Unite Union  delegates from McDonald’s stores in Auckland meet to discuss claims and elect delegates for the 2013 collective employment agreement negotiations. At the end of the meeting they have a bit of a practice session for what may be required to get a decent contract this year.

The changes have actually left the economy more deeply in debt than ever before. The only change is that the overseas debt is “private” rather than held by the government under a controlled currency and exchange rate system. But in the end working people will be paying the bill. This question is dealt with very [...]

Published by AIL NZ as a service to the labour movement National Labour News Creation of a Crown stand-alone health and safety agency, a key recommendation of the Royal Commission on Pike River, received universal praise from New Zealand’s unions. “Creating a stand-alone agency will also give health and safety the more singular status it [...]

“The decision by the Government to raise the minimum wage by just 25 cents from $13.50 an hour to $13.75 – less than 1.9 percent – does nothing to address the increasingly obvious needs of low paid workers”, says Peter Conway, Council of Trade Unions Secretary. CTU Secretary Peter Conway The minimum wage is inadequate [...]

“Fast food employers will use the miserly 25 cent rise in the minimum wage to restrict thepay increases for thousands of workers” said Unite Union National Director Mike Treen. “Over the next few weeks we will be beginning negotiations for workers in McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks and Burger King. These companies have about 20,000 [...]

By Matt McCarten Email Matt Except for Prime Minister John Key, does anyone disagree that our current Minister of Education is becoming even more of a liability than she was before he decided not to sack her? She’s out of her depth. When you didn’t think it could get worse for her, three Christchurch intermediate [...]

LIVING WAGE CAMPAIGN Tapu Misa: Moral pressure drives fight for living wage http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10865952 Living Wage Campaign Launch 2012 Matt McCarten: Living wage a moral entitlement http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10865825 Helen Kelly: Working for a Living http://thestandard.org.nz/working-for-a-living/ Battle for a living wage: Campaigner says mindset shift needed to accompany monetary leap http://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10865279 Chris Trotter: Low-paid staff need solidarity http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/chris-trotter/8320836/Low-paid-staff-need-solidarity [...]

UNION ORGANISERS WANTED FOR SOUTH ISLAND (1) AND SOUTH AUCKLAND/WAIKATO (1) Unite Union is looking to employ two full time organisers. Both organisers will have a primary repsonsibility for visiting, recruiting and representing workers in the fast food industry, cinemas, hotels and security. Organisers need to have some experience as a union delegate, advocate for [...]

LIVING WAGE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED Battle for a living wage: A Kiwi bloke can survive on $19 an hour … yeah right http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10864565 Actor Grae Burton, depends on contract work rather than regular wages, especially since the Hobbit law defined actors as independent contractors. Photo  Greg Bowker Redundancy leaves truckies stressed http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10864567 The pay you need [...]

We are now entering bargaining for a new agreement. Come to a meeting to discuss your claims: Wednesday 20 February 5pm Thursday 21 February 5pm Thursday 21 February 6.15pm Please choose only one meeting, staff who attend a meeting inside their shift will be paid for 2 hours and need to R.S.V.P to their Manager [...]

Three of the workers made redundant by Events Cinemas at Highland Park with only two weeks redundancy pay were delighted by the support on the picket tonight outside (and inside) Events Cinemas in Queen Street. (Please help me tag pics). http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151476660137889.547389.596362888&type=1

WORKRIGHTS NZ CTU: Wages need a boost http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1302/S00126/wages-need-a-boost.htm Christchurch teachers take a lead, government’s education plans can be defeated http://workersparty.org.nz/2013/01/29/christchurch-teachers-take-a-lead-governments-education-plans-can-be-defeated/ Working is a two way deal – unionist http://www.nzherald.co.nz/workplace/news/article.cfm?c_id=74&objectid=10862995&ref=rss Event Cinemas gets a Visit from the Union http://unitenews.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/event-cinemas-gets-a-visit-from-the-union/ Event are Miserables- Justice for the Highland Park cinema workers- Rally this Thursday at 5pm http://unitenews.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/event-are-miserables-justice-for-the-highland-park-cinema-workers-rally-this-thursday-at-5pm/ Port [...]

END InSECURITY Campaign Update Unite Union launched a campaign on December 5th called “End InSecurity” with a view to draw attention to serious issues within the security industry in New Zealand including: -Low pay (close to min wage) -No job security (moved from site to site) -Insecure hours (20 one week, 70 the next) -Lack [...]

Event Cinemas have laid off Highland park workers, many with long service of 8, 12 and 16 years length, and paid them only 2 weeks pay. Workers in Aotearoa have no basic rights to redundancy protected by law, as most other workers do in developed countries. How they have been treated could happen to us [...]

Joe Carolan accompanies a delegation of workers on a visit to the offices of Event Cinemas in Greys Avenue… with interesting results. Lorna speaks at the Event Cinema Office Protest Scott Talks about How Unite Union Helps it Members