Let’s start with the mechanics. It’s outrageous that the Government have threatened a lockout to Airport security. It’s the sort of thing last tried in the 50s and brought massive social turmoil to NZ.
If Key is wanting a fight with the Unions to avoid focus on the housing crisis we shouldn’t give him what he wants.
Threatening to send in the Police to run functions of State is not what a functioning democracy prides itself on.
So all progressives should support the workers in this case, because allowing the Government to abuse power like this is deeply concerning.
That. All. Said.
Why the bloody hell do we even have domestic security screenings at our airports? If I catch a train or bus to Wellington, I do not expect to pass through security checks. It’s one of the freedoms of a free state, I can move around without getting hassled by the Government.
So why, if I catch a plane to any destination within NZ, do I need to pull my laptop out of my bag, get held up, get electronically scanned, remove my belt, take off my shoes to just get on a plane?
The reason is because of September 11. In the wake of the terror attacks, America demanded screening everywhere and NZ, too frightened to annoy America, went along with every demand made and adopted these standards to domestic travellers as well. That’s why we have the domestic screening that we do, to ‘protect us’ from terrorism.
Yawn.
There was one example of a ‘hijacking’ if you want to call it that, of a small propellered plane flying from Blenheim where a refugee demanded the pilot fly her home to a foreign country. But that was easily quelled by holding her down.
I’m not sure we can claim an angry refugee wanting to be flown home as an example of ‘terrorism’.
I’ve always found Airport Security to be jumped up parking wardens, the very last human beings on earth you would ever want to give a tiny amount of power to. These little tyrants with their totally out of proportion powers show the kind of zealotry reserved for the very lonely.
We should demand these screenings and security malarky for domestic flights be justified or dumped. It would make getting to your flight on time easier, and it would stop the Government conditioning us to their constant snooping and interference in our lives.
Justify why we have these security protocols or remove them. The travelling public have been cajoled, frightened and bullied long enough. Hearing that the bloody cops may now take over these roles is not a solution!
Technically you are correct but for the same reason we lock our doors (house & car) when we are away from them most people want to have security for a plane. It would be nice if we could fly like in the good old days (pre 9/11) & I am sure that with the excessive spying allowed on us now-days those in charge could guarantee safety without the need for a screening process in the airport.
Did my reply get binned? People should know the truth!
I’m wondering the same. Once the ‘alternative’ media start censoring the truth and promote the lies of the empire we are truly done for.
Funny you should say that AFEWKNOWTHETRUTH ’cause my reply was actually about who really runs the Empire. :/
What we are really talking about is the “what if….” scenario.
What if we don’t do it and we have either some nutter going berserk with a weapon or some religious or political fanatic group plants a bomb in some airport?
What it is all about is creating fear in the minds of people that it will happen if we don’t do it, and thus fear is being used as a weapon by the government agencies.
Now fear is a perfectly natural emotion, indeed we need to have some fear because it is an instinct that can save us from death or serious injury.
But it is a question of balance. How far do we go to combat the theoretical terrorist? The National government have cynically used September 11 to ramp up the overall fear in our society that a terrorist attack is just around the corner. They have no evidence that there is likely to be a terrorist attack but as we know with the National government, they never let the truth interfere with a good story.
Nowadays when someone accidently leaves a parcel or bag somewhere in public like in a library or shop, everyone goes into panic mode – buildings evacuated, streets cordoned off and it usually turns out to be someone’s lunch or office papers.
That said, there have been (very) rare cases of actual bombs being planted but the rarity is seldom discussed by the government agencies, they prefer to talk about what if the next one discovered is the real thing?
Incidentally, one notorious genuine bomb planting was the Wellington Trades Hall in 1984 in which the caretaker Ernie Abbott was killed. That incident, if anything, should have justified a general review of security by the government but it didn’t happen. If it had been the Employers Federation or Federated Farmers being bombed we would have had the army and Massey’s (new) Cossacks out on the street with a state of emergency and a curfew, but since the targets were trade unionists the National government didn’t take much interest in it.
But we have to remind ourselves that genuine “terrorist” attacks in New Zealand are basically non-existent and our distance from the world’s trouble spots makes us an unlikely target.
In short, the terrorists that claim to represent Islam (I do not call them Islamic terrorists) would have little to gain here and would get scant support from NZ Muslims.
So do we need extra security at airports? At international airports – probably; at domestic airports – hardly.
Better training of existing staff and better information for travellers would help.
To be honest I have no problem with there being security checks on local flights, as we live in a very “global” world now, and with the very high visitor numbers we now have, due to mass tourism, and also much more business travel, we better be prepared for things that may happen, although it is less likely to happen in New Zealand.
What riles me is the blatant interference by this government as the Executive in an industrial dispute, now having even served lock out notices. This is disgusting, as that are measures that resemble those in authoritarian states.
How can unions, how can organised workers defend their rights, when their action will somehow be made irrelevant or insignificant, as the government sends in other employees to do the job of the striking workers?
This is how far it has got us, this is where we are now, this is how screwed workers’ rights are in this damned little de-facto dictatorship that carries a fig-leaf dress or “window-dressing” of “democracy” that is also overly compromised (fast track legislation, under-funding of watchdogs, restricting legal aid for those that may see needs to challenge government decisions and actions breaking the law).
Next we have fill in staff do the jobs of teachers, nurses, admin staff all over the show, and the final destruction of unions.
It is time for workers to show solidarity, and even the Police Association has made clear, it would be absurd for them to be involved, on one hand doing the job of airport security staff and on the other keeping strikers and others protected and at bay.
Call in the army, that is now John Key’s solution to assert power and keep control in the rotten state of Aotearoa, not so much the “least corrupt country” on earth anymore.
The only thing we have to fear is this bl@@#y government.
The only thing this government has to fear is us.
I feel safer having airport security staff
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