In The Unionist this week: Your vote counts - who will you give it to?

Your Vote Counts.  Who will you give it to?

Saturday’s election will be a close contest between worker friendly parties, and those that want to take away our work rights.  Every vote will count. 

Workers know the difference governments can make to their lives – things like paid parental leave, cheaper doctor visits and prescriptions, free early childhood education, more holidays, Working for Families, KiwiSaver, fairer employment law and stronger public services - all make a big difference in our lives. 

We need workers’ rights to continue to improve.  Before casting your vote at this election, ask yourself where all parties stand on protecting work rights and public services, and who has a plan to lift wages. Check out our vision at: www.fairnessatwork.org.nz.

And be sure to check out the third and final installment of the CTU’s online election trilogy, which hit the net this week.  You can see it here: http://nz.youtube.com/nzctu.

Make sure you, and all of your friends, family and workmates are on the electoral roll, and vote.  Friday is the last possible day to enroll - if any of your workmates, friends or family are not enrolled, then visit a Postshop or call 0800 36 76 56 pronto!

Work Rights a Big Issue in This Election

It would be ignoring the elephant in the room for this column not to talk at this time about the issues for workers in this election, CTU president Helen Kelly said this week in a column in the Dominion Post.

Given the current economic turmoil, the task of choosing our next Government becomes even more important.  Electing a Government that will protect workers and opportunities for work during this period is now being identified by union members as the key election issue.  

Workers know what National’s reputation is when it comes to work rights. After all in the 1990s we saw the minimum wage frozen and the despised Employment Contracts Act, which cut penal rates and other conditions and undermined union rights.

Labour has announced policy initiatives that provide both short term ideas to keep the economy going and support those that will lose their job, including the job search and retraining allowances, minimum redundancy payments and notice and the reduction of job insecurity by reducing the use of non-genuine casual employment. They have also posted a longer term view of workplaces where those that want to be part of a union and collectively bargain will face far less hurdles than currently faced. 

National on the other hand have a policy to reduce union collective bargaining and increase hurdles to union membership, including requiring workers to get the employers permission for the union to visit the workplace, and at the same time would reduce worker security by cutting the rights to fair treatment in the first 90 days at work with a new employer, in workplaces of less than 20 employees. 

While John Key has also announced a support package for some workers that lose their jobs, this seems rather shallow when at the same time he is proposing reducing work rights for those very same workers who will move to new employment with a 90 day rights-free period. 

Unions have done all they can to make sure workers are informed about this election.  We will be doing all we can this Saturday to make sure workers vote for a future that protects and enhances worker rights.

Click here to read the full column.

Latest employment data shows need for support package for workers and the economy

The latest statistics on employment out this week confirm the need for a comprehensive stimulus package on infrastructure, skills, retraining, and assistance for affected workers, the Council of Trade Unions said today.

Employment figures released today showed that unemployment is now at 4.2 percent with 6,000 more unemployed than 3 months ago.

And wage statistics out on Monday show that wages rose by 3.6 percent in the last year.

Commenting on the unemployment figures CTU Economist Peter Conway said this was the result of the recession and early stages of the fallout from the global financial crisis.  But he said we were in a stronger position than many other countries.

"in the USA unemployment is at 6.1 percent and it is 5.7 percent in the United Kingdom. Also the average rate of unemployment in New Zealand has been 4.3 percent since 2000 compared with 7.7 percent in the 1990s.”

“It is also encouraging that while employment growth is clearly slowing, participation rates in the labour force still remain relatively high.”

“We must build on that strong base with a major programme to invest in jobs and people. Measures that the CTU identified in our paper Short Term Stimulus for Long Term Gain outlines what could be done to help firms retain workers, bring forward infrastructure and other job-rich programmes, and assist workers that are laid off.”

Click here to watch Peter Conway discuss the economy on TVNZ's Breakfast Business this week.

Events

First Friday Drinks  - This Friday – from 5:30 At  The “Tas” [in the Brix Bar - now renamed Bistro 169] Cnr. Willis & Dixon Streets The regular monthly get together for unionists

Unions Wellington Meeting
Focus = Post Election strategy
Tuesday November 11th 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
CTU Boardroom, Education House

Talking Union [Union Toastmasters]
Thursday Nov 13th 5:15 - 7:00 p.m.
Ernie Abbott Room
Trades Hall, Vivian Street

Workplace Productivity Challenge Workshop Please register now:
- Wednesday 26 November 2008, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Hamilton
Registration forms for this workshops are on the CTU website or from Sandy O'Neil.
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 using EREL or other leave) and other associated costs. 
Email Sandy - productivity@nzctu.org.nz.
See the WPEP website for registration forms & more information: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity