CTU Biennial Conference, 15-17 October 2007 - Conference Resolution

CTU Biennial Conference, 15-17 October 2007
Conference Resolution

That the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions - Te Kauae Kaimahi Conference 2007 resolves that it:

celebrates the success made in strengthening unionism in Aotearoa/New Zealand and pledges to step up activity and momentum to increase and consolidate union density, organising, capacity and power, particularly in the private sector, and on an industry basis;

will support the election of a worker-friendly government in 2008;

reaffirms our commitment to democratic participation across all organisations;

asserts an active political role for unions;

will champion a democracy where everyone has a say, where private business interests do not prevail above all other interests; where the right to protest and organise is protected and valued, and where people are not subject to harassment by the State;

undertakes to further develop worker participation to ensure there is a strong worker voice on workplace issues and industry or departmental strategies;

will action Te Ture Whakawhanaungatanga;

confirms our continuing support for sustainable development, resolves to organise around economic, environmental, social and cultural sustainability and maintain active participation in the reduction of harmful greenhouse gas emissions noting the need for fair recognition of impacts of policies on workers’ jobs and livelihoods;

will continue our industrial and political campaign to lift wages including through mobilising public support; strengthening collective bargaining particularly in relation to industry and multi-employer bargaining; supporting higher levels of investment in skills and other drivers of a high value economy; and through lifting the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage;

will continue our campaign against low pay including support for a suitable legislative process to establish industry-wide collective agreements including in low paid industries;

will continue our regular engagement with Government at CTU : Government forums;

opposes any attempts to privatise state assets, and reasserts our support for strong and comprehensive public services;

will continue to work with parliamentary parties that share our policies and objectives, and to work closely with these parties to achieve such policies and objectives;

will continue with major CTU projects on health and safety training, productivity, learning representatives, industry strategies, Maori economic development, and ongoing work in support of pay equity;

supports mechanisms to promote and reflect diversity at all levels so members can see themselves reflected in the union movement;

will maintain our international work including active involvement in SPOCTU and support for development projects in the Asia Pacific region, and seek greater integration of our international work with overall union activity;

calls for the implementation of ILO Conference resolutions to impose trade sanctions against the Burmese military régime until they cease the use of forced labour and until they release Aung San Suu Kyi, and further that we oppose investment of NZ Superannuation Fund savings in companies which operate in Burma;

will continue our work opposing free trade in a global marketplace dominated by multinational enterprises and propose instead fair trade based on sustainable development;

will continue to lobby for trade policies based on fair trade and ensure that Mode 4 is not agreed to at the expense of New Zealand workers or the training of New Zealand workers, and further that the current global market place must not provide for global multinationals to use free trade against workers;

confirms our continuing solidarity with Australian workers and their unions in their campaign against hostile and aggressive industrial laws, and to take all necessary action in support especially by urging all those New Zealanders entitled to vote in the Australian general election to do so, and we send a message of solidarity to the building and construction unions as they defend their right to organise because they have been specifically targeted by the Howard government;

expresses our concerns that legislation such as the Terrorism Suppression Act is being used to suppress genuine political protest in Aotearoa/New Zealand and seeks repeal of this legislation;

will promote a union vision of the workplace of the future as set out in Te Huarahi Mo Nga Kaimahi.