27 Mar Zero Hour Contracts goneburger
The ticket’s been punched on Zero Hour Contracts. UNITE’s Alastair Reith reflects on the huge win.
On Thursday, March 10, parliament voted unanimously to eliminate zero hour contracts. Initially it looked like we would get a law which actually made things worse, providing a legal framework for zero hour contracts instead of the grey area we currently have. Ultimately, however, the best case scenario has panned out.
When the Maori Party and United Future refused to support National’s Employment Standards Legislation Bill, the government was forced to accept Labour’s proposed amendments. From now on employers are no longer able to legally tell workers they must be permanently available for work, while guaranteeing them no hours. It is also no longer legally possible for an employer to cut hours from a stroppy union member as punishment when they stand up for their rights.
Ending zero hour contracts will not end the abuse of workers by employers, let alone the exploitation we all face in the workplace. That said, it is a significant victory we can all celebrate and feel proud of. In particular the members, delegates and organisers of Unite deserve a pat on the back and a round of applause. Unite’s 2015 industrial campaign in fast food literally introduced the phrase ‘zero hour contracts’ to Aotearoa. The combination of strikes, protests and a remarkably effective media strategy won overwhelming public support and forced the multinational fast food conglomerates to their knees. Guaranteed hours became the norm for thousands of the lowest paid, hardest working people in this country.
Politicians who supported this recent law change deserve recognition for supporting workers’ rights, but it was workers standing up and campaigning for their own rights who pushed the politicians into action. That’s what lies at the heart of trade unionism and makes this victory so special. It wasn’t handed to us from on high. Ordinary, exploited working people fought for it collectively from below, and we won. That’s a victory we can all celebrate.
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