Hillside Redundancies Anger Dunedin 2 32 16

SEPTEMBER 2011 TransportThe Worker The journal of the RMTU NZ's largest specialist transport union

Hillside Redundancies anger Dunedin 2 32 16

The Transport Worker September 2011 6 TranzAlpine andCoastalPacificlines. building withnewcarriagesforthe Hillside showswhatit'scapableof Contents with Hillsideworkers. Dunedin publicinademonstrationofunity C C N on asimulator. weeks inAntwerplearningtheskills Port Napiercranetraineesspendtwo P OBox11-025,Wellington. Printed byThamesPublications Ltd, Design andproductionbyMike Regan. Aotearoa-New Zealand. P OBox1103,Wellington, Rail &MaritimeTransport Union, The Transport Worker ispublishedbythe 1 ThorndonQuay, Wellington Level 1,T T the by authorised and Promoted ransport Union. over rane ew AK

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. nz am livinginaNewZealandwhere: I believe can’t I wrong. fundamentally are fronts, of range wide a on settings, policy its that me to clear very is It settings. policy Government NZ current under headed this grounding in values that I find myself presently wondering where this country is living gap between rich and poor prevalent in the countries they came from. It is with Doggedly obstinategovernment W the Treasurybenchesin2009.Theyhave: took it since women and men class working attacked consistently has Government boiling again. economy our get to way the not is burn and Slash sector. public the and services implemented in October 2010 At the same time it has stepped up its attack on public a GST increase to 15% but has failed to undo the PAYE reduction to the top tax rate it losses for individual New Zealanders. The Government moved on one element with or gains with income real affects taxes in move Any accounts. crown the to income taxation of percent 70 over contribute households of 10% top the Zealand New In revenue. your is etc) PAYE, (GST, taxes various through more, Earning justice). and policing include (which security and welfare education, health, like services social core on is main, the in spending, Government more. earn you or less spend either You world. my and your in debt off paying of ways two only are There least. the say obscenely well paid in the face of overwhelming logic to the contrary, is bemusing to The unemployment rate for young people (aged 15-25) is more than double the double than more is 15-25) (aged people young for rate unemployment The n rich 23 of society unequal most sixth the as Zealand New ranked book recent A n n the below falling income family total the with families in live children 270,000 n n 275,000workersarepaidtheminimumwageofcurrently$13/hour; To makematters worsetheyhavestatedthat if theyarere-electedwill: n Increased the numbers of New Zealander’s leaving permanently during their term n Breached their pre-election promise to not increase GST by raising it to 15%; and n Cutthetaxationcreditforjoining KiwiSaver; n CutemployersubsidiestoKiwiSaver from4%to2%; n Placedrestrictionsuponunion accesstoworkplaces; n Introduced 90 day trial periods to workplaces with less than 20 workers and then Editorial Where the top 150 families increased their wealth to $7 billion in the last 12 months; This is the least of my dissatisfaction with the National Party led Government. This the for cuts tax the preserving to Government this of adherence dogged The good forbusiness,theeconomy,orcommunity. unemployment rate of the general population. High youth unemployment is not countries whencomparingtheincomesofrichestandpoorest20%; poverty line(currentlymeasuredat$14,000perannum); in office(May 2011 =3,400andJune = 3,100). with noexplanationandrights tofairtreatment; extended it to all workplaces. The horror stories abound where workers are sacked reating, here in New Zealand, the class-based society and the income/ the and society class-based the Zealand, New in here reating, rec- not toward bias strong a with lands new the to came who settlers Zealand was an egalitarian society founded upon New the beliefs of how the early about talking elders my heard oft I lad young a was I HEN RMTU General secretary Wayne Butson The Transport Worker September 2011 3

I saw exactly the same thing in my own field of work contract individual an position new a to moved anyone If can manager a where one is exists now that situation The The camaraderie within the industry has also broken based performance – taken being is move next the Now As a president, Jim demonstrated the value of a rank and rank a of value the demonstrated Jim president, a As into RMTU the building in role important an played Jim

Letters Dear Editor, I read with interest in a recent Transport Worker about the issue of locomotive engineer recruitment. It would appear that the company is refusing to appoint LE recruits from within KiwiRail, instead of taking people off the street and training them. over a decade ago and the objective (which I suspect is the employ- individual to on everyone get to was here) objective he that stated clearly time the of manager A contracts. ment would he that and contracts individual on everyone wanted not deal with a union. was presented to him, along with the hint that be it best for him would to sign it otherwise the position would be offered to someone who would. When a critical mind mass to was subjected were collective the on still others reached, them get to tactics enthusiastic more sometimes and games to come over. pick off an individual and no one else wants to know – it is as himself considers else everyone and problem victim’s the ‘I’m alright Jack – why should I worry’. down. People come to work but there really are no friends shared not is Information himself. for out is Everyone there. the way it use to be. known scheme a with mooted was this ago years Some pay. as the Hay System. But at the time System Helen Hay the benches Clark’s treasury the over Labour took Government was kicked into touch. Praise for past president Praise Dear Editor, I read in your fine journal that Jim Kelly has not sought re- RMTU the in role that in years 22 after president as election and its predecessor CURE. As RMTU general secretary for five of those years I would like to record my respect and the to provided has Jim service excellent the for admiration union movement. file leader. He reflected the concerns of union members also was he but behalf, their on passionately advocated and very supportive of the paid officials and staff. He played an active role in the wider union movement, particularly with was there when there always was and branch Otago Union’s work to be done. very be can he and today is it union effective and strong the proud of that as he hands over to Aubrey Wilkinson who I am confident will serve as president with distinction, as he has in other union roles over many years. Yours in solidarity Ross Wilson. A plea for proper training

to raise home ownership back to historic levels. it target soaring house prices and market speculation, thus helping political parties); and workers (Hillside and Hutt have been specifically mentioned by share of taxation; to 275,000 Kiwis immediately; cept of a an ‘average living wage’. This delivers real wage increases profit and productivity gain; profit and productivity organised workers’ ability to seek and deliver a fair share of company of share fair a deliver and seek to ability workers’ organised be a significant drop in bona fide union bargaining and will worsen stantly come up against company or yellow unions. The result will arm’s length test from the employer’ – which is a joke and we con- 15 people can form a union and seek registration. There is an ‘at I ask that you vote to keep MMP and thereby assist in keep New

This year’s voting day also sees a very important referendum being We must make our judgement based upon who will deliver the society, society, the deliver will who upon based judgement our make must We

For working class men and women, the choice of who to vote for years, no return whatsoever. assets which at best deliver a one-off income boost and in successive in and boost income one-off a deliver best at which assets sustainable income it beggars belief that anyone sees logic in selling in logic sees anyone that belief beggars it income sustainable to crown accounts in dividends. At a time when the crown needs shares. State assets currently return hundreds of millions of dollars way that overseas purchasers can be excluded from owning private than rail members of this Union. The simple fact is that there is no

those dismissals; Alternative political parties on the left have variously stated that if

Further weaken unfair dismissal laws and workers' ability to challenge challenge to ability workers' and laws dismissal unfair weaken Further

Introduce a capital gains tax. The family home will be exempted and exempted be will home family The tax. gains capital a Introduce n

n Review Government procurement rules and support New Zealand n Grow employment rather than slash it; n Sell NO state assets; n Review the tax structure to have higher paid workers pay their fair n Make the first $5,000 of income tax free;

n Lift the minimum wage to $15 immediately and tag it to a new con- n

n Smash the union monopoly on collective bargaining. Currently any n Privatise state assets. Nobody knows better the folly of privatisation Attack beneficiaries with a special focus on the youth; and n Attack beneficiaries Further curtail union access to work sites; n Further curtail union more representative of New Zealanders today that at any time in the past. the in time any at that today Zealanders New of representative more Zealand a fully representational democracy. age and other factors of New Zealand society. In my view, parliament is and this has seen parliament change to better reflect the gender, race, or favour change. There is no doubt that MMP is fairer. It is proportional is It fairer. is MMP that doubt no is There change. favour or conducted on whether we stick with the current MMP voting methodology methodology voting MMP current the with stick we whether on conducted policies and good outcomes for working class men and women. Will you? Will women. and men class working for outcomes good and policies ate candidate and the party who will deliver balanced and sustainable or otherwise. Rest assured, I will be casting my two ticks for the elector- the for ticks two my casting be will I assured, Rest otherwise. or Americanisation of politics and the ‘personality politics’ rhetoric. likeable is leader their because not and to ascribe we policies and values dismayed at the apparent acceptance by some members of the media’s then the parties of the left stand out. As I visit worksites I am somewhat am I worksites visit I As out. stand left the of parties the then has the best policies to support employment, growth in real wages, etc. wages, real in growth employment, support to policies best the has on 26 November 2011 is as clear as night versus day. If we look at who

elected they will; Other electoral choices The Transport Worker September 2011 4 Letters this time willseeprogress. ford Bayhasraged foryears.Wedon’tknowif thedebate argument. However timewilltell.Thedebateabout Clif management whichwouldsupport thePortMarlborough made thatitneedstobeunder independentownership/ will beusedbymultipleoperators theargumentiswell Given thatitislikelytobebuilt usingpublicmoneyand port wouldbemanagedbyMarlborough orKiwiRail. in myview. Aquestionremainsastowhetherthenew an oppositionalstance,wewouldhavenocredibility the movetoCliffordBaythat,wereUnionadopt members. Thecostbenefitnumbersaresocompellingfor facets ofanyrelocationordisplacementworkers/ when anyemployerwishestodealwiththeindustrial (Editor: Wewillbestickingupforourmembersifand Port OfficeStaff,Picton. Robyn Barclay you shouldprintanythingonthesubjectatall. are unable to support the members, then I don’t believe ation, it is your purpose to back up your members? Spring Creek RMTU members. Clifford Bay. to Picton from Terminal Ferry Island South the move to titled “The Case for Clifford Bay’ regarding the suggestion I was deeply disappointed to read your June 2011 article Dear Editor, Clifford Baycriticised Huntly PowerStation. Pat Corkery not properlytrainedandexperienced. on the ground with someone in the cab who I knew was demanding task. For myself I would hate to be the person a and role skilled highly a is LE an of job The contracts. locomotive ortwoonitsside. broken a be perhaps and wagons, goods to damage pins, coupling will result end The train. a alone let ates, oper- railway a how of understanding practical the have wouldn’t just He trouble. for asking is training minimal railway experience and put him in charge of a train with ground, safetyandmutualtrust. and a collective contract – engenders fellowship, common coverage union – footing same the on everyone Having which to work and you need to be able to trust each other. once theyareonindividualcontracts. engineers locomotive for step next the be will pay ance recognised as a potential source of tension amongst staff. one competing against each other and it has already been ties for development’. This is going to end up with every provides clearer career pathways and creates opportuni- ‘An integrated framework that links performance to pay, Your report gave no support at all to your Picton & Picton your to all at support no gave report Your An expensive way to get people on to individual individual to on people get to way expensive An But to take someone off the street with no background in environment unforgiving terribly a is railway The perform- individual that suggest to venture would I Now it has been resurrected as ‘Power Up’ – spun as ) Surely, as a union public-

If you - - News Earthquake workerrecognised A and adinner-for-two voucher. certificate preciation ap an receive should Phil determined were Committee agement of members. behalf on earthquakes lowing the Canterbury nition for his work fol- recog- Union received Kearns Phil secretary, branch Rail Can terbury for members Korea arethemembersofInternationalCentreforLabourSolidarity Gathered outsideoftheKoreanRailwayWorkersUnionofficesinSeoul (l tor)ToddValster,HowardPhillips,LabourMPShaneJonesand TakingabreakfromattendingtheLabourPartyConferenceare (above) Phil is presented presented is Phil (above) Man- National The (ICLS) steeringcommitteeincludingWayneButson3rdfromleft. from staff and and staff from nominations fter receiving receiving - - Aubrey Wilkinson. Canterbury Rail branchAGM. recent the at Butson Wayne tary secre general the by award the

The Transport Worker September 2011 5 - - - Our commitment to issues in the Christchurch Christchurch the in issues CT site. KiwiRail and the RMTU will be writing to workers and managers all within KiwiRail Freight, to emphasise how im portant health and safety is. Each and every one of our members deserves to go home to their families and their lives at the end of a work shift. Health and safety requires the everyone, of commitment including the company and its managers, RMTU, and theits members, and healthy a achieving to safe workplace. improving health will KiwiRail within safety and continue unabated. Is sues over unclear rules, poor radio reception,poor communication,and the identifying and minimising hazards in the in hazards minimising workplace, remain criti cal challenges for us all.

going to the Union website and updating talking to your branch chair who has a list a has who chair branch your to talking of local members and their details; your details – http://bit.ly/exmEyL l l l phoning 04-499-2066; l faxing 04-471-0896 ; l giving us your e-mail to save on postage. Where the %##*# are you? Did you get that important notice from the Union last month? Last year? Any time? If you had any mail from RMTU head office haven’t then you had better tell us where you’ve moved to. Check your address by: The RMTU will continue to do all it can to bring about meaningful changes so that your health and safety continues to be an absolute priority. - (below) The collision last January. Des’ return to work was critically impor critically was work to return Des’ 8 this year. Des, his work mates, and the RMTU are delighted. Focus on H&S tant to Des and the RMTU. So too is health is too So RMTU. the and Des to tant and safety. Des’ case brought into focus a safety and health important very of number

Ian Stewart (r) on his first day back at work after his reinstatement. Des Crowe (c) poses with two of his supporters Allan Robertson (l) and Des Crowe (c) poses with two of his supporters -

N 26 January 2011, a collision occurred between a shunt locomotive being

before deciding to dismiss Des. the circumstances of the collision, collision, the of circumstances the erly and fairly investigated all of er it was operating correctly. used for that purpose, and wheth and purpose, that for used the forklift should ever have been been have ever should forklift the that had been issued for use in

stop should mean stop. is the view of the RMTU that crossing in the CT site, and it and site, CT the in crossing on each side of the vehicle lines painted on the ground stop signs and double yellow yellow double and signs stop because there are large white white large are there because CT site. This is important, for forklifts operating in the whether “stop means stop” Through the efforts of Des, the many

In order to try and get Des’

A lack of clarity around

Whether the portable radio

n Whether the company had - prop

the Christchurch CT site the Christchurch Des Crowe back at work in in work at back Crowe Des back at work. He started back on August witnesses for Des and the RMTU, Des is now now is Des RMTU, the and Des for witnesses Union members who volunteered to be about health and safety issues in the CT site. CT the in issues safety and health about RMTU and its members in Christchurch Des’ dismissal but serious concerns of the Authority. Those claims covered not only claims in the Employment Relations job back, the RMTU and Des filed O

the circumstances of the colli failed to take into account all of involved, including: that this outcome was unfair, and and unfair, was outcome this that sion. There were several factors members working on the site felt felt site the on working members the RMTU, Des, and the RMTU collision. From the very outset, out notice) as a result of that was dismissed summarily (with- Christchurch CT site. Des Crowe Crowe Des site. CT Christchurch of the vehicle crossings in the The collision occurred at one in Christchurch) and a forklift. operated by Des Crowe (an RCO (an Crowe Des by operated WS NE The Transport Worker September 2011 6 Meanwhile, Hillsidedemonstratesitsexpertise Hillside redundancies T make themgofaster! will scheme colour new The year. next early carriages new get will TranzAlpine trained. are crew the once Picton to Pacific Coastal the on service luggage vansareready. tember once the buffet car and Sep- in training crew on-board start to due are KiwiRail roof. outside the Hillside Workshops. carriage KiwiRail New services TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific Wayne Butson Thank you I askyoutogiveityourvaluabletime. well researchedandworthreading. and exploresthegovernment'smotives.Itis article thoroughlyexplainsthebackground New Zealandworkers.GordonCampbell's ally showshowoverseascontractsarekilling are tothatcity.Thecartoonrightgraphic- redundancies Hillside importance and showsthe householders Dunedin in four signed byone ing hasbeen I amhold- The petition sisters, brothers and Greetings The first trainset will go into the in windows the Note new carriages for the