Matt McCarten’s commentaries have often had me tearing my hair out. I’ve known Matt longer than most, and I know he and I share the same views on many things, especially when it comes to low-income workers and the poor. Where we differ is how change can be achieved politically and that comes across in his criticism of Labour. I’m sure he’s aware that the right-wing repeat his every word when he criticises Labour, but I bet they don’t reproduce his NZ Herald column today.
Matt, like the other union delegates at the packed CTU Conference on Friday sat up and took notice when Phil Goff spoke.
Phil nailed it. He nailed the feelings of worker representatives who have seen the cost of living increase, tax cuts for the rich and nothing for them and their families. He spoke to their concerns about their workmates and families operating under National’s changes to employment law. He spelled out our agenda for real change, of which there is more to come. He sent a message to the mining families on the West Coast saying Labour’s not going to muck around with mine safety. We’re going to do what’s needed.
He showed there is fire in the belly in the Labour leadership and the Labour Party. He showed passion, empathy and warmth.
It was a good reminder not to get distracted by silly made-up stories about Labour’s leadership, and pollsters that can’t get to working people. One delegate said his union had just finished stopwork meetings of 4,000 workers around the country and of these, only 4 had been polled in the last year.
The polls that matter can be found in the stories and conversations on the doorsteps and workplaces of South and West Auckland, in Otara, Manurewa, Manukau East, Mangere and Ranui.
The polls that matter are the 350,000 workers and their families represented at the CTU conference on Friday.
Actually, I would have thought the poll that matters is the one on November 26.
@Missy – that too.
Is this post in which you mention “polls that matter” a way of softening us up for some poor polling by Labour in the polls coming out tonight on tv1 and tv3?
I will take Matt McCarten seriously when he has paid IRD back the PAYE and other deductions that he withheld for 18 months before and after the 2008 election.
McCarten makes a huge deal about bad employers ripping off Unite union staff. What makes him any different? If anything, the fact that he is a union leader is an aggravating factor. It would be nice to see some condemnation from the labour movement towards a man who has brought the entire union movement into disrepute.
@fureongo – I have no idea what the polls say. Whatever they are, they miss a whole point of view out there that’s never reported, or reflected.
@inventory2 – Funny that your lot love to report anything Matt says if it is anti-Labour. Not so fussy then eh?
I guess you must know the poll resust already Darien?
Wrong Darien; up until the IRD story broke, I had a grudging respect for McCarten because he said what he thought, even if I didn’t agree with it. But finding out that he is no better in treating his own staff than the employees he criticises has opened him to accusations of hypocrisy.
Employers are legally required to pass on money to IRD that they deduct from or on behalf of staff. That McCarten failed to do that over a long period during which time his union was highlty active politically is pretty much unpardonable.
@inventory2 : then you should tell that to your mates at Kiwiblog et al. And to be clear, I agree he should hand over the money and whenever I’ve been asked, I’ve said so.
It’s not what people say that matter, it’s what they do. Matt took his employees money to give to the IRD and spent it himself.
@Frontrower – so next time Matt McCarten has a go at Labour, you will be on the blogs saying it’s not what he says, but what he does?
Glad to see you stating your position with regard to McCarten Darien.
{Deleted, you might be trying to be supportive but language, tone, etc not supportive Grant}
{deleted, just a diatribe. Grant}
Great post Darien thanks for your comments, pity about all the negative types that just have to have a go regardless.
Grant
Truth hurts you can try and hide it as much as you like but it will always be the truth.Start listening to the people that use to vote for you, and who dont anymore. Thats why the party is polling so bad
(Its not the points you are making, its how you are saying them. This comment gets through. But a warning, please contribute something relevant to the Post you are commenting on, not generic rants, otherwise there will be no opportunity for you here, Grant}
I’m not surprised that Phil Goff nailed it at the CTU conference. I’ve heard Phil Goff addressing large crowds at parliament. He says the most, the clearest, and in the shortest time. Phil Goff is excellent in a public forum.
I’m not surprised that Matt McCarten seemed surprised. I’ve only met Mr McCarten once, he struck me at the time as a person who is very pleased in his own opinion. I would say it would take a lot to change Mr McCarten opinion, I guess that is what he got at the conference.
Darien wrote:
“then you should tell that to your mates at Kiwiblog et al. And to be clear, I agree he should hand over the money and whenever I’ve been asked, I’ve said so.”
I appreciate that you publicly advocate the payment of taxes, but I do take exception to the Kiwiblog comment.
Many ordinary New Zealanders read Kiwiblog & your comments could sting anyone of us (including your own supporters).
Perhaps you could be more specific about who you were referring to.
@NX not sure what you’ve taken offence at. My response was to those who were saying Matts opinions didn’t count because of his IRD non payment. My point was that hadn’t stopped Kiwiblog quoting Matt when he attacks Labour. Perhaps reread the thread?
Maybe this needs to be PGs strategy going into the election then.
Get out there with the rest of the Labour bench and do some real soap-boxing – politics like it used to be. Win the votes. Forget about the media coverage. Go for direct engagement.
On a side note, please ask Annette King to stop clogging up my letterbox with sh*t.
If I have to see another faux newspaper with her woman-of-the-people bullsh*t, mugging away and glad-handing actors or talking about Maranui cafe as if either of these are pertinent issues to the Rongontai electorate, I’m going to spew.
So those of us who weren’t at the conference aren’t important?
guess you don’t need/want my vote then
“Get out there with the rest of the Labour bench and do some real soap-boxing – politics like it used ”
he’s been doing that for months, that you don’t know about it…
John banks sent me a self addressed envelope with a request to join his party and join the fight. I thought for a bit, mindful the taxpayer would pay for the stamp, um-ed and ah-ed then wrote on the returnable slip “thanks John, that’s the best laugh I have had in a long time” and mail it back. Childish I know but I felt a moments satisfaction
@Anne-Marie “So those of us who weren’t at the conference aren’t important?” Yes, I got that too. The siege mentality of Labour persists. So what Labour are saying is that only affiliated members of CTU Unions “matter”. The rest of the people (90%) really don’t count. Just awful.
@Anne-maree and Dave the point of my post was about polling and who isn’t being asked. I think you both know that.
Darien – does the Labour Party spend money on polls?
If so, is the sampling methodology used in these significantly different to that used in the polls headlined in the media?