December, 2002

The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed the announcement of the
Periodic Report Group as provided for in the Retirement Income Act. "The group needs to look at ways
that employment based superannuation can be promoted<" said Ross Wilson, CTU president today.

"The growth figures released today confirm the underlying strength of our economy," said the secretary of the Council of Trade Unions, Paul Goulter, today."However, sustainable growth can only come from an active programme of social and economic development," he said.

"What we need is a consensus around the key factors that will build sustainable growth."

Paul Goulter said what was needed for growth to be sustained was an inclusive approach involving a wide range of stakeholders.

"As New Zealand is a small trading nation we will always be affected by
global trading conditions," he said.

Paul Goulter said a lot could be done in both the private and public sectors to build a strong economy based on social development, quality investment in public infrastructure, investment in skills and education, and a sustainable approach to the environment.

"What we are not seeing is evidence that the benefits of growth are being shared on a fair basis," he said.

"Wages are only rising slowly and we still have embedded poverty as a legacy of the 1990s."

Paul Goulter said to achieve sustainable growth we also need to see industry development plans rolled out to more sectors.

"Today's announcement that the minimum wage will rise to $8.50 is good news," said Paul Goulter, secretary of the Council of Trade Unions today.

"However it falls well short of the CTU submission to increase the minimum to $10.00, which is close to 50% of the average wage."

"The Government announcement that it will ratify ILO Convention 98 on Collective Bargaining is an historic human rights milestone for New Zealand," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

The Council of Trade Unions is calling on Government to spend more of the larger than expected fiscal surplus on social development. "Tomorrow's fiscal update will announce that Government debt is $5 billion below target and more than $1 billion below forecast," said CTU president Ross Wilson.

The Council of Trade Unions National Affiliates Council, representing more than 300,000 union members, has resolved to actively oppose war on Iraq, CTU president Ross Wilson announced today.

"The unions in Air New Zealand need assurances that jobs have long term security," said joint union spokesperson and Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter today. "While the Qantas proposal seems to address our concerns in engineering, assurances are needed in all areas of operation, involving both air crew and ground staff, on jobs with both airlines," he said.

"The new ACC levies announced today are a timely reminder that all New Zealanders should be thankful that we kicked out the private insurance companies," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has joined unions around the world in calling for equal rights for migrant workers on International Migrants Day.

"With migrants in New Zealand subjected to a barrage of racist attacks, it is timely today to acknowledge that migrants must be entitled to equal rights and treatment at work," said CTU president Ross Wilson.

"The Council of Trade Unions has made no proposal to legislate for bargaining agents' fees," said CTU president Ross Wilson today."Despite a media report and ACT allegations that a 'proposal' exists for a levy on non-union members the CTU is not aware of any proposal," he said.

Ross Wilson said there was an issue among union members of free loading by non-members and picking up the benefits won in collective bargaining.

"But this is only one of a range of issues around the Employment Relations Act which need to be addressed," he said.

"Some employers actively undermine the Employment Relations Act's focus on collective bargaining and the intention of the Act is also undermined by some Court of Appeal decisions."

Ross Wilson said there was a general expectation that these issues needed be addressed.

"Any strategies the CTU develops to address these issues will be consistent with international labour conventions," he said.

After over two years negotiations, the Lyttelton Port Company and the combined unions have ratified terms of an agreement to cover work in the port. As the proposed settlement involved considerable change to the existing collective employment contract, the ratification is subject to the extensive wording changes being agreed.

"The new code to protect ACC claimants' rights provides standards against
which ACC can start to rebuild its reputation for fairness," said Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson today.

"Union concerns about Government negotiations liberalising trade in public service industries are shared on both sides of the Tasman," said Council of Trade Unions president Paul Goulter today.

"The best kept human rights secret is that workers and union rights
are human rights under international law," said Council of Trade
Unions president Ross Wilson today. Ross Wilson said although New Zealand now had much more mainstream
industrial relations law with the Employment Relations Act, there
were still international conventions we did not comply with.

"The airline owners' scare tactics are an irresponsible and self serving attempt to pressure Government into changes to the Health & Safety Amendment Bill by frightening the general public," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

New Zealand and Australian unions will meet in Sydney on Monday to discuss the implications for workers of the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) negotiations in the WTO.

"Today's launch of the Finsec Get A Life! campaign reflects the growing
support amongst workers for a better work/life balance," said Ross Wilson
president of the Council of Trade Unions today.

"The question of four weeks annual leave is not 'if' but 'when'", said Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter today.

Paul Goulter said it was good news that the Government had decided the issue should sent to the select committee.

"Even Scrooge would cringe at the demand that employers get a Santa gift of reduced ACC levies ahead of meeting the cost of medical treatment for workers injured in work accidents," Council of Trade Unions president Ross
Wilson said today.