While Rodney Hide is trying to stimulate a further round in the old right wing sport of union bashing (this time the teachers), the teachers’ unions continue to do great work, and two Global union federations are planning a campaign against global violator of workers’ rights, DHL at London Fashion Week.
Rodney Hide is on the rampage against the unions doing their best to counter the Nact government attacks on New Zealand’s highly successful state education system:
Gone are the days of the ferries going on strike at the start of the school holidays. The freezing workers no longer hold farmers to ransom. The picket that left Mangere Bridge unfinished for two-and-a-half years is now unthinkable.
But the teacher unions? They’re the baddest and the maddest. They dictate education policy, destabilise duly elected ministers of education and present themselves as the arbiters of right and proper schooling.
They’re rich, powerful and unassailable.
Hide labels the teachers’ unions campaigns against Charter Partnership Schools as propaganda. The teacher’s public statements on these Charter Schools-by-another-name, are based on sound research, as indicated by Ben Clark’s post on the campaign against these schools. While Hide’s and Act’s campaign for these schools are based on….? Propaganda Actual?
The campaign by the global federations, the ITF(International Transport Workers’ Federation) and UNI Global Union begins Sunday 17th, UK time:
Two models dressed in high fashion clothes crafted out of packaging materials, and made up to match, will parade outside the main (Strand) entrance of Somerset House, London WC2R 1LA, the central venue for this year’s London Fashion Week.
DHL is a repeat violator of worker’s rights and is a major sponsor for London Fashion Week. It has a branch in NZ.
Unions in New Zealand have been under attack for several decades, but for those who are still members, they produce results. The CTU (Council of Trade Unions) also participates in (and sometimes leads) campaigns that aim to reduce the severe and destructive inequalities in the country. This includes the Living Wage campaign (as written about by Eddie), and the Fairness at Work campaign. (Ben Clark posted about a new book by Max Rashbrooke, on inequality in NZ.)
Unions provide legal protections for members against unfair employer practices. Also, the TEU reported last year, that union members have benefited from higher wage rises than for non-union workers. The Unite union has extended support to all workers, whether in the paid workforce or not.
There is Power in a Union was written by Joe Hill in 1913. It’s still a powerful song today. Billy Bragg has written his own version, using the same title:
Go the teachers!
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