THE UNIONIST: Public services, Food R&D, KiwiSaver

John Key’s policy announcement on the public service shows his inexperience in this area of important public policy, writes the Unionist this week.  We also report on new funding for food research and development, the first report card on KiwiSaver and preview upcoming events, meetings and training.

National unfamiliar with the real public service

“National leader John Key’s policy announcement on the public service shows just how inexperienced he is in this area of important public policy,” CTU president Helen Kelly said Wednesday, following a speech from the Opposition leader.

“It is widely accepted that New Zealand has a top public service and both business and union representatives have recently publicly acknowledged how important and impressive the work and advice is that’s coming from the core public service on issues as varied as economic growth, employment, social policy and climate change.”

“If John Key wants to cut back room staff he should front up and name them.”

“What’s the use of front line conservation workers maintaining our parks and reserves if the world is heating up and there is no policy work being done on how to cope with climate change?”

“Mr Key needs to understand that front line staff in areas like DOC, CYF and Police can’t do their jobs without decent back room systems, policy advice and support, and when systems fail on the front line it is often the backroom that looks to ensure it is not repeated,” Helen Kelly said.

National wrong about the growth of the public service - PSA
The Public Service Association also had major concerns with the policy announcement, saying that it was based on a mistaken belief that the growth in the public service in the last eight years has been due to an increase in so called ‘bureaucrats’ rather than an increase in front line public servants.

“The fact is there were major shortages of front line public service staff such as prison officers, social workers and DOC rangers at the end of the 1990s,” PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott said in a statement.

“The impact of the public services cuts in the 1990s was a serious shortage of both front line public servants and support staff such as policy analysts, accounting staff, legal staff and ICT specialists.”

Mr Key demonstrates a lack of experience and understanding of how the public services and government works when he tries to draw a line between front line public servants and support staff he labels as ‘bureaucrats,’ she said.

"Does he want front line public servants like social workers to stop working with children and families because they have to do all the administrative paper work and planning for the future," she said.  "Or is National planning to privatise parts of the public service by contracting them out?”

Click here to watch PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff interviewed on TV3's Sunrise programme yesterday.

KiwiSaver gets the tick 

The first comprehensive report on KiwiSaver shows it has been a great success with the numbers joining exceeding expectations, CTU Economist Peter Conway said yesterday.

“The report does note however that the greatest reason given for those deciding not to join is affordability, and that KiwiSaver members have higher incomes than non-members.”

“But it is also clear that women are joining in equal numbers to men and that the auto-enrolment feature with the ability to opt out is helping to join up low income workers.”

Peter Conway said that the CTU is encouraging employers of low income workers to look at the 2+2 option, where the employer puts in 2% and the worker 2%, and that meets the minimum contribution requirement. In 2010 that would rise to 3+3 and then in 2011 to 4+4.

Food Industry Investment Vital 

“Ensuring the success of the food sector is hugely important for all New Zealanders,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said Tuesday, welcoming an announcement from government of a significant new fund – NZ Fast Forward - to support innovation in the sector.

“The CTU supports initiatives which can increase value-added exports and lead to long term economic and environmental sustainability of the sector.  A substantial funding boost for research and development in the sector will go a long way in helping this goal.”

"The CTU is committed to industry processes to drive innovation and productivity to deliver a higher wage, higher skill, high value economy. An integral part of this is workforce development and we have outlined our vision of the workplace of the future in Te Huarahi mo nga Kaimahi, published late last year.”

“An important goal of economic transformation in these industries, which employ 1 in 5 New Zealanders, is delivering us higher wages and a better standard of living, and the benefits of economic growth and higher productivity must be shared with workers.”

Click here for more from the CTU on the food manufacturing industry.

Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local
remaining meetings in March

Unions Canterbury
Planning meeting
Tuesday 18 March 2008, 7pm.
Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh St Christchurch
karena.brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tuesday 25 March, 4pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Friday 28 March, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Waikato
Wednesday 2 April 2008, 5.15pm
Trade Union Centre, 34 Harwood Street, Hamilton
waikatotuc@xtra.co.nz

Unions Gisborne
Wed 9 April, 5.15pm
Trade Union Centre - Cnr Childers Rd and Customhouse Street
Colleen.Ryan@ndu.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Privatisation By Stealth
Why This Discredited Practice Is Still On the Political Agenda, Sunday, March 16th 2008
11.00 a.m. – 5.30 p.m.  Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Bill Rosenberg, of CAFCA, on the international pressures driving privatisation.  Laila Harre, former Cabinet Minister, on the internal and external pressures on Government to privatise. Sue Newberry, Associate Professor of Accounting, Sydney University, on the structures in place which enable some privatisation initiatives to proceed without the public being aware.  For more info click here (PDF).  Roger Awards follow conference, see below:

The Roger Award
For the worst transnational corporation operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand last year (2007).  The 2007 Winner(s) will be announced on Sunday, March 16th, @ Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh St, Christchurch, 7.30pm. For more info click here.

Working Women's Resource Centre workshops
THE WORKING WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTRE is proud to present last of three Legal Seminars designed and presented by Barristers Helen White and Usha Patel and funded by the ASB Community Trust:
WOMEN COVER YOUR ASS…ETS

The seminar is provided free of charge, is open to all Women and light refreshments will be provided.  The seminar will cover important things to know about FAMILY LAW including the benefits, the pitfalls and the costs of: Wills, Family Trusts and The Relationship Property Act.
March 27th 2008
Venue:  Glenfield Community Centre
Corner Bentley Ave and Glenfield Road
6.00pm to 9.00pm
Book your place by contacting  Ros Hiini Ph 09 379 7906, Fax 09 375 2681, Cell 021 2992921 or Email wwrc@ihug.co.nz

CTU Meetings, Training

CTU Low Pay meeting
Tuesday 8th April 2008, 9.30 to 12.30
NDU Offices, 120 Church Street, Onehunga, Auckland
peterc@nzctu.org.nz

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 or 09-303-9018.

Workplace Productivity Challenge Workshop 
There 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:

Wednesday 2 April 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm – New Plymouth
Friday 4 April 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm – Palmerston North
Friday 11 April 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm – Petone, Wellington
Thursday 22 May 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm - Manukau, South Auckland

Register now for one of these workshops.
Dates for 2008 workshops and Registration forms for these workshops above 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.
Email Sandy - productivity@nzctu.org.nz.
Check out the WPEP website for more information: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity.html