Workers locked out – bosses locked in

Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, April 14th, 2009 - 31 comments
Categories: workers' rights - Tags:

Forwarded to us from Indymedia:
Call centre workers at Synovate in South Auckland were today locked out by their employer. The workers had been negotiating for secure hours and a pay rise of a dollar when they received word by text last night that they would not be allowed to come back to work.

Upon arriving at the call center this morning union members found the front door padlocked shut by the company and a notice telling their non union workers to sneak in by the back door. In response to this attempt to use scab labour Union officials and members added their own locks to the front door and used cars and locks to block all other entrances to the building. This effectively locked the bosses inside for two hours until the union allowed one car to be moved to allow delegates to enter the building to continue the negotiations.

9_crowd

Unite Union Secretary Matt McCarten told assembled workers that he had dressed in a warm coat and had a razor in his pocket so he could shave before court if he was arrested. Most of the workers seemed positive and genuinely angry at their working conditions particularly that their shifts can be cancelled with no notice. Several however talked about how they could not afford to miss work – this is what the company is undoubtedly relying on to break the unions strength on this site.

Their has been a picket outside Synovate all day and members of the public are urged to come out to the site: 26 Aviemore Drive, Highland Park, East Auckland. At this stage the lockout is indefinet, more details will be posted here as they come to hand.

Follow the struggle online at twitter.com/uniteunion

31 comments on “Workers locked out – bosses locked in ”

  1. TightyRighty 1

    how come this article doesn’t mention the two carloads of unite workers yelling insult through megaphones at the chief executives house at 6.30 this morning?

    • Tane 1.1

      You’ll have to ask Indymedia. Personally I don’t think picketing his house is a particularly constructive activity, you only need to see the Herald’s coverage to see the PR damage you do yourself by using tactics like that.

      Still, you won’t find any sympathy from me for a company that locks out minimum wage workers. All power to them.

      • TightyRighty 1.1.1

        driving past yelling insults is hardly picketing is it Tane? intimidation might be a better word, no matter where your sympathies lie

        • Tane 1.1.1.1

          Do you seriously want to haggle over the meaning of the word ‘picket’?

          Or are you just running interference for a multinational corporation that’s locked out a bunch of minimum wage workers?

          • TightyRighty 1.1.1.1.1

            im sure if someone went round calling the workers slackers and lazy fucks, and telling them how grateful they should be to have a job, let alone be offered a pay rise, at six thirty in the morning, at their homes, you’d be a bit cheesed off too if a blog supported the employers rights to lock staff out without mentioning that slightly important bit of information.

            [Tane: As I explained, this is a rerun of an Indymedia piece. If you have an issue with editorial bias then take it up with Indymedia. Or you can just have a cry here in our comments section. Your choice.]

          • mickysavage 1.1.1.1.2

            Nothing like a bit of diversion to try and take people away from the main story. I bet a couple of the people in the car were communists and one of the cars was a Lada …

    • Ag 1.2

      They were? Good on them.

  2. Matt 2

    Good on Unite, the members at Synovate, and all the supporters that came out today to Queen Street.

    Solidarity!

  3. Isn’t unlawful detention a criminal offence?

  4. Matt 4

    Also, there is a fundraiser this Thursday to help out the locked out workers. Come out to show your solidarity, and stick around for the single best union movie ever made.

  5. If anyone wants to contribute to the strike fund the account details are on Unite’s website at http://www.unite.org.nz/.

  6. TightyRighty 6

    Ok then Tane, how about this one. If these poor workers, who are all members of unite, are all paid so shabbily, how come unite only takes action now? where these workers highly paid in previous years?

    • Tane 6.1

      They may have just joined the union. Or maybe this is the first year they’ve got themselves sufficiently organised onsite. Or maybe the have in the past and this is the first time the company’s decided to lock them out.

      Why does it matter? Or is this just more misdirection?

    • Perhaps they have had enough. Perhaps they know that this government is going to undermine every single thing that the last government did to support the poorly paid. Perhaps they missed out on the recent tax cuts and are p*&d off that Key and co got a monstrous rise while they got the shaft.

      Matt McCarten is the Unite Leader. It has been many years since he was a Labour member.

    • Pascal's bookie 6.3

      Ok then Tane, how about this one.

      He’s like Maxwell fncking Smart… “Well would you believe that Unite is a deep cover front group for a fringe Islamist movement aimed at the destruction of all that is good and holy, and the promotion of hot gay mansex?”

      • TightyRighty 6.3.1

        If thats what they really stood for and were proud of it, i’d say good on them. but it’s not.

        • darryl 6.3.1.1

          If Unite could get the Islamists to promote hot gay mansex then we probably wouldn’t have so much bother in the world. You should give it a crack.

  7. Bill 7

    Taking your grievance to the boss’s front door isn’t an altogether bad idea. Just got to be mindful how you execute such a ploy.

    Megaphones blaring around the neighbourhood isn’t likely to win you many friends. A discreet and carefully worded leaflet drop around the neighbours, while not necessarily winning support should lead to a bit of social embarrassment.

    Nothing wrong in blowing a ‘Mr Nice Guy’ façade where the neighbours are concerned is there?

  8. Bill 8

    Maybe the boiling frog analogy breaks down from time to time, TR?

    edit. Buggered up the reply function. This was obviously meant as a response to TRs comment up the thread a bit.

  9. Looks like the fundraiser and Matewan screening on Thursday could turn into a victory rally, if what we’re hearing tonight is true! Updates on http://www.socialistaotearoa.org

  10. marco 12

    This is a tough one, whilst I deplore a company that doesn’t treat and remunerate its staff properly, however, I can understand that the call centre industry is at the mercy of cheap labour.
    Most large companies have call centres based in India or the Phillipines who can operate at the fraction of the cost of a New Zealand based company.
    To remain competitive and to save jobs this company has to balance whats fair with whats good for business.
    If this was and industry where New Zealand had an advantage, such as agriculture then I would be supporting the protesters. But this is an industry that is extremely competitive with perhaps millions of potential employees and thousands of companies compeating for contracts.

    It does also show how globalisation has affected capitalism. The advent of cheap labour and the advancement of technology such as telecommunications has changed the face of business. Its extremely tough for western countries that value workers to compete. The Asian labour market is vast, western unemployment might be here to stay for a while yet.

  11. The Baron 13

    Sigh, I do feel for these people. I worked in a call centre for a bit, and shit – it sucks. I worked for minimum wage then too – well, actually below it, there was some shonky sales related target that was impossible to meet… it all sucked badly.

    I hated that job so much that it encouraged me to work harder at uni and get a better job once I had completed by degree. The same choice that is available to all of these people.

    I fail to see how this petty strike action will do anything constructive in this situation. if successful, the business will end up being bullied into paying more than the market rate for these people’s services, and will end up being anti-competitive – thus losing work, and all these people losing jobs.

    See, striking doesn’t result in long term benefits to the individuals, the business, or the economy – lose-lose-lose. Retraining, and taking personal responsibility for raising your skills and your worth to an employer makes everyone a winner.

    Cue all of the ideologically driven people who will tell me I am wrong without engaging with any of the substance of this comment…

    • Felix 13.1

      Do you appreciate that your solution is an individual one and that someone else is now doing the same job?

      Are you proposing that everyone retrain and get better paying jobs?

  12. Matt 14

    Lock out lifted late last night, settlement reached. Good on the members!

    Oh, and “The Baron”, your statement about striking being a lose-lose-lose situation–what planet are you on?!? Besides, this was a lockout. It’s a very different thing.

    • The Baron 14.1

      Once again, I don’t mind insinuations that I am stupid, but I would prefer some evidence to back them up. Wanna back up what planet your on with an argument rather than an assertation.

      Oh no, look out – more ideological crap without substance. Thought so.

      Point taken on the lock-out versus strike though – they are quite different, yes.

      • Matt 14.1.1

        Come to the (formerly a fundraiser) screening tomorrow, and I’ll be more than happy to discuss things at length in person. I can’t be bothered to stoop to argumentum ad hominem on a blog today though, too many more important things to do.

        Cheers!

  13. John Edmundson 15

    Hang on a minute though Baron. In your rush to prejudge everyone else as incapable of “engaging with any of the substance”, you seem not to have noticed that your two posts on the subject have been entirely devoid of any substantive evidence, only your own personal anecdote, and a dose of preemptive vitriol.

    If your argument is correct, that “the same choice [a degree and a well paid job] is available to all”, please explain – using evidence of course – how all the current jobs that are done on low wages with no requirement for degree level education will be done after everyone follows your exemplary path to success. Surely you don’t believe they will all be performed by young people on their way to a degree and prosperity, like some sort of coming of age ritual.

    You, being as well educated as you are, should appreciate that society just doesn’t work like that. There are some jobs that simply have to be done despite their menial nature, despite, in many cases being vastly more socially important than some degree level jobs. Your individual solution simply doesn’t work for everyone.

    Furthermore, as the person making a bold claim to having discovered the solution to the problem of low paid and unpleasant work, I think it behoves *you* to present some evidence to support *your* claim. How about citing a country where a high rate of university graduation has done away with the existence of low wage work. That would be some evidence to warrant a discussion.
    Cheers,
    John

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T09:40:00+00:00