#media_7658;left#Multinational corporations in collusion with the Labour government are waging vicious class warfare on workers in Aotearoa. The last month has seen an escalation of worker struggle against anti-union and pro-corporate policies that threaten our jobs, communities and environment. The aggressive strategies being pursued by corporate elites in our deregulated market economy mirror the global picture of a dog-eat-dog capitalism that if left unchecked will see a continuing rise in wealth for the priviledged few while the rest of us get poorer.

Although the National Party’s 90-days-with-no-rights bill looks set to fail the struggle is not over. Workers rights are still under attack. Now is the time for workers and unions to stand up and fight back.

Global shipping corporate Maersk is preparing to reduce the number of ports its ships visit in Aotearoa from nine to only five. Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson asked, “Has NZ arrived at the position where overseas companies can hold NZ Ports, NZ citizens, regions, businesses, farmers, importers and exporters to ransom?” [Media Release]

The strike at the Progressive supermarkets distribution center in Mangere, Auckland is set to continue for 80 hours until Monday after the Australian owned company suspended fifty workers in Palmerston North. Workers have responded by voting to extend their strike demanding that Progressives rehire all the Palmerston North workers immediately. National Distribution Union advocate Stan Renwick had said on Friday that the strike will have to be extended. “If Progressive are going to escalate the dispute by suspending our members, we will have to consider a further escalation as a possible response,” he said. While the Australian company makes massive profits it uses fear and intimidation against its workers. Recent reports indicate empty shelves at some Auckland supermarkets while workers maintain a continuous picket line outsside the center. [Media Release | Pictures]

28.08 Update: Union organiser Stan Renwick was arrested at the picket line this morning as scabs made their way into the Auckland centre. The NDU are now saying the nationwide strike will continue indefinitely. Progressives have responded by saying they will bypass the picket line by sending produce straight from manufacturers to it's supermarkets.

Workers and their family's require urgent financial support. Donations can be made to the National Distribution Union at 02-0200-0217968-0 with the reference "Supply Chain".
Pictures and updates on Aucklands Burning.

02.09 Update:The Progressives distribution center strike has turned into a lock out. Workers are calling on the community to join picket lines and donate to the strike fund as the dispute drags on, clearing supermarket shelves. [Appeal for Solidarity]
In the lower North Island solidarity actions are raising workers spirits but more people are needed on the picket lines. [Palmerston Nth. Strike Report | Porirua Picket Report]

#media_7643;left# After making 900 workers redundant already this year state owned airline Air New Zealand is preparing again to outsource up to 160 jobs in it’s finance department to the global south, most likely to Fiji, where it won’t have to pay a living wage. The Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota Northern Secretary Jill Ovens said of the move, "They seem to be modelling themselves on multi-national corporations where highly paid corporate managers simply manage third-party contracts in Third World countries, rather than employ their own employees," she says. Nga Ringa Tota are planning a public campaign to save the jobs. [Media Release]

#media_7636;right# “This struggle is about more than one worker and his job. This struggle goes to the heart of whether workers at multinational retailers like Wal-Mart, McDonald's, and Starbucks can exercise their right to free association or are destined to languish as subjects of their employers,” commented Unite! Union organiser Tom Buckley on why union organiser Daniel Gross at a Starbucks in New York, “doesn't deserve to be fired for taking a stand in solidarity with his co-worker and fellow union members”. Unite continues to struggle with anti-union practices at McDonalds and Sky City where workers were threatened by management because of their participation in the August 23 Work Rights rally. [Media Release]

Thirty-four NDU members at a Putaruru sawmill strike to defend their extra week holiday and for an eight per cent pay rise. [Article]

The Green Party and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union are campaigning to stop the government scrapping of the Auckland to Wellington passenger train service. [ Campaign Pages: Greens | RMT Union]