Unite Waitemata AGM Saturday October 20th,11am, Avondale Community Centre

The Waitemata branch of the Unite Union is having our  Annual General Meeting this Saturday,
at 11 am at the Avondale Community Centre in Rosebank Rd.

We will be electing officers, listening to reports about the year's activities,  and sharing our visions for the coming year. There'll be time to share our reflections on our most recent protest on October 5th.

It's a good time to come together to refresh our energies and renew our commitment to Unite! for a living income; and  full social support and inclusion, for all!

All members and friends are welcome.  Visitors welome! 

Please bring ring some kai and/or something to drink, to share.

For more information Call Keith 8369104 ,  Dave 0272800080, 8177470 '

Video : Stop the War on the Poor, with Unite Waitemata

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  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgWH7ZydyAE&feature=youtu.be

  

  Stop the War on the Poor - Protest - Auckland, New Zealand ,5th October 2012

  www.youtube.com

  http://www.amazonnewsmedia.com West Aucklanders marched and demonstrated in Henderson over the National Party's controversial welfare reforms. Paula Bennett'...

  
  

Govt's white paper an excuse for interference

We include below (and  in our links in the column on the left )- a link to information about the Government's White Paper on vulnerable children. Our first impression is that while it quotes some valuable research about the needs of children, it's actual policies and recommendations will produce the  complete opposite of that. For example it talks about the importance of the attachment bond between a child and primary parent; but its forced workfare for single parents  and forced daycare  for tiny youngsters and  in some cases babies, will  do its best to destroy  such a bond, or prevent it from forming. The government's approach seems entirely punitive, rather than nurturing and building a groundwork for happy and healthy family relationships.
We will respond more fully soon!
Meanwhile the Children's commissioner is caling for submissions  to help them combat child poverty.
And many people are writing submissions against the draconian welfare legislation currently going through parliament.
 See:
http://www.childrensactionplan.govt.nz/the-white-paper

MSD Sensitive Files Found Accessable to Public in Kiosks

Blogger Keith NG wandered into  WINZ kiosk and discovered that he could access  their corporate network including files  about high needs  children under CYFFS care,  contractors, medical bills,  clients who owe money to WINZ  and much more.
WINZ has responded by closing their kiosks -which were to be their Brave New World of client care-down. Here's Keith Ng's story:

MSD's Leaky Servers

by Keith Ng, Npoint

My jeans were torn, my hoodie was pretty ragged, and I hadn’t shaved for a week. It turned out that bloggers are remarkably good at disguising themselves as unemployed, without even trying.

Last week, I got tipped-off that the parts of the MSD network were completely exposed to the public. You could go into any WINZ office and use their self-service kiosks to access their corporate network.

These locked-down kiosks are provided so you could look for jobs online, send off CVs etc. They’ve had some basic features disabled, which supposedly meant that you couldn’t just open up File Manager and poke around the machine. However, by just using the Open File dialogue in Microsoft Office, you could map any unsecured computer on the network, and then open up any accessible file.

See more at:      http://publicaddress.net/onpoint/msds-leaky-servers/

Henderson WINZ, Paula Bennett's, National Welfare Protest

Mothers and children protest the cuts at WINZ, Friday October 5th
 Hey there Paula, Hey there Paula, Do You Hear ? Do you Hear? Raising Kids is Working, Raising Kids is Working, Is that Clear? Is that Clear?

Children stand up for their rights!

Women's rights are under attack! Stand up Fight Back!

Outside Paula Bennett's Office. Hey Hey Ho Ho!
Paula Bennett's Got to Go!

Margaret Jones 

Veteran Protester

On the March!

 Children are our Taonga! 

Hundreds Protest Welfare Attacks Across Aotearoa on October 5th

Hundreds of people across Aotearoa gathered outside WINZ offices last Friday, 5^th October, to protest the Government’s viscous welfare attacks, with the second wave going through parliament, and the impementation of work testing of single mothers ,the sick and disabled due to come in this Monday, 15h October..

The call came out from single mothers in Dunedin, sparking a huge up-swelling of action from beneficiaries and friends across the country. There were protests in Kaikohe, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Hawkes Bay, Thames, Rotorua, Masterton, Carterton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and other places.

The Dunedin protest attracted 150 committed and angry people who carried a banner saying “ Stop Stealing from our Children” and “National Disgrace.” The Kaikohe protest was graced by the presence of Sam Kuha, hunger striker against WINZ’s  inhumane delays  and refusals  of food grants  urgently needed by hungry people.

The Auckland protest attracted about 100 people. It was organised by Waitemata Unite, together with the Collective NZ (a group of South Auckland artists) and others including intrepid campaigner Penny Bright.  At noon, we rallied at Henderson Square with colourful banners and placards, and marched with chants through the Henderson Streets to the amazement of the locals.

At WINZ we were greeted with a powhiri by Anna Henry from Te Wharewakaha o Haora , a wholistic healing centre which holds barbeques for about 40 children every Monday.

People and their children held up banners, listened with interest to the varied speakers, and joined in the discussion. Then we continued our march to the office of Paula Bennett, known as the Minister of Social Destruction (MSD).   Neither at WINZ or Ms Bennett’s was there any sign of life inside the buildings!  We were farewelled with a karakia from Anna before we dispersed.

The protest was attended by members of the Unite Union, Unite Waitemata, the Service and Food Workers Union, the Nurses Organisation, New Zealand Educational Institute,  Citizens Against Privatisation, the Water Pressure Group, Occupy Auckland, the Auckland Home Birth Support Group, Auckland Action Against Poverty,  The Glen Innes Housing Group, The Maori Party, The Mana Party, and the Green Party. We received messages of solidarity from Stand Up and the Freedom Socialists in Australia.

Chants included: “ 1234, Stop the War on the Poor”, “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Paula Bennett’s got to go”,  and “Welfare is under attack, Stand up Fight Back!”

A policewoman filmed the event for the entire three hours. Apart from that gross intrusion of privacy, police were polite and drove ahead of us so that we could march safely on the road. This was probably due to the large media presence. The national protests were reported and/or promoted amongst others on National Radio, Radio Live, Radio Waatea,  Maori TV,  TV1 News , the Christchurch Press, The Western Leader, and  the NZ  Herald.

It’s great to see beneficiaries uniting across the country, with support from unions and the community, and we look forward to more solidarity in the struggles ahead. With the world economic system  collapsing, we can expect more attacks to come!

Welfare Laws Breach People's, Women's, Children's Rights

http://againstwelfarereforms.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/1st-october-press-release/

1st October Press Release National Day of Action

 

Sep30by againstwelfarereforms

National Day of Action Against Welfare Reforms, National Press Release

 “If you are neutral in situations of injustice , you have chosen the side of the oppressor”.

 Bishop Desmond Tutu

 The aim of the National Day of Action against Welfare Reform on the 5^th of oct 2012 is to hold The NZ National Party accountable for implementing detrimental welfare policies that stigmatise and vilify the poor also to expose the unethical tactics used to fast track legislation of these policies. In April 2012 Chief Human Rights Commissioner David Rutherford criticised the submissions process, saying “the constrained timeframe of just 11 working days undermined the principles of democracy”.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10800260
The ministry of justice has also admitted that the welfare reforms are discriminatory

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10800260

 Because of this we believe they are in breach of the NZ Bill of Rights Act in May 23, this yearGreen MP Jan Logie made these comments

“It has been noted that the proposed welfare reforms will breach ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) articles 2,3,4,6,9,10,11 and 12 and concerns have been raised by the Human Rights Commission and many others noting breaches to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention of Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.”
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2012/05/23/government-on-the-way-to-making-human-rights-a-cliche/

 New Zealand deserves integrity and honesty from its leaders. We request not only an enquiry but also more dialogue and transparency from NZ Government also that the Attorney General’s Report in to these matters be released to the public as we believe the Welfare Reform Bill to be invalid not only for human rights breaches

but also for the breach of Article 2 of the Treaty

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tino_rangatiratanga

 and the breach of the UNDRIP which was endorsed by government in 2010
http://posttreatysettlements.org.nz/long-standing-implications-the-undrip-and-nz/

 We believe the National party has utilised beneficiaries as the scapegoats of NZ which is unfair considering the tax cuts that they gave to the rich and there is already subsidised contraception available at family planning clinics the only real solution to poverty is education not vilification.Studies have proven that raising children is the equivalent of having 2 fulltime jobs.

 This day is not only about dignity for all New Zealand families whether rich or poor it is also about the challenge to save ethics and humanity in New Zealand.
The Peoples Collective NZ
The.Peoples.Collective.NZ@gmail.com

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Stop the War on the Poor, October 5th, 1pm Henderson WINZ

National Day Of Action Against Welfare Attacks Friday 5th October

• 12.00: Rally Henderson Square , Catherine St, near G.N.Rd  12.30: March to Henderson WINZ.  1pm: Protest Henderson WINZ, 36 Sel Peacock Drive.  2pm: March to Paula Bennett's office.  2.30: Protest Bennett's Office, 429 Great North Rd Supported by:  Waitemata Branch of Unite Union, Blockade the Budget, Auckland Action Against Poverty, Citizens Against Privatisation, The Maori Party, NZEI West Auckland , Unite Union, The People's CollectiveNZ, Stand Up (Sydney),  DPB Action Group, The Green Party (more will be added as they come). Joining the National Day of Action Against Welfare Reforms  http://againstwelfarereforms.wordpress.com/ http://www.facebook.com/groups/360890093983840/ The Government is bringing in drastic welfare “reforms”. Seven benefits are to be reduced to only three, and the sickness benefit has been abolished! Many sole parents and people with illness or disabilities will have to look for work, even full time, including some mothers with babies as young as one. Parents who don't use early childhood education, or don't get medical checks, and Job Seekers who fail drug tests, or miss phone calls from WINZ will have their benefits halved! People who refuse "suitable" work will have their benefits docked for 13 weeks!! Youth will only get pocket money. They will be managed by private providers, who can force young mothers with breast-feeding babies to do Full-time training! People up and down the country are outraged by these attacks! It is time to fight back! Join the Protests outside WINZ in your town! No Forced Childcare! No Punitive Cuts and Stand Downs! Full support for children, parents, the sick and disabled! Real Jobs! A Living Income for all! Note: It is not the intention to occupy the WINZ offices, as this will lead to serious issues with tresspass notices being issued. It is also not the intention to interfere with staff going about their daily work. We are protesting the system, the culture of WINZ, and government policy. We are not protesting the individual workers - harrassment of WINZ employees is NOT condoned by the organisers of National Day of Action. Other Centres: KAIKOHE  Ketanasaxon@gmail.com HAWKES BAY msnhuata@gmail.com  022 6014959 CHRISTCHURCH http://www.facebook.com/events/359769487433655/  contact Jo on 0221726120  WELLINGTON https://www.facebook.com/groups/501414736555115/ - contact kylebowater@gmail.com HAMILTON http://www.facebook.com/events/406160476105876/DUNEDIN https://www.facebook.com/events/284916358279500/♥

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Why We Support the National Day of Action Against Welfare Reforms

Press Statement:  National Day of Action Against Welfare Reforms, 5^th October 2012,  

By Janet Robin, President, Waitemata Unite.

“The Waitemata Branch of the Unite Union supports the National Day of Action Against the Welfare Reforms this Friday October 5th.”

“We will be joining the protests at 12 noon at Henderson Square, 1pm at WINZ Henderson (36 Sel Peacock Drive) , and 2.30pm at Paula Bennett’s Office (429 Great North Rd).”

“ We are appalled at the cruel, punitive, discriminatory and short-sighted measures the National Government is taking against poor families, youth, and the sick and disabled! ‘”

“Forcing small children and babies into childcare and their mothers onto the job market is wrong.  Parenting is work and single parents are doing the work of two! They raise our future workers and tax -payers. Children are our taonga!” “ Parents must choose whether day care or paid work is right for their family.”

 “Taking money from our poorest families is state violence against children.”

“It is not OK for 270,000 New Zealand children to live poverty. Kids are hungry!”

“It’s not OK to control parents by punishing their children.” “It is not OK to make the poor pay for the bankers’ and corporates’ crisis.”  “Deliberate impoverishment of children contravenes the United Nation’s Rights of the Child!”

“Taking money from youth stops them being able to manage their own lives; and gives the control to private providers who do not know their needs.”

 “Forcing the sick and disabled into work may spread disease, and cause worse illness or even death.”

The real welfare reform needed is to raise all benefits to a living income!” “Discrimination against families on benefits must stop! “Working for Families

Child tax credits and a Universal Child Benefit must be available for all families.”

“We call for full economic and social support for parents, carers, the sick and disabled.”

The government must create jobs; raise the minimum wage, and make tertiary education free! “It needs to build the welfare state not destroy it.”

 “It must stop the privatisation of health, education, welfare and water, and return them to the people.”

“We call on workers, students, parents and beneficiaries to unite against these attacks! Let’s build strong communities, support each other, and create a better society.”

unitewaitemata@gmail.com         http://waitemataunite.blogspot.co.nz

8369104 ;      8177470 ;   0272800080