Our Voice Spring 2011_web

Spring Edition 2011 - issue # 2
SERVICE AND FOOD WORKERS UNION NGA RINGA TOTA WWW.SFWU.ORG.NZ
THOUSANDS OF
MISSING MEMBERS
Our Voice
The race is on to enrol
our members to vote

2
Our Voice sPRING 2011
call SFWU MEMBER SUPPORT to speak
to experienced organisers who CAN
HELP WITH:
• advice and information about joining the union
• advice about problems at work
• information about becoming a delegate
• information on your wages and conditions
• understanding your agreement (CEA)
• questions about holidays, annual leave,
sick leave, health and safety, bullying and
harassment
• info about getting involved in union campaigns
and committees
• any other advice and support you needwww.sfwu.org
Elected members oversee the work of our Union.
The following executive members are available to
discuss member issues.
National President
Barbara Wyeth
09 445 8782 (home)
Northern Region President
Percy Harrison
09 275 9127 (home)
Central Region President
(Acting President) Marianne Bishop
04 970 9828 (home)
Southern Region President
Julie Kahaki
03 349 4917 (home)
MEMBER SUPPORT
0800 UNION1
0800 864 661 TOLL FREE
If member support organisers are busy on another
call and you are unable to hold for assistance,
press * and follow the instructions to be called
back when you get to the front of the queue.
executive
member support
- for advice you can
call on
0800 UNION 1
Moving house or changing job?
Don’t forget to call MEMBER SUPPORT
to update your details!

3
Our Voice online www.sfwu.org.NZ
SPRING 2011 - issue #2
Our Voice
This means we’re a collective of workers who are about improving the lives of workers
and working for a fair and just society by organising for strength, unity and power on the job,
in our industries, our communities and society as a whole.
SFWU Nga Ringa Tota is an organising union
COVER PHOTO:
SFWU member
Phyllis Martin
helps delegate
Gadiel Asiata
update his
enrolment at
Griffins Papakura
04 editorial
• A NEW DEAL FOR WORKERS. A FAIR DEAL FOR ALL.
KIA HORA TE TIKA TANGATA
05 cover story
• Seven thousand members MISSING
FROM ELECTORAL ROLL
06 GENERAL ELECTIONS
• OUR MEMBERS HIT THEIR STREETS
08 GENERAL ELECTIONS
• ARE TIMES GETTING TOUGHER?
10 COMMUNITY SERVICES
• pressure ON GOVERNMENT OVER SLEEPOVERS
11 public and commercial services
• $15 TARGET IN COMMERCIAL CLEANING
• SCHOOL MEMBERS CHALK UP $15 AN HOUR
• SETTLEMENT FOR SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF
• hOMAI MEMBERS CONSIDER OPTIONS
• LAUNDRY WORKERS ON THE RISE
14 DELEGATES CONFERENCE
• NEW DEAL FOR WORKERS. A FAIR DEAL FOR All.
KIA HORA TE TIKA TANGATA.
16 DELEGATES CONFERENCE
• AZRAA’S MESSAGE to KIWI CLEANERS
17 FOOD PROCESSING AND MANUFACTURING
• FISHING CAMPAIGN GOES TO PARLIAMENT
18 aged care
• WHEN PAY SYSTEMS LOOK LIKE MONOPOLY
• SHOW YOU CARE. SIGN THE CHARTER.
• THERE’S GOLD IN GRANNIES!
20 BARGAINING IN DHBS
• 55,000 UNION MEMBERS BARGAIN
TOGETHER IN DHBS
• UNION MEMBERSHIP PAYS OFF IN
ARMOURGUARD
22 AGED CARE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
• UNDERVALUED PACT MEMBERS PICKET
22 ENTERTAINMENT
• CASINO WORKERS GO FOR CEA
23 MEMBER PROFILE
• SELF BELIEF HITS THE BULLSEYE
23 union FEE adjustment

24 PAY EQUITY
• PAY EQUITY PROTEST FOR FUTURE WOMEN WORKERS
25 COMMUNITY
• COMMUNITY VICTORY OVER DHB
26 YOUTH
• HIGH YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT USED TO PUSH YOUTH
RATES
27 AGMS
• FULL HOUSES AT UNION AGMS
28 tourism, hospitality, ENTERTAINMENT and clerical
• TAB PHONEBET WORKERS DIAL UP $18 AN HOUR
29 FOOD PROCESSING AN MANUFACTURING
• KING SALMON MEMBERS HOOK 4.5%
• more LOLLY AT RAINBOW
30 OTHER UNIONS
• EARLY CHILDHOOD CUTS STRETCH FAMILIES
• FIGHTING FOR JOBS FOR KIWI WORKERS
31 MEMBER BENEFITS

4
But our members and their
families are struggling. The
National government has
signalled they will increase their
attacks if they are re-elected in
November.
This year we are fighting to get
rid of this Government, but not
to return to the policies of the
past. We want a bold New Deal
for workers from a Labour-led
Centre-Left Government that
our members voted for in recent
AGMs.
We want an immediate increase in the minimum wage to
$15 an hour, to give relief to tens of thousands of working
families and add momentum to our campaign to establish
a genuine living wage for all workers.
We want stronger work rights law, to organise workers
across our industries and win fair pay and conditions.
We want a new Government that puts the needs and
values of working families at the forefront of all its
policies. We want a fairer taxation system, affordable
early childhood education and electricity bills. We want
a Fair Deal for All!
To achieve our goals we need to grow our union. We have
great activists, but we need to recruit more members,
develop more leaders and spread our message to anyone
who will listen. And we can’t do it by ourselves. We need
to join with other unions, community organisations and
worker-friendly political parties.
We are at the crossroads of history. It is not time to stand
back. If we all dedicate our hands and hearts, our minds
and our souls to this important battle, we will succeed.
A new deal for workers. A fair deal for all.
Kia hora te tika tangata.
EDITORIAL
Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent official Service Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota policy.
Editor: Lyndy McIntyre. Contributors: John Ryall, Alastair Duncan, Jill Ovens, Neville Donaldson, Jen Natoli, Simon des Baux, Len Richards, Chas
Muir, James Sleep, Stevan Briggs.
To contribute stories and ideas for Our Voice, contact your nearest SFWU office, write to Our Voice, P.O. Box 33121, Petone 5046, submit your
story online at www.sfwu.org.nz, or phone 0800 UNION1 (0800 864 661) and ask for Lyndy.
John Ryall, National SecretaryOur National Conference theme this year was A New Deal
For Workers. A Fair Deal For All. Kia hora te tika tangata.
Our last biennial conference established a clear direction
for our union as being not just being about the wages and
working conditions of our own membership, but part of a
global social justice movement tackling inequality.
Despite the confidence of the 2009 conference, for the
last two years we have been on the defensive as the
Government has unveiled its anti-working families agenda.
The National-led Government’s tax cuts for the rich and
GST increase has furthered an already growing economic
inequality between the rich and the poor in New Zealand.
The 90-day fire-at-will law and other provisions have given
employers more power. State sector budget cuts have
meant low wage increases in hospitals, schools, aged
care, and mental health and disability.
But we have not given up hope. Together we fight every
day for a fair deal for our members and we have achieved
some important successes.
We have maintained our national collective agreements
and have combined with other unions in public hospitals to
together create a united voice of 55,000 union members.
We forced the Government to the negotiating table around
our right to be paid the minimum wage for sleepovers in
disability support and mental health and our members
have been confident enough to reject an offer that would
have taken four years to move up to the minimum wage.
We have set a new minimum wage of $15 an hour for
directly-employed school cleaners and stalled Government
attempts to repeal Part 6A of the Employment Relations
Act and undermine our members’ security of employment.
We won a campaign to keep our biggest fish processing
plant open and a Government inquiry into the fishing
industry, and delivered good wage increases in the food
processing sector.
CONTENT AUTHORISED BY SERVICE AND FOOD WORKERS UNION, 35-39 GEORGE STREET, KINGSLAND, AUCKLAND.
ISSN 1174-4944.

5
Around 7,000 SFWU members are missing from the
Electoral Roll, and may not be able to vote.
Our union has 23,000 members. A match of our
membership lists against the electoral roll shows 30%
of our members are either “not on the roll” or “possibly
on the roll”.
SFWU national president Barbara Wyeth said an updated
roll would be available in September. She said that if
working people get out and vote, we can win this election.
“Getting members enrolled is our union’s top priority
as people who aren’t on the electoral roll can’t vote. All
members can get involved, enrolling members at work, in
their own streets, and of course their whānau and friends.”
Some of these ‘missing’ members will be on the roll if, for
example, our membership records have a name that is
different from the name on the electoral roll.
SFWU lead organiser Karen Bruce said members who
had moved to another electorate would still be on the roll
and able to cast a special vote on Election Day, but if they
didn’t update their new address on the electoral roll, only
their party vote would count.
Hundreds of SFWU delegates have already volunteered to
help get other members on the roll. Delegates have been
sent membership lists for their worksite, highlighting those
who may not be on the roll.
During our union’s AGMs hundreds more volunteers signed
commitment forms, signing on to back the union’s election
campaign.
“Getting members enrolled
is our union’s top priority.
All members can get
involved, enrolling members
at work, in their own streets,
and of course their whānau
and friends.”
National President, Barbara Wyeth
Seven thousand members
missing from electoral roll
What you can do
It’s better to be sure. If you are unsure if you are
enrolled, get an enrolment form and sign it now.
l Go to your nearest Postshop
l Phone free on 0800 ENROL NOW
BETTER TO BE SURE : National Executive member
Sharryn Barton makes sure she’s on the role, while
Sophie White looks on
GENERAL ELECTIONS 2011
(0800 36 76 56)
l For an enrolment form send your name and
address to Freetext 3676
l Enrol online at www.elections.org.nz
Then enrol your whānau, your
friends, your workmates and
your neighbours.

6
In this year’s General Election
campaign our union’s members are
mobilising around a ‘street captain’
campaign.
The campaign is all about members
hitting their own streets to enrol their
neighbours, talk about the issues and
get them out to vote.
In the recent Mana, Botany and Tai
Tokerauby-elections, SFWUmembers
delivered leaflets, offered fences for
billboards and door-knocked in and
around their own streets to support
Labour candidates.
SFWU organiser Mea’ole Keil said
in just one Mana street, Warspite
Avenue, 42 households were
occupied by SFWU members.
“Our members owned Warspite
Avenue,” Mea’ole said. “We need to
own thousands of streets in 2011.”
In Wellington, members have started
with ‘table-top’ meetings to identify
non-enrolled union members and
Our members
hit their streets
plan the campaign street by street.
Members are door-knocking to enrol
membersandtheirfamilies,talkabout
the issues and get their neighbours
out to vote on Election Day.
SFWU member Ali’itasi Koon Wai
You, from the Lower Hutt suburb of
Naenae, meets with other members
at the local Labour Party office every
week to organise local door knocking.
“We go through all the people living
in Naenae,” said Ali’itasi. “Then we
knock on doors and ask if they are
enrolled to vote. If not we ask them
to fill out a form.”
Ali’itasi said there are lots of people
who are not on the roll. She says it is
surprising how many families have
some members enrolled and others
who are not.
“This is why we’re doing this. It’s for
the benefit of everyone,” she said.
“It’s a very good thing we do. People
are really suffering. Some can’t afford
to feed their families.”
Ali’itasi has no doubt why she’s
campaigning to enrol more people
to vote. “We’re not just doing this
for our family,” she says. “We want
our country back. John Key is taking
everything from us. We want to stand
together and fight.”
In the recent Botany by-election, 23
SFWU members were given a pack
that included a list of everyone in
“We want our
country back.
John Key is taking
everything from us.
We want to stand
together and fight.”
Street captain Ali’itasi Koon Wai You

7
their neighbourhood who was on the
electoral roll, and they went out and
got their neighbours out to vote.
“It was very successful. In Flat Bush,
Otara, where we concentrated our
efforts, the number of people who
votedwasfarhigherthantherestofthe
electorate, and they overwhelmingly
voted Labour,” said SFWU Political
Coordinator for the 2008 election
campaign, Len Richards.
Christina Fook-Chueng, a Cerebos-
Greggs member who campaigned in
the Botany by-election, said being a
street captain was fun.
“I learnt a lot about the people in my
street. I found people who were on
the roll but hadn’t lived at the house
for years. Other houses didn’t have
anyone on the roll so no one could
vote.”
Christina said there were people from
the Labour Party all over Auckland
helping with door knocking for the
by-election, but on Election Day, they
would be in their own areas.
“On Election Day, it will be up to me. If
I can get everyone in my street out to
vote, I know I will make a difference,”
she said.
SFWU Industry leader Jill Ovens
said SFWU members had worked
with Labour List MP Louisa Wall
since she was selected as the new
Labour candidate for Manurewa last
December.
“We have identified over 150
members who want to help with the
campaign. Now we’re visiting them
all to see who wants to be street
captains and start off by enrolling
their neighbours,” she said.
Jill said the same was happening
in the Auckland electorates of
Mangere, Manukau East, Waitakere,
Maungakiekie and Te Atatu and in the
last three electorates our members
had helped select Labour candidates.
Talofa! Are you enrolled to vote?
The enrolment campaign has even
reached the streets of Samoa.
SFWU organiser Mea’ole Keil says
many Samoans are New Zealand
citizens and entitled to vote, but
many of these Samoan residents
are not enrolled.
A campaign has been launched to
raise awareness, identify potential
voters and get them enrolled. Local
volunteers have offered their shop
fronts for advertising and their leg
work to visit markets and knock
on doors.
“On Election Day, it
will be up to me. If
I can get everyone
in my street out to
vote, I know I will
make a difference.”
Street captain Christina
Fook-Chueng
“The ties between Samoa and New
Zealand are very close,” said Mea’ole.
“The issues affecting Samoan people
living in New Zealand also affect their
families in their home islands. It is
important that Samoan people who
are entitled to vote enrol now, whether
they live in Apia or Auckland.”
SHOP FRONT: Andrew Ngau Chun, who
has made his Salelologa shopfront
available for the campaign, with
SFWU organiser Mea’ole Keil
TABLE TOP WITH MANA MP KRIS FAAFOI: From left to right: Maria Teaukura
(SFWU organiser) and SFWU members Taulau Talo, Pefia Aben, Bishop
Efaraima Feliuai, Mika Perez, Faaulufalega Vavega and Faaulufalega’s daughter
Monalisa Vavega
HITTING THE STREET: (opposite page,
left to right) SFWU members Faitafa
Maulolo, Ali’itasi Koon Wai You ,
Vaoga Ah Ken-Kolio with Alofa Ah Ken

8
Are Times Getting
“Our members
are struggling
and small pay
increases won’t fix
this. Government
policies favouring
the wealthy make
it even worse for
those on low pay.”
SWU National Secretary John Ryall
Service and Food Workers Union
member Sa Brown won’t turn the
heater on in her home in Porirua’s
Cannons Creek. She’s afraid of
the monthly power bill. Every cent
of spending in Sa’s household is
stretched to the limit.
Sa cleans at Parliament Buildings.
She’s part of the ‘invisible army’ of
night cleaners employed by Spotless.
Her pay’s just gone up from $13.10 to
$13.50 an hour.
Her husband is a cleaner, as are
their son and his wife who share their
two-bedroomed home. The combined
pay of four hard-working cleaners
is simply not enough for the family,
including two year old PJ.
Sa said things have always been
tough on cleaner’s wages. But times
are getting tougher.
Around the corner Sa’s co-worker
Mareta struggles too.
The sole income earner in her
household, Mareta lives with her
husband and their two teenage sons.
Her husband has been unemployed
since late 2008 when his employers
lost their cleaning contract. He’s been
looking for a job ever since.
Mareta and her family budget every
cent, but they struggle every day
to make ends meet. Even with the
extra they receive from Working For
Families, they go without the basics.
It breaks Mareta’s heart to tell her
boys there is not enough money for
the things they need. She encourages
them to work hard at school. “I don’t
want them to be cleaners. I want them
to have a better future.”
Mareta knows her work is worth much
more than $13.50. Her pay packet is
not a living wage: “We do a good job.
We deserve $15 an hour.”
There is no doubt times are getting
tougher for our members under the
policies of the National government.
In June Statistics NZ announced the
CPI, which measures the cost of living,
had increased a record 5.3% in the
past year — the biggest increase in
21 years.
The Salvation Army said the increase
was higher. Their survey of prices at a
south Auckland supermarket showed
increases for the year to June 2011
of 9.1% for a single-parent family
with two children and 8.2% for a
two-parent family with three children.
Times are getting tougher.
OUR STRUGGLING FAMILIES: Sa Brown and PJ

9
Tougher?
Still struggling in steady jobs
27 year old Air New Zealand worker
Swapna Parikh is working for a better
future for her kids. “All we want is for
our kids to have a decent life.”
But Swapna and her husband feel
they are going backwards. Parents of
two-year old twins, they’d like to have
another child, but worry they can’t
afford to. Since Swapna’s teacher
husband got a pay rise, their family
is nearly $300 a fortnight worse off,
after losing their Working For Families
payment and childcare subsidy.
“I chose to go back to work because I
love my job, and I want to help provide
for my family and be useful,” said
Swapna. “But every other day I think
I’m better off staying at home. How
does that make sense?”
Swapna said any tax cut from the
National government was gobbled up
in the soaring cost of living, like the
increased childcare costs, caused by
government cuts. “I’m happy for my
taxes to go to childcare, education,
hospitals and other public services
for working families like me, but
those services are getting cut under
National.”
Swapna said she’s not politically
inclined. “All I want is the best party to
win and provide the best assistance to
“working class” families like us.”
“We spend nearly 50 hours a week
working and travelling to work. This is
a huge sacrifice and we are paying a
big price for it. We are paying our taxes,
but have got zilch in return.
“The rich are getting richer and the
poor are getting poorer. And those of
us in the middle are getting squashed.”
Swapna’s workmate Jo agrees. She’s
worked all her life and paid her
taxes. “My partner and I decided to
have a child when I was 39. I went
on maternity leave and applied for
Working For Families but we weren’t
eligible because of his income. He’s
not rich and we’re not greedy. But
when I finally need a bit of help, I think
it’s unfair that I can’t get it.”
Jo’s now back at work but says: “Every
fortnight the money’s just gone –
nappies, formula, $250 per week for
day care. I would like to possibly to
have another child, but I don’t know if
we can because of finances!”
Pay settlements must keep up
“Our members are struggling and
small pay increases won’t fix this.
Government policies favouring the
wealthy make it even worse for those
on low pay,” said SFWU National
Secretary John Ryall.
“It’s time for pay increases that keep
up and government policies that
lift the lowest paid out of poverty.
Government should lift the minimum
wage to $15 now.”
John Ryall says National’s signals that
they will change employment law to
give employers more “flexibility” show
how important it is for union members
to get active in the campaign to elect
a worker-friendly government.
“Unions need stronger work-rights
law, that support collective bargaining
and make it possible for unions to
negotiate fair pay deals and living
wages for our members,” he said.
No struggle for the rich
As our members struggle under
the National government’s policies,
wealthy New Zealanders get richer.
The April New Zealand Herald CEO
salary report showed average salaries
for those chief executives surveyed
had increased 14% from $1.4 million
to $1.6 million in 2010.
The Government’s 2011 budget
included tax cuts benefiting the
wealthy and a GST hike. While a SFWU
member earning $30,000 a year
was $280 worse off, those earning
$120,000 were $900 better off.
And the National Business Review’s
annual rich list showed that New
Zealand’s richest 145 people
increased their wealth by over 18%
in the year to June 2011.
SUFFERING UNDER NATIONAL: Swapna Parikh and Jo Shaw

10
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Union members have increased the pressure on the
Government over payment for sleepovers by rejecting an
offer for a minimum wage phase-in over four years.
Over 90% of the 1600 members who voted at July union
meetings gave the thumbs down to a Government offer
on the minimum wage phase-in and payment of 25% of
the backpay owing.
Christchurch IDEA Services member and union Southern
President Julie Kahaki said that while she was pleased
the Government was finally negotiating a settlement of
this long-running dispute, their offer was too low.
“The Government has dragged out the legal action, put
disability support workers and their employers through the
wringer and at the last minute want us to wait four years
for the minimum wage. It’s not on.”
Pressure on Government
over Sleepovers
THUMBS UP FOR THE UNION CLAIM: Fred Vaimalu and
Julie Collier.
Members almost unanimously supported a resolution to
call on the Government to continue to negotiate.
Since the vote the Government has resumed informal
negotiations with the unions and has shown eagerness
to reach a settlement prior to the Supreme Court making
a final non-appealable decision on whether sleepovers
attract the $13 an hour minimum wage.
SFWU principal union negotiator John Ryall said the
solid rejection by members of the Government offer
was a critical factor in the Government returning to the
negotiating table.
“While the Government has not yet finalised a formal
MEMBERS REJECTED THE GOVERNMENT OFFER: Allan
Connell and Missy Connell.
offer they are aware of the strength of our legal case and
the commitment of our members through the lobbying
of National Party MPs and media coverage,” said John.
Auckland IDEA Services member Lynley Howard appeared
on TV3 and Dunedin member Duane Norrie appeared on
the local Channel 9 programme following the vote.
“What we want is for the Government to recognise that
sleepovers are work. We want it to be recognised that it
is hard work and we want to look after the clients and be
paid correctly,” Duane told Channel 9.
Any union agreement with the Government over backpay
will only apply to those workers who have filed claims in
the Employment Relations Authority.
“Despite the numerous warnings to members to fill out
authority forms for the union to file their claims, many
members have still not done so,” said John Ryall.
If an agreement is not reached the unions will await the
Supreme Court case on 13 September. The decision is
not expected until November. Members can be sent an
authority form by phoning SFWU Membership Support at
0800 864 661.
“What we want is for the
Government to recognise that
sleepovers are work.”
Dunedin Idea Services delegate Duane Norrie

11
PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES
$15 target in
commercial cleaning
With their collective agreement
settled, commercial cleaning
members are now targeting individual
employers to achieve a $15 an hour
minimum rate.
More than 1600 commercial cleaners
got a pay rise at the start of August.
The new start rate is $13.50, with
$14.84 for contracted cleaners in
those schools that are funding the
higher rate.
“The next step in the Clean Start
campaign is to organise action teams
to put pressure on clients or property
owners to get the $15 as part of our
‘living wage’ campaign,” said SFWU
Clean Start lead organiser Fala
Haulangi.
Clean Start delegate Faati Aiono-
Frost said cleaners deserve more. “Of
all the jobs, cleaning is the hardest,”
she said. “$13.50 is not enough to
live on. Cleaners should get $15
straight up!”
Fala said the union is planning a
round of meetings to distribute
copies of the new MECA and
running a series of short ‘Know Your
Agreement’ sessions on cleaners’
worksites focussing on Clause 8.1.4
of the agreement. The clause says
employers will pay a higher rate if
the building owner agrees to fund it.
The $15 campaign will target
government clients, like Parliament,
and councils, airports and tertiary
READY TO GO FOR $15: Clean Start delegate Faati Aiono-Frost, with
co-workers Chanon Jitkomut and Vijeta Patel.
“Of all the jobs, cleaning is
the hardest. $13.50 is not
enough to live on. Cleaners
should get $15 straight up!”
Clean Start delegate Faati Aiono-Frost
institutions to fund the additional
pay rates.
“This will mean delegates fronting up
to the relevant boards and councils.
We will also front up to Parliamentary
Services and those school boards of
trustees where they’re not paying the
full rate yet,” said Fala.
“Even though we have settled the
MECA, members can still picket these
buildings in their own time.”

12
Another $15 hourly rate in our ‘Living
Wage’ campaign has been chalked
up. This time in schools.
The new hourly rate for school
cleaners and canteen workers who
are directly employed is $15.03,
moving to $15.18 in January and
$15.33 next July.
School caretakers are on a minimum
base rate of $630.78 a week ($15.77
an hour) with Grade 2 caretakers on
$683.95 a week ($17.10 an hour).
Negotiating team rep Percy Harrison
saidmanycaretakershavenegotiated
different packages with their school
board of trustees and are paid above
the printed rates.
“They now have to go to their schools
and negotiate their pay rise,” he said.
School members chalk up $15 an hour
The Schools Caretakers, Cleaners
and Canteen Workers CEA settled for
1.25% on 18 July, 1% on 28 February
2012 and 1% on 18 July 2012. It is a
two-year term expiring 18 July 2013.
Members supported the settlement
with a 96% majority. Over 500
members voted at meetings and by
postal ballot.
The Schools Trustees Association
has agreed to a working party on
guidelines to stop workplace bullying.
Thereisalsogoingtobemoreflexibility
around when holidays can be taken.
Negotiating team rep Percy Harrison
Homai members
consider options
SFWU members at Homai
College in Manurewa are
considering their options, which
include keeping their own
collective agreement, moving
some members onto the SFWU
Cleaners and Caretakers CEA,
and others going onto the School
Support Staff CEA.
School support staff members are voting on a pay settlement. The
settlement gives most support staff a 4% pay rise over 32 months. The
lowest paid would get 7.4%, taking their rate to $15.03 during the term
of the agreement.
Those on Step 1 of the Grade A administrative scale are currently on
$14 an hour. If the settlement is ratified by our members and members
of NZEI, the union with the majority of members, this hourly rate will go
to $14.42 when the agreement is signed, $14.84 in June next year and
$15.03 in March 2013 — a 7.4% increase.
The new starting rate for Grade B would be $14.89 an hour, moving to
$15.16 next year, and $15.35 in March 2013 — a 5% increase.
Other support staff members who are paid up to Step 8 of the printed
rates, including administrative staff and associates, would receive pay
increases of 1.5% in September, 1.25% in June next year, and 1.25% in
March 2013.
NZEI, SFWU, the Schools Trustees Association and the Ministry of
Education would meet to work through other issues, including salary and
wage mechanisms, and the school support staff workforce strategy may
need to be addressed during the term of the agreement.
Qualifications would now need to be relevant to the employee’s position,
although those currently receiving payment recognising their qualifications
would keep the payment as long as they stayed at the same school.
The restriction on the amount employees may use of their sick leave
entitlement for domestic leave has been removed.
Settlement for school support staff
The new hourly
rate for directly
employed school
cleaners and
canteen workers
is $15.03, moving
to $15.18 in
January and
$15.33 next July.

13
Alsco Petone set the trend with a 9.5%
pay rise over two years. By October
2012, new workers will start on $15
an hour, another milestone in the
union’s campaign to win a living wage
for our members.
The Alsco agreement includes a pay
rise of 3% in February. That’s followed
by three more pay rises, bringing the
total over two years to 9.5%.
Negotiating team rep Sally Mulitalo
said the members are very happy with
the settlement and looking forward to
getting their next pay rise soon.
“The bosses didn’t argue. They went
out and came back with what we
asked for,” she said.
Laundry workers on the rise
“The only thing they argued
about was the dirty money
for the wash-room and
check-in. The workers only
get $3.50 a day for that.
It would be alright if it was
$3.50 an hour!”
M e m b e r s a t A l s c o
Invercargill got the same
deal in July.
Auckland Alsco members
got 4% from July and another
1% next March. The start
rate is now $14.44, moving
to $14.58 in March.
Members at Taylors (now Spotless)
Auckland and Hamilton have also
ratified new CEAs with pay increases
of 3% over one year, backdated to the
expiry of each CEA.
The main achievement is the
agreement to bring the two CEAs
together over the next year. Taylors
Hamilton negotiating rep Celeste
Cree said members had been waiting
to combine the agreements for years.
“Our negotiating team spent some
Taylor’s delegates Ratau Turner, Doug
Tuhakaraina and Celeste Cree
ANOTHER $15 MILESTONE
ALL SMILES: Sally Mulitalo (second on the left) and co-workers at Alsco
“The bosses didn’t
argue. They went
out and came
back with what
we asked for.”
Alsco delegate Sally Mulitalo
time working on what we can schedule
and what we will fight for as common
core conditions, so we’re all set to go
on the next steps,” she said.
During the negotiations 21 workers
at Point Chevalier joined our union.
SFWU industrial leader Jill Ovens
said these members were being paid
below the applicable rates, and are
very happy as they got a pay rise
backdated to last year.

14
DELEGATES CONFERENCE
It was about politics
It was about community
A new deal for workers. A fair deal
for all. Kia hora te tika tangata.
“Firstly we’re
going to put
more money
in the pockets
of low and
middle-
income
earners.”
Phil Goff
Phil Goff with re-elected SFWU president Barbara Wyeth
“A compassionate economy is
one where we have enough for
everyone.”
Metiria Turei, pictured
signing the Save The Pomare
Community petition in support
of our members at the Pomare
Community House
With the 2011 General Elections less than three months
away, the biennial SFWU delegates’ conference on 16 and
17 August had a strong focus on election issues.
Phil Goff, Leader of the Labour Party, received a warm
welcome from delelgates, who cheered at Labour’s
commitment to a $15 minimum wage and stronger
work-rights law.
Green Party co-leader Metirira Turei told delegates her
party was committed to an immediate increase in the
minimum wage to $15.
Retiring Green MPs, Keith Locke and Sue Kedgley, were
thanked for their strong support of workers’ issues.
It was about other unions
“Your union proudly represents
some of the lowest paid workers
in this country in a way that gives
them a real voice.”
Helen Kelly, President of the
Council of Trade Unions
“It’s about building unions and
strong campaigns. Without that
we’re not going to have a fair
society and the future we want for
our families.”
Louise Tarrant, leader of our
Australian sister union United
Voice
“Workers being paid a fair wage -
that’s what’s fair.”
National Distribution Union
delegate and Briscoes worker
Vivien Mosen
Delegates attended workshops on a wide range of current
issues, from MMP, to ACC and benefits.
Members from Pomare Community House inspired the
conference with a presentation on their work in the
community and the challenges they face to achieve decent
lives for the low income Pomare families.
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS: Muriel Tunoho, Dina Awarau,
Patria Tamaka, Sally Nicholl

15
Most of all it was about our
members!
It was the first Service and Food Workers Union delegates’
conference ever to take place in the snow, but the freezing
temperatures did nothing to cool it down.
Delegates were fired up with enthusiasm. They sang,
they danced, and they also celebrated 25 years of the
Women’s Committee.
They planned how to get active in the election campaign
and raised $126 for the shaken-up Christchurch union
office.
They awarded life membership to long-serving organiser
Don Swan and noted the hard work of life member Hans
Christiaans. Both Don and Hans are retiring from paid
work with the union.
Delegates voted to reject a remit to change the current
union policy on increasing union fees (by annual CPI
movement) but recommended to the National Executive
that members should discuss the issue at the 2012
annual meetings.
They also voted to support a remit having Māori and
FIRED UP: Suluoo Leaupepe
enjoys a workout (above),
while Ihaka Hapeta gets
snowed under.
THE CHALLENGE TO
DELEGATES: Virgil Iraia
outlines a plan
SUPPORT FOR CHRISTCHURCH: Sue
Wilson sells Tony Smith a ticket
ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM AND STRENGTH: Delegates Freda
Soe, Lalopua Senele and Charmaine Boyd
non-Māori Co-Presidents, rather than the President and
Vice-President partnership that the union has at the
moment.
They left with energy, enthusiasm and strength to
campaign for a worker-friendly government, fair pay and
conditions for our members and a more equal society for
all New Zealanders.

16
Azraa’s message to Kiwi cleaners
STRONGER TOGETHER: Australian Clean Start activist Azraa Al Delemi, with
runanga member Sharryn Barton and National vice-President Muriel Tunoho
An international guest brought a
message of hope and solidarity to
our delegates’ conference in August.
Azraa Al Delemi came to Australia
10 years ago with her two children
as an Iraqi refugee. Since arriving in
Australia, Azraa has been a cleaner.
She joined our union’s Australian
sister union United Voice four years
ago and got active in 2008. She
works in a Sydney Westfield Shopping
Centre. Westfield owns a huge chain
of shopping centres in Australia and
New Zealand.
Azraa is active in the Clean Start
campaign, which brings together
union members from the US, Australia
andNewZealand.TheAussiecleaners
have won a Clean Start agreement
covering CBD cleaners and are now
focussing on cleaners in retail.
Azraa said she felt the strength of
union members linking up in different
countries to win campaigns.
“We cleaners really deserve more
than we get now, in payments and in
respect” said Azraa. “We do a good
job and we deserve to be valued.”
As part of their campaign Azraa
and other United Voice members
attended the Westfield AGM. She
received widespread media coverage
for presenting the former Westfield
Chairman Frank Lowy with a bunch
of roses, representing the cleaners.
Azraa said community support was
vital to winning the campaign.
“The first thing
I will do when I
get home is talk
about what’s
happening here.”
Azraa Al Delemi, United Voice
“The community needs to understand
we do a good service for them.
Without cleaning no one can go to
the shopping centre.”
Azraa said she would maintain her
links with SFWU members. “The first
thing I will do when I get home is talk
about what’s happening here.”
Awards for activist members
Union members Jude Young (left)
and Te Kura Teao (right) were
acknowledged for their activism at
the delegates’ conference.
The women received awards from
SFWU life members. Jude’s award
was for her role in leading cleaners at
Massey University’s Palmerston North
campus during a recent contract
change from Spotless to OCS.
Te Kura, from Bluebird, has tirelessly
worked, not just on her own site,
but across a huge range of union
activities, including the General
Election campaign.
“When you get an award like this,
it feels so rewarding that I’ve done
something for our union, for our
women’s committee and for our
community,” said Te Kura.

17
FOOD PROCESSING AND MANUFACTURING
Seafood members Victor Norman and
Chrissie Campbell Hutana topped
off a landmark day in the SFWU
campaign to restore land-based jobs
to the fishing industry with a heartfelt
presentation to a Parliamentary
select committee in support of a
12,000 signature SFWU petition.
The petition, delivered to Parliament
earlier this year, called for an inquiry
into the fishing industry, including
an investigation into the loss of
thousands of jobs in the industry and
job opportunities for the future.
“Our union’s petition has already
won a victory,” said SFWU Regional
OrganisingDirectorNevilleDonaldson.
“The Government has announced it
will conduct an inquiry into the fishing
industry. Now we must make sure
the inquiry includes an investigation
into the massive job loss as a result
of changes in the past decade and
brings jobs back to the industry.”
The SF WU Runanga led the
presentation and Victor and Chrissie
addressed the Primary Production
Select Committee.
Runanga convenor and National Vice-
President Muriel Tunoho told MPs
that job loss in the seafood industry is
a huge blow to Māori workers as Māori
participation in the fishing industry
had traditionally been high. This is
more important than ever with Māori
unemployment currently at 16%.
Victor and Chrissie both moved to
Nelson after Sealord restructuring
ended their Dunedin jobs. They told
of the committee the story of the pain
of restructuring.
Victor said local workers were
pressuredtoacceptpoorerconditions.
“We need to make sure that we’ve got
people who have got skills working in
our industry,” he said. “We’ve been
threatened, through bargaining, if
we don’t give the company what they
want they are going to close this place
down and go overseas.”
Strong political support
Our delegation had strong political
support. Labour MP Darien Fenton
and Green Party MP Keith Locke met
members before the presentation.
A media release from Labour MPs
Maryan Street and Damien O’Conner
said the Labour Party fully supported
a wide-ranging inquiry into deep-
seated issues within the fishing
industry, including “building skills and
jobs for New Zealanders”.
Maori Party MP Rahui Katene said
“I support the call for the Ministerial
inquiry to be broadened to enable a
comprehensive inquiry into the state
of the New Zealand fishing industry,
particularly in terms of jobs for Māori.”
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei
said “Thousands of fishery workers,
many of them Māori, have lost their
jobs in recent years. We need to know
why an industry that is so central to
our economy is not better supporting
local jobs. ”
Jim Anderton said: “By going for
volume, quality is lost which has
resulted in low prices, widespread
job losses and the devaluation of
the enormous potential of our fishing
industry.”
Fishing campaign goes to Parliament
“At the end of the day we
need to make sure that
we’ve got people who
have got skills working in
our industry.”
Sealord member Victor Norman
STRONG SUPPORT: Labour MP Darien
Fenton and Green Party MP Keith
Locke
HEARTFELT: Victor Norman and Chrissie Campbell Hutana

18
AGED CARE
When pay systems look like Monopoly
In the board game Monopoly players
compete for prizes based on rolling
the dice. The prizes include the
right to buy land and electricity
companies, but only if you have the
money. Land on the wrong spot and
you could end up paying someone
else!
What might be ‘fun’ as a game is
causing real anger across the aged
care and disability sector where all
too often pay progression systems
are more like a game of chance than
a test of skill.
Pay progression systems should be
transparent and staff should know
what they have to do to move up
the pay scale. But increasingly our
members find that, no matter how
hard they try, they’re stuck on the
bottom.
In Monopoly terms that means: “Do
not pass go. Do not collect $200.
To make matters worse, the pay
systems are turning up more and
more in non-profit organisations that
should know better.
In July CCS union members ran out
of patience when their employer
refused to meet a union request to
clarify a pay system that didn’t make
sense.
Dunedin CCS delegate Sheelagh
Avakian said staff were fed up with a
pay system that no-one understands.
“It doesn’t seem to make sense.
You can be on the job for years and
no-one seems to know how you
progress.”
Christchurch delegate Belinda Helm
agreed. “Staff are frustrated and
angry at the lack of transparency.
We work hard to care for the clients
but we don’t see that reflected in
our pay.”
CCS is not the only one. At the
Richmond Trust staff can meet every
performance target and still not be
guaranteed movement up the scales.
Despite three months of bargaining
the Trust has yet to accept the right
of staff to be partners in the process.
Another employer reluctant to work
in partnership with SWFU members
is the Royal NZ Foundation of the
Blind. Last year the Foundation
spent an undisclosed amount on a
job evaluation to review staff grading
and pay, but rejects calls from union
members and delegates to include a
review of the scheme in the collective.
Perhaps the worst example comes
from the most unexpected source.
The Little Sisters of the Poor operate
rest homes in Auckland and Dunedin.
Care staff have a seven step pay
scale. But the top two steps are
“merit” based. Normally “merit”
means staff doing extra duties or
training. At the Little Sisters the CEO,
who is also the Mother Superior, has
to authorise any progress.
“Because the Mother Superior
changes every few years, there’s not
consistency of appreciating the work
staff do,” said SFWU advocate Ann
Galloway. “In the Dunedin home it’s
not uncommon to find workers who’ve
been there twenty who haven’t moved
up the scale.”
Fed up with the lack of progress
members at Little Sisters decided
it was time for a change. And, to be
fair management responded. When
Our Voice went to press talks about
coming up with something better were
underway.
“It’s great the Little Sisters see
sense,” said Ann. “Now we need all
those big brother employers to do
the same.”
“It doesn’t seem to
make sense. You
can be on the job
for years and no-
one seems to know
how you progress.”
CCS delegate Sheelagh Avakian

19
AGED CARE
There’s gold
in grannies!
Bargaining with the big aged care
chains is underway against a
background of increased profits, aging
residents and miserable funding.
With inflation at a 21 year high of
5.3% and government funding for
aged care at just 1.72%, it’s time for
the employers to come clean on their
financial situation.
While New Zealand’s largest chain
Oceania hides its balance sheet, a
useful snapshot of the profits in aged
care comes from the non-union chain
Ryman Healthcare.
As a public company Ryman’s’ books
are open and their 2011 annual report
declares a 17% increase in underlying
profits to $72.1 million and an 18%
increase in shareholders’ dividends.
There’s gold in grannies after all.
Postcards supporting an aged care
charter are pouring into the union. But
we need thousands more to send a
strong message to government that
the aged care sector is underfunded.
The charter, launched by SFWU and
NZNO in May, calls on government
to provide adequate funding for
compulsory staffing levels, fair pay
and conditions for the workforce,
training for all staff and a guarantee
that government funding will only be
used for care of residents.
Members will present the signed
charters to MPs at Parliament on 29
September, after a national charter
day on 2 September.
Aged care delegate Marianne Bishop
said a charter was particularly
important in election year.
“The charter is a great way to highlight
the issues in aged care. We work in
the sector because we care. But we
are sick and tired of the underfunding
that threatens quality care for our
Show you care. Sign the charter.
older New Zealanders,” she said.
“We need to value our elderly more.
The funding the government puts in
does not provide the care they need
and deserve.“
Both the Labour Party and Green
Party have committed to increase
funding to aged care and address the
charter issues.
Fixing these issues is essential to
securing quality aged care.
“The funding the
government puts
in does not provide
the care they need
and deserve.“
Acting Central Region President
Marianne Bishop
The Central Region Organising Committee (ROC) help Freda Soe sign her card

20
BARGAINING IN DHBS
Our District Health Board members
have joined forces with members
from 10 other unions, creating a
55,000-strong workforce, all
bargaining together.
These negotiations are by far the
biggest in our New Zealand union
movement. The workers covered
by these negotiations represent
over one sixth of the 300,000 New
Zealandworkerscoveredbycollective
agreements,
“We are part of an army of DHB
workers. With 55,000 workers we
are stronger together,” said SFWU
delegate Julie Pope.
Wayne Place, the other SFWU
delegate on the bargaining team,
said it was timely to join forces.
“Our members are struggling and
we need a fair outcome from these
negotiations, including a pay rise that
addresses the cost of living.”
However, as Our Voice went to print,
the DHBs had not made a realistic
offer. The first offer fell well short of
what our members would expect and
was rejected by the unions.
SFWU National Secretary John Ryall
said the unions had put up a counter-
offer and members’ meetings were
taking place to report on progress.
“The number of unions involved
means there are many issues,” said
John. “Our strong push is to get a
decent pay rise and improvement to
key conditions.”
Although the cost of living has
increased to 5.3% in the past year, the
Government has increased funding to
some DHBs by as little as 2%.
Wayne said our union’s reference
group was in no mood to accept a
low pay offer, especially as they have
heard John Key saying workers can
expect a 4.1% increase this year.
“Other unions like the firefighters are
seeking fair pay increases to keep up
with the cost of living,” Wayne said.
“Our members expect a good and fair
result from these negotiations and
with 55,000 union members, we are
a force to be reckoned with!”
Industry leader Jill Ovens said the
negotiations were not just about the
pay increase.
“We are part of
an army of DHB
workers. With
55,000 workers
we are stronger
together.”
DHB delegate Julie Pope
THE SFWU TEAM: Jill Ovens, John
Ryall, Julie Pope, Wayne Place
“Ourunionhasclaimedimprovements
in sick leave and parental leave, as
well as the fifth week of annual leave
after five years service,” Jill said.
“There is the issue of the metro/non-
metro rates, and progression being
linked to satisfactory performance.
We also want to see some movement
on qualifications and higher duties.”
Throughout the negotiations, the
SFWU team has reported back to a
DHB reference group, which includes
a SFWU delegate from each DHB
where we have members who are
directly-employed. We also have a
reference group that includes reps
from the various contractor groups.
SFWU has initiated bargaining with
all the contractors, claims meetings
have been held and negotiating team
reps endorsed. Bargaining will start
from early September.
THE UNION BARGAINING TEAM
55,000 union members
bargain together in DHBs

21
SECURITY
Armourguard members have ratified a 3% pay rise for Level
1 static guards and 2.5% for those on all other grades. In
another win for our ‘Living Wage’ campaign to achieve at
least $15 an hour for all members, the new start rate for
mobile guards is $15, with $16.32 for level three.
The settlement still leaves static guards at $13.51, below
the First Security start rate of $13.93 and $14.07 from
January 2012. However, Armourguard’s Level 3 rate for
static guards is now higher than First Security.
Theresa Ahu Kawhena, a member of the negotiating team
from Hamilton, said the next step is to push on the training
issue as our members can get an immediate pay rise to
$14.60 if they achieve their L3 qualifications.
“If you haven’t already started on your NZQA qualifications,
there is real incentive to do so. If you are on L1 and get
your L3 qualifications, you will have achieved an 11% pay
increase this year,” Theresa said.
“If you are currently a L1 mobile guard, and you get your L3
qualifications this year, the increase will be nearly 12%.”
The two-year term includes another increase on 1 June
2012 based on the Labour Cost Index for the year ended
March 2013, which is forecasted to be 2.4%. If the
forecast is accurate, the start rate will go to $13.83 and
the L3 static guards rate will go to $14.95 (compared with
$14.72 for First Security in January 2012).
Union membership pays
off in Armourguard
A review process is underway for 90 members currently
paid above the rates. Managers have to do the reviews
within three months and any pay rise will be backdated to 1
June 2011. Our Union will receive a report on the reviews.
SFWU industry leader Jill Ovens said those who have not
had a pay increase in the past 12 months can expect a
pay rise through this process. “Let us know if you don’t
and we’ll be asking why not.”
Colin Pedersen, an Auckland negotiating team rep,
is pleased the team got long service leave in the
negotiations. He’s been a member of our Union since he
started with Securitas in 1988.
“I’ve been working for Armourguard for 18 years,” Colin
said. “I think our loyalty should be recognised.”
The settlement includes two weeks extra leave after 15
years’ service, three weeks after 25 years, four weeks
after 35 years and five weeks after 40 years.
Jill said Armourguard does not automatically give those
on individual employment agreements the same pay rises
as union members.
“Non-union guards start on our conditions, but they can
stay on the same pay rate for years. So the message to
all Armourguard members is — tell your colleagues they
should join the union!” said JIll.
GLAD TO BE UNION: Delegates Alex Kalnins and Theresa Ahu Kawena
“Non-union guards
start on our conditions,
but they can stay on
the same pay rate for
years. The message to
members is — tell your
colleagues they should
join the union!”
SFWU Industry leader Jill Ovens

22
COMMUNITY SERVICES • ENTERTAINMENT
Casino workers go for CEA
Anita Pluck
Christchurch casino delegate
PICKETING PACT: SFWU delegate Dawn Wadley and PACT members
Undervalued PACT members picket
Dunedin members employed by
mental health provider PACT picketed
their employer’s head office on 10
August over a miserable 1% pay offer.
SFWU members at Christchurch
casino have started the process of
getting a collective agreement for
their site.
“We need to have some certainty
and a say in our future,” said casino
delegate Anita Pluck. “Events of the
past year show we need a CEA with
improved conditions and we must
have a redundancy agreement.”
After the February earthquake the
Christchurch casino closed. At a
staff meeting in April 500 casino
employees were told the casino would
no longer continue to pay wages.
Staff were given two options — leave
without pay or redundancy.
The problem was the only redundancy
on offer was four weeks’ notice.
SFWU organiser Simon des Baux says
staff were given two working days to
make their decision.
“This was extended by a week after
SFWU involvement,” said Simon. “The
SFWU was not told of, or invited to the
meeting, which the casino claimed
was an oversight.”
Despite the efforts of the SFWU
delegates and officials the casino
refused to offer any redundancy,
claimingtheywantedtotreateveryone
equally. In other words, nobody gets
anything.
The Christchurch Casino is 50%
owned by Sky City which also
operates the Auckland casino where
SFWU members have a redundancy
agreement.
“We need certainty for our members
in Christchurch,” said Simon.
“We need to have
some certainty
and a say in our
future.”
“The employer
has said this is
not even about
affordability, but
what is the going
rate.”
SFWU organiser Ann Galloway
Around 60 members, supported
by other unions and community
members marched down the main
street and attracted local media for
their protest.
SFWU organiser Ann Galloway said
negotiations for our 125 members
began in March and union members
have claimed a 6% pay increase.
She said members were willing to
reduce their claim, but not willing to
accept 1%, particularly as it seemed
the employer can afford to pay. “The
employer has said this is not even
about affordability, but what is the
going rate,” said Ann.
AsOurVoicewenttoprint,negotiations
were set to resume on 31 August.

23
Union Northern Regional Organising Committee member
and Taupo Hospital orderly Wayne Place is not just
passionate about his union but is also passionate about
darts.
Wayne is Secretary of the Taupo Darts Association and
is the coach for 14 young people, who have also taken
on the sport.
Wayne recently took 10 of them to the National Youth
Darts Championships in the Wairarapa and came home
with a hoard of medals and with five out of the ten winning
selection in their national age grade teams.
Wayne stumbled into darts coaching by accident.
“I offered a hand to a member of the Taupo Darts
Association, who was coaching the kids after school. After
two weeks he said he didn’t have time to continue,” he
said. “Seventeen years later I am still coaching.”
Wednesdays after school is a very busy time for Wayne
getting some food together and awaiting the arrival of his
darts group.
“Darts teaches these kids discipline, focus, how to have
fun and how to count – an important part of the sport,”
said Wayne.
One of the highlights of Wayne’s coaching career was
seeing a 12-year-old Taupo girl win the National Singles
Championship at the Wairarapa competition.
“When she first came along as a nine-year-old she had no
confidence and her darts would go everywhere except on
MEMBER PROFILE
Self belief hits the bullseye
the dart board. It was so bad that we had to make sure
that there was no player next to her in case her darts went
over into their area.”
Wayne believes that the secret ingredient to a good darts
player is “self belief”.
“Not only is this vital in darts,” he said. “But it is also the
vital ingredient in developing union members and leaders.”
“Not only is self belief vital
in darts, but it is also the
vital ingredient in developing
union members and leaders.”
Northern ROC member Wayne Place
BUILDING SELF BELIEF: Delegate Wayne Place with (left)
Mahora Manuel Hepi and Shauna McGreevy
Annual union
fee adjustment
At our union’s 2005 annual general meetings, members
voted to adjust the union fees automatically each year from
2007 by the inflation rate.
From 1 October 2011 union fees will be increased by 5.3%,
the consumer price index movement for the year ending
30 June 2011.
Notice of the fees increase will be sent to all employers so
they can adjust the payroll deductions.
New fees as of 1 October 2011
WEEKLY HOURS WEEKLY UNION FEE
10 hours or less $2.96
11 - 24 hours $4.85
25 - 39 hours $5.98
40 or more hours $6.99
Members who pay by automatic payment will be sent a
replacement AP form, and should change the monthly
amounts that are paid.
Monthly fee rates are calculated by multiplying the weekly
rate by 52 (weeks) and dividing by 12 (months) as there are
not exactly four weeks in every month.
Note: Members are responsible for checking their payroll/
AP deductions regularly. In the case of wrong deductions
being made the union will only pay backpay of up to 12
months fees.

24
PAY EQUITY
Pay equity protest for
future women workers
SFWU Clean start organiser Fala Haulangi took her niece to a pay equity protest because
Fala believes winning pay that values the work that women do is vital for our union and for
girls like two year old Azleen.
Azleen was part of a SFWU protest outside the Auckland
Employers and Manufacturers head office in August, after
comments by EMA CEO Alistair Thompson that women
earn less than men because they take more sick leave
for “women’s illness”. Mr Thompson resigned after a
public outcry.
“We wanted to highlight that pay equity is not only about
individual women getting equal pay with their male
colleagues, but about whole groups of workers, including
men, being paid less simply because the work they do
is mostly performed by women,” said SFWU industry
leader Jill Ovens. “Our caregivers and cleaners are a good
example of this.”
One of the biggest causes of the gender pay gap is
large groups of women workers being undervalued and
underpaid. Many of those workers are SFWU members.
Campaigning for pay equity is a very important part of our
union’s work.
20 years ago New Zealand had pay equity legislation. Then
a National government was elected and the first thing
they did was repeal that law. Next they got rids of awards,
introduced individual contracts and attacked union power.
These actions led to lower pay for women workers.
The Pay and Employment Equity Unit was set up by the
last Labour Government to address the gender pay gap.
A new National government axed the unit.
Over the past year the gender pay gap — the gap between
what women earn and what men earn — has grown from
12.6% to 13%. For many of our members the gap is much
higher. The gap between Pacific women workers and
European males’ hourly rates is 24%. The weekly pay gap
is much wider. The cleaner who cleans John Key’s office is
CAMPAIGNING FOR A BETTER FUTURE: Azleen (above) and
union staff members Adrienne Apikotoa and Jill Ovens
“We’re fighting for our young
ones and their future.”
Fala Haulangi, SFWU organiser
employed by a large multi-national corporation, cleaning
the office of the most important man in the country. Her
pay is $13.50 an hour.
There are actions members can take right now to support
the campaign. Our commercial cleaning members are set
to organise action teams to put pressure on clients or
property owners to get the $15 an hour. As a union we can:
• Campaign for a $15 an hour minimum rate. Labour and
the Green Party have both committed to do this if elected.
• Support Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty’s private
members’ bill, requiring employers to share information
about women’s pay.
• Make sure we elect a Government that will legislate
for stronger work rights to increase the power of unions
to organise women workers.
As Fala said: “We’re fighting for our young ones and their
future.”

25
COMMUNITY
Community
victory over DHB
The South Taranaki community has
united to turn back a DHB plan to
cut hospital services to their rural
communities.
In the face of a strong community
campaign, Minister of Health Tony
Ryall told Taranaki DHB to take their
restructuring plans off the agenda and
go back to the drawing board.
Ryall has told the DHB he would not
back cuts to Hawera Hospital services
without the support of the local
clinicians and community.
The announcement comes after
2,500 people took to Hawera’s
streets to fight a proposal to slash the
number of beds, close the in-patient
service, limit emergency services, and
potentially outsource palliative care
and intermediate care to aged care
facilities.
SFWU delegate Jenny Dudley was at
the forefront of the protests.
“Our community turned out in force,”
says Jenny. “It was great to see a
united front from the Mayor, local
residents, the local iwi and big
businesses.
“I loved the woman who said on
National Radio how stupid the idea
was that consultations with doctors
could be done by text and email. They
don’t even have cellphone coverage
in Manaia.”
The Taranaki DHB justified the plan
as being about shifting resources
into so-called “integrated health
services”, usually run by GPs or
community trusts, and to the local
iwi which runs a whanau ora centre.
Publicmeetingswereheldinanumber
of South Taranaki communities over
a two-week period.
“It was great to
see a united front
from the Mayor,
local residents, the
local iwi and big
businesses.”
SFWU delegate Jenny Dudley
COMMUNITY FIGHBACK: SFWU delegate Jenny Dudley (far right) at the forefront of the protest

26
YOUTH
By James Sleep
The end of the 2008 saw the emergence of a prolonged
economic crisis, caused by a culture of greed amongst
the most privileged players in our global financial system.
The global economic crisis hit workers and vulnerable
groups the hardest, particularly young workers.
This is reflected in unemployment statistics. Youth
unemployment has consistently increased since 2008
and is at staggering levels. The latest Household Labour
Force Survey has unemployment for 15-19 year olds at
the record high of 27.6%.
Young New Zealanders have felt the deepest wounds of
the recession and will continue to feel the after-effects of
the crisis until the Government finds a solution to youth
unemployment and the lack of opportunities available.
Within the current economic environment youth pay rates
have become a political football and are being promoted
as a solution to youth unemployment.
As a movement we fought against youth rates and were
successful in having them abolished back in 2007, on
the back of a Private Member’s Bill from former MP Sue
Bradford. This wouldn’t have been possible without the
support of the progressive fifth Labour Government.
We won that debate through a campaign based around
our strong values of equality and fairness.
There is no reason why someone doing the same work
at similar productivity levels should be open to a lower
minimum wage because of their age. This form of
inequality is bad for all workers .
Young workers have no other option but to accept a lower
minimum wage or be unemployed, which in turn creates
cases of in-work poverty. Older workers who are 20% more
expensive and just as productive become less appealing
to employers whose primary focus is to save money.
High youth unemployment
used to push youth rates
“Cutting wages is not the
answer, investing in future
generations is.”
James Sleep, National Executive youth representative
STANDING UP FOR YOUTH: James Sleep
Research from the Department of Labour, Treasury and the
Ministry of Economic Development shows that there is no
link between youth rates and the creation of jobs.
A youth minimum wage is an ideologically driven concept
that lacks the inspiration to develop the high wage and high
skilled economy we so desperately need.
The Government offers us nothing to deal with job
shortages. There is no plan.
New Zealand’s education and transition system allows too
many young kiwis to fall through the cracks after school.
We need a greater focus on ensuring young people are
prepared for the labour market.
The Government’s record so far is of education and industry
training cuts. This is not the direction we should be taking.
At a time when we need all the creativity and innovation we
can muster to take this country forward, to be squandering
the talent of our young people is unfair and irresponsible.
Doing little to stop the tide of mass youth unemployment
will leave its own painful legacy.
Cutting wages is not the answer, investing in future
generations is.
We must once again strongly oppose youth pay rates and
provide an alternative which seeks to create long term and
sustainable work, education and training opportunities for
generations to come.

27
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
This year’s union AGMs were strongly
backed by members with attendance
well up on last year. Nearly 4,000
members made the AGMs a success.
Whether the high attendance was
due to member interest in hot issues
like the IHC sleepover dispute, or the
election campaign, it showed a high
level of interest in our union’s work.
Members enjoyed guest speakers,
including Labour and Green MPs.
They greeted the annual and financial
reports, which some members have
previously labelled ‘boring’, with a
barrage of questions and discussion.
“Seeing lots of new faces and them
being able to raise their issues in a
free forum,” was a plus for Wellington
Regional President Marianne Bishop.
Full houses at union AGMs
Union AGM Remit Results
The following are the voting results from the remits presented to the Union Annual
General Meetings. Deirdre Stewart, Returning Officer
REMIT FOR AGAINST ABSTENTION
Union Campaign to elect
a Labour-led Centre-Left
Government
3632 231 71
Support to reverse cuts in
early childhood education
3735 141 88
Support for Union rule change
to allow retired members to
remain part of union
3638 197 113
Nearly 4,000
members made the
AGMs a success.
AGMS: Middlemore Hospital cleaners, orderlies and kitchen workers say yes to electing a worker-friendly government
Hastings member Tai Wharepapa
said the DVDs were a showing part of
the union’s work members wouldn’t
otherwise see.
National Executive member Sonny
Lewis said the strong debate around
the political remit was “good to see”.
The AGMs mobilised action around
the upcoming General Elections.
Over 2,000 members volunteered
to support our union’s election
campaign by delivering pamphlets,
enrolling other members to vote and
talking to members about the issues.
It’s not too late to get involved in the
campaign.
Ring the union on 0800 864 661 and
sign up to help.

28
TAB call-centre members have won a
3.3% pay increase, taking most SFWU
members to $18 an hour.
In line with other SFWU settlements
this year, the negotiating team
achieved our goal of a minimum start
rate of $15 an hour — a 3.9% increase.
Several significant changes to the CEA
put up by the employer, New Zealand
Racing Board, were not agreed to and
fell by the wayside.
Regular union-management forums
will take place every three months,
or when required, so that an on-going
formal engagement with the employer
can sort out any workplace issues.
Auckland Phonebet lead delegate
Lil Webb said the settlement was
one she could support once the $18
an hour rate was offered and other
issues resolved.
“Members voted down the first offer
of 3%. One of the main problems with
that offer was the fact that the TAB
wanted to downgrade the value of our
Good Friday public holiday,” Lil said.
“In our CEA everyone gets paid a day’s
pay for Good Friday and Christmas
Day, whether they are rostered on or
not. They wanted to make Good Friday
just an ordinary public holiday.”
Teresa Hobbs, Christchurch lead
delegate, said she was not happy
about the five hour minimum shift
being breached during the last year.
During the Inter-dominion Trotting
Races some workers were offered
(and agreed to work) extra shifts
that were four and a half hours long
instead of five hours.
“We wanted to strengthen up the
wording in our CEA so that it would
be impossible for this to happen
again, but we ended up having
to settle for the status quo. The
employers wanted to weaken the
five hour clause, so at least we
haven’t lost any ground on this
issue,” Teresa said.
“We will have to police this better in
the future. We need to educate our
members how important this is. We
fought hard to get a five hour shift
minimum in the past and we cannot
let it be undermined.”
TAB Phonebet Workers
Dial-up $18 An Hour
“We fought hard to get a five hour
shift minimum in the past and
we cannot let it be undermined.”
Teresa Hobbs, Christchurch lead delegate
GETTING READY FOR THE RUGBY WORLD CUP: Auckland Phonebet members
TOURISM, HOSPITALITY, ENTERTAINMENT AND CLERICAL

29
FOOD PROCESSING AND MANUFACTURING
More lolly at Rainbow
More than 45 SFWU members
have won a sweet settlement of
4% on wages and allowances at
Rainbow Confectionary in Oamaru.
The workers, who make everything
sweet from jelly beans to
marshmallow chocolate eggs,
had a sour time for a while. But
after some four months of member
efforts,thedealwasfinallyreached
with their employer.
From the onset, members were
determined to get at least
a 4% increase on their wages
and allowances, similar to other
settlements in the industry. They
were extra determined given the
high rate of inflation.
That determination led members
to reluctantly take the action of
working to rule, to move their
employer from a 3% offer.
The deal, backdated to 1 April,
delivered improvements in sick
leave accumulation as well as
clarification of advancement
around grades. Members will be
paid the higher level or grade while
stepping up.
“The delegates brought everyone
together and consolidated the
membership,” said lead delegate
Eden Pritchard. “As a consequence
we were successful in our goal.
Without the assistance of the
other two delegates we would not
been able to cover all the shifts
and would not have been able to
achieve what we did.”
SFWU members at NZ King Salmon
have good reason to celebrate. They
have just won a 4.5% wage rise for
this year and also a CPI increase plus
1% for the next two years.
This settlement was a great win for
this year and also now workers know
that their wages for the following
two years will be protected against
inflation.
“We are really happy with the
settlement as it gives a good
immediateincreaseandanassurance
of good increases through to 2012,”
said King Salmon delegate Sharon
Paterson.
King Salmon members hook 4.5%
“We are really happy
with the settlement
as it gives a good
immediate increase
and an assurance
of good increases
through to 2012”
King Salmon delegate Sharon
Paterson
“I’m looking forward to the next round
in 2013.”
SFWU advocate Chas Muir said
although the negotiations were
protracted, the result bore testament
to the hard work of the bargaining
team.
“In addition to the wage rises we have
secured the ability for workers move
up the wage levels by working across
different areas,” he said.
“Workers’ skills are rewarded, and
wages in the next two years will be
protected against the cost of living.”
HOOKED ON THEIR WIN: King Salmon workers

30
OTHER UNIONS
Just as our union is fighting for jobs for
New Zealanders in the seafood industry,
our fellow union members in the Rail
and Maritime Union are fighting to keep
their jobs in this country.
12,000 people have signed a petition
calling for new trains to be made in New
Zealand by New Zealand workers.
In August RMTU members presented
the petition to Dunedin Labour MP
Claire Curran and Green Party MP
Gareth Hughes.
RMTU secretary Wayne Butson said 44
Dunedin workers lost their jobs when
KiwiRail decided to buy new trains from
China, instead of making them in New
Zealand. The RMTU union has fought
back with a campaign for trains to be
made by Kiwi workers. The union’s
campaign has drawn strong support
from the community, the business
sector, local government and other
unions, including our union.
Wayne Butson said there was plenty
of evidence that the trains should be
built in this country but the Transport
Minister Steven Joyce has ignored it,
saying government wouldn’t interfere
with KiwiRail’s business.
“It’s not good enough for Steven Joyce
and John Key to wash their hands
of these decisions,” said Wayne
Butson. “This country is going to
experience a dire shortage of key
skilled trades so long as we allow our
heavy manufacturing and other work
to be continuously sent offshore.”
Labour MP Claire Curran with the
RMTU petition
Fighting for jobs for Kiwi workers
Early childhood cuts stretch families
Service and Food Workers Union
banners flew high at a Wellington rally
organised by the union representing
early childhood workers, NZEI Te Riu
Roa.
The rally protested government cuts
to early childhood education (ECE),
which have hit families hard across
New Zealand, especially those on
low incomes already struggling with
record cost of living increases.
Latest figures show the cost of
early childhood education went
up by 11.7% in the year to June
2011 — similar to the rise in fruit and
vegetables prices and transport.
The message of the rally was that
families should not be forced to
sacrifice their children’s education
to make ends meet.
Rising ECE costs are due to
government funding cuts which
removed hundreds of millions of
dollars from kindergartens and early
childhood centres’ budgets. The
cuts have led to big fee increases for
parents as services juggle reduced
funding.
“An 11.7% increase in the cost
of early childhood education is
significant and represents one of the
largest increases across all goods
and services,” said NZEI National
Secretary Paul Goulter.
“The tragedy is that many families,
faced with trying to pay for the
basics, will be forced to take their
children out of essential early
childhood education because they
can no longer afford it. This is not a
choice government should be forcing
on families.”

31
AUCKLAND
WAITAKERE
Lincoln Road
(09) 837 3933
OTARA
3/80 Alexander Cres
(09) 274 9135
MT. ROSKILL
1492 Dominion Road Extension
(09) 629 2872
CHRISTCHURCH
Union and Community Health,
Christchurch Piki Te Ora
Medical Centre
201 Linwood Avenue
Linwood
(03) 381 8048
WELLINGTON
POMARE
51 Farmer Cresent
(04) 567 6414
PETONE
451 Jackson St
(04) 568 6392
WAINUIOMATA
7 The Strand
(04) 564 6966
PORIRUA
221 Bedford St
Cannons Creek
(04) 237 4207
NEWTOWN
14 Hall Street
(04) 380 2020
 UNION HEALTH CENTRES
UNION MEMBER BENEFITS
For up to date details about benefits available to
SFWU members, speak to your delegate or organiser,
phone Member Support on 0800 UNION1
(0800 864 661) or visit www.sfwu.org.nz
MEMBER BENEFITS
IRIS Super scheme
• developed run by unions for
union members and their families
• combines affordable retirement
savings low cost life cover
• low fees and contributions from $1.00 per day
• Portable - continue to save if you change jobs
• Flexible - you can increase decrease or suspend
contributions at any time
Contact: Freephone 0800 650 836

Our Voice Spring 2011_web

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