Spark April 2012

Editorial/Publication info Becoming a sustaining subscriber Editorial Subscriptions to The Spark are available for $16.50 a year, this Recently I stopped at the Occupy Christchurch site (which had covers the costs of printing and postage. At present the writ- the previous day agreed with the local council to end the camp) to ing, proof reading, layout, and distribution is all done on a vol- help clean up a bit and pick up a banner I had provided. The ban- unteer basis. To make this publication sustainable long term ner read “We won’t pay for the failure of their system!” and had we are asking for people to consider becoming ‘Sustaining been hanging between two trees for the last few months. subscribers’ by pledging a monthly amount to The Spark (sug- The banner pre-dated the campsite and had its first public outing gested $10). Sustaining subscribers will be send a free copy of when it was unveiled at the Christchurch Town Hall while John every Workers Party pamphlet to thank them for their extra Key spoke at a so-called ‘jobs summit’. The two activists who held support. it up were swiftly trespassed from the building- although the se- To start your sustaining subscription set up an automatic pay- ries of earthquakes Christchurch has experienced since then has ment to 38-9002-0817250-00 with your name in the particu- made this punishment somewhat redundant. lars and ‘Sustain’ in the code and email your name and address The banner has such staying power because a common theme of to [email protected] struggle since the global financial crisis has been a refusal to take concessions on wages, welfare and standard of living. This issue looks at a number of those situations. One of the biggest situa- Get The Spark tions is with the Ports of Auckland workers who are refusing to each month give up their hard-won union contracts in exchange for casualised jobs. With significant welfare reform on the horizon beneficiaries Monthly magazine are also being told they should tighten their belts. Whatever situ- Within NZ: $16.50 for one year published by: ation you are in- at work, out of work, unable to work, now is the (11 issues) or $33 for two years time to say that you won’t pay for the failure of a system that does (22 issues) not work for the majority of people. Rest of the World: $20 for one Kia Kaha year or $40 for two years Send details and payments to: The Spark April 2012, Vol.22, The Spark, PO Box 10282 No 4, Issue No 252 Dominion Rd, Auckland Coordinating Editor or Byron Clark Bank transfer: Proofing/Content Jared Phillips 38-9002-0817250-01 Assisting Editors Name: Ian Anderson, Rebecca Address:........................................ Broad, Mike Kay ..................................................... Layout: Joel Cosgrove I have enclosed:............................ Front Cover: Joel Cosgrove, Heleyni Pratley Donations and bequeathments The Workers Party is non-profit and relies on financial support from progressive people, supporters and members for all its activities including producing this magazine. To financially support us please deposit to 38-9002-0817250-01 with your ini- tials and surname (or anonymous.) Large and small, regular and one-off donations are all appreciated and listed in The Spark from time to time. The Spark magazine is now in its 20th year as we continue the long-term fight for socialism. Readers and supporters may consider remembering us in their will with assets or money that will help the struggle in the long-term. If this is you please put in your will ‘Workers Party, PO Box 10-282, Dominion Road, Auckland’ as well as what you would like to leave to us. 2 The Spark April 2012 Welfare attacks Defending the Domestic Purposes Benefit This article was contributed to The Spark in an economy in which many two in- introduce a single ‘Jobseeker Support by Jessica Ward come families are still struggling. Sole Benefit’ set at the current rate of the mothers have cited many disadvantages unemployment benefit with top ups for of living on the DPB, most often the fi- those currently on other benefits. This The Domestic Purposes Benefit (DPB) nancial pressures of managing on a low would see a majority of beneficiaries was fought for by our mothers and income, coupled with the fear of unan- in part time work take a pay cut as the grandmothers. Before the introduction ticipated expenditures such as visits to Welfare Working Group also advocates of the DPB women raising children were the doctor or prescription drugs. Liv- a single abatement rate for the Jobseeker entirely financially dependent on a part- ing on the DPB has been referred to as Support benefit which would result in ner. Women in abusive relationships that “survival”, “a real struggle” and “totally a reduction of 55c for every dollar of wanted to leave their husband would be impossible”. In a recent mail-out survey weekly income earned in excess of $20. forced to also leave their children. The one woman said: I don’t see how this encourages solo par- DPB was formed through Social Secu- ents to work when it will result in less pay rity Amendment Act in 1973 with the You feel like a second-class citizen and less time spent with their children. first payments starting in May of 1974. basically and a lot of energy goes Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei has The DPB was originally set at a level into just surviving. You spend more spoken of the government’s cuts in early that enabled solo mums to care for their time because of your really tight childhood education making childcare children as a full time job without having financial situation running around unaffordable for many and says “It makes to enter the work-force. Unfortunately trying to get assistance to help you no sense to force parents into minimum now this is not the case. National’s pro- keep going all the time... it’s a real wage jobs, when it means they don’t see posed benefit cuts mean mothers on the catch-22. It’s a really vicious cycle. their kids and they’re no better off finan- DPB will be required to start looking for cially after paying for childcare.” part time work when their child turns 3 According to the first-time use survey and full time work once their child turns The value of unpaid performed in 1998, 70% of the work 6. work in New Zealand in 1999 was $40 billion, performed by women in New Zealand is The Ministry of Social Development unpaid while only 40% of men’s work is (MSD) argues that by working 20 hours which is equivalent to unpaid. That’s a lot of work that is be- a week a solo mum could go off the ben- 39% of gross domestic ing undermined. Over the course of one efit. Now assuming they were going into product. These are pretty year New Zealanders perform 4.2 billion a job at the current minimum wage, what overwhelming numbers. hours of unpaid work. If this is converted the MSD is effectively saying is that you “ into full-time jobs it equates to over 2 can raise a child on $260 a week. The million jobs. 2.7 billion hours a year are base rate for the DPB isn’t much better Living costs are on the rise and this is spent by women doing unpaid and there- at $288.47 per week so for performing exacerbated by the government raising fore invisible work. The value of unpaid the full time job of a mother you will get GST to 15%. The cost of raising a child work in New Zealand in 1999 was $40 paid only slightly over what you would is estimated at around $10-$14 thou- billion, which is equivalent to 39% of get paid for part time work. Of course sand dollars a year according to a recent gross domestic product. These are pretty this does not take into account the rising report. The base rate of a solo parent overwhelming numbers. A 2011 Statis- cost of childcare or the impact of a child is $15,000 a year for one child. Is this tics New Zealand Report (latest availa- being put into childcare at an early age. not discrimination? Do children born ble) estimated that 65% of women’s work I struggle to make ends meet on my $200 to solo parents or parents who become was unpaid. a week student allowance, I have no idea solo parents not cost the same amount In a recent book social scientist Anne how I would manage to feed, house cloth and is it not our responsibility as a soci- Else said that under current economic and educate a child with only an extra ety to ensure that all children have equal circumstances more unpaid work is be- $60 a week. advantages? While most of us are strug- ing forced upon individuals as the state gling the last year has seen the wealth of I find it hard to believe that any woman is taking less responsibility for society New Zealand’s 150 richest people grow would choose to be on the DPB if there and unpaid labour fills the gap. Shorter by almost 20% to the highest ever total was an alternative. It’s not an easy life- stays in hospital and longer waiting lists of $45.2 billion. style trying to care for children without mean an increase in unpaid care: The support as well as manage tight finances The Welfare Working Group wants to more delay and anxiety there is over The Spark April 2012 3 Welfare attacks health care, the more free caring work One of the Welfare Working Group rec- services by up to 50%.

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