Next BIG Protest with StoneY and the Unions

[riffer]

well well well.

What a fucking surprise.

So we let the unions take over the protest and make bikers look like they were just cover for a government bashing campaign. and then they fuck it up. Typical.

Feel like we're getting our voice heard now? Think we've fixed ACC yet? Think the Government will listen? Or maybe think that plonker Smith now knows no-one cares enough to complain.

There's a lesson in here. Never let the focus of your campaign be co-opted by others. Stay focused, stay on topic. The protest about fee hikes was legitimate. A multi-purpose mixed objective save ACC from the evil government campaign was dumb as a rock. Funnily enough, some people might have mentioned this earlier.

But hey, with thousands of brother unionists marching in unison, how could the evil Nats do anything but quail at the people's will unleashed. What could possibly go wrong?

Bwuhahaha.

You missed the point dude. This was never intended to be huge representation by motorcyclists at this one. In the end, yes, very disappointing the lack of show by the unionists; probably due mostly to it being a complicated message we were trying to push. Union members aren't too great on the multi-message thing.

Oh well, whatever, nevermind. Live and Learn. You do however have a good point about focus. I'm not daunted; I'll be continuing my efforts with BRONZ to look for new ways to keep the message going.

[MSTRS:Me]

Union members aren't too great on the multi-message thing....

They must be very 'challenged' if they can't understand "You pay more. You get less"

[BMWST?]

there was a segment on tv3 news

[invisiblehand1]

Hmmm, there's a lot of "missing the point" going on in this thread dude.

If this wasnt about biker issues, why are 332 messages on here and why did we have a Bikoi?

Face it, this was an epic fail. We handed our issue to the labour party and the unions and they fucked it up. Ok Stony tried hard and is clearly a good bloke, but man was that a dumb move.

The FAILED protest - thats right FAILED protest now tells the government that noone cares about the issue.

But we can sing the red flag and twitter on about how phil goff gave a great speech at *his* and the unions protest rally, which if you were to notice, is how the media have portrayed it. If you can find it in page D47 of the paper, next to the lost kitten story.

There's a very simple lesson. Don't get into bed with the unions, they dont give a fuck about biker issues, they just wanted a stick to beat the government with, and look how that turned out.

[MSTRS:Me]

So, Mr I Can't See Your Hand, how do you suggest we get the whole country informed and involved?
Because this is NOT a biker issue.

[XP@]

Blink and you will miss it!
http://www.3news.co.nz/Angry-ACC-pro...3/Default.aspx

[invisiblehand1]

If its not a biker issue, why did we start it , and why are there 335 comments on the thread? Of course its a bloody biker issue.

But, since you ask. The country does get fairness, and the pollies do understand how to mollify interest groups.

Bikers are generally grown up blokes (edit, and lots of committed women), most of us have businesses and families these days - we are the backbone of the economy. We pay a lot of taxes, we are a powerful lobby of voters, if we harness it. Plus (and as the Unions knew when they 5th columned the protest and took it over) hundreds of bikes are great visuals, we are lots of scary guys in black leather with loud bikes, we make a great show. People notice and it gets all over the news.

You saw from the lunchtime TVNZ crew, they were wetting themselves with excitement at the huge hairy biker protest, how it would be all over the news bulletins, and drive a story for the next couple of days.

They got a squib, a couple of dozen public servants, and a few polite bikes parked round the corner just for show, and the usual speech about how when labour gets back into power in 2095 or whenever they will care more about ACC claimants than the other mob. Yawn.

Our issue was clear. The hike WAS and IS bloody unfair. We are a very powerful lobby we have cash, we have resources, and together we get noticed.

TIme to get back to basics. Its a Bikoi. Its about fairness. Bikers are being punished because the government thinks there arent enough of us to make a fuss. You might be next.

These are very good messages. SImple. Clear, and above all True.

Then we turn up all hairy and scary and in very big numbers, and we aren't very polite. Righteous anger makes the news.

A typical wellington rent a crowd to eat their lunch at Parliament on their lunchbreak, well that happens a dozen or so times a year, who cares?

OK?

[Nasty]

Blah blah
Bikers are generally grown up blokes, most of us have businesses and families these days - we are the backbone of the economy. We pay a lot of taxes, we are a powerful lobby of voters, if we harness it. Plus (and as the Unions knew when they 5th columned the protest and took it over) hundreds of bikes are great visuals, we are lots of scary guys in black leather with loud bikes, we make a great show. People notice and it gets all over the news.
yadda yadda

Ok ... you just isolated me ... woman - have a business - work as well - and not a scary hairy biker ... congrats.

[MSTRS:Me]

If its not a biker issue, why did we start it , and why are there 335 comments on the thread? Of course its a bloody biker issue.

...gobbledegook...

OK?

Are you thick?
It's only a biker issue in so far as the rego levy is concerned. Which got our attention. In the overall scheme of ACC and what is happening, that is just a sideshow.

[Mom]

Bikers are generally grown up blokes...

Um, it might strengthen your position a bit if you do not exclude a very large part of the motorcycling community in this country mate. This one did not come off, does not mean we have gone away, though let them think that if they like.

[invisiblehand1]

sorry there Masty & Mom, blokes and blokesses. You are quite right.

I forgot the other rule of successful media management. Leather clad women should always be at the front in protests. Tthe cameras love them, and if hot women are involved the protest must be in a good cause.

[invisiblehand1]

yeah right you are Mstrs.

hundreds of bikers in big protest about fairness - big story, government backtracks (a bit)

200 people turn up to eat their lunch and listen to union plonkers - no issue, no story no change.

But other than that you completely right etc.

[MSTRS:Me]

I feel another Letter to Ed coming on...

So the ‘big’ union protest at Parliament turned out to be a whimper. The bikers who turned up in support out-numbered them 3-1. It seems that bikers are the only section of NZ society who really understand what is happening to ACC. Is the rest of NZ quite happy to have all levies increased and all services, entitlements, etc reduced or removed altogether?
Most of us know the old joke “If you break your leg, don’t come running to me” – it may not be so funny in future.
A speaker at the protest told us that there are people appointed by ACC to assess trauma (esp rape) victims for counselling treatment, who are declining said victims, and who receive as much as $8000 per week (!!) as a thank you from ACC. What a disgrace.
And it is only going to get worse. If we, the people, don’t stop it.

Any suggestions (yes, alright, very funny I'm sure) before I send it?

[Headbanger]

So, Mr I Can't See Your Hand, how do you suggest we get the whole country informed and involved?
Because this is NOT a biker issue.

Perhaps we can't?

Perhaps we should fight it as a biker issue if we can't get the numbers from the public to fight the entire system.

And perhaps we should concentrate on the retarded system of escaulating costs based on the capacity of the bike engine and get that stopped.

[Ixion]

We can take some learnings from this.

Firstly, the bike presence was reasonable. This was never intended to be our gig, we were only the supporting act. Bikers are not the only people affected by ACC changes : we said our piece in November, the others supported us. Tuesday was for the others to do their thing with us in support. On that basis 200 bikes (some from quite a distance) is not a bad turnout. So, we can take out that the biker support is still there.

As far as the union gig went, it has to be reckoned a fail. What does that imply? Presumably, that Joe Q Public, that deep and incisive thinker, isn't really bothered about what is happening with ACC. He *should* be, but that is a different matter. The real power base of the unions is the job delegate. Clearly , they weren't engaged. We can take from that that we are unlikely to get active public support - Joe Q perceives that we got our levies reduced , so that's all good, and he's not worried for himself. Either we need a LOT more education (but can we expect to do that better than the Unions and the Labour party, with all their resources ?) or we have to accept that it's a biker only gig here on.

And the press- very obvious that it's the 'biker' bit (male or female) that gets them excited . The unions failed to turn out numbers , and didn't put on a spectacle. So, not newsworthy. We can take out, that anything we do HAS to be impressive. It needs to make the press dollies get all wet and trembly , and the press guys doubled over with an epic hard on.

Mr Smith ? He refused even to talk to this one. That makes sense, he'd perceive it as being a Labour/union deal, and figure that those people would never vote National so why waste time on them. Bikers, he can't be sure. And he'll be less sure now - "Hm, the bikers organised their own protest and 7000 turned out. The unions organised a protest and invited bikers, and only 200 turned out. Does that imply that the other 6800 are National supporters who didn't want to support a union effort. Shit "

In summary :

The biker bit was OK - not impressive but a reasonable turnout
The union bit missed fire completely
Joe Q Public isn't worried about what's happening with ACC.
We need to do a lot more education of Joe and Jenny
Even then, we need to reckon on it being bikers only henceforth. The unions won't try again
Mr Smith may be even more cautious of biker power

[MSTRS:Me]

I hear what you are saying, HB (and HandNotSeen)...
The problem is that we know it's not just about rego levies, and if we go down that path, we are simply "Those bloody bikers...never happy" to JoePublic and we don't carry enough clout to turn back the process of destroying ACC. Which we actually want to keep as it was intended originally.
It's tricky...we can't win on our own issue, but we can't fight for the rest without their support.

[StoneY]

I feel another Letter to Ed coming on...

Any suggestions (yes, alright, very funny I'm sure) before I send it?

Nice letter MSTRS
No suggestions, its just right as it is

Yes the Unions let us down.
They spent a few grand on advertising, and 80 odd followers showed up with 300 bikers in attendance

Im grateful to all who DID show, and I must say our speakers and the support from Red and Green was awesome.

Saw the writing on the wall yesterday, and to be honest I am depressed....the rest of this country just dont give a fuck, sheep, lemmings, any other dumb flock/pack animal you can name.

All of you who came along, and all who contributed to this thread, thanks.

The rest of New Zealand, (apathetic fucking sheep they are) well they can kiss my lilly white arse, I aint gonna cry for em when the crunch comes and they get shoved on the dole after being hit by a fuckin truck...I will stand on the curb and laugh at their bleeding bodies and say "well, WE told you fuckers, so dont cry to me that you didnt know"

Im taking a long break from ACC related bullshit, carry on the fight team but I need a rest

EDIT: One big victory yesterday (hot air maybe but IS now on record) Labour and the Greens BOTH promised if theyre in power after the next election, ACC will be returned to the Woodhouse Plan as it should be.

[Mom]

Im taking a long break from ACC related bullshit, carry on the fight team but I need a rest

EDIT: One big victory yesterday (hot air maybe but IS now on record) Labour and the Greens BOTH promised if theyre in power after the next election, ACC will be returned to the Woodhouse Plan as it should be.

Dont make it too long StoneY. I understand you with needing a break, i bowed out up here for a rest at the end of last year. I am refreshed now, and about ready to get out and have another crack at this. Dont be discouraged, or depressed mate. The message is still being heard, we are still here and we are still not happy. I am with Ixion on this, it will be the bikers that will be the force to be reckoned with.
Have a good rest, I promise in a couple of months you will feel much better.

Thank you for all the effort you hav eput in to date, I appreciate it as I am sure many other do too.

[Bald Eagle]

Dont make it too long StoneY. I understand you with needing a break, i bowed out up here for a rest at the end of last year. I am refreshed now, and about ready to get out and have another crack at this. Dont be discouraged, or depressed mate. The message is still being heard, we are still here and we are still not happy. I am with Ixion on this, it will be the bikers that will be the force to be reckoned with.
Have a good rest, I promise in a couple of months you will feel much better.

Thank you for all the effort you hav eput in to date, I appreciate it as I am sure many other do too.

Totally agree, you need to take time for yourself, smell the roses, spray the weeds whatever analogy works for you. We will be active in the meantime and they will not be allowed to forget that we are still angry and come November StoneY's birthday will be another big day

[bogan]

It does seem that Joe public doesn't care, or doesn't know, though i think I've personally informed more of the public about what is happening than the number that turned up yesterday so I guess they just don't care. Perhaps they see the possibility of an accident happening to them to be so small as to not worry about the reduced rehabilitation and compensation, perhaps the levy is taken out so subtly they do not see just how big the increases are, I think its both, and we would have a bloody hard time changing either.

The most annoying thing though is the facts are there for everyone to see, if only the media would pick up on it, maybe if we find Nick and/or John turn out to have shares in Aussie insurance companies it'll create a story!

Mind you, we can always try and make this into a big election issue in 2011, and have a blast at the next bikeoi!