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campaign directed towards improving working conditions for fast food workers in the country, in addition to representing other hospitality and retail workers. Unite is affiliated with the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.
History
In mid 2003 a small group of trade unionists and activists attempted to "organise the unorganised". It began to focus on unionising workers predominantly from fast food, cinema and security. In response to the Key Government's amendment to the Employment Relations Act 2000 allowing small businesses greater liberty to 'hire and fire' workers in the first 90 days, Unite established the 'Rat Patrol' toname and shame
To name and shame is to "publicly say that a person, group or business has done something wrong". It is a form of public shaming used to rally popular opinion against and in turn discourage certain kinds of behavior or enterprises. The practice o ...
companies that abuse the legislation.
Matt McCarten's United Support Services, a company he formed to supply support services to the union, was placed into liquidation
Liquidation is the process in accounting by which a company is brought to an end in Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and many other countries. The assets and property of the company are redistrib ...
on 17 June 2011 owing $92,000 in unpaid taxes to the IRD.
In 2015 Unite engaged in thEnd Zero Hours
campaign, primarily aimed at securing minimum guarantees of hours in union collective employment agreements. The campaign was ultimately successful with the National Government passing legislation outlawing "zero hour contracts". It was the inspiration for the former Australian UNITE Union, which was founded in Melbourne in 2003.
References
External links
Unite Union official site
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Trade unions in New Zealand General unions {{NewZealand-trade-union-stub