Labels

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Union claims YouTube ports video a success

The Maritime Union claims a YouTube video it released to gain support and "set the record straight" over the reasons behind its four-week strike is already achieving its goal.
http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/national_news/2012/03/ports_of_auckland_family_1_2_3_4_n2.jpg
With almost 5000 views so far, the union's communication officer Victor Billot says the video is a success.
"It has had thousands of views on the internet, it has received wide interest both locally and overseas, it puts the issues into a real life perspective."
More than 300 workers who have gone on strike in protest at the loss of fixed rosters and contracting out being promoted by the Auckland City-owned port were told yesterday they are being made redundant.
The video shows Ports of Auckland workers and their families talking about the effects the workplace changes would have on their lives.
He said: "Another measure of success is the amount of commentary and the fact that they're actually engaging with the commenters. The production piece is only the beginning. The rest of it is actually answering the questions or countering the counter arguments that come up."
Young says the concept of online campaigning via mediums like YouTube is becoming more and more common due to its cost-effectiveness and lack of time-constraints.
"People use whatever they can to get the message across. I think it's good they can use YouTube, they don't have to pay for TV airtime or fit it into only thirty seconds& they can tell more of their story."
Fulltime stevedore and vice-president of the Maritime Union Carl Findlay was one of the workers featured in the video along with his two teenage children. He says the video's overall message is that the casualisation of the workforce is "anti-family".
"It's morally unacceptable what they're trying to do to all 330 workers down there," he said.
Findlay says the video, which was made for free by a local journalist, was the brainchild of the Council of Trade Unions.
"When the CTU got involved, they really upped the ante and said we really need to get the message out for the families."
However, the Ports of Auckland says the messages put forward by the families are misleading to the public.
"I know there is a lot of misinformation in that video," says the Ports of Auckland's communication executive Dee Radhakrishnan. "So we've been handing out a misinformation sheet to whoever contacts us about it."
The Ports of Auckland is not the only one disagreeing with the families' plea. While many have commented on the video to share messages of solidarity, some have taken the opportunity to voice alternate opinions.
"Get with the program - unions suck", says one commenter. "Industries that are dominated by unions struggle the most! So maybe unions are the problem! I'm waiting for the penny to drop."
Despite such comments, Findlay says the overall response to the video has been positive.
"Everyone's really impressed with the message that's been put across. They didn't realise how it's been affecting the families. I mean there's always someone... but generally everyone's been good."
Young was particularly impressed with the union's handling of conflicting opinions and says occasional negativity is part and parcel with online campaigning.

Thank You Source
Please check Video : http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/union-claims-youtube-ports-video-success-4765738

0 comments

Post a Comment

FB