CTU Supports Union Initiative on High Performance Work

The CTU has today congratulated both the EPMU and Dairy Workers' Union on the launch of the Centre for High Performance Work.

CTU President Helen Kelly who spoke at the launch said that "we know that to lift wages we need not only improvements in the minimum wage and collective bargaining but also sustained increases in productivity".

Helen Kelly said that "'productivity' has at times been a dirty word for workers, particularly when it was used in the 1990's as an excuse to make cuts in terms and conditions. However, in recent years, a more progressive approach to industrial relations has meant the CTU could work with Business NZ and the Government on a number of initiatives that focus on a positive model of workplace productivity".

She said that lifting productivity involves more capital per worker, and higher levels of investment in skills - but also improvements in work organisation and workplace culture.

Helen Kelly said that "a lot has been said about productivity. This Centre is about doing things and is another step which shows that unions are serious about building high performance workplaces that will benefit workers".

Ends.  More information about the Centre is here: http://www.chpw.co.nz, and the CTU's page on workplace productivity is here: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity