August, 2006
The Council of Trade Unions is calling on all unions to get in behind distribution centre workers who have been locked out by their employer, Progressive Enterprises.
Unions support the recommendations of the Food and Beverage Taskforce final report, released today, union spokesperson James Ritchie said.
A relationship agreement between the CTU and the Runanga, the 90 Days Bill, progressing the low wages campaign and social partnership initiatives were among the items discussed at a quarterly meeting of the National Affiliates Council in Wellington yesterday, writes The Unionist this week.
"Progressive Enterprises are anything but progressive in their heavy approach to dealing with workers’ lawful right to strike for a national employment agreement," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
Unity, solidarity and respect were the underlying principles behind the signing yesterday of the Te Ture Whakawhanaungatanga / Relationship Agreement between Te Runanga o Nga Kaimahi Maori and the National Affiliates Council of the CTU Te Kauae Kaimahi.
“The announcement that employer contributions to Kiwisaver schemes will be exempt from specified superannuation contribution withholding tax shows that everything is being done to get employers to support workplace savings,” Peter Conway, CTU Economist said today.
The Maori Party have today announced that they will not be supporting National’s 90 Days employment Bill any further. "Hone Harawira announced to Te Runanga O Nga Kaimahi Maori – CTU Runanga today that the Maori Party have completed their analysis of the submissions on the Bill and will not be voting for it any further."
CTU Secretary Carol Beaumont told a rally in Auckland today that the union campaign against National’s attacks on workers’ rights was working, but needed to continue.
The Council of Trade Unions believes that changes to the KiwiSaver Bill will boost participation in the scheme.
“Union membership has increased by 35,000 since 2000, and it is alarming that National’s industrial relations spokesperson can’t get even get these basic figures right,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
Auckland workers will have their chance next week to show opposition to National’s 90 Days No Rights Bill, at a rally in the city on Wednesday, writes The Unionist this week.
The Council of Trade Unions reiterated its call for decent jobs with proper pay, writes The Unionist this week.
"If Cameron Bagrie’s wishes come true I hope he himself is one of the workers that he wants to put out of a job and join the unemployment queue," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
CTU President Ross Wilson says that priority must be given to New Zealand made products in the launching of the Buy Kiwi Made campaign. "We are all well aware of the impact of the burgeoning manufacturing sector in China and the effects it is having on New Zealand industries."
“Unemployment in New Zealand remains among the lowest in the OECD, but we need to keep doing better,” said Carol Beaumont, CTU secretary today.
"For a country that prides itself on being fair and reasonable the MSD Social Report shows that there is still much to do before we can feel truly proud of progress for Maori," CTU vice president Maori Sharon Clair said.
"The Social Report confirms that unions are right in running a vigorous campaign for a fair share for workers, and in particular for those on low wages," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
“The trade union movement has not run a campaign to move people from the Maori roll to the general roll,” Sharon Clair, CTU Vice president Maori said this morning.
"With our wages 35% below Australia, workers need to get organised and bargain collectively in unions to achieve regular increases at above the rate of inflation," Council of Trade Unions Economist Peter Conway said today.
The Council of Trade Unions is marking world breastfeeding week with a reminder to employers that providing a supportive working environment is critical in retaining staff.
"Provisions enabling mothers to breastfeed at work are important for family-friendly workplaces," Carol Beaumont, CTU secretary said today.
Work life balance is not an optional extra – it is fundamental for a modern economy, was the view put forward by the Council of Trade Unions at a recent forum on the topic, writes the Unionist this week.
Either read on, or download a printable version here (PDF file, 64 kb).
“I challenge Roger Kerr to point to the alleged “dishonesty” in the CTU statements on the Wayne Mapp employment Bill or withdraw his defamatory comments,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.