What's in store for organised labour in 2011

Unite kicked of 2011 with the kind of action the union is known for, with workers at Sky City Casino walking of the job just 30 minutes after the strike of midnight, accompanied by members of the Service and Food Workers Union at the same site. Unite also has plans for industrial action during the Rugby World Cup, a move that will no doubt gain media attention but could be risky in a country that looks their rugby. Unite general secretary Matt McCarten told 3 News last year “We don’t want to wreck the World Cup, of course not. But we certainly are going to be lining up the employers at that time and saying ‘well, you’re going to make a lot of money, what’s going to be the workers share?’” if Unite stays on message it could be a successful campaign.

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Opposition too the recently passed probationary employment continues, with unions negotiating collective contracts that protect workers from the controversial law. The biggest confrontations over the law could come in the public sector, with the Otago Daily Times talking of a “battle loom[ing]” after a directive from the State Services Commission that government agencies include ninety day trial period provision in all contracts. There are also calls to include provisions around union access to workplaces. Public Service Association national secretary Brenda Pilott told the paper "If there is an attempt to cement those into contracts coming up for negotiation, there will certainly be some stoushes."

Last year saw a big increase in work stoppages, that trend may continue as workers fight against new industrial relations legislation and being made to bear the costs of a still slumping economy; the newly released figures showing one in five young people unemployed proves that the recession is far from over.