There comes a time in everyone’s lives, when we have to make a stand for justice. This is one of those times.

You are invited to attend a free Public Rally to Support Low Paid Workers (Featuring Imon Star from Rhombus, Olmecha, top NZ comedians, speakers and Rosita Vai from New Zealand Idol)

2pm – 4pm, Sunday 12 February Auckland Town Hall, Queen Street

The Government’s decision that employers only have to pay their adult employees $10.25 an hour from March 27 is extremely disappointing.

Unite was set up three years ago in Auckland. Since then, our dedicated staff and volunteers have been working very hard helping hundreds of workers when they’ve got into trouble or needed assistance; as well as negotiating wage increases for thousands more.

We are proud to say that Unite is Auckland’s fastest growing Union with nearly 5000 members. But we have only scratched the surface. For us to win we need to get the rest of the community behind our campaign.

We are asking ALL members of the community (that’s you), your friends and family to come to a community-wide meeting and fill up the Town Hall in Queen Street.

January 25, 2006

Community representatives came together today to support fast food workers and their SuperSizeMyPay.com campaign as a step towards winning a reasonable standard of living and making poverty wages history for all New Zealanders.

All members of the community panel supported the campaign’s demands of a $12 minimum wage, an end to youth rates and secure hours. The representatives agreed that low pay and a substandard minimum wage were at the heart of poverty.

“The recent resurgence in young people’s interest in unions is a direct result of age discrimination and being overworked and underpaid in jobs that offer little chance of a lasting career,” said Matt McCarten, Auckland Industrial President, Unite Union. “Improving workers’ security and pay in employment is critical to fulfilling their basic human rights and ensuring they can maintain a decent standard of living.”

Susan Tuaniu, Unite Union’s Senior Fast Food Spokesperson, KFC said the recent minimum wage rise to $10.25 only meant an extra $20 a week in the hand. “If all low paid workers and the community stand behind us to get McDonald’s, Burger King, and Restaurant Brands KFC, Pizza Hut and Starbucks, to lead the industry in improving our conditions and our pay, it will be a significant step towards securing a better future for everyone and making poverty wages history,” she said.

Kia Ora Koutou,

I apologise for an older newsletters and repeated emails being sent into your email box at one time. We had an unforseen technical problem with our newsletter which has now been resolved. You should now receive our press releases and newsletter update at the correct time.

Thankyou for supporting our campaign.

In solidarity,
Simon Oosterman
simon@unite.org.nz
0274 555 789

Mother of Five Leads Strike Against Insulting Pay Rise

21 December 2005

A lightning strike was called today at KFC Lincoln Rd by mother of five KFC shift manager, Susan Tuanui in response to the Government raising the adult minimum wage by only 75c and not removing youth pay discrimination.

Tuanui said that a pay rise of 75c per hour would only give her an extra $20 in the hand if she worked 40 hours a week. But she would still need to work over 40 hours a week to break the $400 mark.

Tuanui supports five children and says that a 75c per hour pay rise will make little difference to how hard she has to work to afford to feed her family. She currently gets paid $9.86 an hour for a managerial role.

Photos of lightening strike

“The pay change next year is not going to help my family now or when it comes in. It is already difficult to juggle our financial needs, my kids’ needs and still pay the rent when the cost of living is already too high. Twenty dollars does not even cover travel costs to get my kids to school.”

Kia Ora Koutou,

Just sending out an urgent message that there is a strike tommorow at 12 noon at the Royal Oak Pizza Hut Restaurant at 711 Mt Albert Rd, Auckland, Saturday 16th of December. (Please note that it is not the small store on Manukau rd which is just around the corner.)

Please invite all your friends and family as this is an important event to show support in particular to the many migrant workers who earn minimum wage.

The press release for the strike is attached below.

Yours,
Simon Oosterman
0274 555 789

Migrant Workers Strike For A Fair Slice Of The Profit

Friday, December 16 2005

Migrant workers will be serving up slices from a giant pizza tomorrow as part of the next SuperSizeMyPay.Com strike action at the Royal Oak Pizza Hut restaurant, 12 noon at 711 Mt Albert Rd, Auckland, Saturday 16th of December.

SuperSizeMyPay.Com campaign co-ordinator Simon Oosterman said the fast-food workers were striking to raise public awareness of the disproportionate number of migrant workers on low pay and minimum wage in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland where two thirds of migrants live and study and where the costs of living are highest.

Kia Ora Koutou,

Thank you for supporting the SuperSizeMyPay.Com campaign for a fair $12 minimum wage, no youth rates and secure hours.

The SuperSizeMyPay.com campaign has only been running for three weeks and already the local and international response has been astounding.

We will be keeping you up-to-date with regular e-newsletters about our campaign and what you can do to help low paid and minimum wage workers in Aotearoa/New Zealand. (Our restaurant worker newsletter is available at http://www.supersizemypay.com/workers.)