Labour not taking sides
February 27th, 2012 at 4:00 pm by David Farrar
David Shearer says Labour is not taking sides the in Ports of Auckland dispute, but here are two of his MPs on the picket line.
I guess they have no choice as the Maritime Union is actually an affiliate member of the Labour Party, and one of their donors. Not even the documented examples of union hostility to female and non European workers is enough to shake their support of the union.
Related posts:
- Local Labour backs Maritime Union
- Maritime Union wants total control
- Jackson calls on union to be more violent and intimidatory
- Is this why Len won’t back his board?
February 27th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Ughhhhh.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
love it. labour are just a shambles. hope it continues another few years
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
No longer 2 MPs. New Zealand was truly blessed when Beaumont was thrown out.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Not even the documented examples of union hostility to female and non European workers is enough to shake their support of the union.
Theyse got some bills to pay, methinks.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Will we see Labour MPs shouting racial abuse at dark skinned workers or pissing in a barbecue?
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Who is that with Jacinda?
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Anyone else find it hilarious that saveourport.com have chosen a National Pay blue for their campaign? #fail
Vote:All we need is some clever kids to photoshop “I am a Key Person” on a Labour MP wearing the opponents colors and we have comedy.
February 27th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
When I look at that photo I see 2 women on holiday. Nice sunny day, big smiles for the camera, all a bit of fun really. All on our dime. Shame really, they are no better than beneficiaries when you think about it.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
@CK – exactly my first thought, unfortunately I’m by no means a clever kid when it comes to photoshop.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Where were the barbeques?
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
For Cactus
http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii530/RightNow2012/Keygroupies.jpg
And the blank if you want to make your own
Vote:http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii530/RightNow2012/Blanks.jpg
February 27th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Alex – bbq was unpopular because it smelled funny
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Great stuff RightNow; watch Keeping Stock very soon for a caption contest!
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
What are they saving our Port from?
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Pauleastbay – efficiency. The eternal nemesis of the unionist.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
Pauleastbay asks
The Maritime Union of New Zealand (Local 13)?
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Hah – Shearer busted for lying – good stuff!
Vote:Another lie by him here – on Stuff, he is quoted as saying “opportunities to make people work did not exist.”
Bullshit.
There are jobs out there at Maccas and Burger King, flipping burgers. There are jobs in supermarkets (and there is a massively-expanded one going in at Crofton Downs here in Wellington.). There are jobs in orchards (and we know that because the orchardists have to get people in from Fiji because NZers are so bloody lazy.) There was a comment on Stuff today as well, by a woman from Chch. She said that the work agencies down there were crying out for staff. So, yeah – there is lots of work out there if people get off their arses and look.
February 27th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Be a bitch to be the Labour party and have to eat the EPMU’s dead rat and have to support the low lifes at MUNZ.
Don’t see Labour MP’s out at the AFFCO dispute, not so sexy to be camped up in central Waikato waiting for toots eh.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Carol Beaumont? Why is it that so many failed politicians go on to lead unions?
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Umm, could be because that is their background before being an MP.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
I love the location out by the baths , why arent they in Customs Street where they can really breath up the fumes, its just a fucking picnic for a bludging list MP.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
“the documented examples of union hostility to female ”
DPF I have not hear of this. Please expand.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Shearer comes out of this looking weak and ineffectual ….’Labour will not take sides in this dispute’.
If a Government Cabinet Minister defied a direction of the PM then the backbench would beckon before lunchtime.
In the Shearer paradigm it appears a member of the shadow cabinet can say to him ‘up your nose’ and get away with it.
As I said … weak and ineffectual.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
davidp (2,215) Says:
February 27th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Will we see Labour MPs shouting racial abuse at dark skinned workers or pissing in a barbecue?
That sounds almost as bad as been pissed on by POA managment
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Who is dah boss of the labour party. Sure as hell not shearer. Pick a card Sir you could be the next leader.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
mikenmild said
Quite so mikenmild. Perhaps what Dion should have asked was this; why do so many failed union leaders go on to be Labour Party MP’s?
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
Because it requires less inteligence, and is an altogether easier way to pass the time
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
Looking at the photo, I’d wager that one of those ports needs more visits, while the other could do with fewer
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 1:00 am
Just fucking shoot the cunts….helllo!?
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 6:49 am
Any other candidates for summary execution?
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 7:30 am
You’re a fuckwit The Scorned. Just sayin.
Vote:And not for calling them cunts either but violent words have a way of turning into violent actions.
February 28th, 2012 at 8:37 am
They look good in blue i.e. conservative colours. Not sure whey they chose this hue.
Now if they just had some ideas about productivity, competition and basically getting off their arses and working…
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Why is it a surprise to see labour MP’s supporting a Union movement? It is not a hell of a lot different that seeing National MP’s at an A&P Show. It is where their support base comes from.
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 9:12 am
Good to see such a large number of typically well-informed comments above.
Tell me – why do you lot hate unions so much?
And do you seriously think that life would be better without the unions? Like it used to be before unions?
(as for the violent threats above you should can and ban that shit Farrar – very very very ugly look)
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Mark – it’s where one of their support bases is. The other one is the trendy lefty politically correct hairy legged feminist worthless sociology degree white guilt brigade. What’s interesting is that labours gone out in support of this blatantly racist and sexist union.
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 10:28 am
vto,
“Tell me – why do you lot hate unions so much?”
They are criminal organisations that use violence, thuggery and threats to extort money from business owners. Plus, at a time when we are in a global recession and desperately need to keep our heads above water and grow our economy, these idiots are sabotaging any attempt to do so and costing our economy millions in lost work.
Dumb. Seriously fucking DUMB.
“And do you seriously think that life would be better without the unions? Like it used to be before unions?”
Yes.
Next question.
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 10:56 am
Lee01, do you know what life was like for workers before unions stood up against the slave owners? You can start by dropping the 40-hour week and annual leave… then you can keep going with all other employee protections which have come about due to worker-protection groups such as unions.
As for your assessment of unions being criminal organisations using violence, thuggery and threats, well that’s just plain silly. Perhaps you could have a look at the violence and thuggery used by the bosses against workers at various times in our history – Waihi, Queen Street, 1951. Do you even know those events happened?
And as for unions sabotaging the economy – who is actually causing this current dispute ? Is it the union or is it the company POAL? Don’t forget reasons and evidence for any assertions…
You may want to ask yourself who you would trust more – the corporate heads with a history of lies and failures (1987, GFC, finance companies, Doug Graham, Wyatt Creech etc)? Or the people on the ground?
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Difference is though, unions are scum, farmers are the backbone of this country’s economy.
Compare apples with apples please.
Vote:Are you saying ‘do you seriously think life was better in the mid nineteenth century?’
Which of course is a ridiculous question that only some extreme greens or radical religious conservatives would answer yes to.
February 28th, 2012 at 11:07 am
emmess, farmers aren’t the backbone of this country. That myth is long dispelled. What planet are you on?
And also, why do you think workers conditions would not deteriorate to the same sort of level that they were before unions? What would stop that slide?
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 11:31 am
I doubt the ladies would do the hard yards and camp out overnight aka Lucy Lawless. They are there for the photo op and will bugger off to their comfortable middle class homes for the night.
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
> Anyone else find it hilarious that saveourport.com have chosen a National Pay blue for their campaign?
All those real estate companies that use blue in their signs are obviously fronts for the National Party.
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
vto,
“do you know what life was like for workers before unions stood up against the slave owners?”
Your use of the term “slave owner” tells me your grasp of history is a joke.
Much of your concern about “life before unions” only applies to the 19th century and the Industrial revolution. Prior to that, the guild system worked very well, and that is what I advocate returning to.
The Guild system represents ALL the people from a specific trade, from top to bottom, and encourages what is best for the whole industry. The current system only encourages class warfare and never-ending conflict.
“who is actually causing this current dispute ? Is it the union or is it the company POAL?”
The Union. They already have very good working conditions, and the proposed changes will not cause them to deteriorate. This is simply greed and rigid ideological stupidity from the Union leaders.
“You may want to ask yourself who you would trust more – the corporate heads with a history of lies and failures (1987, GFC, finance companies, Doug Graham, Wyatt Creech etc)? Or the people on the ground?”
Unions are not “the people on the ground”. I trust people who want what is best for the whole industry, regardless of whether they are employers or employees. Unions are merely foot soldiers for Labour, and cannot be trusted because of that.
Vote:February 29th, 2012 at 7:04 am
Show us yerrr TITS, luv!
Vote: