Alastair ReithAlastair Reith

Alastair Reith is a trade unionist who lives in Wellington

Patronising political spectacles are no substitute for real people power

by

Yesterday’s Extinction Rebellion protests may have caught the media’s attention – including The Spinoff’s – but do such small-scale disruptive events actually do more harm than good? There’s something beautiful in the air. People are striking and protesting in numbers unheard of for a generation or longer. Issues like inequality and climate change have reached … Read more

Why didn’t we strike under National?

by

For a long time, it seemed that strikes were a thing of the past – and then, under an ostensibly more worker-friendly government, they came roaring back. So why now? Trade unionist Alastair Reith provides a view from the left. This year has seen the welcome, long overdue return of strike action to New Zealand. … Read more