Posts by Paul Williams
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The rally, which I have just returned from, wasn't anti union.
There was no politicisation – it was pro the two Hobbit films being made here, pro jobs, against influence from Australia in the NZ Film industry and supportive of Peter Jackson as a film maker who makes films in NZ.
Fantastic, thanks for the reports.
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Clearing the Prime Minister's schedule when a CEO visits the country, another. Also in terms of the symbolism.
I sort of agree though in my politics, it's ok for the PM to be engaged in discussions that relate to industry development provided they're transparent and don't consider subverting democratic policy/rights.
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I'm not sure what it says about our sovereignty, that's all.
I don't think it pertains to our sovereignty particularly. Possibly all western liberal democratic governments engage in discussions over large foreign investments. If, on the other hand, we start to frame or amend laws with the sole intention of appeasing offshore interests... that's another matter.
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It's as much a show of compliance and subservience to Warner Bros as anything else, isn't it? In the "hope" that the government will give them whatever they ask for.
I don't think that's right. So long as this is largely a commercial deal, the financials have to stack up and if the government can assist in such a way to help the development of a sustainable, competitive and rewarding industry in NZ, then it should (provided it doesn't require abrogating baseline employment rights).
Still find it extraordinary that our Prime Minister is meeting with the head of a studio, but c'est this particular guerre I guess.
I understand this sentiment, I'd possibly agree if it weren't for all the fuss of the last month.
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I said a few days ago it appeared that the union might have had a swifty pulled on it by Warners. I do think it's possible that Warners has taken the opportunity to exploit the weak position the actors founds themselves in after they caved on their demands, perhaps as an extra slap to SAG.
Or maybe Warners really did tell Jackson they were coming down to pack things up. Perhaps they'd already made that decision. Maybe they manipulated the timing of the announcement.
Jackson pretty much addressed this point on Campbell however. It's possible he doesn't know they wanted to relocate, but unlikely. I'm inclined to think they intended to shoot in NZ but hadn't signed off. Maybe they wanted more inducements too but I've not read anything to suggest they wanted to screw actors - isn't the agreement for residuals an indication that wasn't the motivation? Perhaps that was an easy sop instead of offering more secure employment (which gets to the issue of what the underlying international IR arrangements are in this industry).
But that was after a month of stonewalling and dicking around while a boycott stayed in place. And the union has to own the consequences of its actions -- even the unintended ones.
Listening to Malcolm and other actors, I believe they genuinely wanted to improve the conditions for less vulnerable workers. I think that's both admirable and precisely why you have a union. I'm only sorry that their agenda has been exploited by Whipp who clearly has other objectives.
While I'm at it, I commented a long time back that I was pleased the CTU got involved. They are professional IR advocates and generally take a very constructive approach. Kelly's comments about Jackson though sounded nothing other than churlish.
Cool heads were needed, she should have been one of them.
And now, on Labour Day, public sentiment is such that there will be large anti-union rallies. Ouch.
Which is bloody sad and politically risky!
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The Standard's opening statment is:
One of my biggest disappointments of the Hobitt dispute has been watching the way in which Russell Brown has been so quick to take sides against the actors union.
That's just stupid. The biggest disappointment is what's being said here? Not the risk to the sustainability of the industry? I hope IrishBill's not advising anyone involved in this.
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Repeated for truth. Australian unions do not have the interests of NZ workers at heart and even less understanding of the different cultural norms here. This is my experience of many Australians (in the business arena) who come here, expecting to find a smaller version of a small Australian state. We are different countries with different histories, geographies, demographics and so forth.
I don't say this in the nationalistic sense, but rather that in my experiences many Australians aren't attuned the differences between us.
My experience in Australia, albeit in a very different industry, is consistent with your observations Tinshed.
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Thanks Simon, in which case this situation is all the more tragic frankly.
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Eighteen months ago, Equity refused an offer from the Screen Production and Development Association (Spada) to renegotiate the "Pink Book" code of conduct which covers actors' pay and conditions and has been untouched since the MEAA moved in. Its precondition for any talks with Spada was that the existing system, which does generally work, be scrapped and replaced with collective agreements.
It's hard to imagine a good outcome when this opportunity was not taken. Should it be possible, I'd appreciate it if someone could explain why it wasn't?
Apparently the Australian bid was very healthy. Imagine that!
I despair. Could this be a very clever act of economic terrorism? The Australian industry is in the toilet - according to MSM coverage.
I'm less inclined to go the CTU - partly 'cause I'm not nearly across all the information but also because they've not been in control of this since the start and are only one of many groups claiming to be representing actors.
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Australian ministers have committed to publishing data about schools' financial resources, fees, charges and voluntary contributions and levels of capital expenditure. In some respects, it will do the job that the Education Review Office does here.
Precisely. I'm so thoroughly sick of the simplistic comparisons that ignore the critical differences in NZ's far more autonomous and transparent system. There's no ERO in Australia and access to local information has been significantly more restricted.
I'll also observe that the NZ school system, and particularly the early childhood and primary curriculum, is frequently cited as a great model (even in NSW).