The Unionist, Issue 71, March 23, 2007

Is our democracy “rule by the people” or rule by the corporate funders? The CTU has organised a forum in Wellington next week to find out, writes The Unionist this week.

Either read on, or you can download a printable version here (PDF file, 64 kb).

CTU Forum Next Week To Address Election Campaign Finance

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 has organised a forum to start to addressing these issues, which is taking place next Tuesday March 27 in Wellington. 

It follows on from the successful ‘Think and Drink’ event for affiliates at the end of last year with author of “The Hollow Men” Nicky Hager. Nicky will be speaking on Tuesday about why so many people feel turned off by modern politics and what  can be done in New Zealand to change that. 

He will be joined at the forum by two leading academics in their respective areas of politics and law.

Therese Arseneau will be a familiar face to 3 News and Campbell Live viewers.  She featured in their election night coverage, and has been a regular commentator with the network and others since. 

Arseneau, who is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Political Science and Communication at the University of Canterbury, will be speaking about the importance of elections to a healthy democracy, and will examine the role of the media and other players in the electoral process.

Andrew Geddis is an Associate Professor in Law at the University of Otago.

He is one of New Zealand’s top experts in electoral law and campaign financing, and will be discussing flaws in the present legal regulation of election campaign funding and proposing reforms that might address these shortcomings.

Geddis’ recent paper for the Institute of Policy Studies’ Policy Quarterly, “Rethinking the Funding of New Zealand’s Election Campaigns” is a good summary of the issues he will be covering, and is available online here.

CTU president Ross Wilson said the forum had been organised to start encouraging debate among members of the public about the issue of election campaign funding.

“We are concerned about the extent of corporate influence on our electoral system in New Zealand, exposed through Nicky’s book last year.”

“The CTU’s primary goal is to promote a healthy democracy where everyone has an equal say, and where people feel able to participate in the democratic process, and the forum is a first step in addressing this.”

The forum is from 7pm to 9pm, next Tuesday March 27, in Victoria University’s Rutherford House Lecture Theatre 1, Ground Floor, Cnr Bunny St and Lambton Quay.  There is no charge for the event and an RSVP is not required.

The forum’s webpage, with links to more information, is here.

MILESTONE FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES
“The CTU supports a focus on workers’ abilities, not disabilities, and blanket assumptions that all sheltered workshop participants should be exempt from minimum employment entitlements were discriminatory and outdated,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said on Wednesday, after Parliament passed the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (DPEP) Act Repeal Bill.

“The previous law disadvantaged workers with disabilities, it diminished their human rights and it reflected attitudes towards disability which are unacceptable.”

“The CTU supports the work of people with disabilities and their supporters through groups such as DPA, IHC, CCS and People First who have consistently advocated for the rights of workers with disabilities, and we will continue to work with these groups and the Department of Labour regarding implementation of a transparent and fair process around any exemptions to the law, which needs to include union advocacy and representation,” she said.

CTU Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local

Unions Tauranga
Mon 9 April, 4pm.
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd, Mt Maunganui. 
gparsloe@seafarers.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 Auckland
Thur April 12, 4pm
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
gparsloe@seafarers.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

Unions Canterbury
Tues April 17, 4pm
Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Workers Education Association Forum: “Maori on the Dole”
Sharon Clair - CTU VP Maori
Monday 26 March 12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Centre for Global Action: 2nd Floor, James Smiths Bldg, cnr. Cuba St & Manners Mall, Wellington.
pbolster@anet.co.nz

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 Law School.  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, Bunny Street, Wellington.  For further information phone (04) 802-3817 or visit www.union.org.nz.

The Red Flag Social Club
The Red Flag Social Club invites you to a sociable evening at Trades Hall, 149 Great North Road, Grey Lynn on Friday 30 March starting at 5.00pm. Come and join us for a sociable drink in pleasant surroundings.
Ros Hiini, Organiser, Working Women’s Resource Centre. Phone 09 379 7906, email wwrc@ihug.co.nz

CTU Meetings and Training

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.  Please note an emmendment to the earlier listings. 

Note: The North Shore and Manukau training has been combined, and will run on the 4th of April- details below.

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

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: 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