SkyCity casino workers going on strike so they can support the All Blacks this weekend - Tūtira mai ngā iwi!
UPDATE: 97% vote in favour of the Rugby World Cup Strike. Hundreds of SEA-Unite union members have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action tonight to coincide with the All Blacks Rugby World Cup match against South Africa.
Tūtira mai ngā iwi, tātou tātou e (Line up together people, All of us, all of us)
SEA-Unite union members at SkyCity casino in Auckland are voting on strike action to coincide with the All Blacks vs South Africa Rugby World Cup game this Saturday night.
The planned strike is for a brief picket at 9pm on Saturday and a rousing chorus of Tūtira mai ngā iwi, after which the striking workers will head off to the Albion pub on Hobson Street to cheer on the All Blacks.
They are inviting SkyCity CEO Graeme Stephens (of South Africa - moved to New Zealand in 2017) to join them at the Albion.
“We promise not to be too hard on him when the Springboks fall at their first World Cup hurdle, and are keen to have a chat to him about why he should value his employees weekends more” said SEA-Unite Convenor Joe Carolan.
“With an hourly pay rate of over $2,000 an hour he may not fully understand what it’s like to be forced to work weekend after weekend for just above the minimum wage."
Gerard Hehir, Unite National Secretary and lead negotiator for SEA-Unite said “Our members, like most kiwis, want to be able to watch and support the All Blacks win the rugby world cup, but many would normally be forced to work instead.”
"It is a very good example of why we are fighting the Bring Back the Weekend. Sports mostly take place on the weekends, whether it be directly playing, supporting family and friends who are playing, or supporting your local, regional or national team.”
Contact: Joe Carolan 029 445 5702
or Gerard Hehir - 021 02940345
Submitted by
Gerard Hehir
Written 20/9/2019