Wednesday, 16 February 2022 11:30

Off message?

Written by The Hound

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OPINION: This old mutt reckons that anyone wondering why there has been a huge decline in the union movement in NZ over the years only needs to read this recent statement from the public service union - the Public Service Association (PSA) - to see why::

"We need unionism now more than ever. To fight climate change and inequality, to platform the voices of historically marginalised peoples, to change our broken social structures.'

Really? No mention of sticking up for workers rights, fighting for better wages, ensuring staff health and safety conditions or even tacking the thorny issue of vaccine mandates.

As one former PSA member pointed out to yours truly, "Nothing at all about fighting for members' jobs, rights or working conditions. They've confused 'union' with being 'woke'".

It is not hard to see why most workers feel unions are way out-of-touch and don't bother belonging to one anymore!

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