Comments on: Bake a cake for the LWR workers

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:32:58 +0000

Put it down to astonishment and anger Lew which should more properly have been directed at the union hierarchy in this instance and not the workers.

By: Lew

Lew — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:37:57 +0000

Question was to Bill but got munged by threading.

Oompa-loompas? WTF?

By: Duncan

Duncan — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:10:28 +0000

John Key worked at LWR as a young’un.

By: Lew

Lew — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:00:59 +0000

Dude … what?

Captcha: `hindmost power’

By: DeeDub

DeeDub — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:25:20 +0000

Didn’t our beloved leader get his start working for that company? Surely he could donate his tax cut to the workers ’cause? Even just for old times sake?

By: rave

rave — Sun, 17 May 2009 09:19:02 +0000

Don’t give up yet Bill, things are just getting started.

There’s an interview with Naomi Klein et al on Democracy Now called Fire the Boss
It looks at Argentina and a number of other occupations in Britain and the US.
Most of these started off in desperation with workers pretty demoralised but once they get underway it takes off.
All it needs is a few brave ones to take a stand at LWR.
If they start off keeping the plant intact in exchange for the redundancy, (unions in Aussie did this with Pacific Brands) they might even aim higher and keep it going.
Give it a shot.

As for other companies heading off, what’s new?

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/15/fire_the_boss_naomi_klein_avi

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 17 May 2009 08:31:11 +0000

When they attempt to go off-shore, guess what Doug? They get taken over. You see a problem?

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 17 May 2009 08:26:04 +0000

Sad as it is, I’m coming to an understanding of where Roald Dahl got his inspiration for the Oompa- Lumphas.

Happy jolly take it up the arse and if we can’t afford to live anywhere we’ll be happy in a chocolate lolly gingerbread cake house…..just talk to our reps and they’ll fill you in on the details.

F-U-C-K-!-!

Maybe Kiwi workers deserve what’s coming…dooopa- de- day.

By: Ron

Ron — Sun, 17 May 2009 06:21:15 +0000

Actually – given the dreadful management and Westpac’s culpability why isn’t their union doing just that – organising a take over and sit in.

It worked to get workers their entitlements as recently as 2008 in Chicago at a door and window factory.

It really is time that workers in this country kicked some arse. The MBAs have been screwing them over for a couple of decades now.

By: Doug

Doug — Sun, 17 May 2009 05:10:16 +0000

Not very clever thinking it will just force other businesses offshore, and the employment chances for lower income Kiwis will become much harder.

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 17 May 2009 03:19:38 +0000

LWR workers are not getting redundancy until the plant and machinery is sold. If ever there was a situation begging for ideas about how workers could take over their workplace, this was it. Fuck giving workers (part) proceeds from the sale of their workplace. Cut out the middle man and take the plant and machinery as payment.

That leaves outstanding debts? Make arrangements to pay them off from future production.

In the US,UK and elsewhere, factory occupations are becoming not infrequent occurrences. While most have been occupations/sit-ins designed to secure redundancy/ holiday payments, it is a small step from sit-in to take-over.

Meanwhile. In NZ. Let them eat cake?! That’s some initiative.