August discussion: Working Us Silly - Employment in Aotearoa

Submitted by beyondresistance on 31 July 2010 - 5:07pm
in
  • Class War
  • Local

The National Government has recently proposed sweeping changes to current employment law, with dire consequences for all workers of New Zealand (union membership or not). From the 90-day trial period to the denial of union access, these changes are the most recent in a long line of anti-worker conditions. As usual we are being squeezed at work, being pushed into more of it for less.

These changes have a historical precedent. Employment law and union access was given a major shake up in 1991 by the National Government of the time. The Labour Party has equally compromised workers rights, severely limiting the right to strike in 2000 – not to mention their hugely damaging policies of the 1980′s.

So what exactly are the proposed changes facing us today? How will they effect our working lives? And what kind of resistance can we take? What can we learn from the resistance of the past (and it’s failures)?

Join us for an open discussion on past and present working conditions and the means to resist them.

///////////////////  WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4 at the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association)
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  59 Gloucester Street (opposite the art gallery)
///////////////////  7pm start — free entry

A good source on resistance to the 1991 Employment Contracts Act is ‘The Myth of Passivity: Class struggles against Neoliberalism in Aotearoa in the 1990s’ and is definitely worth checking out (download it here: http://libcom.org/library/myth-passivity-class-struggles-neoliberalism-aotearoa-toby-boraman?quicktabs_1=1 )

The anarchist communist discussion nights take place on the first Wednesday of every month, and is organised by Beyond Resistance. All welcome!
www.beyondresistance.wordpress.com

 

Comments

All people on benefits: Make O.I.A. applications

Submitted by Radical (not verified) on 6 August 2010 - 7:29pm.

Re "working" and "not working" in Aotearoa: We are mostly exploited and treated like dumbos. If you object to working conditions you will sooner or later lose a job and have to deal with WINZ. In that regard I strongly suggest that all you people on benefits make an application under the Official Information Act to get copies of ALL information held on or about you on the files by Work and Income! You will have a real revelation about how they treat you. It is nothing but supposedly politically correct Nazism! You will be astonished about the formal language used when reporting on your appearances, the interviews, the details held on you and so forth! This is what the average beneficiary does not think about and does generally not know. It is your RIGHT under existing law to request it and get it delivered! So do it for your own protection to learn about what really goes on! We are all treated as "numbers", yes even worse. These records are kept for ages and detail everything about you. So whenever talking and dealing with WINZ or other government agency staff, be extra careful and always on the alert. Say no more than is necessary about yourselves, make clear your needs and demands and challenge them istead of them challenging you (which is the rule).