November, 2007

The Unionist this week reports on the work rights at stake in Australian elections and recent improvements for New Zealand workers. 

"The repeal of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act, which comes into effect today, is an important milestone in a shifting focus on workers' abilities, not disabilities," CTU vice president Richard Wagstaff said today.

“In voting out the Howard government, Australian workers and their families sent a strong signal that their rights at work are not up for grabs,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.

“The time is right for workers to have the right to request flexible working hours, and provisions passed into law tonight are an excellent step towards building a culture that recognises workers' responsibilities outside of the workplace,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said tonight.

“Involving workers in managing health and safety at work is a key to improving our record in this area,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today, following the release of the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy second progress report.

“What a shame that the first big movement we have seen on boosting the wages of aged care workers has been met by court action,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.

“Minimum rates of pay, a minimum age to work and the health and safety of young workers are welcome areas of debate prompted by the Caritas survey on young delivery workers out yesterday,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said.

"Business New Zealand's criticism today that the Holidays Act is "not up to the job' exposes their desire to allow basic rights at work to be traded away," CTU president Helen Kelly said.

"National's complaints today over a small contribution of New Zealand expertise that will help in saving workers lives are small minded and miserable," CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said.

The Council of Trade Unions is pleased to see that one of its main recommendations to the Select Committee has been picked up in relation to amendments to the KiwiSaver Act, CTU Economist Peter Conway said today.

“Griffins proposal to close its manufacturing plant will be felt by both the workers there, and the wider Lower Hutt community,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said tonight.

“Lower Hutt is a strong centre of manufacturing, and has suffered a number of job losses in recent years.”

The Unionist this week reports on the newest Unions Local, the CTU view on changes needed to immigration laws, and latest unemployment figures, as well as the weekly round up of CTU and other union events.

Continuing low unemployment is very welcome and provides an opportunity to focus on work quality and employment security, the Council of Trade Unions said today.

Statistics New Zealand’s quarterly Household Labour Force Participation survey out this morning showed a tight labour market remains, with unemployment at 3.5%.

New immigration law currently going through Parliament must include “good employer” requirements for labour migration, the Council of Trade Unions will tell a select committee this morning.

Two national surveys out this week reinforced core Council of Trade Union campaign policy planks of stronger public services and higher wages, writes The Unionist CTU this week.  We also report on a new campaign by Komiti Pasefika to make sure young workers know their work rights.

How do young workers remember their work rights? Some of the details can be tricky for new workers but every New Zealander should know their minimum entitlements by law, says the Council of Trade Unions Komiti Pasefika.