September, 2002

"The figure of 1.7% for the quarter for production GDP was higher than market predictions and is a welcome sign that the economy is in reasonably good shape," said Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter today.

"This is a landmark decision confirming the right of unions to gain access to workplaces during a strike to monitor compliance by employers with the prohibition on hiring alternative strike breakers," president of the Council of Trade Unions Ross Wilson said today.

The Council of Trade Unions Women's Council today backed the YWCA's call for New Zealand to withdraw from the November Miss World pageant in Nigeria.

"It is simply not appropriate for New Zealand to send a participant while a Nigerian woman awaits death by stoning for having a child outside marriage ," said CTU vice president Darien Fenton.

"Tomorrow's celebration of Suffrage Day is time to mark successes in the area of women's rights and celebrate the work that women do," said Council of Trade Unions vice-president Darien Fenton today.

Darien Fenton said this year's achievement of paid parental leave was a victory for the women workers who had campaigned for many years.

"The new policy targets agreement is a positive signal of a more growth oriented outlook," said Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter today.

"The narrowing of the target band and the indication that inflation must be contained over a medium rather than a short term is good news for workers who have been frustrated by the impact of unnecessarily high interest rates on mortgages," he said.

"ACC documents released today reveal for the first time the huge subsidy which injured people are paying to employers," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

"The CTU would welcome a formal proposal from Government on a tripartite process for the growth and productivity strategy talks foreshadowed yesterday by Michael Cullen," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

"Danish unions will today premiere a film which warns Danish people against
a repeat of the New Zealand neo-liberal policies by its recently elected
Liberal Government," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said
today.

"The Prime Minister's announcement that New Zealand will not support action against Iraq without a United Nation's mandate will be relief to all working people in New Zealand," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

"ACC should spend some of its $240 million surplus on compliance with international labour conventions it is currently in breach of," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

Unions are giving full support to the Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Carpet strategy developed by government, industry and union representatives over the past 18 months.

The draft strategy goes out for comment to the TCFC industry at meetings convened throughout the country on Monday 9 September and Tuesday 10 September.

The Council of Trade Unions says a new survey shows worrying inequalities in the wealth of New Zealanders.

The Retirement Commission survey shows 20 per cent of New Zealanders account for almost 70 per cent of total net worth, leaving the bulk of the population with a much smaller slice of the pie.

The CTU secretary, Paul Goulter, says the inequity shown by the survey is a risk to social stability.

Mr Goulter says more economic growth, combined with more collective
bargaining and an improvement in skill levels, will be key to any redistribution of wealth.

Charles Waldegrave of the New Zealand Poverty Measurement Project says the country must build on family support initiatives, funding
them through a knowledge economy.

And, Tereki Stewart, of Aucklands Waipareira Trust, says a
broad-brush approach is needed which includes more targeted economic
development and a greater say for communities.

"ACC projections of rising workplace deaths and injuries show the urgency for stronger workplace health and safety law,' said Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter today.