WHO IS ON THE FRONTLINE CHALLENGING POVERTY?We talk to four groups who are taking action for a fair go.

WHILE SOME BOSSES GET MILLION DOLLAR SALARIES,Many workers and beneficiaries do not have enough to live

on and the gap between the rich and poor increases.

Mangere Budgeting and Family Support Services

Tamaki Housing Group - Defend G.I Pak N Save workers @ First Union

Auckland Action Against Poverty

UNIONEXPRESS

Inside: Photos, Sudoku & More

Official Newspaper of FIRST Union April 2014

50 YEARS STRONG, 100% UNION: Page 3GATES CLOSED ON HUTTONS WORKERS: Page 2 HISTORIC LEGAL CASE FOR EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN: Page 5

www.firstunion.org.nz

Page 2 UNION LOCAL NEWS Union Express April 2014

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Sections

Community News

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International union movement

Inequality in New Zealand

Feature articles

Your rights - legal

Union Business

Fun page

Perspectives

Notices / Services

FIRST union President

Sudoku/caption contest

Murray Horton Speaking Tour

General Secretary

FIRST Union fees

Your legal team

Affordable Willowhaven Holiday Park

In the community

On the frontline challenging poverty

UNIONEXPRESSEditor – Tali WilliamsContributors – Ed Miller, Sam Huggard and other FIRST Union staffAuthorised by FIRST Union, 120 Church Street, Onehunga.

SubmissionsWe actively encourage membership participation in your newspaper, the Express. You may fax, email or dictate a story for the Express. We are here to help.Next submission due date: 8 August 2014All comments, letters to the editor, artwork, poetry, photos, ideas, stories should be sent to the following contacts.

Contact UsEmail: Tali.Williams@firstunion.org.nzPhone: 0800 863 477Fax: (09) 622 8353 attention Union ExpressAddress: 120 Church Street, OnehungaPostal Address: Private Bag 92904, AucklandSubscriptions: lynn.ocallaghan@firstunion.org.nz (09) 622 8520Change of address: 0800 863 477

DisclaimerOpinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily represent the views of the FIRST Union.

FIRST UnionFIRST Union is a democratic organisation run by working people for working people. We organise for a better future and for respect for ourselves and our families through building power on the job, in our industries and our community.

Gates closed on Huttons workers

The Huttons/Kiwi Bacon brand of meat products, icons of the traditional Kiwi breakfast, is closing its gates with the loss of some 125 jobs.

On 10 February Goodman Fielder confirmed the closure of its Frankton Meats Huttons / Kiwi Bacon factory in Hamilton.

Site union delegate Glenn Bratton says the loss to the community is devastating. “Hundreds of years of experience are going to go walking out that gate.”

Glenn has been working for Goodman Fielders meat division for 16 and a half years. He said although the company was assisting workers with job seeking elsewhere the prospects weren’t good in the current environment. “A lot of people have been here their whole working lives. There aren’t many job opportunities for those who don’t have skills in other areas.”

On Wednesday 8 January workers were told of the sale of Goodman Fielder’s NZ Meat Division to Hellers. The workers were told that the sale was for the brands only and the Hamilton production site would close by the end of March 2014. FIRST Union and the workers gained support to keep the site open and save the jobs from both the community and through local Labour, National and NZ First MPs, some

GLENN BRATTON: union delegate at Goodman Fielder

Redundancies will hit Transpacific workers hard

Redundancies are hitting the waste and recycle industry, with job losses at Transpacific’s recycling plant in Lower Hutt.

Transpacific has indicated that up to 9 people may be affected.

There are also redundancies at Auckland and other locations within the company.

Union delegate Peter Oloapu said that workers were angry and upset about the redundancies.

“People are feeling very sad, because most people have lots of costs like mortgages, cars, school costs.

“Everyone is upset people had to lose their jobs.”

He said union members were covered by a redundancy agreement which pays out up to 26 weeks.

Peter was pleased so many people had joined the union, and were protected by the redundancy agreement.

Meanwhile Transpacific Industries Group New Zealand was sold last month by its Australian owners, to Chinese infrastructure firm Beijing Capital Group.

Transpacific had been subject to very high debt for a number of years under its previous owners.

WORKERS AT TRANSPACIFIC’S RECYCLING PLANT IN LOWER HUTT

Hamilton City Councillors, Federated Farmers and the Waikato Regional Council.

The sale and purchase agreement was conditional on consultation with staff. As part of this process the union presented an alternative bid which would have kept the plant in operation and saved 125 jobs. However the bid was rejected by Goodman Fielder.

“It’s pretty sad that a 100 year old business has gone down the tubes” said Glenn. “It’s a Kiwi icon, everyone knows the Huttons brand.”

“It’s been a good family. You get to know people, you get to know their kids, whats happening in their lives , you have the weddings and 21sts.”

While some workers have secured new employment, many are still looking and uncertain of their future. Glenn is returning to the timber yard to a role he had before he started working at Huttons.

FIRST Union is working closely with the company, Work and Income, IRD and other agencies to ensure that workers are given total support over the closure period. The union has also introduced its redundancy support programme onto the site.

Page 3www.FIRSTunion.org.nz UNION LOCAL NEWS

Briefs

Westpac profits high , workers want a share

Westpac profits are at a record high as the union heads into collective agreement negotiations with the bank this week.

Westpac posted a $770 million dollar profit at the end of last year, prompting union members to challenge the company to pay up at this year’s bargaining.

“Not only are Westpac staff working harder than ever trying to meet impossible targets, they are also doing their colleagues’ jobs who have left and not been replaced.Westpac

can afford better than this,” said chair of the Westpac Union Council Maxine Mullen.

Maxine and a team of delegates and recruiters, including Diane Cox from the contact centre and FIRST Union recruiter Mrunal Shroff, have spent the past couple of weeks talking to Westpac staff across Auckland about joining the union.

“We worked as a team and signed up 65 people across Auckland in those two weeks,” said Mrunal, “Most people can see they are better off in the Collective; now is the time to send a message to Westpac that enough is enough with unrealistic sales targets and understaffing.”

The Westpac Union Council bargaining team will head into negotiations in a strong position. After the recent boost in recruitment nationally, union density now sits at over 50% of all coverable Westpac staff.

“Westpac will be saying ‘we can’t afford it’ and we will be telling them why they can,” said Maxine. “It’s clear to see in their profit margins. It’s a good time to be bargaining.”

WESTPAC BARGAINING AND RECRUIT TEAM MEMBERS: Mrunal Shroff, Maxine Mullen, Diane Cox

First union lobbies against Council privatisation FIRST Union has made a submission to the Rotorua District Council which is proposing to form four Council Controlled Organisations as a way of dealing with its spiralling debt. The union is concerned that this could be a first step to privatisation of council activity with consequential job losses. The union’s submission showed that FIRST members currently working in a council business unit were highly efficient and made the council money.

Success at Hookers Hookers Fuel Drivers ratified their new agreement after winning a minimum 4.7% wage increase over 2 years and a massive new 20 weeks redundancy compensation (4+2). The settlement was won after over 150 drivers voted for industrial action last month.

Southern Cross Forest Products in receivership KordaMentha was has been appointed receiver of Southern Cross Forest Products. It follows the receivership of Tachikawa Forest Products in Rotorua late last year, with the loss of 120 jobs, and difficult times for many other wood processers in New Zealand. “Southern Cross is a significant employer in South Otago and Thames, and the loss of jobs would be a massive blow to these regions,” FIRST union general secretary Robert Reid said.

ANZ hours of work dispute settledA dispute between a group of employees at the Auckland Contact Centre and ANZ regarding variable start and finish times was resolved. The dispute began in early 2013 when the bank began requiring all front line staff to work rostered hours where the days were fixed but varied the start and finish times within a two hour window. The union took a case for a group of workers who have always been on fixed shifts. This prompted a settlement in which the bank agreed to keep these workers current hours of work unchanged.

Countdown pay increasein June Waged Countdown union members will receive a pay increase on the 2nd of June. This is part of the increase negotiated at last year’s Collective Agreement bargaining. The wage increase will be 2.5% unless the CPI is higher, in which case the cap will be 3%. Only union members will receive this increase in June; non-members will not receive theirs until August.

National day of action for Health care workersHundreds of healthcare workers have put on hold a national day of action on 9 April to oppose district health board pay offers which don’t keep up with the rising cost of living, and will return to mediation. The workers provide vital support services for our health system, including laundry, stores, drivers, orderlies, maintenance and trades staff. “Workers have a basic right to negotiate for better pay and conditions,” says Paul Tolich, EPMU senior industrial officer. Some FIRST Union members are also involved in the dispute.

50 Years Strong, 100% Union

THE MARSDEN POINT OIL REFINERY

Workers at New Zealand’s only oil refinery are celebrating 50 years since the gates first opened in 1964.

The Marsden Point refinery imports crude oil and turns it into finished products such as petrol, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel . They provide 80% of the diesel, 60% of the petrol and all of the jet fuel for New Zealand.

The site has had 100% union membership from the outset. “A few years back we did have one or two with religious or armed forces backgrounds that didn’t want to join but they saw the benefits and they came around,” said Keith Smith, a distillation operator and one of the site delegates.

Originally the site union was the Engine Drivers, Firemen and Greasers Union which eventually became the NDU. Karl Andersen, transport and logistics sector secretary of FIRST Union, was an organiser at the refinery for 20 years and can remember the government taking special interest in disputes given the refinery’s critical role in the nations economy. “We had a lot of disputes and strikes up there in the late 70s, early 80s,” said Karl. “I can remember being in Jim Bolger’s office once until 6am discussing a dispute. I’m sitting there saying ‘They’re stopping work tomorrow Jim, do you want to avoid it or not?’ “

The struggles have paid off, and the workers now enjoy considerable benefits including unlimited sick leave, high wages and significant annual leave. “Which is fair, given the oil companies have essentially a license to print money,” said Karl.

Aaron Holroyd is an offplant panelman and control room operator and is a current delegate at the site. He says relations with the management have improved since the old days.

“The members play a critical role here; they are highly skilled and the equipment they are using is complex. You can’t just snap up one of them somewhere else, so they are valued by management.”

The delegates meet once a month with the company to sort out any problems that have arisen at the site. Delegates also meet with union delegates from oil refineries in Australia twice a year to discuss industry issues.

While the robust disputes may be a thing of the past, the members continue to reflect on the struggles that have afforded them the conditions they have today. “We have a very good memory of what happened in the past here. Sometimes people think union conditions fell from the heavens, but we remind people of the past,” said Aaron.

More than 1000 people turned out recently for a day of family fun in Mangere to celebrate the living wage.

Organised by the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand, the inaugural Whanau Day aimed to promote the living wage by engaging and interacting with the local community.

The Living Wage movement aims to encourage businesses to pay a living wage of $18.80 to workers, in order to reduce inequality and poverty in society. It is a movement supported by FIRST Union, along with many other unions, community and faith based organisations.

Living Wage advocate for FIRST Union Sio Kasipale said it was a beautiful day.

“It was a real privilege to be a part of,” he said. “The

idea was to engage with the community and union members.”

The event was held at the Manukau Rugby League grounds in Mangere on Friday January 25 and Mr Kasipale said they were surprised and very pleased at the turnout.

With around 12,000 FIRST Union members living in the South Auckland area, he was hoping that many would take part in the day.

“This issue has the potential to affect a large number of our members across all the sectors of our union. The highlight of the day for me was to see so many of our members there and to see the community come together.”

Along with free food and entertainment, courtesy of funding from the Mangere Community Board and contributions from unions, such as FIRST Union, EPMU, PSA, NZEI and SFWU, many community providers turned out in support of the movement.

Mr Kasipale said in addition to promoting the idea of a living wage, the Whanau Day highlighted to people the wide range of services available within the community, such as health and budgeting services.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown and several MPs also attended and mingled with the crowds.

Due to the success of the day, a similar event will be held in West Auckland on May 3, named West Fest.

Whanau Day celebrates the Living Wage

FIRST Union organiser Sio Kasipale and members of Skills Update Lydia Sosene, Labour Party and member of Mangere-Otahuhu local board Labour Party candidate Jenny Salesa and family with FIRST Unions Mrunal Shroff

Page 4 Union Express April 2014COMMUNITY NEWS

While Zita Smith may have stars in her eyes, the Loss Prevention Officer at The Warehouse Napier also has her feet firmly planted in the ground of her community.

Outside of her role at the Warehouse, Zita has been a Maori warden for 20 years and a co-ordinator for Ahuriri Maori Wardens. She has also fundraised for various causes, including child cancer, and has received numerous awards for her service to the community.

“It takes all of us, my whanau and your whanau to make a safer community. That was my interest in getting involved as a warden,” said Zita.

However Zita knows a bit of the glitz and glamour of fame also. Zita has made korowai (Maori cloak made of feathers) for the likes of Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Robbie Williams and Lulu! Barry Gibbs, of BeeGees fame, has also asked her to make him one, after his son Steven wore her korowai for the powhiri. The korowai takes three or four months for Zita to make.

Zita’s poem for Pike RiverZita has family in the mines in Australia, and was deeply moved by the plight of the Pike River families. She decided to put together a poem in memory of the 29 Pike River miners, and asked every staff member at Napier Warehouse to contribute one word.

“When I was putting the poem together I could feel and empathise what the families were going through,” said Zita.

The Promiseby the Napier Warehouse Inspirational Team

The nation of New Zealand will cherish twenty nine precious moments, that’s hidden deeply in the mists.

The unbearable devastating news, when tragedy came without a warning.

The honourable courage of twenty nine happy brave miners trapped in the deep coal gas mineral mine, plunged into their final dig to

complete their 10 hour shift.

That’s all they asked.

And then there was a final blast …what went wrong?

Then on the same day a fire at the rippling Pike River.

Lost beneath the broken pieces, together their broken hearts beat forever waiting for the glimpse of hope.

The 29 brave hearts lay there helpless and defenceless.

Behind the ocean of tears is the heartfelt pain which echoes through into the silent nights.

The unimaginable bitter deep cold nights, we started to think the unthinkable.

Someday we will understand the depth of sorrow.

Just let us hold you in our arms, just one more time tomorrow .

Oh how one more day can make a difference, but it’s too late, time strikes past.

Alone in the shadows the Pike 29 seek for eternity into the far beyond distant lights.

They have conquered the darkness, yet their scars, their souls still remain somewhere in the deep dark New Zealand mine.

There were many mountains they could have climbed, if only they had the time.

Sadly their strengths and love ended at the entrance to the Golden Pearly gates.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace Pike 29

Many of these stars performed at the Mission concert held in Napier every year, where Zita has worked in her capacity as Maori warden.

“We are often asked to work alongside security at big events to keep an eye on things and help people out, keep communication going,” said Zita. She has also worked in security with Lord of the Rings stars.

Before you become a warden you are trained by a Police Liaison Officer. Maori Wardens are often called upon to assist in street patrol, traffic management, community events and even funerals. “We are there to do the practical work but also to comfort whanau at funerals.”

“It’s a great feeling to be giving back to the community – it’s beautiful! It’s just aroha, giving back to the people,” said Zita.

Stars in her eyes, feet on the ground

ZITA SMITH AT HER WORKPLACE THE WAREHOUSE NAPIER

Forestry health and safety takes root

With 11 fatalities in 2013, forestry has become the most dangerous industry in the country. The work of FIRST Union and the NZ Council of Trade Unions has put this issue on the map, forcing the industry to take a good hard look at itself.

The industry-led “Independent Forestry Safety Review” will be investigating forestry safety over the next six months. FIRST Union met with the Review’s Panel on 7 March, arguing that the competitive contracting model and low union density has created a culture of low wages, long hours and fatigue, undermining safe work practices.

Over the next few months we will be holding worker meetings around the country to ensure that workers have a voice in this process. We are also assisting with the representation of four forestry families who have lost loved ones in the forest at a coronial inquest in May.

There has also been movement at the government level. WorksafeNZ has committed to an urgent review of the

Approved Code of Practice for forestry, and ACC is now developing an Injury Prevention Programme to provide clearer guidelines to workers on the ground. None of this would have happened without the union raising these issues over and over again.

In March the Labour Party proposed a comprehensive forest products policy platform including R&D grants, a Pro-Wood procurement strategy, forestry-specific health and safety regulation, and corporate manslaughter offences for negligent owners and contractors.

How can you help? 28 April is Workers’ Memorial Day, and forestry families who have lost loved ones in the bush are gathering in Wellington. We are currently raising money to help bring those families together, so head to www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/supportforestryfamilies to show your support.

Historic legal case for equal pay for women

The world of aged care is about to change as unions in the industry reach out to workers in a campaign that will change the face of the sector.

In September, aged care worker Kristine Bartlett made history when the Employment Court ruled that work largely done by women could and should be compared against work largely done by men.

In a TV3 interview Kristine summed up the case: “If care work was done by men, the pay would be a lot more.”

Now hundreds and soon thousands of other women are joining the legal case being coordinated by the two aged care unions: the Service & Food Workers Union and the NZ Nurses Organisation.

In February Terra Nova, the company Kristine works for, will go to the Court of Appeal and try to have the case overturned – a result that many consider unlikely.

Fellow aged care worker and SFWU elected official Marianne Bishop said it makes sense to target the major chains first.

“By the time the Court sits we will have cases running against all the major providers,” she said.

“That way the government and the employers will understand that Kristine’s case is the case for all carers and her story is the story of thousands of underpaid women.

Marianne says the campaign won’t stop at caregivers.“We need to be looking at the gender discrimination

against all women – in kitchen, laundry and cleaning work. And we need to look beyond aged care into other occupations.

“Kristine has opened the door. Now we need to walk right in,” Marianne said.KRISTINE BARTLETT at an equal pay rally

Fundraiser to help forestry workers familiesThe Council of Trade Unions has launched a fundraising initiative to bring together families of deceased forestry workers. Eleven forestry workers were killed at work in the forestry industry in the past year. The fundraising will assist for the costs of travel and accommodation for the families to come together on the eve of Workers Memorial Day (April 27) for a service to remember and honour their loved ones. http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/supportforestryfamilies

Decrease to minimum wage proposed by Business NZ New Zealand’s major employer representative, Business NZ, is pushing for the minimum wage to drop to $7, or 25 per cent of the national average wage. Business NZ’s submission to the annual Minimum Wage Review shows they advocated for the minimum wage to be frozen over several years until it dropped to the 25 per cent level. Further to this, the Act Party is seeking for the minimum wage to be abolished altogether, stating it causes unemployment .

Minimal increase to minimum wageThe government has increased the minimum wage from $13.75 to $14.25. Over 100,000 workers in New Zealand are on or around the minimum wage. The government has been criticised for the minimal increase in a time of growing inequality.

Proposed bill would weaken human rights The Council of Trade Unions has spoken out strongly against the government’s proposed amendments to the Human Rights Act . CTU President Helen Kelly said one of the worst aspects of the bill was to remove the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, the Race Relations and the newly established Disability Commissioner. “These Commissioners currently have a hugely valuable role to provide leadership in their areas of expertise: work which is really needed to improve equality and combat discrimination.”

Trades hall bombing memorialWellington trade unionists are to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Trades Hall bombing with function at Trades Hall on March 27. Trades Hall was the main trade union centre in Wellington at the time. No one has ever been brought to justice for the bombing, which took the life of Trades Hall caretaker Ernie Abbott. At the time of the 1984 bombing, 5:19pm, guests will observe a minute’s silence.

Page 5www.FIRSTunion.org.nz UNION MOVEMENT

National Briefs

LOGS AT PORT TARANAKI

US bank replaces tellers with video screens

Some people find it convenient to do small bank transactions online, but when you go into a bank, it’s because you want to meet someone in person, right?

You’re out of luck at the Bank of America.

At some of their branches, the bank is replacing real, in-person bank tellers with video screens.

Video tellers will spend their days in front of a camera, staring at customers through a screen.

Critics say the bank plans to pay these workers a lower wage than in-person tellers, with far fewer benefits.

This increasing trend of cost cutting and low wages in the finance industry led Bank of America worker Alexi Shalom to instigate a petition “I Can’t Do My Job Through A Video Screen” to his employer.

Over 1,000 people signed, and bank workers and supporters rallied outside the bank late last year.

FIRST Union spoke with Alexi in New York last month, during a day of action for US bank workers with support from a number of bank worker unions who are members of the international union body UNI Global.

“In our banks, there is a huge culture of pressure. There is rampant favouritism and also sexism – like female bank tellers being told to wear high heels, despite having to be standing for 10 hours a day,” Alexi said.

“Even though we had breaks, we were expected not to take them if the needs of the business would be affected.”

“I started the petition to keep these jobs in our communities. We can push back against automated tellers and create better conditions,” Alexi said.

Alexi has linked in with the Committee for Better Banks, a coalition between bank workers and local community groups advocating for a better banking system where workers are paid fairly, treated with respect, and allowed to give customers the best service possible, not just whatever generates the most profits.

Despite being some of the richest employers in the world, a Committee for Better Banks report found that one third of US bank workers rely on some form of public assistance (social welfare) because their wages are so low.

Australian workers penalty rates under threatWorkers across Australia are shocked to learn their overtime rates are under threat. The Tony Abbot - led government in Australia is looking to introduce new laws that would allow employers to strip away penalty rates for workers working nights and weekends. Australian unions are campaigning against the proposed laws which they say would significantly impact the take home pay of working families.

Nationwide strike called in South KoreaA nationwide strike has been called in Korea to challenge the worsening government crackdown on unions. Under President Park’s government strikes and protests have been met with harsh repression, with involved unions being de-registered, union buildings raided and union leaders arrested. The Korean Council of Trade Unions has called for the strike alongside broader social movements including peasants, the urban poor, small shop keepers, and students.

Qatar Airlines under fire for anti-women policiesQatar Airways forbids female staff from marrying during the first five years of their employment with the firm. Staff who become pregnant are asked to leave also. The airline is under fire from international rights groups after its policies regarding female employees were revealed. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is running a campaign against Qatar Airways over its discriminatory rules.

No Freedom at Freedom Park A Cambodian union forum to be held at Freedom Park, Phnom Penh had to be cancelled after police raided the park and blocked access. The leaders of 18 union confederations had planned to discuss issues including the continued push for a $160 minimum monthly wage and the release of 21 union activists and workers detained during a January government crackdown. Ath Thorn, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union (C.CAWDU), said after the incident “Freedom Park possibly [should allow] freedom of the workers.”

Upsurge in ‘zero-hour’ contracts A recent UK survey shows last year nearly 583,000 employees were forced to sign up to contracts that afforded them no secure hours. The contracts allow employers to hire staff without any obligation to guarantee a minimum number of working hours. They are used most in hospitality and social care sectors. Britain’s largest trade union, Unite, said the contracts created further insecurity for people already struggling to get by.

Union Express April 2014Page 6 INTERNATIONAL UNION MOVEMENT

International Briefs

US BANK WORKER ALEXI SHALOM INITIATED THE PETITION “I CAN’T DO MY JOB THROUGH A VIDEO SCREEN”

BANK OF AMERICA ARE REPLACING TELLERS WITH VIDEO SCREENS

Philippine Ambassador accused of anti-union remarks Virginia H. Benavidez, the Philippines Ambassador, has been accused of discouraging new migrant workers to contact New Zealand unions if they have problems at work.

When addressing a meeting of the Canterbury Philippine Assistance Group (CPAG) in February, Amb. Benavidez advised the Filipino migrant workers present not to approach New Zealand unions, “especially those who post stories in the NZ Herald” if they are having employment problems in New Zealand. The ambassador’s comments relate to a case taken by FIRST Union last year against E-Advance, which featured on the front page of the New Zealand Herald. FIRST Union alleged exploitation of 6 new immigrants, including two Filipinos—specifically that they were not paid any wages and were housed in city offices without access to a kitchen or showers.

“The main concern we have with the ambassador’s comments is that they have created an impression to Phillipinos that if you have an employment problem, trade unions are not the organisation to go to—which totally undermines our role in this country,” said Dennis Maga, coordinator of Unemig (Union of Migrant Workers).

Mr Maga said the union is disturbed by the ambassador bringing this attitude to New Zealand. “We believe the ambassador’s comments were ideological, given that the government in the Philippines is itself destroying unions and violating workers’ rights,” he said.

Mr Maga said the union has written to both the Philippines Ambassador and the Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs Tim Groser, but has not received a response from either.

“We are asking the Ambassador to make a public statement that they are not discouraging Filipino migrants from joining unions – they need to reiterate it’s their right to join a union. We are also asking them to make a public apology for undermining the union in front of migrants in the meeting,” said Mr Maga.

FIRST Union and UNEMIG have been responding to a growing number of cases of migrant worker exploitation in Christchurch associated with the Christchurch rebuild. These cases have included underpayment of wages, people being paid below the minimum wage and money being deducted from workers’ wages without their agreement. Unemig are looking towards establishing a Unemig branch in Christchurch.

Mr Maga encouraged workers to come forward with their stories, or if they knew of others being exploited in migrant communities. “The Unemig advocates are immigrants themselves, so they understand the situation people are in. We deal with all matters in a confidential way and help workers to make sure they won’t be deported by immigration, blackmailed or harassed by current employers.”

If you are a new migrant worker and want to join UNEMIG or find out more call 0800863477 or visit www.firstunion.org.nz/unemig

Page 7www.FIRSTunion.org.nz UNION NEWS

The fabric of our union

Textile and clothing industry union delegates have had their first-ever national conference.

Delegates from all over New Zealand met in Auckland last week to discuss the critical issues facing the industry.

“Textile and clothing has been hit. We have had 40,000 jobs lost in the past 4 years in manufacturing. This conference was a chance to bring delegates together and not just have a talk-fest but plan what we want to do about it,” said Paul Watson, sector secretary for Textile, Clothing and Baking for FIRST Union.

Raymond Maddock knows exactly what it’s like to have the prospect of job loss hanging over him and his colleagues. Raymond works for Summit wool spinners in Oamaru. “They called for voluntary redundancies because of the way the market was. People were so scared they were going to lose their job at any moment,” Raymond said. Summit was eventually sold to Godfrey Hirst last year.

The conference also discussed the need for better training and conditions in the industry.

Josephine Pirihi-McGuinniety works at Pacific Brands who manufacture safety, defence and work wear. One of the key issues affecting them is low wages. “We have just negotiated an increase which takes us to about $15 an hour, but we really need the living wage of $18.40,” she said.

Raymond said it was useful getting to network with other delegates about the common issues facing them all, and discuss what was needed to improve the industry.

“The government needs to invest in trades like textiles. John Key is investing in high risk companies like dairy, oil, gas and tourism. Why doesn’t he invest in education, health and keeping our jobs here?” said Raymond.

RAYMOND MADDOCK & JOSEPHINE PIRIHI-MCGUINNIETY: delegates at the Textile Conference

On the frontline challenging poverty Auckland Action Against Poverty

Mangere Budgeting and Family Support Services

While bosses salaries go sky high, workers and beneficiaries do not have enough to live on and child poverty is on the increase. It’s enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed and hopeless. However some of the stories we don’t hear are those of individuals and groups taking a stand on these issues. We interviewed four groups that are playing their role in the frontline for better lives for workers, beneficiaries, their families and their communities.

Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP) provides advocacy and support to beneficiaries, the unemployed and low-paid workers who are dealing with Work and Income.

They are also an active campaigning group on issues such as jobs, welfare and poverty in New Zealand.

“We firmly believe there is a need for us to be actively and loudly challenging the National government, whose neoliberal economic agenda enhances those in already privileged situations and endangers those on low incomes,” says Alistair Russell, one of AAAP’s coordinators.

Nadia Abu-Shanab, another co-ordinator, says beneficiaries need advocacy because of the culture of intimidation and harassment within Work and Income.

“People are being told outright they’re not entitled to things they are, so although we shouldn’t have to advocate, the reality is someone’s chances of getting rights and entitlements are much higher when they have an advocate by their side.”

As an example of this, AAAP recently assisted a young solo mother who had four children. “This person’s benefit was suspended arbitrarily, and upon going to Work and Income to tell them she had no money for food for her children, they denied her even a food grant,” says Nadia. “This is despite the fact she was entitled to a food grant and that her benefit had been suspended, wrongly, without any communication. Without support, her and her four children would have no food for the week.”

Rangimarie Smith is a volunteer for AAAP and has had direct experience with Work and Income, as well as representing others in appointments. “I get more angry every day in the way we are being treated by Work and Income,” she says. “We are already struggling so much trying to make ends meet and then you go in there and get treated like this.”

“They keep us down there,” says fellow volunteer Cortez Walters. “The harder they make it for people to get an income to further themselves for the better, it impacts on them; they can’t step out financially.”

To support or volunteer for AAAP or to seek their assistance visit www.aaap.org.nz

Budgeting & Family Support Services, based in Mangere, South Auckland are not your average budgeting service. As well as providing budgeting advice and food parcels, the service takes pride on speaking out on the issues facing low-income families to the wider public.

“What we try to do is empower people to find their voice, so that they learn and acquire the skills to become more self-sufficient,” said their CEO Darryl Evans.

“Traditionally, unemployed people have been the biggest users of Budgeting Services however since the recession. We now see people from all walks of life—from beneficiaries through to paid workers; especially those on lower salaries/wages such as factory workers,” said Daryl. The service is also increasingly seeing a lot of

pensioners who are on NZ Superannuation. “Sadly too many are struggling week by week, and so turn up for support with budgeting and/or food parcels.”

Daryl has appeared on numerous panels and news shows, and run workshops educating the public on the realities of inequality in New Zealand and what measures might be taken to prevent it.

“Without a doubt, low-wages and high rental charges on private accommodation are major contributing factors to poverty in New Zealand,” says Daryl. Some of the methods to combat poverty he proposes include teaching financial literacy in all schools, lifting the minimum wage to a Livable Wage, capping private rental

costs to ensure affordable housing and making credit more difficult to get. “Many sign up for debt which they truly cannot afford, and so quickly the default charges are applied which multiplies the problem tenfold.”

The service receives approximately 50% of their funding from the Ministry of Social Development; the balance has to be gathered from individual donations or through philanthropic funding streams. “We need to secure enough funding to keep our doors open; it’s a constant struggle for us.”

To support Mangere Budgeting or utilize their services go to www.mangerebudgeting.org.nz

Page 10 Union Express April 2014FEATURE ARTICLES

AAAP PROTEST: AAAP march down Queen Street

MANGERE BUDGETING: The team at Mangere Budgeting

AAAP ADVOCATES: from left to right Nadia Abu-Shanab, Alistair Russell, Cortez Walters , Sherrick Hulme

MANGERE BUDGETING: Mangere Budgetting CEO Daryl Evans with First Unions Maxine Gay and Robert Reid

On the frontline challenging poverty TAMAKI HOUSING GROUP – DEFEND GLEN INNES (G.I)

Union power at Hastings Pak n Save

While bosses salaries go sky high, workers and beneficiaries do not have enough to live on and child poverty is on the increase. It’s enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed and hopeless. However some of the stories we don’t hear are those of individuals and groups taking a stand on these issues. We interviewed four groups that are playing their role in the frontline for better lives for workers, beneficiaries, their families and their communities.

In September 2011, tenants in 156 state homes in Glen Innes received letters telling them they would be evicted from their homes with no guarantee or right of return to the community. The Tamaki Housing Group–Defend G.I!–was formed to resist the evictions.

“We started because there was no consultation; there was no meeting with the tenants and so this has come as a huge shock for a lot of people. We’ve been protesting ever since,” says Tere Campbell, a member of Tamaki Housing Group.

Like Tere, many of the residents of Glen Innes have lived and raised children there for decades.

“My adult children’s friends are friends they’ve known

from primary. This is G.I; everybody knows everybody. You know someone is looking out for you; that’s the unity that is here,” says Tere. “Now these people are being transplanted to other communities where they are the outsiders.”

“They have been loyal tenants for all these years, and then that’s how the state repays their loyalty—by kicking them out? They’ve paid the rent even when it increases, they’ve looked after the homes, and lo and behold, thank you very much and out you go. This would not happen in an affluent community.”

However, the community have decided to not just accept the evictions. “We have not let one house go

without us; we don’t go down without a fight,” says Tere.Tamaki Housing Group has staged numerous

occupations of the houses at the point of eviction. “Once we know the eviction date we head down there and occupy, we don’t budge,” says Tere.

The group have also run fundraisers and public meetings, and even set up a community garden.

“We will keep on fighting because it frightens me to think my grandchildren could become homeless.”

To find out more and support Tamaki Housing Group visit www.facebook.com/DEFENDGI

Six weeks after union organisers first went to Hastings, Pak n’ Save workers there have achieved a big lift in pay and conditions.

FIRST Union Foodstuffs organiser Bill Bradford said the union decided to begin a membership drive in the Hastings, Napier and Tamatea Pak n’ Save stores as a result of emails he received last year.

“Workers at these stores were telling me very sad stories,” he said. “Many of them were on minimum wage. They told me about rosters being changed and hours cut without them having any say. Workloads kept increasing and the employers seemed to think they could order them to take annual leave whenever they chose to.”

At the end of January a team of organisers spent five days talking to workers in the three supermarkets resulting in a combined membership that now stands at 165.

Hastings delegate Ann Mason said she got an overwhelming rush when she first talked to the union.

“I thought here is somebody who can save us, who can organise us and show us what to do,” she said.

Fellow delegate Taha Morrell had the same reaction. “We joined up because now someone would be behind us who would fight our cause,” she said.

Nearly 80 workers signed up at the Hastings Pak n Save and within a few weeks claims meetings had been held and bargaining had begun for a collective agreement.

Ann and Taha, along with night fill worker Andrew Horan, were on the bargaining team which eventually achieved a very good settlement (see box for details).

“It was daunting at first, but then I started to get angry that we were supposed to be grateful to the employer just for having a job,” Ann said. “We are grateful to have a job, but we need to be treated with respect as well.”

All three are very happy with the final settlement.“I can now afford to save for my wedding,” said

Andrew whose wage will increase from the minimum to $16.80 an hour under the new agreement.

“It was just amazing to see the reaction on people’s faces at the ratification meetings,” said Ann. “They were just over the moon.”

“It was awesome to achieve so much in such a short time,” said Taha.

Bill Bradford said the lesson from the Hawke’s Bay Pak n’ Save experience is that if enough workers decide to join the union and work together, things can improve in any workplace. He said the union plans to repeat this process in a number of Pak n’ Save stores this year.

Key gains in Hastings Pak n Save collective agreement

The minimum rate of pay for all workers with one year’s service will increase to $15.80 this year and $16.20 next year. Previously many workers were on the minimum wage of $13.75. For these workers this amounts to a 15 percent increase in pay.

Rates for supervisors and tradespeople will be $18, which is also a substantial increase in many cases.

A night fill allowance of $1 an hour will be paid.Any union members paid above these rates at

present gets a two percent increase now and a two and half per cent increase next year.

Sick leave will increase from five days per year to six days per year for workers with 18 months service.

A redundancy agreement is in place.

Page 11www.FIRSTunion.org.nz FEATURE ARTICLES

TAMAKI HOUSING: Tamaki Housing Group member Tere Campbell DEFEND G.I. : Tamaki housing group members protest.

Hastings Pak’N’Save: from left to right Andrew Horan, Taha Morrell and Ann Mason.

0800 TO FIRST (0800 863 477)

Tourist Flats & Chalets $80 for 1 night, per family

Cabins: $65 for 1 night, per family

Power & Tent Sites $15 for 1 night, per family

Daily Rate:

Tourist Flats & Chalets

Extended Stays

$320 Family to stay 5 nights & pay for 4 nights

$260 Family to stay 5 nights & pay for 4 nights

$60 Family to stay 5 nights & pay for 4 nights

$400 Family to stay 7 nights & pay for 5 nights

$325 Family to stay 7 nights & pay for 5 nights

$75 Family to stay 7 nights & pay for 5 nights

Cabins:

Power & Tent Sites

Ngongotaha Wood Trust,Affordable Willowhaven Holiday Park

Affordable Willowhaven is a union affiliated holiday park on lake Rotorua.Rates for all accommodation and Holiday Park charges effective from 1st July 2013

• Power & Tent sites rates for the Union & members are not discounted at the “Daily Rate” as the charge is for a family, not individuals.• To receive the discounted rate for any classification proof of current membership must be produced. The manager may decline the discount without proof of membership.• Chalets, Tourist Flats & Cabins have bedding linen provided. Towels are available on request at $2.00 each

Rates for Union & Members apply to the following;

• FIRST Union • Amalgamated Workers Union• Waterfront Workers Union • Seafarers Union• CFMEU Forest & Furnishing Division, Australia

• Where a union member makes the booking for a family, charge the member the family rate, a family means an adult couple plus their children. If it’s an extended group with additional adults and or children either into that unit or a second unit charge either the unit rate or $15.00/adult & $5.00/child at the Manager’s discretion. [how busy, time of year etc]

• Conference center hire for all users is $175.00 a day, to use the smaller partion area only it is $75.00 a day. Broadband is available in the conference center, white board, overhead projector, microphone and associated equipment. Arrange with the manager for its use. A $50.00 bond is required prior to use which will be refunded after inspection by the Manager at his discretion.

• Radio internet facility available on site.

• Other camp charges: Towel hire at $2.00 each

• Dogs are allowed in the camp if prior contact and approval from the manager has been given, the decision is in his hands whether to allow or not. Dogs or other pets are not permitted in the chalets, tourist flats or cabins at any time and dogs must be on a leash at all times.

• Smoking is not permitted in any of the accommodation or amenities or conference center at any time. This is a requirement of the camp and compliance with appropriate legislation.

The call from employers is often for ‘labour flexibility’, meaning the ability to schedule workers when they want. Employers often say this provides them with the certainty of getting staffing levels right, but certainty for who? Such arrangements do not guarantee enough hours for workers to pay the bills, or an ability to schedule regular community/sporting commitments. Such uncertainty of hours takes many forms; forever changing rosters, being on call, relying on extra shifts so that you can make ends meet.

In recent times there has been a new development: the zero-hour contract. Zero-hour contracts guarantee no hours of employment but require workers to remain available for certain periods (e.g. Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm). They are punitive types of casual work

where workers are expected to be available without any certainty of hours.

Zero-hour contracts are increasingly common in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Macpac tried to implement zero-hour contracts with many of its workers last year, but were stopped by a joint campaign between their staff and the Council of Trade Unions.

FIRST Union is committed to ensuring that zero-hour contracts are kept out of our agreements and do not become part of the New Zealand employment relations landscape. We will organise against such contracts and take the struggle to the courts when necessary. If you or anyone you know is affected by a zero-hour contract, please contact the union office.

Hungry for Hours? Legal column – Oliver Page 12 Union Express April 2014YOUR RIGHTS - LEGAL

OLIVER CHRISTELLER: Legal organiser

For the second year in a row, FIRST Union has been able to cut the “automatic” increase to its union fees.

A number of years ago, the union’s National Conference decided that fees should automatically increase each year by the average percentage increase that the union achieved in bargaining. This was done to ensure a small and gradual increase in fees rather than the previous arrangement of a big increase every few years.

The average increase achieved in bargaining this year was 2.04% per cent. Under the increase formula, this would have seen a 5 cent increase on the bottom fee and a 15 cent increase on the top fee.

However, in acknowledgement of the difficulty many of our members have in making ends meet, the union’s National Executive approved an increase of just 5 cents on all fee levels.

The Finance Sector (formerly Finsec) fee has been frozen for the 3rd year at $17.85 a fortnight for those earning over $27,000 p.a. This extends the freezing of this fee for another year beyond that agreed in merger agreement between Finsec and the NDU.

FIRST Union also has a number of special fees, especially for newly organised jobs until their first Collective Agreement is reached. These fees will go up by different amounts on 1 May to bring them up to or closer to the standard fee.

Finally, in order to assist members on a lower income, the National Executive has asked workplaces with higher wages (e.g. more than $20 per hour) to consider paying a higher fee. This is already happening at Panpac Pulp and Wood Mill. Other “higher wage” sites will be asked to consider a higher fee over the next few weeks.

The standard fees for FIRST Union in 2014 will be:

FIRST Union Fee Bands [ Hours Worked] New union fees from

36 hours or more $7.45 per week

26-35 hours $5.65 per week

15-25 hours $5.10 per week

11-14 hours $3.80 per week

1-10 hours $2.45 per week

Associate members includes UNEMIG $2.45 per week minimum

Page 13www.FIRSTunion.org.nz UNION BUSINESS

Fee increase cut for second year in a row:5 cents per week increase for 2014

Government ignores referendum at its

own peril Opinion piece – Edward Miller

ED MILLER: strategic advisor at FIRST Union

The results of the 2013 citizens-initiated referendum on asset sales indicates the resounding opposition amongst New Zealanders for the partial privatisation of our state assets.

Of the 1,368,925 votes cast, 67.3% of voters voted no to the question “Do you support the government selling up to 49% of Meridian Energy, Might River Power, Genesis, Solid Energy and Air New Zealand?”

Citizens-initiated referenda in New Zealand are not binding, which means the government does not have to implement the policies. And indeed, the government has continued its work in selling off its shares in Air New Zealand and Genesis Energy.

The Genesis float demonstrates the government’s new-found desperation, enticing investors with a one-to-15 loyalty bonus share sweetener. As if this wasn’t enough, new figures show that only 9% of the ownership will be reserved for “mum and dad” investors, with the other 40% up for grabs allocated to institutional investors - in other words, large capital funds.

Prime Minister John Key slammed the costs of the referendum as a waste of taxpayer money. However, its $9 million price tag pales in comparison to the $100 million cost of the asset sales programme.

Yet this National government’s decision to ignore the will of the people indicates how arrogant and out-of-touch they truly are. The government ignores the results of this referendum at its own peril.

Democracy is not something that only takes place once every three years. We fight for democracy in our workplaces everyday, and we need to continue to fight for democratic government.

With an election on the horizon, it’s critical that we keep this in mind. Despite the resounding ‘No’ vote in the referendum, the number of votes was extremely low – only 45.07% of registered voters. This was the dry-run, the warm-up for the main event.

We have to turn this around. Our election strategy this year is all about ensuring that people actually get out and vote, and you’ll be hearing more about this over the coming year. We trust New Zealanders to make the right decision.

Page 14 Union Express April 2014PERSPECTIVES

Vox Pop: Question: : Some economists are talking up our economy, with one even describing it as a ‘rock star’ economy. But how are workers doing?

Fabrianne Holtham – Countdown Upper Hutt

I’m working class, and struggling to pay my bills. Me and my partner both work. We don’t live extravagant lifestyles. If the economy was better we’d have a bit more money in the bank.

Angelina Woods – BNZ Contact CentreUnemployment might be down, but the working conditions for employees remains the same – for most people it’s still hard work and low pay.

Oona Stanley – Countdown PetoneWe’ve just had to go through the whole reduction of hours process. So if you ask anyone at Countdown – then no, the economy is not so good!

Jesse Wilson – Bunnings Lyall BayIf the economy is improving it will mean more work – we’re going to need more hands on deck in stores to do the work.

Alfred Fidow – Bidvest PoriruaWe’re quite happy with the wage increase we got last year. Our starting rate is quite decent. (But in general) bosses would rather save the money from improved economy than give workers a fairer share.

Work pressure, heavy workloads, understaffing, casualisation, lack of hours, unpaid overtime, and unrealistic targets were top of the list of workplace problems at the FIRST Union Delegate Forums, held in March and early April.

In the end, all these issues come down to one thing. Employers are trying to extract even more profit from our labour by increasing work intensity. They are trying to divert even more of the surplus value that workers create into the pockets of those owning and running the companies.

While workload issues have been mentioned in forums over previous years, it seems that the problem has reached breaking point for a huge number of our members this year.

Our Delegate Forums noted that, although wages are still too low, FIRST Union has done reasonably well in securing above-average wage increases for most of our members over the past few years. However, while our wages have gone up, most of our members are reporting huge increases in workloads and targets or cuts to hours of work. For many of our members, a negotiated wage increase has been eliminated by the employer through the cutting of paid hours. It has often left workers worse off with take-home pay going down rather than up. Adding insult to injury, employers then expect unpaid work to be done to “finish a job”.

I have made a commitment to the Delegate Forums that FIRST Union will develop a union-wide campaign on workload and hours issues during this year. We will do this at many levels. At the workplace level, we will make stronger efforts to ensure clauses in our Collective Agreements for better hours of work. We will be more vigilant in opposing cuts to the hours of our members. We will monitor and take action over increases to workloads or targets. We will make workload and its associated stress a health and safety issue.

We will raise this as a social issue. It is a public health issue. It is a human rights issue. It is a political issue. We will make sure that political parties take up this issue in the forthcoming election campaign.

This issue is a key part of our Decent Work programme, but above all is about respect and dignity for workers. As one delegate said at the forums, “We just want to be treated as human beings.”

From the General Secretary: Workload issues top of FIRST Union delegate agendas.

FIRST UNION SECRETARY ROBERT REID

John Key has announced the Election date, which will be Saturday 20 September; in six months’ time.

FIRST Union will be working hard to get its members who are not enrolled to enrol, and will encourage them to vote.

FIRST believes that the political parties that support workers and people on the margins of society would be the most practical political parties to vote for. However, the CTU and FIRST Union campaign is not going to be based around encouraging citizens who to vote for, but around changing the government.

879,000 eligible voters did not vote at the 2011 elections. Maori non-voters had the highest percentage

of non-voters at 25.9%, followed by Pacific Island non-voters at 25.4%. Therefore to have a chance at a change of government the job of FIRST Union is to get people enrolled and out to vote. If 150,000 of those non-voters had voted for a change of government in 2011, the current National government would not be in power.

FIRST Union will be appealing to its membership to enrol and vote, and will encourage its members to get their whanau to do the same. With our members’ help, we will hopefully be able to lock this government up and throw away the KEY.

Nga mihi koutou katoa

Syd Keepa

From the President: Elections

FIRST UNION PRESIDENT SYD KEEPA

The caption competition winner is:

William Andzue,

who works at:Pak n’ Save Gisborne

Each row contains the number 1 to

9, each column must contain the

numbers 1 to 9 and each set of 3 x 3

boxes must contain the numbers

1to 9.

solution at:http://www.sudokutoday.com/

medium-sudoku-puzzle-i85-

answers.html

solution at:http://www.sudokutoday.com/

difficult-sudoku-puzzle-i85-

answers.html

GIFT VOUCHER CAPTION COMPETITION

LAST ISSUES WINNING CAPTION COMPETITION

SMO|KO|DU SUDOKU (MEDIUM)

SMO|KO|DU SUDOKU (DIFFICULT) Send your photo captions to: email Tali.Williams@firstunion.org.nz or post to Private Bag 92904, Auckland. The winner receives two gift vouchers.

We’ve all seen the television shows – people competing to be the best baker, cook, chef and so on. But on these shows, the contestants of course are all fully aware of what they are getting themselves in to.

Not so for Stratford supermarket baker Amanda Garner, who thought her trip to Wellington late last year was simply to complete her apprenticeship. Instead she returned home with the Bakery Supreme Award at the annual Foodstuffs Training Awards.

“Because I was doing the apprenticeship, we all ended up going to Wellington for the completion of our bakery level 3,” she said.

“I didn’t realise at the time I was put forward for the award. I was pretty stunned to start off, I can tell you that. It took a bit to sink in – but it’s all good.”

Her workmates were pretty pleased too. “Yeah they were all really supportive and all the rest.”

Amanda has been baking since 2009 when she started at New World Stratford. “I do mainly bread at work. I’ve also made bread at home, and do cakes and pretty much everything.”

Amanda has enjoyed her apprenticeship. “Yeah it was good. It was meant to be two years paper work and a year’s service but I did it in one year – because it’s what I enjoyed doing and what was in the apprenticeship was what I do at work anyway.”

“The maths stuff was a bit hard, but I just went over the info in the booklet and did it a few times and pretty much nailed it.”

Naturally, we were dying to know if Amanda would reveal any trade secrets. Her response: a helpful caution against putting the temperature too high. “For a cake, bake it at 160. If you bake any higher you get a peak in the middle, and it won’t sit flat.”

Amanda Garner - Sure to RisePage 15www.FIRSTunion.org.nz

“Hey Opo, no moon, no blinkin’ nets eh!”

AMANDA GARNER: Winner of the Bakery Supreme Award at the annual Foodstuffs Training Awards.

© Fairfax Media / Taranaki Daily News. Reproduced with permission.

FUN PAGE

Dunedin Monday March 31Meeting 1: Otago University (exact venue TBC) - 3.00pm <> 4:50pm Meeting 2: McMillan Room Community House - 6.30pm

Timaru Tuesday April 1Caroline Bay Community Lounge - 7.30 p.m.

Ashburton Wednesday April 2Hotel Ashburton 11/25 Racecourse Rd - 7.30 p.m.

Golden Bay Monday April 14Community Centre 88 Commercial Street - 7.30 p.m.

Nelson The 2013 Roger Award Event Tuesday April 15Lambretta’s Café 204 Hardy Street - 7.00 p.m.

Blenheim Wednesday April 16 Wesley Centre Lounge 3 Alfred Street - 7.30 p.m.

Waiheke Sunday May 4Artworks Community Theatre 2 Korora Road Oneroa - 1.00 p.m.

Auckland Monday May 5Trades Hall 147 Great North Road Grey Lynn - 7.30 p.m.

Whangarei Tuesday May 6Old Library 7 Rust Avenue - 7.30 p.m.

Kaitaia Wednesday May 7Kauri Room Far North REAP Centre Puckey Avenue - 6.30 p.m.

Auckland Thursday May 9 Pacific Media Centre Sir Paul Reeves Building Auckland University of Technology - 4.00 p.m.

Hamilton Monday May 12 Trade Union Centre 34 Harwood Street - 7.00 p.m.

Thames Wednesday May 14Grahamstown Hall 760 Pollen Street Thames - 7.00 p.m.

Waihi Thursday May 15Memorial Hall Support Room Seddon Avenue - 7.30 p.m.

Whakatane & Opotiki Monday May 19 Meeting 1: Lyceum Club Rooms 56 Domain Road, Whakatane - 2.00 p.m.Meeting 2: Opotiki Art Heritage Hall Opotiki - 7.30 p.m.

Gisborne Tuesday May 20 Hearing Association Rooms Palmerston Road - 7.30 p.m.

Clive Wednesday May 21 Clive Hall Main Road - 7.00 p.m.

Palmerston North Thursday May 22Sound & Vision Space Palmerston North Public LibraryGeorge Street entrance - 7.00 p.m.

Whanganui Monday May 26 Josephite Retreat Centre 14 Hillside Terrace - 7.00 p.m.

Paekakariki Tuesday May 27St Peter’s Hall Beach Road - 7.00 p.m.

Wellington Wednesday May 28St Johns Church Hall 170 Willis Street - 6.00 p.m.

Otaki Thursday May 29Adrian Leason's Barn 38 Bennetts Rd - 7.30 p.m.

Sponsored by

WHO’S RUNNING THE SHOW?And in whose interests?We want an independent Aotearoa, based on policies of economic, military and political self-reliance, using Aotearoa’s resources for the benefit of the people of Aotearoa.

This country needs people power to let the world know that Aotearoa is not for sale!

Murray Horton, spokesperson of the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aoteroa (CAFCA) and Anti Bases Campaign (ABC), will speak on:

Page 16 Union Express April 2014NOTES/SERVICES

Out and About

SMITH & DAVIES: Organiser Barry Donaldson talks to a Smith & Davies truck driver about joining the union. FIRST Union has started a recruitment campaign in Smith & Davies. In the first 2 days of the campaign 45 truck drivers signed up – two thirds of the companys Northland operation.

DELEGATES AT THE INAUGURAL FIRST UNION TEXTILE CONFERENCE