Following details last week over their plan to privatise worker accident compensation, National has confirmed that if elected they will implement a new version of their 90-day employment policy.
The new policy would focus on workers in small businesses, and could affect up to 200,000 people every year. National's plan would remove the right of these workers to appeal against being unfairly dismissed in the first 90 days on the job.
Their 2006 policy, in a Bill from National's Wayne Mapp, provoked a significant response from workers throughout the country [2] and big turnouts at union rallies in Auckland and Wellington. The Bill was dumped after only the 5 MPs from United Future and Act joined National in voting for it at second reading.
On Monday CTU president Helen Kelly asked what sort of party had policy that advocates legislating for unfair workplace practice.
“You wouldn’t see small shops be given the right to opt out of consumer protection laws, or small property owners opting out of tenant protection laws, so why would any government legislate to allow small businesses to opt out of fairness in employment?”
“National’s right to unfairly sack workers would be given to the 96 per cent of all employers who make up small businesses, and could affect up to 200,000 workers every year. Currently all businesses can dismiss workers when it is justified and fair including on day one, but why specifically legalise unfair behaviour – it is beyond belief.”
NZEI President Frances Nelson said [3]: "many teachers and principals move to gain promotion but this policy would create an environment which would hamper their career paths, as they'd be reluctant to move to a new job where there was no certainty of employment for the first 90 days. It would make it even more difficult for small, rural or remote schools to attract experienced staff."
The EPMU said [4] that at a time when New Zealanders need to raise their wages to deal with skyrocketing costs of living the National Party is pledging policy that would do the exact opposite.
Later in the week, National's Shane Arden was reported as saying that KiwiSaver employer contributions needed ‘adjusting’ for small businesses.
“Who is going to want to work for a small business in New Zealand, when under National a second class of worker is created with less rights and choices than others?,” Helen Kelly said [5].
“There is already a strong interest in KiwiSaver from workers, 700,000 of whom have made personal financial decisions based on information available on KiwiSaver. If National are going to scrap employer tax credits, they should tell workers sooner rather than later. It is important information for voters and democracy demands they come clean.”
Audio/video: Click here [6] to hear the CTU on Radio NZ's Checkpoint this week, or click here [7] to see the CTU in Maori Television's Te Kaea news programme.
Click here for the CTU's election page [8]. 
[8]
Stick to banking - CTU tells economist
“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 this week [9], in response to ANZ National’s report criticising public spending on public services.
“Cameron Bagrie appears to have included in the total “backroom” spending by the Ministry of Education, money that is spent on hundreds of front line Special Education staff working directly with kids with disabilities and learning difficulties. The services of these staff were brought back into public provision after National effectively privatised them in the 1990s.”
"And secondly, percentages can mislead. There have been thousands of new teachers employed in our schools since 2000 and while in percentage terms this may not look as impressive as part of the big teaching workforce, it represents a significant investment in new education spending. It is not surprising in this blatantly political piece of work, Mr Bagrie has put a bad light on what is a fantastic achievement for New Zealand children,” Helen Kelly said.
Andrew Campbell from the bank workers union finsec said [10]: "It is no surprise ANZ National are attacking back office jobs in the public service given they are sending a good chunk of their own back office work to Bangalore. This is another attack from our wealthiest bank on the job security of New Zealand workers."
"It is perhaps not surprising given bank economist Cameron Bagrie works to a board including former National Leader Don Brash. It might explain the eerie similarity between his report and National Party statements on this issue."
Campbell said that the bank was using these statistics to push their own policy agenda in a highly politicised environment only months out from a general election. "In our view, one can easily read a political motivation behind the report and we believe it should be scrutinised very carefully with this in mind."
"They seem to have the same slash and burn, short-term view of core public services too. It's sad that when our economy and the workers who drive productivity need real investment, our wealthiest bank seems intent on doing exactly the opposite."
Nurses launch election agenda - safe staffing tops the list
Nurses are calling on all political parties to declare their support for policies they say are essential to giving the public the health services they need.
"New Zealand Nurses Organisation supports the direction of the government health strategies, the continued commitment to universally affordable and accessible public healthcare and a publicly funded injury prevention, rehabilitation and accident compensation scheme. However, NZNO believes that more needs to be done to support and develop the nursing workforce, the key delivery agent of the health system," the union's manifesto, launched this week, said.
The union is calling for a commitment to ongoing Government support for the joint NZ Nurses Organisation/District Health Board work on safe staffing and its extension throughout the health sector.
NZNO CEO Geoff Annals said nurses are the largest group of health professionals and make up the front line of health service delivery.
"Getting nursing right is fundamental to getting health services right. NZNO has been working closely with DHBs to get nursing right by implementing the recommendations of the Safe Staffing/Healthy Workplaces Committee of Inquiry [11] since last year. It is imperative this work is able to continue."
There is a continued need for Government commitment to build on the work already done and to see Safe Staffing initiatives extended to other sectors in the Health system, he said.
For more on the Nurses Manifesto, download a copy here [12] (PDF file, 142 kb), and visit NZNO's election campaign site Vote Well here [13].
Joint effort on energy efficiency
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), the Council of Trade Unions and Business New Zealand are working together to develop an industry training programme to improve energy efficiency in the workplace.
“Many people are keen to know what they can do to save power and be more energy efficient. This is driven by both environmental and cost concerns. We welcome this partnership with EECA which will help us keep our members informed and get them onboard with this important initiative,” CTU president Helen Kelly said [14].
Over the next 12 months a series of projects will be rolled out through EECA, the CTU and Business New Zealand. The first stage includes an educational booklet with practical energy efficiency tips for organisations and their staff, including information on how to be more energy efficient at work, on the road and at home.
For more from the CTU on climate change and the environment, click here [15].
Weekly Events Calendar
Unions Local - remaining July meeting times. For more info on Unions Local, including contacts for other areas not listed below, click here [16].
[16]
Unions Otago
Monday July 14, 4.30pm
NZNO, Level 2, 7 Crawford St, Dunedin
glendaa@nzno.org.nz [18]
Unions Canterbury
Tues July 15, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch
karena.brown@epmu.org.nz [19]
Unions Auckland
Thur July 17, 4pm
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz [17]
Unions Manawatu
Friday July 25, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz [20]
Unions Northland
Tues July 29, 5pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz [17]
Other Events and Campaigns
Unions Wanganui is supporting this event to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.
Unions Wanganui contact: Kaye.Hearfield@ndu.org.nz [21]
The Whanganui River Institute
Invites you to join us in celebrating Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday
Friday 18 July 2008, 6pm
Sustainable Whanganui Environment Centre
38 Taupo Quay, Wanganui
RSVP 348 8363 or 348 7478
Workers Educational Association Wellington "Election Issues" Forums
Monday 21st July, 12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Grant Brookes, Residents Action Movement, On "Food Affordability - scrap GST!"
W E A Rooms, 3rd Floor, Anvil House, 138 Wakefield Street, Wellington
pbolster@anet.co.nz [22]
Inaugural AUT Annual Public Employment Relations Lecture
Speaker: Trevor Mallard
TOPIC: ‘The future outlook for employment relations in New Zealand’
TIME: 3:00-4:00pm, Tuesday 22nd July 2008
VENUE: AUT Business School, Room 711, 42 Wakefield Street, Auckland
Please RSVP to Serena Gent (serena.gent@aut.ac.nz [23]) by Friday 18th July.
Election 2008: What’s In It for Women?
Join us for breakfast and bring your friends on:
Wednesday 30 July 2008, 7.30 am - 8.45am
The Jimmy Café and Bar, St James Theatre Courtenay Place
Chaired by Pinky Agnew
A breakfast to highlight policies and issues for women in this year's General Election.
(Breakfast options available for purchase)
Guest speakers: Hon Steve Chadwick, MP, Sue Bradford, MP
Organised by the Women's Electoral Network
Please RSVP to womenselectoralnetwork@gmail.com [24]
CTU Meetings, Training
Maori Models of Organising - Nga Momo Whakaritenga
6 courses commencing in July across the country. Details will be advised closer to the time, but early enquiries to helent@nzctu.org.nz [26] or 09-303-9018
Workplace Productivity Challenge Workshop
T
[27]here is no charge to attend the Productivity Challenge which is an EREL-approved course. Financial assistance is available for travel, wage reimbursement (if not on EREL or other leave) and other associated costs. There are places available in the following workshops - Register now for one of these workshops:
- Friday 11 July, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Mangere East South Auckland
Dates for 2008 workshops and Registration forms for these workshops are on the CTU website. If you wish to register interest in a future workshop please tell us your name and location and details of how to contact you. We will cater to demand and arrange something to suit you if you cannot find a location that suits you in our current schedule.
Email Sandy - productivity@nzctu.org.nz [28].
Check out the WPEP website for more information: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity.html [27]