"Towards a Transnational Study of New Zealand Links with the Wobblies", an essay by Mark Derby which looks at New Zealand's relationship with the IWW.

In the 1890s a New Zealand watersiders’ leader announced to his members, “We have no flag, we have no country.”[1] He was declaring the internationalism of labor at a time when patriotism and imperialism then characterized the population. It was some years before his views became widespread, even within the militant end of the New Zealand union movement, and none promulgated them more strongly and sincerely than the Industrial Workers of the World, the Wobblies, whose name is itself a declaration of internationalism.

The early Wobblies were internationalists in practice as well as in spirit – they belonged to transitory occupations, they crossed and re-crossed the Tasman, the Pacific and much further afield, were often in danger of deportation or on the run, and in general they regarded their nationality as an accident of birth and a supreme irrelevance....

Employer militancy grows: NDU Bridgeman lockout picket tommorow at 6AM Submitted by Simon Oosterman on 16 September 2009 - 7:15pm http://www.indymedia.org.nz/article/77709/employer-militancy-grows-ndu-bridgeman-l

Please note there is another picket at 6am on Thursday 17th at Bridgeman Plant, 55 Crooks Road, East Tamaki. Police presence likely as we block cement trucks again. “An indefinite lock-out of workers by Bridgeman Concrete in Manukau City shows increasing employer militancy taking advantage of the recession and growing unemployment,” says Robert Reid, General Secretary of the National Distribution Union.

Zeal 320 crew achieve pay rise, plan to get on with the job - EPMU 31 August, 2009 http://www.epmu.org.nz/news/show/172878

After nearly a year of negotiations, Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members at Air New Zealand subsidiary Zeal 320 have overwhelmingly voted to accept a settlement with the company. The 15 month deal achieves a number of substantial improvements including a 3.95% pay increase, a 6.7% increase in a tour of duty allowance after 12 months, introduction of a new guaranteed allowance of either $149 or $186 a fortnight based on last year's value of an at-risk bonus scheme, a $1000 up-front payment and the addition of a number of non-financial clauses.

A working group to look at hours of work and rostering will also be established. The EPMU says the deal goes a long way towards closing the gap with Air New Zealand short haul crew in several key areas and provides greater security of income for the union's 200 members.

SOURCE: http://libcom.org/forums/history-culture/video-black-tuesday-1912-waihi-strike-nz-24082009

JARED from Katipo Books Workers' Co-Operative Otautahi/Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand

On ‘Black Tuesday’ November 12, 1914, Frederick George Evans became the first worker killed in an industrial dispute in New Zealand. This short film shows the strike and the struggle which lead up to his death, including the influence of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) in a hope to share more of New Zealand’s militant labour history. My account of this part of our history doesn't pretend to be objective or unbiased — as they say, you can't be neutral on a moving train. Nor am I an expert at editing or anything: this is my first attempt. So forgive any mistakes! Watch at full screen size to get a better view of the subtitles. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqdGnFX6acY

DOWNLOAD HIGH OR LOW VERSIONS HERE: http://keepvid.com/

more: http://www.lhp.org.nz/LHP/Home.html '

51 LOCKOUT

Aussie unionists block traffic to support Zeal workers

Australian transport unions blocked the busy intersection outside Air New Zealand's Brisbane HQ on 3rd June in solidarity with the Zeal 320 crew. The solidarity protest by the Transport Workers Union, Maritime Union of Australia and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union came against the backdrop of the triennial Australian Council of Trade Unions congress and shows anger over Air New Zealand's behaviour toward workers in its subsidiary is spreading across the Tasman.

VIDEOS Check out the "Air New Zealand Shame On You" chants & footage here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S1Oi1r0l3Q

Zeal crew member and EPMU delegate Kirsty Barrett-Hamilton addresses the Australian solidarity protest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUF7sKeLwHU&feature=related

PHOTOGRAPHS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/epmu/sets/72157619215305246/detail/ There's more, including speeches, at www.epmu.org.nz/youtube

License public domainThis work is in the public domain.

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240 cabin crew at Air New Zealand subsidiary Zeal 320 Ltd have been locked out for standing up for a fair deal. These workers are paid tens of thousands of dollars a year less than crew employed directly by Air New Zealand, despite the fact they do the same work, flying to the same destinations wearing exact same uniforms. These workers have had enough of being ripped off. They're taking a stand for fair treatment. For more details visit

www.epmu.org.nz/zeal

VIDEO An interview with two Zeal 320 workers, on the last day of their lockout by Air New Zealand. Video filmed in Wellington on Sunday May 10th, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wZd-cPwFKI

Inside view from 3 mothers working as ZEAL 320 Flight Attendants http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2AfyErmm20 EPMU

EPMU News Special: Help stop Air NZ strike-breaking 30 March, 2009 http://www.epmu.org.nz/news/show/172760

You might have heard that Zeal 320 flight attendants belonging to the EPMU are taking industrial action at Air New Zealand. Now they need your help. These workers are paid tens of thousands of dollars a year less than people doing the same job but who are employed directly by Air New Zealand. They just want some basic fairness. But rather than negotiate a fair deal the airline has spent six months stalling, has been threatening our members with legal action, has misled the public about their wages in the media and is now trying to hire strike-breakers through Hudson Recruitment.

You can see the job advert online here http://jobsearch.nz.hudson.com/jobsearch/displayjob.aspx?job_code=BZ/28520