Unite Union
{{short description |New Zealand trade union}}
{{about|the New Zealand union|the former Australian trade union|Unite Union (Australia)|the British union|Unite the Union|other uses|Unite (disambiguation)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = Unite
|location_country= New Zealand
|affiliation = NZCTU
|members =
|full_name = Unite Union Inc.
|native_name =
|image = File:NZUnite logo.png
|founded =
|dissolved =
|merged =
|headquarters = Auckland, New Zealand
|key_people = {{ubl|Tom Buckley}} {{ubl|Gerard Hehir}} {{ubl|Heleyni Pratley}} {{ubl|Michael Treen}}
|website = [http://www.unite.org.nz/ unite.org.nz]
|footnotes =
}}
Unite Union (Unite) is a trade union in New Zealand. It represents a number of workers across various industries, and was the sponsor of the {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20051125021254/http://www.supersizemypay.com/ Supersizemypay.com]}} campaign directed towards improving working conditions for fast food workers in the country, in addition to representing other hospitality and retail workers.[http://www.socialistworkerarchive.net.nz/~server/Socialist_Worker_NZ_Archive/Unity_(2006)_files/UNITY%20June%2006%20laid%20up.pdf Beat the brands: SuperSizeMyPay part one] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724195923/http://www.socialistworkerarchive.net.nz/~server/Socialist_Worker_NZ_Archive/Unity_(2006)_files/UNITY%20June%2006%20laid%20up.pdf |date=July 24, 2011 }}, Unity journal, June 2006, pp12-26 Unite is affiliated with the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.
History
In mid 2003 a small group of trade unionists and activists attempted to "organise the unorganised". It began to focus on unionising workers predominantly from fast food, cinema and security.
In response to the Key Government's amendment to the Employment Relations Act 2000 allowing small businesses greater liberty to 'hire and fire' workers in the first 90 days, Unite established the 'Rat Patrol' to name and shame companies that abuse the legislation.{{cite news |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/unite-holds-rat-patrol-in-aotea-square-2507459 |title=Unite holds 'Rat Patrol' in Aotea Square |date=28 February 2009 |agency=Newstalk ZB |work=Television New Zealand |access-date=25 November 2011}}
Matt McCarten's United Support Services, a company he formed to supply support services to the union, was placed into liquidation on 17 June 2011 owing $92,000 in unpaid taxes to the IRD.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/mccartens-unite-liquidated-mn-p-95547|title=McCarten's Unite liquidated|date=17 June 2011|work=National Business Review|url-access=subscription |author=Matt Nippert}}
In 2015 Unite engaged in the [http://www.unite.org.nz/end_zero_hours End Zero Hours] campaign, primarily aimed at securing minimum guarantees of hours in union collective employment agreements.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11441887 |title=Celebrations after McDonald's ends zero hour contracts|date=1 May 2015 |access-date=28 May 2015}} The campaign was ultimately successful with the National Government passing legislation outlawing "zero hour contracts".{{Cite web|url=https://www.business.govt.nz/news/times-up-for-zero-hour-contracts/|title=Time's up for 'zero-hour' contracts|website=www.business.govt.nz|language=en-NZ|access-date=2017-11-26}}
It was the inspiration for the former Australian UNITE Union, which was founded in Melbourne in 2003.
File:Unite union New Zealand.jpg.]]
{{Clear}}
References
External links
- [http://unite.org.nz/ Unite Union official site]
{{Portal|Organized labour}}
Category:New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Category:Trade unions in New Zealand
{{NewZealand-trade-union-stub}}