Kia ora

A large black & red poster backing the waterfront union's stand against CHH's use of non-union labour on NZ wharves has just been issued by the Socialist Workers Organisation.

It features a photo of Christine Clarke, run down and killed last year while on a picket at Lyttelton wharf protesting against non-union labour displacing union workers.

The poster text reads:

"Christine Clarke - KILLED on Lyttelton wharf, Dec 1999, while opposing the use of non-union labour. Waterfront Workers Union general secretary Trevor Hansen said: 'It's the duty of all NZ workers to ensure her protest against social injustice continues.' Now CHH are using non-union labour, disguised as a 'company union', on NZ wharves. TAKE ACTION TO STOP THEM."

Trevor Hansen of the waterfront union has endorsed the SWO poster. Its photo and multi-colour layout are visually striking. And, most important, the message is powerful - workers' solidarity actions can help the waterfront union beat CHH's union-busting strategy.

Sadly, Labour's new Employment Relations Act outlaws any solidarity strikes. The struggle for social justice, which Christine gave her life for, requires workers to reclaim the freedom to strike. This fundamental democratic right will be won by workers feeling strong enough to go on strike, regardless of what the law says. An important confidence booster will be building grassroots concensus around a freedom to strike campaign.

To this end, the SWO has started a freedom to strike petition. It has been endorsed by the CTU national affiliates council, along with 86 prominent individuals from the union movement and left organisations. The petition is getting a hugely positive response from workers. This is helping create the conditions for a Broad Left hui next year to unite wide sections of the labour movement around a freedom to strike campaign.

Also available from the SWO are freedom to strike posters, all multi-colour and with strong design, several in English and one with Samoan text.

If you want any of these posters, or freedom to strike petitions to circulate among your workmates and friends, simply reply to this email. It's a good way to build the fightback.

Kia kaha
Grant Morgan
Petition co-ordinator
(09) 634 3377 (days & evenings)
gcm@actrix.gen.nz
PO Box 13-685 Auckland

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