CTU to 'beef up' web site

By ADAM GIFFORD

Unions are adding internet access to their list of employment contract claims.

Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter says they are increasingly using the web sites and e-mail to communicate with members.

"It's traditionally a right for unions to communicate with members and members with unions at the workplace. The use of the internet and e-mail is a version of that fundamental right to communicate.

"A number of companies I used to deal with said unions couldn't use their e-mail systems, and they filtered out and deleted any union messages."

Like any right of entry, such communication has limits, he says, such as the need of companies to preserve security or commercial confidence.

"There are other rights which can be argued for, such as the right for the union to have a site on a company's intranet. Unions need to turn their attention to this and begin to bargain access clauses into agreements."

Trade unions held a conference last week to share internet strategies. Mr Goulter says they are increasingly using web sites and e-mail to communicate with members. Internationally, the internet has become an important channel for campaigns.

"Unions here have established a presence on the net and are looking to substitute it for existing activities so they can release resources for more organising."

This will include putting member issues and answers to frequently asked questions on web sites, putting contracts online and using online forums and mailing lists to get reaction from members on policy.

The CTU is also looking at an Australian union scheme to source cheap personal computers, software and internet access for members.

Rob Crozier, executive director of the Association of University Staff, says his union has had a web site, www.aus.ac.nz, since 1996 and makes extensive use of e-mail.

"We used to do a monthly paper newsletter. We now do it quarterly, and send out a weekly electronic newsletter as well as e-mails on any urgent issues." he says.

"All the papers for the annual conference are available on the web site. This year we'll be using our mailing lists to point members to the policies being discussed and to get their responses, which we will publish back to them to see what the feeling is," Mr Crozier says.

The site is updated with news from the tertiary sector every Friday, and it is also used to advertise travel specials available to members.

Engineers Union communications officer Adelia Hallet says her union is assessing what is needed to beef up its web site.

"We're not resourced to do proper electronic service to members," she says. "There is big demand from members to move to e-mail and every day people come through the web site saying they want to join."

Her union proved the value of its site as an alternative communications channel during the general election campaign, when it used it to display advertisements, which television refused to run, about fairness in the workplace.