Activist #1, 2015
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Rail & Maritime Transport Union Volume 2015 # 1 Published Regularly - ISSN 1178-7392 (Print & Online) 30 January 2015 ‘The overtime ban has had a big impact on HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND the port’s operations, leading to closure of YOURS! the container terminal at night for the last six successive weekends, due to the lack of This is the first issue for 2015.This safety critical maintenance staff. Whilst this year promises to be a very busy and has led to LPC amending their bargaining position it has not resulted in management full on year for us all. making an offer our members could accept,’ he said. MEMBERS BACK ESCALATION ‘The two sticking points are pay and OF LYTTELTON PORT DISPUTE: coverage. LPC are offering the equivalent of a less than 2% annual pay increase and are RMTU ISSUES NOTICE OF FULL seeking to completely exclude inland port WITHDRAWAL OF LABOUR workers in Woolston from the agreement,’ he said. Lyttelton Port Branch ‘This is in the context of members voted on LPC’s Chief Executive Tuesday to escalate their Peter Davie receiving an industrial action at 18% boost in his pay Lyttelton Port. Around 200 packet last year taking members of the RMTU his earnings to $1.2m,’ have been operating a ban he said. on overtime since 17 December, and they have ‘The exclusion of the now endorsed a series of inland port workers, full withdrawals of labour some of whom earn $6 at the port. per hour less than our members on the ‘Our members have voted waterfront in Lyttelton is to escalate their campaign for a just and nothing less than economic apartheid,’ he fair collective agreement and on Tuesday said. we issued notice of the first full 24 hour withdrawal of labour from midday on 11 February,’ said RMTU General Secretary MEDIATION SET DOWN FOR Wayne Butson. WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY WITH ‘We will continue to issue one notice of one day stoppages each day from now on until LYTTELTON PORT LPC come to the table with a reasonable LPC have agreed to meet with the RMTU and offer,’ he said. the Ministry of Business, Innovation and ‘Members have also endorsed a public Employment next week in an attempt to campaign to bring the dispute to the negotiate a settlement of the continuing attention of Christchurch City Council, the dispute with the RMTU Lyttelton Branch. owners of Lyttelton Port,’ said Butson. Our Christchurch Rail Branch is meeting on Monday 2 February to discuss the dispute 2 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist and plans are afoot for a demonstration at will start on 6 March. Christchurch City Council Offices if the That’s why Jobs that Count asks you to tell mediation fails to resolve the impasse. Talley’s workers you’re on their side. Christchurch City Council is a 100% owner of LPC, through its investment arm, Your solidarity will make a difference to the Christchurch City Holdings Ltd, and there workers, and also let Talley’s know people are councillors on the latter’s board. are watching. The demonstration is pencilled in for 1600 The link is here: on Thursday 5th February outside the http://www.jobsthatcount.org.nz/support_ta Council Offices on Hereford St. Updates lleys_workers will be provided after the mediation on Wednesday. Also, like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jobsthatcount JOBS THAT COUNT BEGINS And follow us on Twitter: WITH TALLEY’S www.twitter.com/jobsthatcount The Meat Workers Union have launched a Thanks for your support! new campaign for job security in the Meat Industry called Jobs that Count. DRIVER ADVISORY SYSTEM (DAS) New Zealand’s meat workers face it all: casualisation, seasonal work and zero UPDATE hours contracts in a very fractured and Talks between the RMTU and KR have been challenging industry. Hard won seniority ongoing with the last all up meeting on provisions that guaranteed a return to December 16th in Wellington. At this work each season are coming under meeting, we heard from Karl Bridges attack. (Human Factors expert), he reviewed the Union agreements and pay increases are recent report on DAS which included trials, harder to get and no more so than for the training and risks. Karl Bridges did identify 1000 members of the that if DAS was not MWU who work in working correctly then AFFCO Talley’s meat that would increase works. distraction risk. This report will be available Who will forget the for all LE’s. 84-day lockout of meat workers An action from that employed by AFFCO meeting was that the Talley’s in 2012, when RMTU LE KIC reps were workers, whanau and to be trained in DAS and communities paid the undertake OJT. KiwiRail price of an aggressive was clearly informed that employer? Your DAS had to be running solidarity made a big 100% correctly when the difference. reps were undertaking OJT. The OJT for the Three years on, AFFCO central rep, Les Perrin, Talley’s workers are illuminated that there is again facing an uphill significant issues with the operation and battle. Their Collective Agreement expired efficacy of the DAS equipment in double more than a year ago and despite nine cabbed loco’s that hitherto most of us were bargaining meetings there’s no settlement. not aware of. The reps lack of Negotiations are due again in February. understanding, knowledge and awareness of Time is running out. Employment law this and other subsequently revealed DAS changes that make it easier for employers issues has seriously undermined and caused 2/02/15 3 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist a crisis of trust and confidence between ENGLISH BREAKS HIS $6000 the Union and company reps on the project team. WAGES PROMISE A conference call was arranged for the Just one month into the New Year Bill Union KIC LE reps to discuss this situation English has already rowed back on his and to form an agreed position as to what election promise of real wage rises for New the next steps will be for the RMTU. It was Zealanders, says Labour’s Finance agreed that a face to face meeting needed spokesperson Grant Robertson. to be convened between the RMTU and KiwiRail and this meeting will be in “During the election campaign National Wellington on Monday 2nd February. promised Kiwis that the average wage would rise to $62,000 by 2018. That’s a $6600 DAS Roadshows in the Northern and pay rise. Southern depots had been planned to take place from mid to late February, and at “But just yesterday Bill English said that low this stage those plans have been placed on inflation means ‘the dollar value of future hold. In our view it is very unlikely that wage increases may be smaller than these roadshows will go ahead as there previously expected’. remains too many issues and question “That’s not good enough. New Zealanders marks with DAS. have done it too tough for too long – nearly half of Kiwi BRITOMART workers didn’t get a pay rise last year and many haven’t for VIOLENCE UPDATE a number of years. The economy is growing and some There will be a large visible sectors are making good Police presence around profits. Low inflation isn’t an Britomart Railway Station excuse to not give pay rises. and on some trains this weekend for the Auckland “Bill English promised New 9’s. Zealanders higher wages. He should be encouraging This is in response to the businesses to give their melee which occurred in employees a raise, not give December last year. There them excuses,” says Grant Robertson. will also be additional security staff involving Maori and Pacific wardens. The report into the melee that was released by TRANSDEV UNIFORMS ALL TIED Auckland Transport played down what was UP a frightening experience for many of our members and passengers. Other outcomes Transdev uniform committee will meet again from the review meeting that the RMTU next week to address the unresolved issues attended, improved radio communications including better footwear, suitable winter procedures, investigating ways to keep jackets. We will also be discussing a review southern and Western travellers apart eg; of the suitability of the uniform for use in have them enter Britomart from opposite summer. Agreement has been reached ends, or use Britomart for Southern regarding the wearing of ties, even though passengers and Newmarket for Western Transdev would prefer to see people travel. wearing ties they accept that it is not part One clear message from the members is of the Terms and conditions of employment that the trains should not be used to and so it is your choice. No one will be remove drunk/intoxicated people out of disciplined for not wearing a tie. the city. Air New Zealand would not have these people on their planes in this state, so why should we accept them on the trains. 2/02/15 4 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist SMALL BUSINESS VITAL TO NEW onsite. By listening to our members and actioning ideas, the shift report system has ZEALAND’S JOB GROWTH changed and on track time has been improved. The study has also identified The Labour Party will make working with changes need to be made into the way the small businesses a priority because they track maintenance is planned and are the key to New Zealand’s future organised. prosperity, Labour Leader Andrew Little said today. “New Zealand is a pioneering nation and it LOW INFLATION BUT HIGH is this spirit of innovation which drives our small businesses. HOUSING COSTS “These companies generated 41 per cent “Rising housing costs are a big worry for of the new jobs created in the past year.