The Star: April 20, 2017

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi
Thursday April 20 2017 23
Viewpoint
Hard fight for fair wage
TAKE A bow, Kristine
Bartlett.
Your courage, perseverance
and determination to
fight for a fair wage have
made a huge difference to
lives of thousands of workers.
But, as you are the first
to remind everyone, you
did not do this as a lone
individual.
It was your workmates
through your union which
banded together with
you to take a stand that
is life-changing for the
55,000 mainly women care
workers it affects. You are
modern day heroes.
The road to this settlement
has not been easy. It
started back in 2012 when
Kristine, an aged-care
worker from Upper Hutt
fronted union legal action
against her employer TerraNova.
The pay equity claim
brought by E Tū (previously
the Service and Food
Workers Union) argued
that her employer was
under-paying staff because
of the high percentage of
female employees.
It is the first legal
settlement in New Zealand
which recognises that
some jobs pay less because
they are done mainly by
women.
This claim was fought
in the courts by powerful
interests. The Government
itself had lawyers at each
appeal stage of the original
case opposing lower court
decisions.
Throughout the five
years, Kristine and her
union have told the
story of a group of mainly
women who dreaded getting
sick because they can’t
afford to go to the doctor,
who come to work without
food, who walk to work in
the rain because they don’t
have the bus fare.
All the while we were
expecting these women to
do incredibly important
work caring for some of
the most vulnerable in our
society. This simply was
not fair.
So, this week we have
seen a victory for what
is right and the power of
banding together to stand
up for those rights. For the
20,000 workers currently
on the minimum wage of
$15.75 per hour, on July 1
they will move to at least
$19 per hour.
For a full-time worker,
this means they will be
taking home around an
extra $100 a week, which
is over $5000 a year.
•Megan Woods is
Labour’s Canterbury
spokeswoman
The Grand Challenge
at Terrace Downs
Terrace Downs Resort is an inspirational
venue offering luxurious facilities,
breathtaking vistas, premier accommodation,
superb cuisine, a championship golf course
and a menu of adventure activities.
The resort’s Grand Challenge on Sunday 30th
April is a popular event that features four
different sporting challenges and also offers
teams the fun of a social competition. Gather
your team of four, whether family, friends,
colleagues or a corporate group and compete
against other teams to be crowned overall
winners of the day.
Entry fees cover all activities throughout
the day including a barbeque lunch (BBQ
sandwiches and soft drink) and snacks at
the final prize
giving. In the
morning, teams
will challenge each
other in archery,
clay bird shooting
and modified golf
cross (there are
instructors) – a
variation of the game that uses an oval golf
ball, with a chipping competition going
closest to the pin!
GRAND
CHALLENGE
TROPHY
At Terrace Downs
This is a multi-challenge event, where
you and your mates compete against
other teams to become the champions!
MORNING: Archery, Clay Shooting
& Chipping
AFTERNOON: Ambrose round of golf
using large (20cm) cups
(Your scores from throughout the day will be
combined to give your team its final score.)
GRAND PRIZE
For four people
A Terrace Towns Ultimate Getaway Package
including Accommodation and Golf!
In the afternoon, teams will play a round
of Ambrose golf using large 20cm cups
with short distance golf (use lady’s tee). It
looks easy but it’s not! And this is fun golf
for non-golfer as well. The Ambrose format
allows golfers of varying levels of skill to play
together by scoring the team’s best shots and
recording one score per hole.
1st prize is one night accommodation and
golf for four to come back and enjoy Terrace
Downs again.
Terrace Downs Resort is located within an
hour of Christchurch International Airport,
the high country resort is popular for
private functions, weekend retreats and is
internationally renowned for conferences,
weddings and events.
For the Grand Challenge bookings are
essential as spaces are limited. Entry forms
and a team entry fee of $360 must be
received by 5pm 28th of April. Secure your
booking by telephoning 03 318 6943 or by
emailing golf@terracedowns.co.nz or visit
www.terracedownsresort.co.nz for further
information.
Sunday 30th April
9:30am start
Entry for your team of four
is only $360 and includes all
activities plus a BBQ lunch
and snacks at prizegiving.
Bookings essential
Contact the pro shop on:
03 318 6943 or
golf@terracedowns.co.nz
Brought to you by