MEDIA RELEASE 29 09 04
Conference plans for nationwide casinos campaign
Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) members from casinos around NZ finished off their two-day conference on Tuesday by
developing strategies for national casino organising.
Over 50 delegates, representing hundreds of casino workers nationwide, developed plans to create greater cooperation
between casino workers through workplace organization, networks within the SFWU and the working with the community.
The conference passed the following resolution:
1. That this conference of SFWU members and delegates confirms our determination to organise to bring unionism and
collective bargaining to all NZ Casinos and to work together for strength, unity and power to achieve the following
goals:
a. Organise every casino in NZ. b. Bargain collective agreements in every casino with a goal of bargaining a single MECA
by 2007. c. Use health & safety regulations, ACC and new legislation to its maximum effect. d. Develop and push an agenda around skills. e.
Re-elect a Labour-led government in 2005.
2. That this conference condemns the union-busting tactics of Sky City in New Zealand and Australia and will join forces
with the LHMU to defeat it in every Casino.
3. That this conference sends a message of solidarity and support to SFWU members at LSG Skychefs and Air New Zealand in
their industrial action.
“The resolutions we passed build on the hard work and commitment of the SFWU in organising in the Casino Industry.
There’s a big future of unions in casinos in New Zealand, and I am confident that together we can achieve our goals.”
said Karel Kivits, an SFWU Sky City Auckland Delegate.
“The chance to meet other delegates and find out how things were going at their casino made me realise how we need to be
organising nationally if we want to win any real improvements in this industry” said Mr Kivits.
“How often do we get to see each other face-to-face like this? It’s the best chance we have to get to know one another
and be on the same page. We need to build a team of people who are working towards one goal throughout Aotearoa.” said
SFWU Delegate Glen Cooper.
ENDS