, the largest increase in the number of Maori aged between 15 and 24 years will occur before 2011. The next four years will therefore be crucial in developing the skills of this group,” he said.

CTU representatives presented a series of potential projects that are being investigated and sought feedback from participants, and interest from potential partners.  The projects included mentoring for rangatahi Maori, workplace productivity, career guidance and information for Maori women and improving Maori participation in industry training.  

More information is available on the Hui’s web  page: www.union.org.nz/runanga/maoriworkforcehui07

CTU Events Calendar

Unions Local

Unions Wellington
Monday 19th March, 3:00 p.m.
Unions Wellington Sub-committees meet
NZCTU, Education House, 178 Willis Street, Wellington

Unions Canterbury
Tues March 20, 4pm
Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tue April 10 2007, 5pm. 
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Southland
Tues April 10 2007, 4pm,
Trades Hall, Invercargill
Dayle.Belcher@nzei.org.nz

Unions Manawatu Planning Day
Monday 16 April
2:30 – 4:30pm
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Other Events & Campaigns

Workers Education Association
Monday 19th March, 12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
“Work makes you sick?” - Jen Breed
Centre for Global Action
Second floor, James Smiths Bldg
Cnr. Manners/Cuba Streets, Wellington

The Roger Award Ceremony
Wed March 21, 6pm.
Main Hall, St Johns Church , Cnr Willis & Dixon Sts, Wellington. 
The winner of the 2006 Roger Award for the worst transnational corporation operating in New Zealand will be announced at a ceremony in Wellington.  Finalists are Telecom, Toll, ANZ, British American Tobacco, Progressive Enterprises, Contact Energy and ABB.
Featuring The Shot Band, speakers Laila Harré (for the judges), Murray Horton (CAFCA), Bryan Gould (author of The Democracy Sham), a special excerpt of “The Last Resort” screens and your MC is Michael Gilchrist.  Ticket enters you in the draw for a raffle with books, DVD’s & more.  Tickets $5 waged/$3 unwaged, on the door or by contacting organisers.
Doors & bar opens 5.30pm, awards begin 6pm.  Cash bar (wine) & free nibbles provided.  (This means event is R18 unless with legal guardian sorry.)  For more info: www.cafca.org.nz or call/text Sam or Kane on 021-181-0508 or email kane.oconnell@gmail.com.

The Hollow Men: Our Democracy or Theirs?
Is our democracy “rule by the people” or rule by the corporate funders?  How do we restore integrity and transparency to election campaign funding? What needs to change so ordinary New Zealanders feel they have an equal say in our political system?

The Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi invites you to a public forum to address these and other questions.  Speakers include Nicky Hager, journalist and author of The Hollow Men, Therese Arseneau, Department of Political Science, University of Canterbury and Andrew Geddis, Faculty of Law, University of Otago.  There will plenty of time for questions and comment.

Date & Time: Tuesday March 27 2007, 7pm – 9pm.
Venue:  Rutherford House - Lecture Theatre 1, Pipitea Campus, Victoria University, Ground Floor, Corner Bunny Street and Lambton Quay, Wellington.  (Click here for link to a map).

CTU Meetings & Training

CTU meeting with Wolfgang Zimmerman of the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR) in British Columbia.
Mon 19 March, 11am.
NZCTU Boardroom, Wellington

CTU Migration Work Group
Mon 19 March 2007, 1pm - 4.00pm
NZCTU 7th Floor, Education House
Willis Street, Wellington
andrewc@nzctu.org.nz

CTU Surface Transport Sector Group
Tue 27 March 2007, 9.30am - 12.30pm
NZCTU 7th Floor, Education House
Willis Street, Wellington
andrewc@nzctu.org.nz

CTU KiwiSaver Workshop
Weds 28th March, 9.30 am - 3 pm
RSA, Level 2, Westbrook House, 181 Willis Street, Wellington.
peterc@nzctu.org.nz

Learning Reps Training, Stage 2
Thursday 29 March, 9am-4.30pm
Morgan & Dick Rooms, St John’s Centre
Corner Willis and Dixon Streets, Wellington marym@nzctu.org.nz
CTU Employment Law Workgroup
Wed 11 April, 10am to 1pm.
CTU Boardroom, Wellington.
rossw@nzctu.org.nz

Learning Reps Training, Stage 1
Tuesday/Wednesday 17 & 18 April,  9am-4.30pm
Seminar Rooms, EPMU
298 Cashel St, Christchurch
marym@nzctu.org.nz

CTU Out@Work Kamp for GLBTI unionists and union supporters
Thurs 19 April 10am to Friday 20 April 4pm.
Wainuiomata Outdoor Education Centre,
Wellington.
http://www.union.org.nz/about/out_work.html
eileenb@nzctu.org.nz

Workplace Productivity Challenge: Exploring Workplace Productivity Issues. 
There is no charge to attend, and some assistance is available for travel and other associated costs. Seminars are as follows

Thurs 22 March, 9am-4.30
EPMU, 298 Cashell Street, Christchurch.
EREL deadline 8 March
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Mar 15

Thurs 29 March, 9am-4.30
Taranaki HSE Centre, 19 Constance St, Waiwakaiho, New Plymouth EREL deadline 15 March sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Mar 22

Tues 3 April, 9am-4.30pm
Players’ Lounge, Fuji Film Netball Complex, 44 Northcote Road, Takapuna EREL deadline March 20 sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Mar 27

Wed 4 April, 9am-4.30pm
AMI Building, 2nd Floor
Cnr Ronwood Ave/Osterley Way, Manukau
EREL deadline March 21
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by March 28

Tues 17 April, 9am-4.30
Edgar Sports Centre
Cnr Portsmouth Drive and Midland Street, Dunedin EREL deadline April 3 sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Apr 10

Wed 18 April, 9am-4.30pm
Trade Union Centre, 2 Lipton Place, Onekawa, Napier EREL deadline 4 April sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by Apr 11

May and June further workshops to be held in Hamilton, Christchurch, Whangarei, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Invercargill and Wellington More details at: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity.html

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