March, 2005

Speaking at ACCs recent Bold Perspectives Conference, CTU president Ross Wilson says that the model of worker participation in workplace health and safety can be adapted to other processes in the workplace. He talks about the pilot scheme to develop a Learning Representatives system with a focus on broader issues of skill development, lifelong learning, and industry development.

Round-up of economic news, information and issues by CTU economist Peter Conway. Link to CTU Economic Bulletin No. 57

People with disabilities should no longer be denied the same employment rights as other workers, Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said today.A petition has been tabled in Parliament opposing the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (DPEP) Act Repeal Bill.

The DPEP Act gave sheltered workshops a total exemption from paying workers the minimum wage, annual leave or sick leave.

"Regardless of their abilities or the jobs they perform, these workers do not have the same rights as anyone employed outside a sheltered workshop," Carol Beaumont said.

"The current law disadvantages workers with disabilities, it diminishes their human rights and it reflects attitudes towards disabilities which are unacceptable."

Some opponents to the repeal were scaremongering to score political points, she said. The proposed change had come after four years' consultation with disabled people, their families and employers.

"Sheltered workshops will not be forced to close, but people with disabilities will have more options for meaningful employment and be treated as valuable members of society who deserve the employment protection already enjoyed by other workers."

Chief executive officers are setting the trend for many workers with their on average 5 per cent pay rise, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.The Sheffield 2005 Chief Executive Survey shows CEO pay went up on average 5.2 per cent in the past year ? the same as the increase in 2003. The median total remuneration for CEOs is $240,165, according to the survey.

Private sector wages went up on average less than half the rise of CEO salaries, Ross Wilson said.

"Private sector wages went up 2.4 per cent last year. Inflation went up by 2.7 per cent, so many workers' wages are not meeting the cost of living," he said.

"But we hope the CEOs' pay rise sets a precedent for a minimum 5 per cent rise across the workforce."

The minimum wage rises tomorrow, but even this latest improvement still leaves minimum wages at less than half of the average wage, Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

The Green Party Bill to allow flexible working hours for parents of young children would give much-needed legislative backing to an important work-life balance arrangement, Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

In an historic first the Supreme Court has granted the Council of Trade Unions the right to be heard on the first employment law appeal to the court. Download The Unionist (400kb)

Aged care workers are taking collective action for a fair share of Budget funding to improve care for older people and for better pay, training and staffing levels in the sector, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

Some of the largest private sector unions will today sign an agreement to work together to improve the pay and conditions in one of the country's biggest export sectors, Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

The Council of Trade Unions is calling on the National Party to clarify whether it supports wage increases or employer subsidies.National Party finance spokesperson John Keys has repeated his call for tax cuts instead of increases in workers' wages.

"Higher wages are attracting skilled workers to Australia," CTU president Ross Wilson said. "National Leader Don Brash has acknowledged that.

"Workers want a fair rate for the job, not a further subsidy to employers through a tax cut," he said.

The Working for Families package was already a taxpayer subsidy to employers who should be paying higher wages and salaries, Ross Wilson said.

"And while it is very welcome measure for families, unions are arguing for a fair wage whether the worker is in a one or two-income household and whether or not they have dependent children," he said.

Cutting taxes would not only put pressure on services like health and education, but would also entrench the low wage culture the country needed to break out of.

In the current economy there was strong evidence that supported a fair wage increase across the board to start that process.

"Mr Keys seems to be promoting a system of employer dependency on taxpayer subsidies, when they should be paying a fair wage."

Concern over the future of manufacturing in New Zealand will be the focus of a Council of Trade Unions seminar in Wellington tomorrow. Around 20 union leaders representing workers in manufacturing industries are expected to attend the seminar.

"Unions are concerned at the impact of proposed free trade agreements on the manufacturing sector," said CTU president Ross Wilson.

"We are already seeing job losses in the clothing, textile and footwear industries and as companies like Interlok pack up and relocate off-shore."

The former economist of the Manufacturers Federation, Peter Crawford, will present a paper on the future of New Zealand manufacturing, and the Minister of Economic Development, Jim Anderton, will speak on the Government's view on the sector's future.

The PSA campaign for better pay and conditions across the public sector recognises the huge contribution public servants make to society and to the economy, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

Winning their fair share of the benefits of economic growth is not only about a pay rise for many women workers ? it is also about pay and employment equity and work-life balance, Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

The Council of Trade Unions has a central role in taking forward the recommendations from this weeks national hui on Maori economic development. Download The Unionist (pdf, 400kb)

CTU president Ross Wilson spoke to the Hui Taumata about the challenges that the global economy poses to Aotearoa New Zealand. Link to Ross Wilsons speech on Globalisation to Hui Taumata 2005

The National Party's industrial relations policy promised a return to the grim days of the1990s for workers, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.National's industrial relations spokesperson Wayne Mapp announced the policy this afternoon.

"The National Party is signalling a return to the disastrous low wage strategy of the 1990s and a new version of the Employment Contracts Act," Ross Wilson said.

"It still sees workers as a cost rather than an asset ? an approach that has no place in the modern workplace of the 21st century."

It was obvious that a vote for National would be a vote for a return of the Employment Contracts Act.

"Workers would lose rate and a half on public holidays and four weeks annual leave, workplace health and safety protection would be weakened, personal grievance protection would be removed for thousands of workers, and it would mean a re-legalisation of the Employment Relations Authority," Ross Wilson said.

Round-up of economic news, information and issues by CTU economist Peter Conway. Link to CTU Economic Bulletin No. 56