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6:00 am, May 4th, 2026 - 24 comments
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Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
A bouquet to the organisers, staff of Meownui and the musicians (Don McGlashan, Hollie Fullbrook, SJD, Luke Buda 'The E Tu String Quartet' and others) for the show last night.
It was a fundraiser for Union Aid, an international Union organisation.
It was a great evening that it did leave me with a slightly sinking feeling. At 60 we lowered the average age of the crowd slightly.
It's a question I've asked before how can the unions attract the next generation of organisers, Gen Z, millennials etc.
BTW, Meownui is one of the best venues in this country, great acoustics good layout and access, classy environment.
Anti Union propaganda, and active anti Union policies, have been frightenly effective with young people.
The biggest issue for a lot of younger workers is the vicious cycle of anti-union legislation weakening unions, which then makes it harder to demonstrate their value—feeding the case for further weakening.
For many, union membership ends up feeling like insurance in case something goes wrong. But if you’re on an individual agreement that looks broadly similar day-to-day, it can be hard to justify losing $50–$100 a pay for it. That’s the real challenge: how do unions make their value visible again.
Not just when things break down, but in the everyday conditions people experience at work
I think part of the answer is visibility, and a more genuinely grassroots organising model. In previous places I worked, I almost never saw our organiser. If the union isn’t present in the day-to-day life of the workplace, it’s hard for people to feel its value. Especially if nothing has gone wrong yet.
For many people, work just… ticks along. And when that’s the experience, it’s easy to see union membership as unnecessary, rather than something that helped create those stable conditions in the first place.
It’s probably less about starting from scratch, and more about rediscovering and adapting what worked: visible workplace presence, peer organisers, and collective wins people can actually see and feel.
The largest obstacle I find is simple fear.
Youg people I've offered to help with onerous contracts, or even simply getting the pay and work hours in their contracts, they generally refuse.
They know if they rock the boat, they will be replaced with someone cheaper in a heartbeat. Much as I despise the rascist basis for anti immigration sentiment, the ease of importing cheap compliant labour does play a huge part. As does WINZ forcing youngsters into any job. Regardless of how exploitative or badly paid, doesn't help.
I don’t know if it’s necessarily about the importation of cheap labour as much as the fear that, even if an employer is in the wrong, the system won’t back you up.
I had a friend who worked for years at a café without any employment agreement: arbitrary hours, illegal deductions, constant emotional pressure. But as a young solo mum, she didn’t feel like she had much of a choice.
That’s the problem. For a lot of people, the risk of speaking up feels immediate and personal, while the protections feel distant or uncertain.
In that environment, it’s not surprising people keep their heads down.
The pressure beneficiaries face to take any job can also push people into exploitative arrangements. Or ones where the costs of working (childcare, transport, even clothing) outweigh what they earn.
The trick isn’t to make the benefit worse, but to make employment genuinely liveable and worthwhile. It’s about raising the floor and reducing the barriers.
What would make unions important to belong to, is if they started a Friendly Society and belonging and paying into the union would visibly help others around the worker and the person would know that they too could get help with doctor, shared transport, dentist, whatever could be afforded by union, when needed.
Be seen to do the mahi unions! Then frequent visits from the union would not be needed, they would be definitely the staunch invisible figure at the worker's shoulder. Friendly societies are needed now, again. Unions have to change their ways and get beside the people who they were formed originally to help.
And they need to be very values- oriented. Decades ago the union got us to go on strike at Sealords when they knew they couldn't win what they asked, but really just to show their teeth to the management. And we lost out – we workers lost money. That is not the right attitude for a true-blue-union movement.
We were also at the gig and it was fantastic 🙂 My partner and I lowered the age even further ( late 40's) and we had a group of young people beside us. We had a conversation on the way home about why young people appear to not be in unions etc and we did think maybe using language like comrades doesn't help? Still has links to Russian things which may not be every ones cuppa these days 🙂
Thanks Res and KJT. You are correct res about the low profile and the workplace. Back when I worked in kitchens I was a member of ETU and apart from a few emails I didn't see or hear from the rep.
My Union story occurred a few days after my father's fatal stroke in the workplace.
The family was gathered at mum's place and there was a knock at the door. Two gentlemen from the union, offered their condolences, some flowers and an envelope to my mother. In the envelope was enough to bury Dad and a little bit left over.
Following on from KJT's comment about fear in the workplace and workers being easily replaced nowadays.
Being populist, I think ACT's new immigration policy will find appeal away from the usual rednecks.
Recently I've had a similar conversation with two different people looking for a flat down here in the province's. They are at the end of a long queue that often has lots of professional migrant couples in the queue. These professionals are able to offer a higher rent than asked for by the landlord.
The resentment is a long way away from simple racism.
That makes sense in that it’s internally consistent, but it points to a deeper structural issue.
There’s no guarantee that, without migrants, a “Kiwi” couple wouldn’t still outbid the people you’re talking about. The underlying dynamic of scarcity and competition doesn’t go away.
We have the resources as a country to sustain immigration and build enough housing and infrastructure to support it. The problem is that we haven’t kept up on the supply side. That’s a choice we’ve made.
When that gap opens up, people look for an explanation. When they do, it often gets attached to immigration, because that’s the most visible pressure. Even if it’s not the root cause.
Even with much lower migration, we’d still be dealing with housing shortages, infrastructure gaps, and inequality. And the deficit we’ve built up won’t resolve itself. It requires sustained investment, and skills that often have to be brought in as well as developed locally.
There are plenty of arguments about “the wrong kind” of migration. But the reality is that a lot of the people we rely on in the future: doctors, engineers, business leaders, will come from migrant families.
They might not be seen as “Kiwi” straight away, but over time they become part of the fabric of the country. Because Aotearoa isn't just a place: it's a promise.
That is a good rational, economic explanation Res. However there does need to be some controls on the supply/demand side on a short term basis. The Indians coming in, in fact many of the immigrants per se, seem to be more lively, brighter than us, ready to stretch themselves, driven to succeed.
What we need to do is to get rid of our time-wasting, expensively accoutred politicians, and overseas administrators, from anywhere. Let's get down to studying how to run an effective, modern country that presently wants a lot, and hasn't anything much to earn money from to buy it. That disconnect between the haves, and those who are being cared for by wretched parents just staying ahead of troubles, or uncaring carers, official or not. Let's stop our assets and profit making businesses being sold out of the country's hands and be prepared to set limits on the use of tech for basic jobs. Let Kiwis have those. And get help from Indian and other professionals to run a public/tech resource basis.
Wild ideas? Maybe Indian professionals can help with this, it seems that the ones I meet are firing on all cylinders and pretty good people. Chinese too – the ‘incomers’ in general who I meet are mostly in the food trade, where hard work is mandatory. But the younger ones are also studying for an MBA. Every second Kiwi at uni is studying to be a lawyer, the first Kiwis are probably studying engineering, computer engineering so a different outlook not good for a failing country’s future.
The west is corrupt in the wrong ways for us. We need a new, better vein of corruption which we haven't understood is inimical to advanced human life, part of the moves forward which we have to learn to control in ourselves as citizens and our professionals as leaders.
This is written just for an interesting change to the usual so you can dismiss it if you will!
ACT’s immigration policy is indeed populist. It’s discriminatory, misleading, Machiavellian, and has strong racist undertones.
Indeed, there’s resentment but ACT (and NZ First too) uses that resentment to target new immigrants and blame them for chronic structural societal problems. For example, the biggest winners from the immigration-tap for the workforce are generally the employers, not the immigrants. If there are long queues for “a flat” why would one blame migrant couples for this; the queues would still be long without those, wouldn’t they?
ACT (and NZ First) are using immigration to distract us and divert our attention away from the real underlying issues (and culprits who benefit from status quo, are invested parties of the system, and act based on self-interest).
Yes, it has appeal and attracts attention, but only as little as an outrageous headline and equally short to those who haven’t completely turned off their critical thinking faculties.
On RNZ's Nine-to-Noon this morning, about 6 minutes into the recording.
Strong and stable
"It is disappointing to see New Zealand First using it [foreign policy] as a weapon against National… "
Hilarious! New Zealand First have used foreign policy against the general public since forever. National Party's turn now 🙂
Let's go for it like Philharmonix in this shot echoing Abbey Road as they hit it high with 'Don/t Stop Me Now'. Go for it thinking, practical Kiwis.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/in-depth-special-projects/story/2018931288/under-the-act-half-a-life-locked-away
I work with people "on the act" (as they call it), it prevents those charged with violent assaults going into prison (where some of these individuals would just get killed, for eg one of my autistic guys is convinced he's in a gang & is obsessed with gangs), some others have problems with drugs & aggression, it's quite normal for them to get off the act (there is a limit of 3 years) & spend a month out in public, get in trouble again & we get them for another 3 years.
This article is very worse case scenario, I have never known of anyone having 3 to one care, 2 to one for sure, but 2 to one over night seems quite extreme. They can be isolated because they just can't cope with the outside world, an example I walked with one to the bus hub & some teens there laughed at her (because she was carrying a baby doll, she's early 20s & a big person) & she wanted to rip their faces off. So we found her a secure house (plastic windows that can't be opened, house alarmed, big fence around it), she can't even go on car trips because she will attack staff (some cars have plastic between front & back seats but they can still rip it out & attack staff).
It's just not as simple as this article states, I wish it was, I don't know the answer, but prison would be a gazzillion times worse. Another person I support has no internet access because he goes straight to child porn, he spent a couple nights in prison & you can imagine what happened to a big 20+ year old autistic pedo in prison. When the end of his act comes up he will often talk about having sex with children or other gross stuff because of his fair of being let out in the world again (it happened a few years ago, off the act & out the door, there was/is no in between support for these guys).
Also, we don't medicate to calm them down but they have what we call PRN medication (prescreibed by Dr & psychiatrists etc) which is offered if they are elevated, we can't force them to take their meds. We will restrain with they are attacking staff or a member of the public but that's taken so seriously & no one wants to do that. Also remember the police stopped coming to help.
One last thing, we get attacked & assaulted & yet we don't get these people charged, we should sometimes but most workers understand these people we support are unique (& often the disability is trauma based, some of their stories are horendous). I have been stabbed, kicked, scratched, punched, spat on, chased with weapons, hot water thrown at me, doors slammed in my face, threatened with broken glass, tv remotes & cups thrown at me (as well as soft toys & lego) & I'm sure many more things.
I found the article interesting but very, very biased.
Thanks for that IFL. I read that and bells rang in my head! A middle aged chap near me had gone off his meds – said to be schizophrenic – and appeared at an Asian woman neighbour's door said to be naked. He has been taken away and no-one is able to tell me about him and though I don't know him I worry a bit. He always answered politely when I spoke to him. Needs care and safety; he did use to ride an electric bike, so could get round. Somebody needs to think about these people, after all Trump is mad and is rich and getting paid to act out, so let's face up life is tough for everybody especially some of us.
Also I have just finished a book with a character who has missed being in court but has been 'sectioned'? – and could be for life. Sara Paretsky in her book 'Breakdown' has woven him into her USA story and probably shows a picture of how good life can be in a fair managed environment.
It's longish but touches on many aspects fronting us today in NZ so it's well worth keeping on with having a happy ending for the goodies and the baddies get dealt to.
Most of the guys I support are hilarious & good fun to be around, they just have moods like the rest of us, but for some of them it's just extreme. We have serious privacy laws which is a double edged sword sometimes, as one agency won't know what's going on at another agency or whatever. Most support staff really care, & some go way beyond. I'm lucky right now I only work casual at the scary places & have a full time job with a private service which is the best run service I have ever been involved with, but the new guys I support have been together since they were kids so it's more a family atmosphere & if anyone misbehaves more often than not one of their peers will set them right.
Sometimes us support workers talk & it can sound quite callous & brutal, we have a very dark sense of humour.
There are bad services, there are terrible staff & managers, but I have always seen the act as a great thing as it keeps these guys out of prison. Most of the people I support who are on the act have spent time in prison & it really isn't the place for them (is it the place for anyone I guess?).
When on the act they still have autonomy, sure their movement is curtailed, but usually it just needs planning, permission, staff, only certain places they are allowed to go to. Another example is one person can only go out when shops are closed because she wants to escape to go buy stuff, but once out she is overwhelmed by people & kicks off (which can mean biting, scratching, punching). So unless we have an empty shop she can't go.
It's so sad sometimes, these people want the same things we do, love & friendship & fun things to do, most also have family that have abandoned them (sometimes for good reason, because of violence & property damage) so they are totally alone. Us workers worry sometimes about our retirements, I get terrified thinking of what happens to some of these guys when they get old, they're kinda absolutely fucked.
Also, it's upto a judge whether they get placed on the act, they have their own lawyers, the lawyers talk to the Drs, psychiatrists, nurses, & by staff notes. People don't just get put on the act for no reason. Another alternative are those tent cities you are seeing popping up.
Again I don't know the perfect solution, but the article is very one sided.
Always good to get the real story from those with firsthand knowledge.
Thanks goodness it could never happen in New Zealand Aotearoa.
https://thestandard.nz/this-trick-of-national-could-win-them-the-2026-election/
In reply to the Kram post above….I'm not convinced Trump can tie his own shoelaces let alone control the US elections……Judith Collins on the other hand is still dangerous, nasty and retains working grey matter.
Trump has staff – hope they trip themselves up.
@ Incognito @ 3.2
That's about right for us political tragics but rather esoteric for the yr average voter that is struggling to afford accommodation and to be paid 'their worth'.
Their vote is worth the same as yours and mine.