Next BIG Protest with StoneY and the Unions

[StoneY]

Hey guys, girls, and in betweens.

Just a wee note on the political situation here

I am personally a card carrying member of the labour party (no surprises there) but I will happily accept backup on this from anyone, I mean ANYONE to fight this battle

While Labour may have thier own ACC agenda, and right now we are the ally of the moment, its actually all about the rest of NZ this time not just us, however on the power of BIKEOI we are leading the charge so the rest have let us and follow our great example set in Nov 09

When I was asked by the ACC Futures Coalition to help them organise a rally, I suggested we have Bikers attend in a 'were back and look who joined us' role and they were grateful, and willing

As the coalition is made up of largley Public Servants and Union officials who have the same aims we had at BIKEOI (do NOT raise OUR levies) it was a given it was going to get VERY political

It is the National Party making these changes, so anyone opposing them for whatever reason suits me as an ally untill Tuesday 3pm when I can go to the PnJ and get hammered


Once this ones done, we need to get some movement going on unifying the BRONZE branches nationwide and play on our current political popularity (yes, all the parties except the nats and act currentlly love bikers) and keep the pressure on by lobbying, lobbying lobbying

I say in November we do another PURELY Biker BIKEOI, but thats ages away and this rally on Tuesday needs be dealt with and, Hone, Phil Rick etc are puppets of the moment regardless of party affiliation

At least with these 3 we know they can actually ride a bike! (helmets or not lol) and we know Hone will put himself on the line even if unpopular
I have no love of Mr Hariwera, or his party for that matter but on the day, hes my ally because, it effectively looks like HE HAS CROSSED THE FLOOR!
Thats the big break weve been needing in the halls of tptb

So, please all, forget the politics on the day, please remember we are trying to save ACC from being sold off and thats supercedes personal politics of the hour imho (humble...sure stoney)

Not much more to say and do now except show up Tuesday and rant, chant, scream BULLSHIT and wait to see if we scare em off or not
See ya there

[MSTRS:Me]

To those who don't like the thought of being 'in bed with the reds'...There is a subtle difference in who is aligning with who.
This subject was always political. It was (a series of) politicians who started it, after all.
If it helps, I lay out below the progression of steps that have led to this point...
1998-1999 National sells the Earner Account, and introduces the full-funding model to the Motor Account. The country just watched.
2001 Labour buys back the Earner Account, but leaves the Motor Account as is. The country just watched.
2009 National tells the country "We can't afford this. Bikers will have to pay $750 more and then we are going to screw the rest of you". The country just watched.
That got the attention of bikers, who let the rest of us know all about it. The country just watched.
Bikers tell the Govt "No way" and the rest of the country "You're next" - because bikers saw the fine print. The country just watched.
A few 'enlightened' souls finally saw the fine print, and got the message through to a bunch more. The country just watched.
That (much bigger) bunch will be telling National to "Keep your hands off". The country just watched.
After next Tuesday - more of that 'country that just watched' will have seen that now bikers AND teachers, Maoris, public servants, wharfies, truckies, clerical staff, Tourism operators and the like are not happy to see ACC being destroyed.
And they will no longer just be watching...because they may just finally realise it isn't just bikers being targeted, it's THEM.

[phred]

So now we are in bed with Labour, Unions, Maori Party + Hone. Sadly this will make many bikers distance them self from it all. (And if Hone comes close to me while I am there I will tell him to fuck off)

I am but a lone voice in this all but I think this all has gone a step further than many bikers were prepared to be part of, and it was something I tried to say a few months ago; The only thing bikers fully agreed on was that the proposed ACC hikes were just not on. Then anything else/more was a totally different issue. Riding a bike has nothing to do with ones political conviction. You could argue that taking ACC back to how it was supposed to be has also nothing to do with ones political views. But by involving all these others it has become very political.

Not that anyone cares, but when I ask my self if I am OK with all this, my honest reply is: I am uncomfortable re who we are aligning us (us=bikers) with. Do I support a win at any cost? No.

But politics can stop you riding your bike. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" quoted from somewhere or other.

[mashman]

But politics can stop you riding your bike. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" quoted from somewhere or other.

Politics can't. It's the human beings wielding politics as a self righteous sword that will suggest that motorcycling be banned. It's the law that will stop us or the finances available to us.

[MSTRS:Me]

I hope this is printed in the DomPost. I just sent it off.
HBToday printed it today...

Got a reply from them...they say - I am keen to use your letter, but it needs to be 200 words or fewer. Are you able to shorten it?
So I managed to drop off about 70 words...with this comment - I have managed to trim off 70-odd words without losing context. Can you make an exception? It is a very important subject.
I hope they go for it.

Dear sir

Last year motorcyclists protested levy rises and warned the country "Who's Next?" about other proposals. Since then, some rises have been announced, with barely a whimper heard in response. Will there be a whimper when the rest comes to pass? Already we are seeing cases of people in their 50s, injured at work, being turned down for cover because their 'condition is age-related' according to ACC.

Still to come...

Increased up-front charge at doctors.

Cuts to entitlements. 80% wage compensation will drop to 70%. For 12 months. After that, it will drop to 60%. And after 2 years, it will cease altogether. Unless YOU pay a specialist to re-assess eligibility for continued cover.

You will have to use sick leave and holiday leave you have accrued, before ACC compensation kicks in.

But because you are still ‘covered’, you have no right to sue to recover the shortfall if someone else caused your injuries.

The continued interference by successive governments is destroying this unique-in-the-world scheme. The current round of meddling is simply speeding up it’s demise. Soon we will be told that we’ll be better off if ACC gets privatised. Right! Electricity, anyone?

So – who is happy to pay more and get less for it? In the words of Rhys Darby, "No-one, huh? Typical."

But it’s not too late. Yet. ACC needs to return to it’s original (Woodhouse) principles. That is what all Nzers should be calling for. Some will be at Parliament lunchtime on Tuesday 16th doing just that. You can be there, too.

[Azi Dahaka]

i am now quite annoied that i wont be able to attend this as i have to go for a funeral though if i see any bikers on my way up to toupo from wellington ill be sure to save my support of this.

[P38]

Got a reply from them...they say - I am keen to use your letter, but it needs to be 200 words or fewer. Are you able to shorten it?
So I managed to drop off about 70 words...with this comment - I have managed to trim off 70-odd words without losing context. Can you make an exception? It is a very important subject.
I hope they go for it.

Read your letter in the HBT .... Good on Ya for putting pen to paper.... I know lots I work with read it too as they asked me was this in connection to the pettition I had circulated.

[_Shrek_]

I was going to atend this, but as it's not just for bikers I will wait until it is, & I hope it's before the price rise & not in November,
my piont is, I can't realy be bothered pushing some one else's barrow when we have a major problem right now & to make sure they hear us we need to show up in our thousand's, filling Wellington bringing it to a stand still,
sure it's going to piss people off, but what about other groups that march on Parliament, or truckers etc... they all knew it would piss people off but it didn't stop them, why should it stop us?

[Fatt Max]

I'm going cos as well as being a biker, I am fecking pissed about what is happening.

I'm sick of the lies that are being spun, I'm sick of the attutide that those in charge have towards normal hard working kiwi's, and I'm sick of the backstabbing that appears to be the norm.

Yes, it started with the bikers and didnt we make a noise. HUGE respect to everyone, and I mean everyone who organised, marshalled, supervised and attended the BIKEOI last year. I had the pleasure and privaledge of attending the Auckland events and felt such a sway of emotion and solidarity through those that attended.

The 16th brings in a new perspective, it brings on other groups that the changes to ACC will have a detrimetal effect on. But bottom line is that its Kiwis standing up for something that is inherantly Kiwii. Doesnt matter if you ride a bike, a unicycle or your neighbours missus, this is all about something unique to us.

am a pommie, emigrated here 12 years ago. The ONLY thing I do not like about NZ is the amount of pommies over here who moan about the place. Feck off back then and leave us alone. I have learnt so much about the ACC scheme over the last few years and this education has not come from books, seminars or presentations. It has come from the people of this great country, and all I have seen and heard is true blue angst over what is happening to ACC.

So, I wiill be there. I would like to ride down but I cannot do that so I am flying down. I will have my guitar with me and I will tell them to Jam It Up Ther A.R.S.E, and I will be proud and humbled to do so because I will be with people who care about something that is uniquly ours.

That, for what it is worth, is my angle

See you on the 16th, I will be the fat bastard with the guitar

FM
I

[StoneY]

I was going to atend this, but as it's not just for bikers I will wait until it is, & I hope it's before the price rise & not in November,
my piont is, I can't realy be bothered pushing some one else's barrow when we have a major problem right now & to make sure they hear us we need to show up in our thousand's, filling Wellington bringing it to a stand still,
sure it's going to piss people off, but what about other groups that march on Parliament, or truckers etc... they all knew it would piss people off but it didn't stop them, why should it stop us?

And here lies the root of the problem "I wont do anything unless its about ME ME ME"
Thats what them cunts in the government are doing, suiting themselves and we need to show up on Tuesday to show them its not only unpopular but will get them voted out

This one is about: BIKERS, FIREMEN, POLICEMEN, WELDERS, ARCHITECHTS, SCHOOL KIDS, ELDERLY, HOSPITAL STAFF, IT GEEK's....EVRYFUCKINGBODY.......get it yet?

Your apathy is pathetic and belittles the work people like Fat MAx, Cheery B, Ms Piggy, Riffer, Foxzee, Bald Eagle and a hanfdfull of others have done to make this one happen. I just make the noise and call the people to come along, the efforts of MANY bikers from members of Ulysses and WIMA down to us here at Kiwibiker, and a dozen unions is wasted on selfish shit like this

"I WAS gonna come but its not about ME anymore....' DAMN FUCKIN RIGHT it aint about YOU
Its about EVRYONE and this is the LAST chance to show we have a voice to holler with

Pathetic

Edit: Kikaha you can red bling me all you like I dont care what you think.
I dont expect anyone to kiss my ass I just expect them to stand up for the rights of every Kiwi and show this government they cant mess with ACC

Score to date: 2 red blings from Kikaha, 15 greens from the rest of the members here, case dismissed

[Pedrostt500]

I was going to atend this, but as it's not just for bikers I will wait until it is, & I hope it's before the price rise & not in November,
my piont is, I can't realy be bothered pushing some one else's barrow when we have a major problem right now & to make sure they hear us we need to show up in our thousand's, filling Wellington bringing it to a stand still,
sure it's going to piss people off, but what about other groups that march on Parliament, or truckers etc... they all knew it would piss people off but it didn't stop them, why should it stop us?

Ah the Root Attitude of good old Kiwi Apathy, "Nah Fuck All To Do With Me Bro", Go back to sleep New Zealand, Bury your head back in the nice warm sand, and let the Politicians just root you up the arse, at their free will, Yes Sheeple of New Zealand, Barstard Corp Insurance is standing in the wings to shear you of as much of your hard earned, as they can exstract, there is nothing to worry about, it is not about You Personaly, it is happening to your Neighbour, go back to your TV set and Corperate Rugby and Multinational beer.

[MSTRS:Me]

I was going to atend this, but as it's not just for bikers I will wait until it is, & I hope it's before the price rise & not in November,
my piont is, I can't realy be bothered pushing some one else's barrow when we have a major problem right now & to make sure they hear us we need to show up in our thousand's, filling Wellington bringing it to a stand still,
sure it's going to piss people off, but what about other groups that march on Parliament, or truckers etc... they all knew it would piss people off but it didn't stop them, why should it stop us?

Hmmmm. So - you are only a biker. Nothing else. Only the bike levy rise, and none of the rest of what is planned for ACC, affects you.
4.5 million NZers would like to be you, I'm sure.

[_Shrek_]

Now remember this ones not all about us bikers, we are all welcome but its not expected that the thousands of bikes from last time will be there. A good few hundred- a thousand maybe, but yeah lower N.I. can sure represnt.

We wont have convoy parks and escorts and the stadium will be a foot gathering spot if were llowed. so the bikes will come to Molesworth st if I can get the council onside again
And of course thousands of non bikers will be there, trudhing past our machines....we will be more symbolic than the main event this time if you get the drift.

Be good to have a few slow cruisers that wont overheat lead the footmarch, but do such bikes exist? @ kms of crawl speed in front of a foot march?......

Ok everyone
I have had a few people mention there is no defined thread for the NEXT PROTEST

I have sevreal Unions on board for a big march on Parliament, and the wheels are starting to roll
Dates set for 16th February, at this point its a logical date as the Corrections Union are having a march the week before, and some other group have one the week after so we get a finite window of oppotunity to pull this off.

I have requested permission from the Speaker to enter the grounds en-masse on 16th February.

This is about more than just Bikers but we want to have a strong presence there.

I need about 3-400 bikers to attend on the day and make a visible presence at the front of the house, but this time speakers will all be Unionists and Academics and other disafeccted groups (is that the right term?)

Its gonna take some work to pull it off again, and I am hoping we get the same support we got last time for the BIKEOI, but wont hold my breath.

Anyone keen to help, PM me
And I aint talking about handing out fliers, I mean WORK and responsibility for some of the organisation...(nearly killed myself the last time with exhaustion.)

This iwll be along the same lines as the BIKEOI, peacefull but a strong message
Want loads of signs, banners, and a good chant, one I think we have heard before, LOL

StoneY

And here lies the root of the problem "I wont do anything unless its about ME ME ME"
Thats what them cunts in the government are doing, suiting themselves and we need to show up on Tuesday to show them its not only unpopular but will get them voted out

This one is about: BIKERS, FIREMEN, POLICEMEN, WELDERS, ARCHITECHTS, SCHOOL KIDS, ELDERLY, HOSPITAL STAFF, IT GEEK's....EVRYFUCKINGBODY.......get it yet?

Your apathy is pathetic and belittles the work people like Fat MAx, Cheery B, Ms Piggy, Riffer, Foxzee, Bald Eagle and a hanfdfull of others have done to make this one happen. I just make the noise and call the people to come along, the efforts of MANY bikers from members of Ulysses and WIMA down to us here at Kiwibiker, and a dozen unions is wasted on selfish shit like this

"I WAS gonna come but its not about ME anymore....' DAMN FUCKIN RIGHT it aint about YOU
Its about EVRYONE and this is the LAST chance to show we have a voice to holler with

Pathetic

Edit: Kikaha you can red bling me all you like I dont care what you think.
I dont expect anyone to kiss my ass I just expect them to stand up for the rights of every Kiwi and show this government they cant mess with ACC

Score to date: 2 red blings from Kikaha, 15 greens from the rest of the members here, case dismissed

take a look at the bold on your 2 posts, I have to take time off work (no pay, one income, mine)travel from central to wellington at my own expence FOR WHAT to back unions who don't realy give a shit about bikers unless they ride them selfs but they want our suport, because they know that we can get the numbers for their own ends so why don't you say to them suport us & our speakers & we'll put in a word for you,
& if the best you can do is sling off at me for posting my reason for not going... Knock yourself out

[_Shrek_]

Hmmmm. So - you are only a biker. Nothing else. Only the bike levy rise, and none of the rest of what is planned for ACC, affects you.
4.5 million NZers would like to be you, I'm sure.

Ah the Root Attitude of good old Kiwi Apathy, "Nah Fuck All To Do With Me Bro", Go back to sleep New Zealand, Bury your head back in the nice warm sand, and let the Politicians just root you up the arse, at their free will, Yes Sheeple of New Zealand, Barstard Corp Insurance is standing in the wings to shear you of as much of your hard earned, as they can exstract, there is nothing to worry about, it is not about You Personaly, it is happening to your Neighbour, go back to your TV set and Corperate Rugby and Multinational beer.

no I see what ACC is doing & I do give a shit just not when we are being used at my family's expence, I hound the useless mp's & anyone else that i can, but they don't care except for their govt cheque weather they be blue, red, green etc..

ps head above sand & no tv for the last 25 years

[StoneY]

In Shrek's defence its been pointed out to me he lives in Otago and it would be a small fortune to attend

So maybe it would have been wiser not to have said 'I was GONNA come to this but....'

Thats what got most of those involved pissed off, is the 'was going to come' statement
Never mind moving on