[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHw7YoAl6mI]
Workers Party announces party list for 2008 election
– Workers Party media release
Contesting the party list vote for the first time this election, anti-capitalist group the Workers Party has today named 14 candidates who will be standing on its party list.
“Our main campaign slogan for these elections is ‘workers should be running the country!’ and this is certainly reflected in our list of candidates,” says Workers Party national organiser Tim Bowron.
“All of our candidates are proven fighters whose only loyalty is to the working class who create all of the wealth in society – not the parasitical boss class that currently consumes most of it.”
Heading the list is Wellington factory worker and well-known musician Don Franks, who is also standing in the Wellington Central electorate.
Other candidates to feature prominently on the list include union organiser and Manukau East candidate Daphna Whitmore, schoolteacher and Christchurch East candidate Paul Hopkinson (currently suspended without pay by his employer for challenging the restrictions on public servants running for parliament) and Wellington Tramways Union President Nick Kelly.
Continue reading “Workers Party announces party list for 2008 election”
Saturday soapbox @ the Otara market
Check out the Workers Party soapbox stall at South Auckland’s Otara market on Saturdays from 8am until 11am during the election campaign. This Saturday (11 October) we have invited guest speakers to talk (10am to 11am) about last year’s October 15 police raids on activists and the Tuhoe community.
Workers Party Radio Address
Click here to listen to the Workers Party Radio Address for the 2008 election.
The music is by Wellington Central candidate Don Franks.
POLL VAULT 2008 by Jim Delahunty
The voters of Wellington Central
Have got a simple choice
Support the man of capital
Or heed the workers’ voice.
CHORUS
Which Franks are you on [its Don!]
Which Franks are you on [its Don!]
There’s Labour and there’s National
And there’s New Zealand First
They’re such a bunch of phonies
You can’t tell who’s the worst.
CHORUS
If you’re for exploitation
Then you may shout for Steve
If you’re for liberation
It’s Don you must believe
CHORUS
So at the next election
You’ll see it come to pass
Don’ll have us all down at Bellamys
While Steve’s out on his arse
Workers Party registered today
The Workers Party today became a registered political party. This means that in the upcoming 
2008 general election for the first time a hard-left party will be able to contest the party list vote and be on the ballot paper in every part of the country!
With just a month to go to election day we don’t need to worry about peaking too early : )
Workers should be running the country!
All things bright and beautiful
(Wellington Central WP candidate Don Franks’ opening 5 minute address to Karori community election meeting 24/09/08)
Good evening folks, thanks for inviting me to your election meeting here in the pleasant surroundings of Karori. I was brought up in a similar nice suburb on the other side of Wellington, over in Eastbourne. There, at Sunday school, I used to love singing the children’s hymn “All things bright and beautiful”. I still recall all the words, including the closing verse: The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate, He made them high and lowly and ordered their estate. I now realise that the song wasn’t really a cute child’s fancy, but a self-serving reactionary political statement.
First teacher to face suspension without pay for challenging the Electoral Act
– Workers Party Media Release
Workers Party Christchurch East candidate Paul Hopkinson is the first school teacher to face penalties for challenging the undemocratic provisions of the 1993 Electoral Act.
Under the current law most public servants (including teachers) must take unpaid leave for the three weeks between nomination and polling days.
Hopkinson has refused to take unpaid leave and as a result has been told by his employer that he will be suspended without pay.
“I think that it’s outrageous that just because I’m employed by the state I am not allowed to participate in the democratic process and stand for parliament without being subjected to severe financial penalties,” says the sole breadwinner for a family of three.
Continue reading “First teacher to face suspension without pay for challenging the Electoral Act”
Wellington Central candidate supports bus drivers struggle
– Workers Party Media Release
” Wellington bus drivers have been treated like shit” says Wellington Central Workers Party candidate Don Franks.
“Its a rotten system where hard working folks can be legally locked out for refusing poverty wages.”
“As I said to these drivers at the depot first thing this morning their cause is fully justified and deserves the support of all other workers” Mr Franks said.
“By standing up to the boss and demanding a better income the drivers are taking a stand which will benefit the whole working class.” Mr Franks concluded.
Candidate subject to discriminatory law
– WP Media Release
Workers Party candidate for Christchurch East, Paul Hopkinson, may be forced to step aside as a candidate due to a discriminatory clause in the 1993 Electoral Act.
Because Paul Hopkinson is a school teacher in a state school, he is subject to a clause which could require him to take unpaid leave for the duration of the election campaign.
“This clause is onerous and discriminatory because it prevents people from participating fully in the electoral process,” he said.
“Unless you have the backing of a large wealthy political party, or are independently wealthy, you are unable to participate. I should not have to take leave; I should not have to choose between standing in the elections and supporting myself and my family” he added.
If he was employed by a private school, he would not be subject to the clause.
“This is an important issue because this anti-democratic clause means thousands of New Zealanders are prevented from becoming fully involved in the elections,” he said.