MEDIA RELEASE 29 09 04

Conference plans for nationwide casinos campaign

Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) members from casinos around NZ finished off their two-day conference on Tuesday by developing strategies for national casino organising.

Over 50 delegates, representing hundreds of casino workers nationwide, developed plans to create greater cooperation between casino workers through workplace organization, networks within the SFWU and the working with the community.

The conference passed the following resolution:

1. That this conference of SFWU members and delegates confirms our determination to organise to bring unionism and collective bargaining to all NZ Casinos and to work together for strength, unity and power to achieve the following goals:

a. Organise every casino in NZ. b. Bargain collective agreements in every casino with a goal of bargaining a single MECA by 2007. c. Use health & safety regulations, ACC and new legislation to its maximum effect. d. Develop and push an agenda around skills. e. Re-elect a Labour-led government in 2005.

2. That this conference condemns the union-busting tactics of Sky City in New Zealand and Australia and will join forces with the LHMU to defeat it in every Casino.

3. That this conference sends a message of solidarity and support to SFWU members at LSG Skychefs and Air New Zealand in their industrial action.

“The resolutions we passed build on the hard work and commitment of the SFWU in organising in the Casino Industry. There’s a big future of unions in casinos in New Zealand, and I am confident that together we can achieve our goals.” said Karel Kivits, an SFWU Sky City Auckland Delegate.

“The chance to meet other delegates and find out how things were going at their casino made me realise how we need to be organising nationally if we want to win any real improvements in this industry” said Mr Kivits.

“How often do we get to see each other face-to-face like this? It’s the best chance we have to get to know one another and be on the same page. We need to build a team of people who are working towards one goal throughout Aotearoa.” said SFWU Delegate Glen Cooper.

ENDS

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