EPMU News

Union disappointed that more Christchurch jobs are heading north

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1300

The union representing postal and logistics members, the EPMU, is disappointed that Christchurch is losing 40 jobs at a time when the region's economy is struggling.

The 40 warehouse jobs at Contract Logistics, a division of Express Couriers Limited (ECL), are moving north after the company lost a Postie Plus warehousing and distribution contract to an Auckland-based firm. Contract Logistics had held the contract for the last five years and was running a dedicated warehouse operation in Christchurch for Postie Plus.

"We know how hard it is for Christchurch people currently and the news that they are to lose 40 jobs is a real blow," says Anna Kenny, EPMU National Postal and Logistics Organiser. "I would have thought that Postie Plus would have shown more commitment to maintaining its connection with Christchurch at this time."

Contract Logistics has said it will attempt to redeploy as many of the warehouse staff as possible, but expects that there will be some redundancies. EPMU members have negotiated a collective agreement with Contract Logistics providing redundancy entitlements.

"The EPMU will be working closely with our affected members and the company to get the best outcomes for members given the circumstances," says Anna Kenny.

Former Pike CEO's role as safety consultant insensitive

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1300

Former Pike River CEO Peter Whittall's role as a mine safety consultant is insensitive to the families of the Pike 29 and a slap in the face to the mining community, says the Union that represents miners.

Despite facing multiple charges relating to the Pike River mine disaster, Peter Whittall has set up a business to advise the minerals industry on management, technical and safety matters.

"Miners are very practical and safety conscious people. They will want to know the outcome of Pike River inquiry, what happened in the mine and who was responsible for what happened. We would have expected someone with a history in mining to understand and respect that," says EPMU assistant national secretary, Ged O'Connell.

"The EPMU has deep concerns over what happened at Pike River and for the future direction of mine safety across our mining industry. It's inappropriate and a slap in the face for the mining community to have Peter Whittall advising mine management on safety while the Department of Labour case against him is still pending," says Mr O'Connell.

In Memory of Phillip Cottrell

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +1300

By Christine Gounder, Radio New Zealand Journalist.

We pay tribute to EMPU member Phillip Cottrell, a Bulletins Editor at Radio NZ who was murdered on December 10th in Wellington.

Phil, as he is known to colleagues, was walking to his home on Victoria street, when he was attacked on Boulcott Street early on Saturday morning.

He was a well respected part of the Bulletins team and was leading the fight to get proper recognition and respect for Bulletin Editors at Radio NZ.

Phil had many friends and he will be sadly missed by them and by everyone at RNZ and the EPMU.

Union confident about health and safety systems at Huntly coalmine

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +1300

The union representing miners at Solid Energy's Huntly East operation, the EPMU, is confident there are good systems in place for health and safety management at the underground coalmine.

Solid Energy is holding a public meeting in Huntly this afternoon to outline what is happening at the mine in response to concerns about possible health and safety breaches involving gas levels. An EPMU official and union members will also be attending the meeting.

"We're not aware of any complaints of the order of a Pike River-like health and safety situation at Huntly East," says Ged O'Connell, EPMU assistant national secretary. "We are aware of a recent event that has led to an investigation by Solid Energy and the Department of Labour."

The EPMU is strongly advocating for better mine safety and stronger regulation in the wake of the 2010 Pike River coalmine disaster in which 29 miners were killed.

"We are confident that Solid Energy is not a Pike operation and there's a much higher level of accountability and responsibility because it is a state owned enterprise," says O'Connell. "There's also a large amount of across-the-board experience and knowledge of underground coal mining at Huntly, unlike Pike River where there was very little. However, one pressure point that's developing is the loss of experienced miners to Australia who are attracted by better pay and conditions."

O'Connell says the EPMU is recognised by Solid Energy as playing an integral role in mine safety at Huntly and has strong network of union health and safety representatives, delegates and officials working with the company to constantly monitor and improve health and safety systems.

"However, while we have a good level of engagement with Solid Energy we are still advocating at the national level for a world's best practice approach to underground mining safety where we'd have the three-legged stool of excellent regulations, a highly competent and effective government inspectorate and worker-elected mine check inspectors," says O'Connell.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare workers fail to reach agreement in mediation

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1200

Nearly 900 Fisher and Paykel Healthcare workers still face the prospect of taking industrial action this week at the company's Highbrook plant following the failure to reach a new collective agreement in mediation.

F & P Healthcare production, maintenance and distribution workers, who are organised by the EPMU and NDU, have lodged a strike notice to take effect on Wednesday. The parties were unable to agree on a new agreement at an all-day mediation hearing at the end of last week.

EPMU Director of Organising, Rachel Mackintosh, says the Unions are still open to negotiating a fair and reasonable settlement with management that would avert the strike action.

Former EPMU delegate working for Pasefika in Christchurch

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1200

A former EPMU delegate has landed a plum job helping Pasefika communities in Christchurch deal with the impacts of the earthquakes.

Lana Afu is the new Earthquake Support Coordinator for Pacific Trust Canterbury, a non-profit organisation based in Christchurch providing health, social and educational service to the city's Pasefika communities. Lana was previously a delegate at Reachmedia Limited, a subsidiary company of NZ Post.

"We are thrilled to see Lana move on to a very important role in the city. Lana has been an inspirational Pasefika delegate, recently attending the CTU Pasefika Forum in Auckland," says EPMU Christchurch-based organiser, Helen Lawrence. "After eight years with us we wish Lana well but I'm sure we will continue to work together through the post quake re-structuring in Christchurch."

Lana's new role will see her helping households directly affected by the earthquakes - those whom have relocated while their homes are rebuilt and those that think they may have to relocate.

"It's very overwhelming working with the Christchurch communities and it's an eye opener for me as I have come from a structured environment to an ‘on the go, no two days are the same' environment," says Lana.

New Zealand Steel workers vote for new collective agreement

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1200

New Zealand Steel workers have voted overwhelmingly to accept a new two year collective agreement following the first strike at the company for many years.

The agreement was negotiated by a delegate team from three unions - the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, the National Distribution Union and the Northern Amalgamated Workers' Union of New Zealand. Last month workers at the company went on strike for 24 hours over three issues - the company's pay increase offer, the term of the new collective and conditions relating to the use of contractors at NZ Steel.

The EPMU, leading the negotiations with more than 900 members at the company, says the agreement was ratified this week with over 92% voting in favour of the new deal. The agreement will see wages rise by more than six percent over the next two years and a compromise was reached on the issue of the use and payment of contracted labour at the company.

EPMU national industry organiser, Joe Gallagher, says the new agreement charts a new way forward for the company, especially around the way contractors will be used on the site.

"The company's original claim to remove the contractors clause from the document was taken off the table in favour of reaching a workable compromise around the way contractors will be used and paid within the business over the next two years," says Mr Gallagher.

The contractors' clause was a "very big issue" for NZ Steel workers according to EPMU delegate Mark Palmer, who was also on the unions' negotiating team. "Most contractors have close links with the communities around NZ Steel. They are our family, friends and neighbours. It was important that we maintained a decent agreement around how contractors are used and paid because it's also a community issue."

Another important part of the settlement for our members is the company's agreement not to use the 90 day "fire at will" amendments to the Employment Relations Act for new employees. "It's great to have this in our agreement," says Mr Palmer. "Our members were disturbed by the recent changes to the law which means that an employer can sack someone without any legal recourse. It is unfair and they didn't want a bar of it."

The company has also indicated it will withdraw court action lodged last year that challenged the contractors' clause in the NZ Steel collective agreement (see next story on this topic).

Transit stomps on Auckland manufacturer, another 55 jobs at risk

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1200

Metal tube and wire products manufacturer Wire by Design says it has to close its Auckland based factory, citing ‘unacceptable delays' by government agency Transit NZ in managing the compulsory purchase and move of the business to a new site.

The company owner Hadley Wright says it's a sad but inevitable step, following a string of delays and legal arguments by Transit that have prevented his business from resuming full production and meeting a back-log of customer orders.

‘I feel like I've been stomped on well and truly by Transit,' says Wright. ‘From December last year to mid-July I couldn't produce anything. I'm still waiting for the factory to be finished. Transit won't even connect the factory to the main sewerage line. I've kept my staff on the books all of that time. But now there's no more money. I have to let them go.'

The threatened closure of the relocated factory will cost 55 jobs. Further jobs in downstream manufacturing are also under threat.

Joe Gallagher, senior organiser for the EPMU, the union representing workers at the factory, says it's a crying shame. ‘All the effort that's been put into keeping these workers in jobs, and Transit's refusing to consider reimbursement.'

‘All Transit can say is that the company will have the opportunity to put its case in court. In the meantime another 55 jobs go to the wall.'

Transit NZ completed the compulsory purchase of Wire by Design's leasehold factory last year to make way for the building of State Highway 20 in time for the Rugby World Cup.

Fiji government steps up harassment of trade unionists

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +1200

Fiji Trade Unions Congress president Daniel Urai will go on trial next week (2 September) for holding an ‘illegal' meeting in a hotel. Meetings of the FTUC itself have also been prevented.

The arrest and trial of Daniel Urai is only the latest incident in a campaign of intimidation that has seen several leaders and activists assaulted or detained. In February Felix Anthony, general secretary of the FTUC and the internationally affiliated Sugar Workers' Union was taken from his home by three uniformed military officers and subjected to threats. His family was also threatened.

The EPMU has already pledged to stand alongside its comrades in Fiji and add its voice to those calling for restoration and protection of workers' rights. You can show your support by signing the international online petition organised by LabourStart at http://bit.ly/r7C2fM.

A lunchtime protest to coincide with the start of Daniel Urai's trial has been organised by NZCTU and Amnesty International for 12:30pm on Friday 2 September outside the Fiji High Commission at 31 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington. CTU president Helen Kelly will speak on the removal of the rights of unions and workers by the Fijian government. Wellington-based members and supporters are invited to attend.

Labour pledges to reverse 'punitive' law

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +1200

Labour has committed to campaigning on industrial issues for this election, including standing up for workers' rights and repealing the 90-day fire-at-will law.

In a hard-hitting speech to the CTU biennial conference last week (18-19 August) Labour leader Phil Goff lambasted the government's lack of vision for New Zealand and promised to reverse ‘National's punitive industrial legislation.'

‘National's 90-day future-at-will law is a direct attack on workers at a time when unemployment is already high,' said Goff in his speech. ‘It gives bad employers impunity to dismiss employees without good cause.'

‘And that's why this draconian, ideological law will be one of the first things we overturn when we form a new government after November 26.'
EPMU national secretary Bill Newson has welcomed this clear statement by the Labour party of its intentions post-election, should it be in a position to form a new government.

‘We campaigned strongly against this legislation and the changes that came into effect on April 1,' says Newson. ‘It's unfair on workers and a blatant disregard of workers' rights. It's good to hear labour say they'll get rid of it'.

Goff also committed the Labour party to strengthening collective bargaining and tackling persistent low wages.

‘With the support of your members,' Goff told the conference, ‘we'll have a Labour-led government after November 26 to create a better New Zealand.'