The Unionist, Issue 81, June 22 2007

The CTU is pleased to see growing recognition that flexible work is important for all New Zealand workers, writes the Unionist this week.

Consensus Builds For Flexible Working Hours Access For All Workers

“It is very encouraging to see a consensus building that flexible work is important for all New Zealand workers, not just parents of children under five years or with disabilities, as the current Bill before Parliament provides for,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said, following the release this week of Department of Labour consultation on possible approaches for quality flexible work..

“United Kingdom experience of flexible working hours legislation has been very positive, and that country is now debating the extension of it to all parents.” 

“In terms of ways to achieve flexible work, we are pleased to see that the highest level of support in the consultation is for specific legislative provisions for a workers’ right to request flexible work,” Carol Beaumont said.

Unions continued to bargain for improvements in collective employment agreements that increased work-life balance, Carol Beaumont said.  "But this is an issue that also needs support in the law."

Wages Key To Home Affordability says CTU

“Home affordability is not just about house prices – it is also about incomes, and the Council of Trade Unions submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Housing Affordability says that the Select Committee should also look at the problem of low pay,” CTU Economist Peter Conway said this week.

"In the three years prior to 2007 house prices have increased by 38.5% while at the same time wages have gone up by 8.7%, so if house prices are outstripping wages by 4 to 1 then it's no wonder that home ownership is increasingly out of reach for low and middle income New Zealanders."

“The CTU does support a capital gains tax on investment housing and our submission also suggests introducing stamp duties for higher priced houses and removing the offsetting of expenses for rental properties against income."

The submission, which can be downloaded on the CTU website here, also focused on improving the supply of affordable housing through subsidised home lending programmes, shared equity, more state housing, affordable housing quotas, and higher investment in skilled labour for residential construction.

CTU Marks Birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

CTU Burmese intern Toe Toe welcomed 25 people to a screening of the documentary Burma’s Secret War at the CTU on Tuesday night, to mark the birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Burma is the forgotten country and the atrocities committed there daily by the military dictatorship are often ignored internationally. The CTU will continue to support our sister organisation the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma in their work with others in the human rights movement to end the brutal military dictatorship and restore democracy to Burma,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said on Tuesday.

Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local

Unions West Coast
Monday June 25, 5pm
Greymouth RSA
wkcultur@ihug.co.nz

Unions Northland
Tue 26 June 2007, 5pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Fri June 29, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St,
Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Waikato
Thur July 5, 5.15pm
TUC, 34 Harwood Street, Hamilton
fiona.mcqueen@epmu.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Angela Davis speaking tour
Supported by Amokura, Nga Pae O Te Maramatanga, Va’aoman? Pasifika: Samoan Studies and Pacific Studies, Te Kawa a Maui: Maori Studies, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Victoria University.
Akld: 25 June 2007, 7pm - 8:30pm
Maidment Theatre, 8 Alfred St, Auckland University Campus
Wgtn: 26 June, 7pm - 8:30pm
Rutherford House, 23 Lambton Quay - Nth end
Angela Davis is an African- American philosopher who was associated with the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and 1970’s, as well as the Communist Party of the United States of America, and is currently Professor of History of Consciousness at the University of California and Presidential Chair at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Professor Davis’ research interests include: feminism, African American studies, critical theory, popular music culture and social consciuosness and the philosphy of punishment (women’s prisons).
NAU MAI HAERE MAI.  Free Entry.

THE RED FLAG SOCIAL CLUB INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE BASTILLE DAY
in French style with Bob Campbell´s (MW)  WINE QUIZ.
Friday 6 July, Trades Hall, 149 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
Social Club facilities open at 5.00pm.  Quiz starts at 6.00pm.  $5.00 per person for tasting wine and cheeses. Get a team of 4/6 people together or come on your own and we will make up the teams when you get there.
ALL WELCOME.
For further information or to book your table, contact Ros Hiini, Working Women’s Resource Centre, (09) 379-7906, 021-299-2921, Email wwrc@ihug.co.nz

Hear a speaker from Western Sahara - Africa's last colony. An inspiring example of resistance and survival.
Malainan Lakhal, a journalist, was forced to flee Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara in 2000 after being targeted by the regime for his activities as a leader of Saharawi resistance. He now works in the camps for the Saharawi Press Service, bringing news of his peoples' struggle to the world. He will speak of the struggle in the Moroccan-occupied territories today and the life of Saharawis in the camps.

Wellington: Thursday, July 19, open doors at 5.30pm, meeting at 6pm, Turnbull House, Bowen St. Ph Awras 027 3036037
Hamilton: Friday, July 20, open doors at 7pm, meeting at 7.30pm, Methodist Church Centre, 62 London St. Hosted by Corso
Auckland: Monday July 23. 7.30pm , Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Hosted by Global Peace and Justice.

For More information: www.awsa.org.au  Contact: Annalucia Vermunt 09 5257407, NZ Western Sahara Group Patrick Rooney juntomundo@gmail.com

CTU Meetings/Training

CTU Women’s Council Biennial Conference
Building our Power – Union Women in Action.
This is being held on the 29th and 30th June at the Mercure Hotel in Wellington.
The event includes national and international speakers, workshops and an opportunity to meet with around 150 women unionists from throughout the country. Registrations have now closed.

Stage 3 Health & Safety Launch
The Wellington celebration for the launch of stage three training will be held on the 8th August. There will be a cocktail function hosted by the Mayor with Ross Wilson, Business NZ, ACC and DoL as speakers. It would be great to see lots of health and safety reps so make sure you are on the list by contacting Renee Habluetzel at  reneeh@nzctu.org.nz or phone 04 385 1334 x824

Out @ Work Wellington
Out @ Work Wellington will hold its second gathering on 24 June.  The event will be a shared meal and discussion at a private home.
What: Potluck Lunch - bring food, drink to share. 
When: 12:00pm Sunday 24th June
More information from Nic ( nicola.fitzgerald@xtra.co.nz ) or Kay (kayj@nzctu.org.nz )

CTU KiwiSaver Meeting
Tues 17 July, 9.30 to 12.30
NZCTU, Level 7, 178 Willis St, Wellington.
peterc@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