by Keith Locke
An innovative new type of union organisation was launched today, known as ‘Together’. The new union is designed to allow thousands of otherwise isolated workers to find out what rights they have. This includes someone in a small shop, a farm labourer, taxi driver, IT worker or casual labourer. It will connect isolated workers with others facing similar challenges, and to offer expert advice on workplace issues. It is open to any worker whose workplace wouldn’t otherwise have union representation. Members will also be able to participate in campaigns, such as the fairness at work movement. Already the Together website is active, up and running. There are a good deal of excellent tools included advice sheets, available courses to attend, and an 0800 MY UNION (0800 698 6466) to call for confidential advice.
Published in Economy, Work, & Welfare by Keith Locke on Wed, May 4th, 2011
Tags: Fairness at Work, NZ Council of Trade Unions, Together union, Union, unions, workplace rights
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on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Isn’t this just refighting the battles of the 80′s and 90′s?
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^^ bahaha
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“There is a class war and my side are winning”. Warren Buffet.
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I’m confused by Keith’s description. From what I can tell this isn’t a “union” so much as an information and legal advice club with a $52/year subscription, albeit with close connections to some existing unions. When it comes down to it, unions are typically about uniting people to have more influence over a common employer or a small number of inter-related employers.
If “Together” were a union, we might some day expect to see thousands of members going on strike in random places with random employers all over New Zealand because a farm labourer somewhere in the Waikato is believed to be unfairly treated by a random farmer. But that wouldn’t make sense.
Kudos to the idea, of course, of creating a framework where disadvantaged people can get info about their worker rights. Maybe it can help with things like developing standard employment agreements where it’s useful to have them. I just hope it doesn’t get confrontational except when it needs to be. There are also plenty of small employers out there (farmers as an example) who often don’t have much to fall back on when they’re having trouble with employees.
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It is illegal to strike in NZ except in very narrowly defined circumstances.
Which is one of the reasons employers unions have managed to ratchet down wages, safety standards and conditions.
Federated farmers have always lobbied against conditions such as minimum wages and holidays.
It does make sense to keep employers to minimum conditions nationwide.
Including paying true costs of the labour they employ without being subsidised by their employees or tax payers.
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Point taken about the strike legality.
My throwaway comment about farmers was only because I know one who’s presently having problems with an employee, which is even more complex because it’s involving extended family (not too unusual with farms). Things could’ve gone more smoothly if he’d done simple things like give written warnings when the guy repeatedly didn’t show for milking, and he’s learning that for next time. But in many respects he’s as isolated on his farm as a typical employee is, and doesn’t have much support for dealing with this kind of stuff or for getting employment right anyway.
I think Fed Farmers is on the wrong track with its lobbying, but (giant corporate farms aside) it’s also representing squillions of small business owners who run high debt and high assets (if they’re lucky) as a way of life rather than a money-making operation. They’re people who often only have one or two employees and can get screwed around and lose a lot if they accidentally pick up a bad one, partly from salary but just as much from extra running and complience costs.
As far as I’m aware there’s not much of a two-way mediation service available for such isolated employment situations to help the law work in an ideal way for everyone, and if there is it’s not universally known or used. The share-milker I know is relying on his mum and dad (farm owners) for advice more than anyone else. The Together thing seems to be specifically targeted for employees, which isn’t likely to change the minds of employers so much as polarise things in even more of an us-against-them way. I don’t think it’s going too far to suggest that small employers without expertise in employment law, and often with other things to worry about, sometimes don’t have the support to know what their rights are and how to help things run smoothly so that it’s fair for everyone when there are problems.
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Mike M, you are sort of right, this isn’t really a union in the true sense of the word as it will have no ability to bargain collective agreements. It is simply recognition that so many workers are bullied into situations where union involvement would result in discrimination or loss of employment. In these situations it is difficult to get sound employment advice, especially when things turn really nasty. It is essentially a citizens advice centre for workers.
I do have trouble when I hear that employers suffer from troublesome employees and possibly needing more protection as in my experience most employment difficulties are around employers not understanding their responsibilities and trying to short circuit due process. I am not saying there aren’t difficult employees but current employment law tends to favour employers in most situations and there are probably far more cases of mistreatment of workers than the other way round.
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MikeM- Given the importance of labour as a resource in any industry, I wonder how much time farmers spend on researching good employment practice as they do profit margins or fertilizer applications?
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I agree I am not saying that either but there aren’t difficult employees but current employment law tends to favour employers in most situations and there are probably far more cases of mistreatment of workers.
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I actually think that this kind of idea is the union movement coming to grips with the challenges of 21st century workplace organisation in NZ. Good on them for giving it a go, time will tell if it works.
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Russel,
It is a good idea, because it potentially offers an affordable advice service to isolated workers. However, if this is the future for unions in the 21st Century, then unionism is doomed. MikeM is correct when he notes unionism is about uniting common groups of workers. It is this unity, and the potential to take collective action which gives unions strength. Without collective action there is not much point in joining a union, as the only protection one will have is that provided by the law, a protection that non union members have as well.
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