Jay Em make war on work

Tu Tangata, Issue 29, 1 April 1986, Page 53

Jay Em make war on work

n an inconspicuous green shed in Napier eight people are settling in to have an end of the week beer. They’re sweating from the Hawkes Bay temperature, and dusty from the dry grape fields. You can sense their relief that the weekend has arrived at last.

This is the Jay Em Trust. Of the 11 involved, only eight are here. These people are a little hapu of their own. You can feel it. There’s an unexplainable feeling that makes you sure that none of these people are ever alone. Jim Morunga refuses to label himself supervisor. “We’re all people here, there are no bosses, we’re people.’’ He’s slouched over the trestle table, brown bottle in hand. “Sit down and have a drink, compliments of the Junior Blacks [Power].”

The Jay Em Trust was set up ten years ago in Jim’s back yard. When it started growing, he moved it to the existing premises in Onekawa. Since then, things have been all go. Most of the work they do around the workshop is sold to the public through various contacts. You name it, and they’ll make it. And Jim says, they’ve been through their share of hard times. “Everything here is ours. We’ve worked ten years to build this up.”

His arms encompass the tractor and trucks outside, the canopy for one of the trucks, the five work benches, all with their own sets of tools, the sewing room, complete with overlocker and machines, the office, display shelves, everything there has Jay Em’s name on it.

And on the modest 15 to 19 year old faces sitting on the opposite side of the trestle glints a bit of pride. But they’re not a whakahihi lot.

They’ve got a contract grape picking for McWilliam’s Wines. Jim negotiates these contracts to build up their capital. With the profits, they are able to expand their current assets. Everyone is consulted when it comes to spending the money.

They’ve been to Auckland to see Tina Turner, Taranaki for the Work Skills Annual National Hui, and Auckland again for the Dire Straits concert. Self determination has brought the Jay Em Trust where they are today. Jim: “We don’t make war on people, we make war on work.”