NZ Council of Trade Unions
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Te Runanga o Nga Kaimahi Maori – CTU Runanga says there so many wrongs with rushing through the Fire at Will Bill, and acknowledges the Maori Party’s continued opposition to it.
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“Choosing International Human Rights Day as the day to bring in new laws taking away New Zealanders rights to a fair hearing at work is an unfitting, sinister choice,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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The Council of Trade Unions says that the government should push out the deadline on the 1999 decision to fully fund the ACC scheme to 2019, instead of trying to meet all the costs by 2014.
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The Council of Trade Unions is calling on the incoming Government to re-jig their tax cut proposals to provide a more balanced package.
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"Go Bus should immediately end its lockout and come back to the negotiating table,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said.
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The Council of Trade Unions has six questions it believes John Key should be asked in the TVNZ Leaders’ Debate tonight given the focus on jobs and the economy.
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Wage statistics out today show a modest rise, but the employment figures confirm that the number of jobs in the economy is shrinking, said Peter Conway, Council of Trade Unions Economist.
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“Letting the private insurance industry loose on workplace accident cover is utter nonsense, a point further highlighted by the recent problems in global financial markets,” said Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly, in welcoming Labour’s commitment today for a fully public ACC scheme.
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“Labour’s industrial relations policy release today hits all the rights spots both in terms of dealing with the immediate implications of the current economic crisis but also in building future workplaces that are smart and productive, and are decent and fair places to work,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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The union movements Fairness at Work campaign has gone online, with the launch this week of the first of three election videos.
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Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly is calling on the National Party to abandon their KiwiSaver cuts.
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“The Government’s announcement of additional money for improving wages in the aged care sector will test the rhetoric of employers who claim wages need to rise, but who ran a legal challenge against the Government last time they made efforts to allow that to happen,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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An admission today from Rural Contractors New Zealand that the industry is discriminating against New Zealand workers strengthens the need for the development of a comprehensive workforce strategy in the horticulture and viticulture industry, Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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"Further reading of Nationals economic management plan shows alongside Nationals plans to cut employer contributions to 2 per cent and abolish the employer tax credit, it will also cut the government contribution (member tax credit) to 2 per cent, leaving many workers earning under $52,000 much worse off."
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"The National Party tax policy does nothing to address New Zealand’s low wage problem and significantly discourages long term savings.
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Unions are marking World Day for Decent Work today with a call for employers to take the lead in guaranteeing labour hire workers the same pay and conditions as regular workers, ahead of legislation coming in requiring them to do so.
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The Council of Trade Unions today criticised NZ Bus for implementing a complete lockout of all workers after just one hour of strike action.
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“Despite the softly softly rhetoric National leader John Key let the cat out of the bag today by confirming if National were elected the Employment Contracts Act mark II would be again foisted on workers,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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“The Greens vision for workplaces is a positive one for workers, and will build on their work in Parliament that is already making life better for working people,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today, following the release of the party’s industrial relations policy.
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Unionists will be on the streets around the country tomorrow in a nationwide day of action handing out thousands of the Council of Trade Unions election leaflets, as part of the Fairness At Work Worth Voting For campaign.
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In The Unionist this week: the election, cheaper doctor visits, wages and interest rates.
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Casual workers will have greater protection under a Bill tabled yesterday in Parliament, said Peter Conway, Council of Trade Unions Economist.
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“It is ironic to see John Key ask Labour to please explain the wage gap with Australia when in fact it blew out in the 1990s under a National-led Government,” Council of Trade Unions Economist Peter Conway said today.
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The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed legislation passed yesterday guaranteeing minimum tea and lunch breaks, and provisions for women to breast feed at work, but is extremely concerned that meal breaks are being denied to truck and bus drivers following an amendment by New Zealand First.
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“Workforce shortage issues will continue in the rural sector unless farmers and growers start to develop long term strategies for growing their own workforces,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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The CTU welcomes the progress being made in Parliament on the emissions trading scheme.
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In 'The Unionist' this week: privatisation plans, Out @ Work, aged care petition, and more from the Work Rights Wage Drive.
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In 'The Unionist' this week: where is the evidence for an Australian Compensation Corporation, bank workers call for overhaul of lending practices, and the Work Rights Wage Drive heads north.
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"National's policy to get tough on beneficiaries is not only outdated and lacks respect, but it is an approach that undermines wages and has been spectacularly unsuccessful in the past and will be so again," Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said.
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The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed a new Bill aimed at giving children 15 years and under legal rights in employment, by requiring them to be employed, not contractors.
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A meeting of Maori union leaders in Auckland has declared its support for the rolling strike action being taken by Sky City workers this week.Â
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Wage rises as indicated by latest data out this morning need to keep on coming, the Council of Trade Unions said today.
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In The Unionist this week: look out for the Fairness At Work Plays of the Week from this Monday, Work Rights Wage Drive underway, and the Hollow Men film coming soon to a town near you.
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The Council of Trade Unions today reiterated its call for National to release any background material in support of last week’s employment policy release.
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“National's employment policy left as many questions unanswered as answered and letting the public in on the ‘real’ policy might address some of the issues outstanding,” CTU president Helen Kelly said.
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In The Unionist this week: National's employment relations policy, and kiwis working long hours (still).
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The two themes threading through National policy to date continued today with the release of their Employment Relations Policy, Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said.
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The CTU has slammed the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Associations campaign to stop an amendment to the law that will ensure workers get their fair share of KiwiSaver entitlements.
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“Increasing workers’ skills is at the heart of economic transformation and unions are pleased to be working with others on a national skills strategy,” Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said, following the launch of the New Zealand Skills Strategy Action Plan.
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In The Unionist this week: National releases their ACC policy, and more on the comments from ANZ National on the public service.
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Yesterday the National Party released their ACC policy.
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“National’s desire to reward the Australian insurance industry with access to New Zealand worker compensation has clouded their policy release on ACC, which flies in the face of available evidence on the scheme,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.
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The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed moves to amend employment law to ensure workers get their fair share of KiwiSaver entitlements.
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In The Unionist this week: more detail on National's work rights policies, CTU slams ANZ National report on the public service, nurses launch election campaign and a new initiative to improve energy efficiency in the workplace.
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"It is not surprising that at the same time as ANZ National is moving to outsource "back room" staff overseas, it chooses to attack the Government's success in rebuilding the dilapidated public services of the 1990s," CTU President Helen Kelly said in response to ANZ National's report criticising public spending on public services.
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“After confirmation workers in small businesses will be able to be fired unfairly in the first 90 days, now a National MP has said that KiwiSaver employer contributions need ‘adjusting’ for small businesses,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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“What sort of party has policy that advocates legislating for unfair workplace practice,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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In The Unionist this week: National's plans for accident compensation, new work rights to request flexible working arrangements come in to force, the launch of the EPMU's work rights campaign, and economic news this week.
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The Council of Trade Unions is today asking National to explain how their plan for ‘choice’ in accident compensation could benefit anyone in New Zealand.
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News that the Australian insurance industry is lining up to profit over National’s secret plans to privatise ACC means the party must come clean on their intentions, the Council of Trade Unions said today.
“Last month we issued a ‘please explain’ to National, after reported comments from their spokesperson and deputy leader that they were committed to ‘choice’ in accident compensation,” CTU vice president Richard Wagstaff said.217 views
“A new work right for employees with care responsibilities to request flexible working arrangements reflects workers’ increasing need for balance in their lives,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today, ahead of the new flexible work law coming into effect tomorrow.
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The Council of Trade Unions today joined international unions in calling for an end to the intimidation and oppression of union and democracy campaigners in Zimbabwe, as conditions in the country worsened.
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“The rights at work for casual workers are about to get better, and no party should stand it the way of this much needed law change,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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The Council of Trade Unions said today that the case to retain ACC as a monopoly provider of workplace accident cover was clear, and called on political parties who support increased “choice” in workplace cover to explain why.
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The Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill as reported back from the Select Committee shows that a lot of effort has gone into consultation with stakeholders Council of Trade Unions Economist Peter Conway said today.
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The Unionist this week covers the confusion surrounding the National Party's stance on KiwiSaver, the call from the public service union for a reality check on tax cuts and social spending, proposed new work rights covering meal and breastfeeding breaks and climate change.
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Increased provisions for meal and refreshment and breastfeeding breaks would continue to improve the rights at work for Kiwi workers, the Council of Trade Unions told a select committee today.
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An earlier than usual Unionist this week reports on the government budget, the bank workers' union's call for ANZ National to come clean, more on the meat industry and a guest review of the recent Manawatu May Day Cup.
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Workers are feeling the pinch with high food prices, rising petrol costs and high rents and mortgage payments, and tax cuts announced today, targeted at low and middle income earners, will clearly be welcome for many workers, Council of Trade Unions vice president Richard Wagstaff said today.
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"People doing contract work for less than the minimum wage deserve the full wage protections afforded to other workers," Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said tonight.
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The Council of Trade Unions has called for an active approach to finding jobs for meat workers being made redundant, following a further announcement today by PPCS, this time in relation to their Burnside site in Dunedin.
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The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed a Green Party pre budget announcement this week of $50 million to go towards insulation of state housing, writes 'The Unionist' this week. We also report on the meat industry redundancies, as well as give the weekly wrap of events, meetings and campaign dates.
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The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed a Green Party pre budget announcement today of $50 million to go towards insulation of state housing.
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“The meat processing industry owes it to its workforce to get back to the table on discussions for a meat industry merger,” Council of Trade Unions secretary said today, following redundancy announcements by PPCS at its Oringi plant.
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THE UNIONIST: Wages, Burma, Rail buy back, and views from across the ditch The Council of Trade Unions says that rises in workers' wages are welcome, but they are not being felt universally and they need to keep on rising.
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The President of the CTU Helen Kelly and the Director of the New Zealand Office of the National Council for the Union of Burma, Naing Ko Ko today jointly called on New Zealanders to give generously to Burma cyclone relief.
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The Council of Trade Unions says that rises in workers wages are welcome, but they are not being felt universally and they need to keep on rising.
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Climate change policy should be broad-based and not rely too substantially on market-based mechanisms such as emissions trading, the Council of Trade Unions said in its submission to Parliament.
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"Increasing workers' skills is at the heart of economic transformation and is key to lifting New Zealand's productivity.
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"TheCouncil of Trade Unions commends Child Poverty Action Group for their persistent work in keeping child poverty in the public domain and on everyone's agenda," CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said tonight, following the release of CPAG's latest research report.
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“Workers are feeling the pinch with rising costs, and the Reserve Bank governor is wrong to single out wages increases as a future inflationary threat,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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The Council of Trade Unions today welcomed the announcement that import tariffs will be held at their 1 July 2009 levels until 30 June 2011.
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“Employers need to look in the mirror to find the main reason why people leave New Zealand to live in Australia,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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“South African dock workers should be congratulated for preventing arms getting to the Mugabe regime and their stand shows the crucial role unions play internationally in protecting human rights,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.
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The Council of Trade Unions is cautioning against a race to the bottom in wages, as a response to two major job offshoring announcements this week.
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With an after tax profit last year of $61 million, how much money for shareholders does Fisher and Paykel Appliances, a profitable company, think they really need? Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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“ANZ National’s decision to outsource up to 500 jobs shows no commitment to the New Zealand workforce and community,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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The Council of Trade Unions says that it appears as if union concerns have been taken on board in the NZ-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
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“Unions will continue to support and progress initiatives that build a high-skill, high-value workforce, and modern apprenticeships are a key part of that mix,” Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said today.
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"Spotless Services’ refusal to pay its hospitals workers rates that have been agreed to in negotiation with the union is completely dishonourable and outrageous,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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The Council of Trade Unions says that Bill English should get his facts right before he makes misleading and incorrect statements about the CTU’s compliance with electoral law.
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"The jury is in ACC is a world leader and brings both economic benefits and social benefits to the country.
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“There is clearly more to be done to lift New Zealanders living standards, but minimum wage rises coming into effect today coupled with improvements to the social wage in areas like health, education and housing, show we are going about it in the right way,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said.
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Workplaces can do their bit for breastfeeding “Workplaces can do their bit to support breastfeeding mums on their return to work,” said Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont.
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The first comprehensive report on KiwiSaver shows it has been a great success with the numbers joining exceeding expectations, Council of Trade Unions Economist Peter Conway said today.
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Productivity statistics out today show that lifting labour productivity in periods of relatively low unemployment remains a challenge, the Council of Trade Unions said.
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“National leader John Key’s policy announcement today on the public service shows just how inexperienced he is in this area of important public policy,†CTU president Helen Kelly said.
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“Ensuring the success of the food sector is hugely important for all New Zealanders,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today, welcoming an announcement from government of a significant new fund – NZ Fast Forward - to support innovation in the sector.
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The Council of Trade Unions has backed the campaign by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) to free an Iranian unionist and bus driver jailed for standing up for worker and union rights.
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“Comments from John Key to a Christchurch radio station this morning have now confirmed National’s approach to worker rights this election,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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“National needs to start spelling out exactly what it would do with worker rights, after mixed messages from the party on the matter,” CTU president Helen Kelly said, following National Party industrial relations spokesperson Kate Wilkinson’s speech to a business audience in Auckland this morning.
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The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed a new health and safety information pack released by the Minister of Labour today, and says that the challenge now is to implement good practises.
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“Margaret Wilson will be remembered by unions for her work as former Minister of Labour in rebuilding the modern employment law framework we now operate in,†Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.
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“John Key and National need to front up with some consistency on wages, after comments reported yesterday about his desire for wages to drop,” said Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly.
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“The government’s broad economic agenda around skills, infrastructure and productivity, underpinned by a commitment to fairness, is a welcome signal,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.
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Record low unemployment figures out today are good news, and enable a renewed focus in 2008 on supporting those in work to lift skills, as well as try to go even lower than 3.4 percent for the unemployment rate, CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.
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“The labour market has been tight for 6 years – yet wage growth has been modest to say the least in that period,” Council of Trade Unions Economist Peter Conway said today in response to latest wage figures from Statistics New Zealand.
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