Last month the Green Party signed a
Memorandum of Understanding
with the
Service and Food Workers Union – Nga Ringa Tota
. The MoU is a commitment between us and one of New Zealand’s largest unions to forge allegiances in order to work towards a fair and sustainable New Zealand society.
The election of a National-led Government has sparked newfound employer militancy, and public sector employers are among the most militant. Finance Minister Bill English announced in September that rising Government debt meant the state sector would face a funding freeze for up to five years, and many public sector employers are consequently refusing to negotiate on even modest pay claims on behalf of the most poorly paid employees.
These include hospital orderlies, cleaners and kitchen staff who earn as little as $14.62 an hour, and school support staff, teacher aides and librarians, some of whom earn as little as $12.94 an hour. Many of these workers are represented by the SFWU with whom we have signed the MoU. Others are represented by the
PSA
and by the
NZEI
.
And the unions are fighting back on behalf of low paid public service employees. On Friday 27th they have organised nationwide lunchtime (12.30pm – 1.30pm) rallies to protest against the public sector wage freeze and call for a fair deal for low-paid workers.
I’m planning to go along to support the workers at the Auckland rally, and hope as many frogblog readers as possible can get to your local protest. Here’s a full list of rally locations:
Kaitaia - Cnr Redan/Commerce St Whangarei - Main mall in the centre of the town – Cameron/James St Cnr Auckland - Methodist Church on Queen Street Thames - Outside the Civic Centre on Mary Street Hamilton - Garden Place, Victoria St Taumarunui - Next to library on “One Way Street” Rotorua - Cnr of Arawa St and Ranolf St Taupo - State Highway One – near Council Buildings Tauranga - Red Square at bottom of town – Devonport St/The Strand/Spring St Cnr Whakatane - The Strand/Commerce St (near roundabout) Gisborne - Cnr of Gladstone Rd/Reads Quay (near the bridge) Hastings - St Johns Hall, Southland Road New Plymouth - Meet between centre city and Devon St (If wet: St Josephs Church) Hawera - Salvation Army Hall Regent St, marching up High St to Chester Burrows office Whanganui - Majestic Square on Victoria Ave Palmerston North - PSA House King Street and then march to Square Levin - Adventure Park Pavilion, Main Highway and then march down main street Wairarapa - Old Folks Hall Cole Street Wellington - Meet @ Loaves & Fishes 1100-1200, then go to Parliament Nelson - Top of Trafalgar Street Westport - Outside Hospital Greymouth - Outside Grey Base Hospital, High Street Christchurch - Victoria Square (march from TUC) Ashburton - Checkerboard Town Centre Timaru - Town Square cnr Strathallan and Strafford Sts Dunedin - Octagon (march from Hospital) Invercargill - Cnr Tay and Dee Streets