Trade Unions Forum

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Comment by Dr Keith Johnson on August 9, 2010 at 2:12pm

Your members may enjoy my current front page Blogpost 'Labouring under a Delusion' at www.kjohnsonnz.blogspot.com

Comment by Pat Bolster on April 13, 2010 at 5:12pm

MAY DAY [International Workers Day] is nearly upon us. It will be celebrated in virtually every country in the world.
In Wellington there are several events, including a Working Women's Seminar from 9:00 a.m. at the St John's Conference Centre on the cnr of Willis & Dixon Streets, but the largest event will be the May Day Dinner on the Friday night, attended by over 200 trade unionists and Labour Party people. Tickets are available from your union, or via your Electorate Committee.

Comment by Giarne Clarke Harrison on August 4, 2009 at 5:06pm

I am reading with interest all the discussion about unions influence, impact and support. Maureen, I would hope that there are many "union" discussions happening at your workplace, and the workplace of your family member that aren't necessarily run by the union. Firstly, any discussion about terms and conditions of employment is loosely a 'union' discussion without it being a full blown Union Meeting. If we all sat around and waited for our union to run a meeting to go to or asked us what our issues were then it wouldn't be very democratic either.
In my experience unions are doing the best they can to assist where they can but they also need invites from union members to visit the site, ideas from their members about what sort of meetings/information sessions they would like run and sometimes it would be awesome as a union organiser to be rung up by a delegate or a worker to say that they had a great discussion about xyz and would like follow up from their union field officer or organiser.
But this is ideal world stuff, its hard yakka for people to get involved, it is great they are a member to begin with.
Also really interested in the discussion about passing on union agreements to non-members. Its really tough to have a point of difference and show some "whats in it for me" outcome for people if collective agreements are passed on to anyone - point of case in the union I work for - NZEI. Non-members often say to us why should they bother paying for terms and conditions they get anyway, sometimes being strong for the collective and helping vulnerable workers with their issues isn't the most attractive reason for people to join a union - as much as I would love it to be so!

Comment by Ross Henderson on August 4, 2009 at 3:43pm

Section 26 of the Employment Relations Act allows for two 2 hour paid stopwork meetings to allow members the ability to discuss union business.
The EPMU (previously the Engineers Union) normally utilises that right.
This time last year they held "Work Rights" meetings (using section 26 legislation) throughout the country and at about 26 different locations.
Most employers have never been supportive of unions.If they didn't have to deal with us there wouldn't be any tears shed by them.

Comment by Maureen Mildon on August 4, 2009 at 10:19am

correction - ECA

Comment by Maureen Mildon on August 4, 2009 at 10:17am

Ross,
In today's environment with employers not supportive of unions, union meetings at work do not happen. The union magazine does not list any regular union meetings in our area which my family member could attend. They have contact with their delegate and are able to phone union if needed. Otherwise not that democratic internal process. Since ERA workplace a put up and shut up attitude.

Comment by George Laird on July 29, 2009 at 10:07pm

Got the minutes from the Wellington Industrial Branch this could be a way to get union members involved in the party. Good stuff folks

Comment by George Laird on July 12, 2009 at 9:14pm

I agree the old ways arn't working people don't take ownership of their union, they forget that for their union to be strong they have to be active, they need to organise meetings or participate when they are called. But hey what can I say I can't make it to an LEC meeting once a month looks like the same problem I have not prioritised the Party as I should?

Comment by Ross Henderson on July 9, 2009 at 9:46am

Hello Maureen.What are you saying?

Comment by Maureen Mildon on July 9, 2009 at 8:35am

The old ways don't work anymore. A member of my family has belonged to the engineers' union. Locally no meetings for members outside of workplace, especially for those in hostile workplaces.

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