The first public appearance was on Sunday 6 July 2008, from 2 to 5 pm.
It was a tribute to Hone Tuwhare, attended by around 80 people, with musicians and others celebrating his life. The programme included an impromptu contribution from Selwyn Muru, a backgrounder from his biographer Janet Hunt, and both a talk by and a showing of Gaylene Preston's film of Hone Tuwhare. It was at Forde's Front Bench, 122 Anzac Avenue, CBD.
The second public appearance was a film on the 1949 carpenter's strike and the de-registration of the Auckland union, shown at the Auckland Heritage Festival.
The third, and latest, is the Working Womens Charter Seminar
Wednesday 27 May 2009, 8.30 am to 5pm
AUT Conference Centre (WA224), Auckland University of Technology, City Campus, 55 Wellesley Street East, Auckland.
It is now 30 years since the Working Womens Charter was adopted by the Federation of Labour Conference as policy. It had an immediate effect on conditions of work for women and on womens participation in unions. Join the Auckland Labour History Group on Wednesday 27 May at a seminar which will: Establish an historical record of the Working Womens Charter 1980s campaign, Celebrate that achievement, Take unfinished business from the Charter forward into the economic challenges we are facing. Globally, women are likely to be hard hit by the changes.
Anyone is welcome to attend. We are hoping that it will also be a union occasion so that any action plan can be taken forward into the whole union movement.
"Generous sponsorship for this seminar has been received from the Auckland University of Technology, the New Zealand Educational Institute, the Tertiary Education Union, the Post Primary Teachers Association, AIL of New Zealand, and the Public Service Association."
Wednesday 27 May 2009 Programme:
8.30am to 9am registrations.
9am to 10am Conference Opening and setting the scene by Margaret Wilson: why the charter was necessary, generally situating the Charter in feminism and unionism, and identifying key elements of the campaign.
10am to 10.30am MORNING TEA
10.30am to 12pm - First panel session and discussion: Why the Charter? How the Charter? Judy Attenberger includes highlighting the importance of Sonya Davies, the different Therese O'Connell clauses, organising the acceptance of the Charter by Unions. Hazel Armstrong.
12pm to 1pm LUNCH with Helen Kelly, CTU President.
1pm to 2.30pm Second panel session and discussion: acceptance of the Charter by FOL and the CSU - James Ritchie (male perspective), Importance of the Charter for state workers - Helen Pearce (state workers), Sue Kedgley (feminist perspective) on the importance of the Charter for feminism
2.30pm to 2.45pm AFTERNOON TEA.
2.45pm to 4.15pm Third panel session and discussion: effect of the Charter on women workers Irena Brorens, in particular sexual harassment, pay equity, participation of women in - Martha Coleman - unionism and relating the clauses to the present day - Rose Ryan.
4.15pm to 5pm Discussion - What have we achieved, what needs to be done?
Reporter: Margaret Wilson - summing up and facilitation of an action plan
Note: Each session will be chaired and questions and comments from the floor will flesh out the historical record.
CATEGORY OF REGISTRATION: Waged ($50.00) Unwaged ($25.00) Groups of 3 or more ($25.00 each)
PAYMENT DETAILS: (payment should be received by 30 April 2009) Address Direct Credit: Account Number: 12 3057 0791003 00 Account Name: Auckland Labour History Group OR by cheque to: Gay Simpkin Auckland Labour History Group 35 Formby Avenue, Pt Chevalier, Auckland, 1022
Email all queries and your registration form to pgsimpkin@slingshot.co.nz or telephone 09 815 1873 or 021 402 119.
NZ WORKING WOMENS CHARTER
1. The right to work for everyone who wishes to do so.
2. The elimination of al discrimination on the basis of sex, race, marital or parental status, sexuality or age.
3. Equal pay for work of equal value – meaning he same total wage plus other benefits.
4. Equal opportunity of entry into occupations and of promotion regardless of sex, sexuality, marital or parental status, race or age.
5. Equal education opportunities for all.
6. (a) Union meetings to be held in working hours (b) Special trade union education courses for women unionists to be held with paid time off for participants
7. Equal access to vocational guidance and training, including on the job training, study and conference leave.
8. Introduction of a shorter working week with no loss of pay, flexible working hours, part-time opportunities for all workers.
9. Improved working conditions for women and men. The retention of beneficial provision which apply to women. Other benefits to apply equally to men and women.
10. Removal of legal, bureaucratic and other impediments to equality superannuation, social security benefits, Credit, finance, taxation, tenancies, and other related matters.
11. Special attention to the needs and requirements of women from ethnic communities as they see them.
12. Wide availability of quality child care with Government and/or community support for all those who need it, on a 24-hour basis, including after school and school holiday care.
13. Introduction of adequate paid parental leave (maternity and paternity leave) without loss of job security, superannuation or promotion prospects.
14. Availability of paid family leave to enable time off to be taken in family emergencies, e.g. when children or elderly relatives are ill.
15. Sex education and birth control advice freely available to all people. Legal, financial, social and medical impediments to safe abortion, contraception and sterilisation to be removed.
16. Comprehensive government funded research into health questions specific to women.
The Auckland Labour History Group.
The Group intends to be part of a new national federation of labour history societies, enhancing the work currently done by the Trade Union History Project, and, it is intended to affiliate with the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History in a new Oceanic federation.
The Spanish Civil War.
On Friday 15th May from 6pm at Auckland City Central Library Mark Derby will launch "Kiwi Campaneros, New Zealand and the Spansih Civil War" tracing the personal involvement of many New Zealanders in that precursor to the 1939 to 1945 war on fascism.
Watch this space for future events!