Rail & Maritime Transport Union Volume 2013 # 2

Published Regularly - ISSN 1178-7392 (Print & Online) 22 February 2013 TRANSPORT WORKER – ISSUE 1 union in , marking as it did the end (for now) of a Branch which has fought for The mag is done and off to the printers. workers at Hillside for generations. This issue is full of robust stories with a That said, the Otago Rail Branch is very strong emphasis on H&S issues within active and enjoys the support of the KiwiRail. We also have notes from 90% of membership and has some extremely the Union’s branches which are essential capable delegates and Officials. The Hillside for giving all areas of the membership a workers will be well supported and we look voice and platform to be heard from. forward to the day when the next Labour led 2ND ANNIVERSARY – Government honours its commitment to reinstate rail manufacturing at Hillside and CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKE the likely re-formation of a Hillside Branch! Today marks the second anniversary of the A sad event and all preventable if we had a February 22 earthquake and we all need to meaningful local content procurement policy reflect upon the difficulties that our like most other countries. Canterbury members have been working and living in since that fateful day. Some of LYTTELTON PORT COMPANY our members do not still have a working The hearing for the City Depot case toilet in their home. commences on Monday in the Employment We must not forget that 115 people lost Court in Christchurch. their lives in the CTV building alone and so Members will recall that the RMTU won a we must, as a society, ensure that all case in the Employment Relations Authority future buildings are fit for purpose. arguing that cargo handlers at LPC’s inland RMTU members in Canterbury – we in the depot fall under the coverage clause of the rest of NZ salute you for your fortitude and Combined Unions –LPC collective agreement. “let’s get on with it attitude”. The Employer has appealed this and the hearing is next week. HILLSIDE BRANCH VOTES TO The hearing is open to the public so any AMALGAMATE WITH OTAGO members wishing to sit in on proceedings RAIL BRANCH are most welcome. The hearing is at Level 1, Aoraki House, 76 Peterborough Street Earlier this week the remaining members at commencing 0930hrs and will run from Hillside Railway Workshops, that is the so Monday to Wednesday the 27 th February as called “sunset crew” (who are required. See you there! decommissioning the plant) and the “new” heavy lift maintenance crew (who are ASBESTOS HAZARD AT working on locos) voted unanimously to SOUTHDOWN wind up the Hillside Branch and to integrate with the Otago Rail Branch. A number of years ago during the Toll Rail era a dispute erupted on the Westfield, Otago Rail Branch Chair Brian McKay and Southdown site over Toll’s attempts to Secretary Tim Spence were in attendance excavate a series of known asbestos burial together with Organiser John Kerr. It was a sites. The area had previously been used as poignant moment in the history of our

2 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist a dumping group by James Hardie for have died and almost 900 have been asbestos waste. The Toll attempt was seriously injured. Each death is a family, marked by no consultation, no plan and a community, workplace losing someone who complete disregard for the safety of their was loved. Each injury is someone’s life staff. being changed forever by something that happened at work.” KiwiRail’s decision to attempt to deal with this situation was not unexpected. Some of “We need to bring attention to this, the the asbestos has been in known piles which government and the industry to step up and impede the efficient operation of the CT stop this from happening.” CTU last night site. Kiwirail formulated a plan, gained launched a YouTube clip of Caroline and expert engineering advice on how to safely Roger Callow talking about the tragic death deal with the hazard, then gained council of their son, Ken Callow, at work, and are approval to proceed. This plan included using the One Big Voice website to raise consultation with the RMTU and effected funds for a billboard campaign to draw parties. All well and good. attention to the dangers in the sector. For more information, see At the consultation meeting with CT site www.whatkilledkencallow.org.nz members the company was advised by long serving members that the problem with the NEW BLOG UNITES TOP LEFT - asbestos would be found to be larger than envisioned. The asbestos wasn’t restricted WING POLITICAL to the known piles, but was widespread COMMENTATORS AND across the site. The company agreed to dig test holes and see if that was the case, and PROGRESSIVE OPINION SHAPERS found further asbestos. Testing has Launching Friday 1 March, 2013, the concluded that the asbestos is not airborne, ‘TheDailyBlog.co.nz’ unites 30 of the but anecdotal advise is that the buried country’s leading left- asbestos which wing commentators is mainly in and progressive sheet and pipe opinion shapers to form is being provide the other side crushed by the of the story on today’s constant news, media and pressure of political agendas. heavy machinery and may well migrate to the surface over time, if that were to occur The Daily Blog Editor, Martyn Bradbury says there is the risk that at any place on the one of the primary objectives of the blog will site which is not sealed or capped, the be to widen political debate in the lead up to asbestos could become airborne and the 2014 New Zealand election. become a major hazard to the health of all “Global trends continue to point to blogging workers in the area. and social media as key influencers of This will require constant vigilance by both mainstream media reporting as well as the company and the RMTU. public opinion. With so much at stake in 2014 we plan to use this online platform to WHAT KILLED KEN CALLOW ? fortify the collective voice of the left and progressive opinions, and enhance the CTU has launched a YouTube clip and quality of debate across the political campaign aimed at trying to get the spectrum,” says Mr Bradbury. Government to agree to an inquiry into the forestry industry, and to implementing The Daily Blog is supported by UNITE, the health and safety and employment Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) standards that stop the deaths and injuries and the New Zealand Dairy Workers Union of forestry workers. Helen Kelly said (NZDWU). Members of the public are also “forestry is the most dangerous industry in able to make donations through the blog’s New Zealand. In 2013 there have already supporter page. been two deaths - since 2008, 23 workers

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Mr Bradbury says it is hugely encouraging NATIONAL TURNS SOLID ENERGY to see three of the country’s major Unions engage in social media and blogging in an INTO BASKET -CASE effort to further debate around New National’s epic mismanagement has turned Zealand’s rapidly increasing inequality. Solid Energy from an export award-winning "New Zealand has 270 000 of its children in company into a complete basket-case, says poverty, an unemployment rate in the Labour’s SOEs spokesperson Clayton double figures and the highest level of Cosgrove. inequality recorded. There is a serious lack “National has run Solid Energy into the of critical public media services available ground. Four years ago it was a profitable and it's up to the blogs to fill the gap." business, now it’s a train wreck. This is

National’s mismanagement. is "I wish to pay respects to the three Unions supposed to be a business guru but National involved in this project and I look forward can’t run an economy and they’ve proved to blog posts from Matt McCarten, Chris they can’t run a business. Flatt and Wayne Butson as they gauge the temperature of industrial relations through “Solid Energy appears on the verge of the lens of their unions," says Mr Bradbury. collapse. This must be the first time any Government has overseen such a massive TheDailyBlog.co.nz will feature: Chris failure in a state owned asset. Trotter, Selwyn Manning, Professor Jane Kelsey, Keith Locke, Sue Bradford, John “Their obsession with selling off state assets Minto, David Slack, Morgan Godfery, forced the company into cutting jobs and Gareth Renowden, Martyn Bradbury, Coley investment so it could be spruced up for Tangerina, Phoebe Fletcher, Dr Wayne investors. Hope, Queen of “This was once the jewel Thorns, Burnt out in the crown of SOEs, Teacher, Steve now it’s a mess. This Grey, Aaron Government has a huge Hawkins, Marama amount to answer for. Davidson, Tim Selwyn, James Ritchie, Efeso The big loser? Yet again, the taxpayer. Collins, Robert Winter, Lynn Prentice, Frank MacsKasy, Matt McCarten, Wayne Butson, “Bill English and Tony Ryall need to step in Chris Flatt, Allan Alach and The Liberal and develop a plan to get Solid Energy back Agenda. in business,” says Clayton Cosgrove. CANTERBURY RAIL BRANCH RYALL MUST ANSWER ON MEETING BONUS PAY -OUTS The first meeting of 2013 is set down for Tony Ryall should have hauled in the midday on 1 March at Middleton Yard chairman and directors of Solid Energy and smoko room. Delegates are asked to meet made clear that paying out $23 million in at 1130. bonuses to executives and senior management while the company was run Items to be discussed will include Toll into the ground was unacceptable, says Carriers Negotiations, Transition Labour’s SOEs spokesperson Clayton Heads/Bullhooks, and the roll out of the Cosgrove. new KR Drug and Alcohol policy. Other items of business members wish to discuss “Solid Energy has paid out $23 million in should be forwarded to Branch Secretary bonuses over two years while the company Ian Walker at [email protected] or was collapsing. That’s incredible on 021 888 902. mismanagement. Tony Ryall is responsible for this company but his lack of oversight and mismanagement has seen it fall apart in two years.

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“It’s astonishing to see executives and Unfortunately there are barriers to accessing senior management paid millions in H&S Rep training and HSATs report low bonuses to run a company into the ground. levels of participation in NZTA and the AEP The more the company is run down the audits. There is a lack of information more money you get. It’s Lehman Brothers provided on environmental monitoring, the stuff. KiwiRail safety case and feedback from industrial councils. “Tony Ryall is the shareholding minister of Solid Energy and under the no-surprises The survey has been sent to the Union policy he would have known of the bonuses contact person on each of the KiwiRail in 2011. He should have called in the HSATs. The union will make contact with directors and made it clear that paying the remainder of HSATs to complete the bonuses while profits plunge is not survey in the coming weeks. acceptable to the sole shareholder – the taxpayer. But the next year bonuses LEST WE FORGET ! continued. FOR THOSE ASKING WHY THE TRAINS DIDN 'T “In 2009 Bill English called in the SOEs and WORK - THE STORY OF NZ RAIL FROM NZCTU’ S told them he wanted more money of out of BILL ROSENBERG them. If they can do that, the Government The New Zealand Rail sale in 1993 was could have hauled in Solid Energy heads to organised by Faye Richwhite who then make it clear they shouldn’t be paying proceeded to benefit from it hugely by executive bonuses while the company was taking a substantial shareholding - a conflict failing. of interest fit for a post-Soviet state. “Tony Ryall blames falling coal prices but The main shareholders of the purchaser, they’ve been on a downward trend for four Tranz Rail, were Faye Richwhite, Berkshire years. National should have made it clear Fund and Wisconsin Central of the USA, and the company needed a plan to handle coal Alex van Heeren (Huka Lodge). prices but they didn’t. The blame for Solid Energy’s collapse lies with the They bought a company which had been Government’s lack of monitoring and freed of debt by a $1.6 billion injection from mismanagement. the government. The price was $328 million, of which they paid only $107 million “National’s obsession with selling off state and borrowed the rest. assets forced the company into cutting jobs and investment so it could be spruced up According to Brian Gaynor they "were and flogged off. responsible for stripping out $220.9 million of equity in 1993 and $100 million in 1995". “Bill English and Tony Ryall need to front up and tell the people of New Zealand what By the time they had sold out, they had they knew, when they knew it and why made total profits of $370 million, mainly tax they sat back and did nothing,” says free because of the absence of capital gains Clayton Cosgrove. tax, and darkened by accusations of insider trading. KR - HSAT SURVEY RESULTS Under Wisconsin's management the safety COMING IN record was appalling (by 2000, fatal accidents for employees were eight times Results from the RMTU survey on the the national average) and reinvestment and effectiveness of the KiwiRail Health and maintenance were abysmal, leaving the Safety Action Teams (HSATs) are starting operation in a crippled state. to come in. All HSATs said they discuss safety issues and concerns of workers and They sold out to Toll of Australia who work with management to resolve issues. similarly failed to maintain the system, and who then sold it back to the government in Most HSATs said they were involved in two tranches for a total of over $700 million promoting the health and safety interests plus on-going costs to the government of of all employees including shift workers, several hundred million dollars to repair the checking and updating the hazard registers.

22/02/13 5 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist rail network and replace the antiquated Government’s unrealistic ‘Turn Around Plan’ rolling stock. is putting enormous stress on the organisation and forcing it to cut It is difficult to estimate the total costs to maintenance.” the country, but the total cost to the government will be almost $4 billion, “National’s plan for rail is not greatly magnified by the neglect of the workable. KiwiRail has missed its financial private owners. targets for two of the last three years. Tit is being forced to make cuts that are a false The previous government has been accused economy. At a time when the Government is of paying too much for the rail company, wasting billions of dollars on its ‘motorways and they probably did, but that was just of madness’, it makes no sense to cripple one element of the huge financial and the national rail line.” opportunity losses to the people of New Zealand as a result of the privatisation that TAKE CARE - CHECK AND CHECK were evident well before the renationalisation. AGAIN ! PORT OF TIMARU Following a series of Rail operational incidents over the last 12 months, a review Members held their first branch meeting of of operations at the Taranaki site at 2013 on Wednesday 20 February. The Port Whareroa is being undertaken. Clearly is ticking along and more of our members workers don’t go to work to have mishaps have received guaranteed hours. We have but through assumptions, communication also signed up a number of new members issues and possible lack of experience, these in C3 and are looking at how we can incidents occurred. promote their employment interests. The joint message of KiwiRail and the RMTU Members are very positive despite all is clear! Safe operation must take priority they’ve been through in the last six over the timekeeping of trains. Assumption months. There is plenty of interest in the is the mother of all mishaps – we urge rail wider union and members were keen to operations members to; hear what was happening around the • Check every set of points, and; country with their fellow RMTU members. • Check clearances, and; KIWIRAIL ADMITS LACK OF • Maintain a range of vision and line of MAINTENANCE LED TO WASH - sight, and OUT • Maintain adequate communication between operators. KiwiRail has admitted that its failure to maintain old and damaged culverts was Yard collisions and derailments cause costly behind the wash out that closed the damage, be a hazard to our members Gisborne-Napier line, while cuts to its employment but more importantly can cause maintenance budget are putting the one of our members to be seriously injured network at further risk, Labour’s Transport or even killed. spokesperson Phil Twyford says. We all want everyone who comes to work to “Across the country KiwiRail missed its go home safe and sound at shifts end! To target of replacing 71 old culverts last year, achieve this the message is very clear and only replaced 49. This is cause for Take Care - check and check again! alarm. “The Gisborne-Napier wash-out shows what happens when essential ‘N OTHING TO SEE HERE ’ – YEAH maintenance work is not carried out. RIGHT ! “KiwiRail cut and deferred $200 million of network maintenance last year. At the John Key’s desperate ‘nothing to see here’ very time it needs to be upgrading its defence won’t fool New Zealanders who network and improving efficiency, the

22/02/13 6 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist know a dodgy deal when they see one, Entry is free and not difficult, and the closing says Labour Leader David Shearer. deadline is Friday 19 April. Full information, including guidelines for preparing your entry, “No matter how many times John Key is available here: repeats ‘there’s nothing to see here’ he http://www.safeguard.co.nz/events/a can’t deny that he gave Sky City the inside wards/default.asp running on a deal that sells our legislation in return for more pokies. The awards gala dinner and announcement of the category winners will be held at the “The Prime Minister repeatedly dodged SKYCITY Convention Centre in on straight questions in Parliament today Wednesday 29 May. about whether his Chief of Staff offered Sky City ‘regulatory relief’ in return for building So please start thinking about entering this the convention centre and whether that year's awards. It is human nature to leave offer was extended to other bidders. these things to the last minute (believe me, we know this), so remember to celebrate “He didn’t want to answer because it shows success and beat that closing deadline! that he was sharing information with Sky City that other bidders were not privy to. It If you have any queries about the awards took the Speaker David Carter to answer please contact our H&S Organiser Karen for him, saying that the Prime Minister Fletcher on 0276006581 or himself had offered the casino that relief. [email protected] “John Key has been spinning for days that HEKIA ’S WORD IS WORTHLESS the deputy Auditor-General’s report clears him. But John Key hasn’t been vindicated. Hekia Parata should come clean and admit He’s been implicated. He’s up to his that her promise to Christchurch schools eyeballs in this cosy stich-up and is funding facing the axe that they would remain open a convention centre on the backs of until the end of 2014 was worthless, says problem gamblers. Labour’s acting Education spokesperson, Chris Hipkins. “This deal wasn’t ‘even-handed, it wasn’t ‘transparent’ and it treated bidders ‘very “Last year Hekia Parata wrote to Branston differently’. Kiwis don’t support it. The Intermediate School telling it she was Government should go back to square one proposing to close it at the end of and conduct an open and honest process,” 2014. And she told a public meeting at the said David Shearer. school that it would definitely be open in 2014. 2013 NZ WORKPLACE HEALTH “But now she is planning to shut the school’s & SAFETY AWARDS - ENTRIES doors at the end of the year. And today in NOW OPEN ! Parliament she did everything she could to avoid admitting that she gave any such Entries are now open for this year's assurance to Branston Intermediate. awards, so be sure to make a time in your “Hekia Parata can try to hide behind the day to reflect upon any particularly words “interim decisions” and “proposal” all successful initiatives you've been involved she likes – but the fact is she has gone back in over the last 12 months or so. on her word. Her word is worthless. For those of you involved with smaller “Is it any wonder that 71% of those polled in entities - no more than 50 staff - please Canterbury want Hekia Parata sacked as note there's a category just for you. Minister of Education? They don’t trust her, A new individual category this year is and don’t want her anywhere near the Executive Leader, defined as a senior education of their children,” says Chris executive or director who is not a health & Hipkins. safety practitioner but whose leadership has helped transform their organisation's health & safety culture.

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HEADS UP – PORTS FORUM safety of our workforce”. “Unions stand for decent jobs that are The RMTU Ports Forum is being held in secure and safe”. mid-year. Port Branch Secretaries are asked to formalise their The CTU had supported an independent representation and to advise numbers of agency in its submissions to the Royal attendee’s to National Office as soon as Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine possible. Tragedy. Suggestions for agenda items are Helen Kelly said that during the time it takes encouraged from branches. to set up this new agency, we need to see more work done to improve the safety of 2013 CENSUS ANNOUNCEMENT workers. This agency is only part of the Wherever you are in New Zealand, from answer to our terrible record on death and Scott Base in Antarctica to the far north of injuries in the workforce. the country, or even on an oil rig off the New Zealand has an accident rate at work Taranaki coast, on 5 March 2013, you have that is twice that of Australia and seven to be counted in the census. times worse than the United Kingdom. This Government Statistician Geoff Bascand must change and we look forward to the today announced the date for the next recommendations of the Independent census and says with well under two years Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety to go, preparations are moving with a which are due at the end of April. sense of urgency and excitement. “All workers in New Zealand, and their The Census of Population and Dwellings is a families and communities are counting on chance to find out a lot of information that report to make a difference so we can about who we are as a country, and where address this huge problem”. and how we live. The information people give is used by many groups to decide how CTU OUT @W ORK KAMP to provide the things New Zealanders need, The CTU Out@Work Council is the like hospitals, schools, and roads. constitutionally recognised structure for The census is a national stocktake and Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, underpins our democracy – where people Takaatapui, Fa’fafine and Queer Workers of live determines the areas politicians the 36 CTU affiliated unions. Out@Work represent. works with unions to raise awareness of the issues that LGBTI issues and to end CTU WELCOMES NEW HEALTH discrimination based on sexual orientation AND SAFETY AGENCY and gender identity. We also analyse and comment on employment, social and The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed economic issues particularly as they affect the announcement today by the Minister of queer union members. The Out@Work Labour, Simon Bridges, of a new Health Council holds a two day event every 2 years and Safety Crown Agency. to review our activities and organise and plan ahead. This is an event with a range of Helen Kelly, CTU President, says “the union speakers, panel discussions and workshops movement is committed to working with and will be held on the 3rd and 4th May the Government to improve the health and

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2013 at Paekakariki Holiday Kamp, penal rates or overtime rates. We have met Paekakariki. with Toll management twice now and are making little progress, The most recent Membership to the Kamp is available to all meeting was scheduled for 19 February and CTU affiliated union members and those management unilaterally called this meeting who identify as Queer. The theme of this off the day before. year’s Kamp is Empower, Energise, Act! Growing Workplace Leaders. For further The time may soon come when we may have information contact the RMTU National to call on the wider membership to support Office or the CTU’s Eileenb@ nzctu.org.nz our members in Toll. The Canterbury Rail Phone 04 802 3813 Branch (most of the Toll Carriers members are in Christchurch) meets on 1st March and SLIGHT FALL IN WORKPLACE we will be giving a full report back at this INJURIES meeting. The Health and Safety Executive in the UK WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY – 28 has published statistics which show a slight APRIL fall in a number of key areas of UK workplace ill-health and injury. Population International Workers Memorial Day is 28 in 2011 62.6million people. April 2013. The day is about remembering those workers, especially RMTU members, Between April 2011 and March 2012 who have been killed whilst at work. workplace incidents caused: All Branches are asked to commence formal  22,433 major injuries arrangements for services at such as amputations, memorial sites. fractures and burns  88,731 injuries serious All members are requested to enough to keep people attend a memorial service off work for 4 or more organised near them. days As usual we ask all  Over 1 million people members to stop what they reporting suffering are doing at midday to from an illness caused “Honour the dead – Fight or made worse by their for the living ” and to think work about how important  173 workers fatally personal safety is to us all injured going home safe at the end TOLL CARRIERS of our days’ work. BEHAVING BADLY As usual we will be requesting KiwiRail to The RMTU is attempting to approve all trains stopping negotiate on behalf of at midday on the 28 th for 1 members who were employed by Toll minute. Carriers after the takeover of Northern The services (that we have been informed of Southland Ltd, a South Island transport to date) will be held at; Company. Because Toll Networks used an entity called Toll Carriers Ltd to employ Dunedin – the memorial garden 1200hrs these staff, instead of Toll Networks limited Hutt Shops – 1200hrs at the workshop with whom we have a collective agreement, memorial garden. the members do not fall under the coverage of the RMTU collective Please advise us of all services to be held on agreement. the day? This means they have no entitlement to redundancy compensation, shift leave,

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ITF CONDEMNS 'UTTERLY trade union work in defence of workers rights.” UNBELIEVABLE ' MOROCCAN He continued: “These men are guilty of COURT DECISIONS nothing more than being effective trade unionists. We will fight these unjust and The ITF has condemned as ‘utterly idiotic decisions all the way.” unbelievable’ a totally unexpected decision by a court in Morocco to jail trade union 2013 ROGER AWARD : PEOPLE ’S leaders Said Elhairech and Mohamed Chamchati. CHOICE Elhairech the general secretary of the Cast your vote at http://bit.ly/UIq28W Moroccan Ports Union, part of the ITF- The organisers of the Roger Award for the affiliated UMT, and chair of the ITF Arab Worst Transnational Corporation Operating World regional committee, was arrested in in Aotearoa/New Zealand are inviting you June 2012 on charges of ‘sabotage and have your say by voting online for the endangering national security’. He utterly People’s Choice winner. rejected the accusations and was supported throughout by the ITF, which was This is an online poll only; the field is unequivocal in its stance that he had been restricted to the eight finalists for the 2012 wrongly targeted following his very Roger Award listed at the People’s Choice effective work on behalf of crews stranded Website. by the cessation of operations of the The winner will be announced at the Unions Comarit-Comanav ferry company – which Wellington May Day event. he undertook at the ITF’s request. In October all charges except one minor one EDINBURGH STATION POLLUTION were dropped and his innocence proven. 7 TIMES OVER LIMIT Despite this he has been sentenced by the criminal Court of First Instance in Rabat, A study by Network Rail reports that air which charged him with participating in pollution at Waverley Station is 7 times obstructing freedom of action according to higher than public safety limits. The report article 288 of the Moroccan Criminal Code concluded that exhaust fumes from trains (criminalisation of trade union action). He and taxis, coupled with toxic dust kicked up will appeal. by construction works could be endangering health of commuters. The station is used by Mohamed Chamchati, the general secretary 25 million people each year. of the Moroccan merchant seafarers’ union, was also unjustly arrested in June 2012 on NEW PROCUREMENT POLICIES clearly mistaken charges linked to the cessation of operations of the Comarit- WILL CREATE JOBS , BENEFIT Comanav company. In November he and SMES others were released without charge. Local procurement policies like those being Now he too has reportedly been sentenced introduced in Australia will ensure New to two and a half years imprisonment. More Zealand businesses secure a greater share details of that decision are expected soon. of major projects, the Green Party said today. ITF president Paddy Crumlin stated: “These sentences defy belief. Last year Said and Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced new Mohamed faced serious, cooked-up charges laws on Sunday that will make all major ofsabotage and endangering national project developers look to domestic suppliers security. Following worldwide protests led first – a move that is worth A$1.6 billion per by the ITF those ridiculous charges were year in extra work to Australian companies. rightly dropped. Now, in a shocking breach “We can implement smart new procurement of trust and logic they have once again policies and standards like Australia’s that come under legal attack for their legitimate will ensure New Zealand businesses get a fair chance at bidding for major new

22/02/13 10 www.rmtunion.org.nz The Activist contracts,” said Green Party Co-leader Dr TAXPAYERS HIT WITH AN EXTRA Russel Norman. $2.4 BILLION FOR TRANSMISSION “A preference for New Zealand firms is good for the economy and good for GULLY PPP creating jobs. Building Transmission Gully as a public “The current lack of a procurement plan private partnership (PPP) will triple the cost here means major new contracts are being to the taxpayer - to $3.4 billion - according won by overseas companies, when New to documents released under the OIA. Zealand companies can do the same, if not Labour’s transport spokesperson, Phil better job, while providing wider economic Twyford, said the use of a PPP would cost an benefits to the economy. arm and a leg, but the potential benefits “Our manufacturing sector is in crisis, with were hugely uncertain. 40,000 jobs having been lost in the last ”The only reason the Government wants to four years. Smart procurement policies, like do it is that they have blown the budget on Australia’s, are needed to support the their mega motorway projects. sector and vital role it plays in a resilient economy,” Dr Norman said. “A PPP for Transmission Gully is a way of building now and paying later and The Green Party has proposed new Government accounting rules mean the procurement policies in the ICT sector late liability won’t affect its debt reduction last year and Government procurement targets. It’s smoke and mirrors. principles in its Green Jobs package announced just before the last election. “Cabinet papers show that having Transmission Gully as a PPP will cost an NEW CABLE BLOWS extra 3 per cent of National Land Transport GOVERNMENT ARGUMENTS revenue – or $125 million – every year for 25 years. AWAY “This Government’s appetite for motorway The new undersea cable between Auckland projects of dubious economic value is and Sydney proves the Government’s insatiable. To keep on feeding the beast it is earlier claims that a second cable isn’t willing to gouge the motorist and mortgage necessary to increase competition are future generations.” completely false, says Labour’s communications and IT spokesperson Clare LAW REFORM PIPELINE Curran AVAILABLE ONLINE “The new cable utterly blows out of the The "Law Reform Pipeline" lists the progress water claims by the incumbent Southern of interesting and important legislation Cross and the National Government that through Parliament, as well as law reform the one current cable is more than capable initiatives other than Bills. The Pipeline is of handling future capacity and lowering now available at the national Community prices. Law website . Type in "reform" to the “Labour believes that international Community Law Library, and click "Change broadband infrastructure and connectivity the Law" is as important as our internal infrastructure as the platform for economic LET ’S BE SAFE OUT THERE & transformation based on technology-related REMEMBER ...... industries. “The National Government has blocked its ears to the calls for investment in another “WE’RE STRONGER undersea cable buying into the Southern Cross argument that it wasn’t needed. TOGETHER ”!

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