Support striking workers

Currently, around 800 hospital cleaners and service staff are on strike and have been locked out by their employer, Spotless Services Ltd, over their efforts to be part of a national collective agreement covering all service workers in the public health system. As with the supermarket distribution worker's lockout last year, this is an effort by a large company to keep its workers divided and to financially beat them into submission and force them to accept poverty-level wages. And we shouldn't put up with it.

The Service and Food Worker's Union have established an 0900 number for those who would like to give some financial support: 0900 LOCKOUT (0900 56256) will make a $10 donation. Since Spotless has issued lockout notices for the next 14 days, the workers will need ongoing support. So I've created a pledge on Pledgebank saying:

I will donate $20 each week to support the striking hospital workers but only if 10 other New Zealanders will too.

You can sign it here.

$20 is the cost of two calls to the 0900 LOCKOUT number, and that's all I'm asking people to sign up for: call that number twice a week until the lock-out ends. Obviously, don't sign up unless you can spare the cash.

The supermarket lockout last year failed because the workers had significant public support. It would be nice if Spotless's attempt to bully its workforce failed too.

Update: I've bumped this to keep it at the top of the blog for a few days.

Update 2: Logo couresy of Binary Heart.

Update 3: 9 signups. Only one more to go...

Pledge successful

The Pledgebank pledge to support the locked-out hospital workers has reached its target, so I'll be reaching for my phone. Meanwhile, there's still a little time before the deadline, so you can still sign up if you want to show your support.

Success!

The NZ sedition pledge has reached its target in a mere 36 hours. Thanks to everyone who signed it; now its time to start writing those letters. Meanwhile, if you haven't signed the pledge, it is still open until May 11th - so if you oppose the sedition law and want to see it repealed, sign up and let everyone know about it.

Lobbying on sedition

The government has responded positively to yesterday's call by four minor parties to repeal our archaic sedition law, saying that it is a sign that repeal has wide support. This is good, but we shouldn't leave him in any doubt. So I've created a Pledgebank pledge saying

I will write to Justice Minister Mark Burton urging the repeal of New Zealand's sedition laws but only if 20 other New Zealanders will do the same.

You can sign it here.

Twenty people doesn't sound like many, but based on previous pledges its an achievable target, and I want this to succeed. You can also sign up after the target has been reached, and I encourage people to do so - the greater the show of support from the public, the greater the chance that the government will act.

Ongoing support

(Date set to keep this at the top for a few days)

The Dominion-Post reports that unions have raised almost $100,000 to support the locked-out supermarket distribution workers. It sounds like a lot of money, but when you split it 550 ways, its only about $180 per person - not that much to cover 19 days so far without pay. More public support is needed, and it needs to be ongoing, for as long as the lock-out lasts. So, I'm proposing that we put our money where our mouths are, and make a commitment. I've created a pledge on PledgeBank saying

I will donate $20 each week to support the locked-out supermarket distribution workers but only if 10 other New Zealanders will too.

You can sign it here.

$20 is the cost of one call to the 0900 LOCK OUT number, and that's all I'm asking people to sign up for: call that number once a week (or donate by direct credit or online) until the lock-out ends. Obviously, don't sign up unless you can spare the cash.

I've gone for a deadline of Friday because I want to get donations flowing by the end of the week, and I've deliberately chosen a low trigger number because I want this to succeed. Note that there's nothing stopping people from signing up to a pledge has met its target, and I'd encourage people to do so. The more people who sign up and donate, the greater a show of support it will be.

This is the first time I've tried to use PledgeBank to raise money for a cause, and it will be interesting to see how it goes.

Update: well, that was quick - we've hit the target in less than 24 hours. Time to start making those donations...

Note that you can still add your name and commit to the pledge, as the deadline hasn't closed. The more people who sign up, the more effective it will be.

Update 2 (14/09/2006): Bumped to keep it at the top for a while longer. Currently there are 20 signups; can we make it 25 by the end of the week?

Success!

I'm pleased to report that my pledgebank pledge to get people to lobby MPs demanding credible action on climate change and a cross-party accord to provide policy certainty has been successful. Now to write some letters...

Show the bastards we're watching

Keith's motion calling on Parliament to condemn Guantanamo is good, but if we want it to pass, we should make sure our politicians know how we feel on the issue. So, I suggest emailing Helen Clark and other party leaders asking them to support the motion. The appropriate email addresses are:

• Helen Clark
• Don Brash
• Winston Peters
• Pita Sharples / Tariana Turia
• Peter Dunne
• Rodney Hide
• Jim Anderton

Show the bastards we're watching, and that we'll judge them on how well they stand up for human rights.

Update: I've now created a pledge on Pledgebank for this, for people who want some indication that they won't be acting alone. You can sign it here.