October, 2006

New figures on union membership see record growth - the biggest jump since 1991, writes the Unionist this week.

"The record union membership growth in 2005, in particular in the private sector, is the strongest signal yet that workers are choosing to organise collectively in unions to get a better deal at work,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said.

The Council of Trade Unions today welcomed a forthcoming review of casual work.

"Casual employment is a major problem for many workers as they are totally insecure about their terms of employment, their hours of work, their entitlements to sick leave and holidays and their employment status in relation to any workplace problems," CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said.

"In filling genuine labour gaps, recognising the relationship New Zealand has with our Pacific neighbours is an approach the CTU has advocated for," CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

"Although monetary policy is aimed very much at constraining anticipated inflation, the lower annual CPI which emerged today shows that inflation is trending down and this should impact on the Reserve Bank," Council of Trade Unions Economist Peter Conway said today.

"The 40 hour working week which was fought so hard for is not a reality for many low income workers," CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

“The CTU is delighted that the Court of Appeal has recognised the justice of the claim for lump sum compensation by victims of asbestos diseases” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

"Work stoppages remain historically low, with the vast majority of employment agreements settled without industrial action," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

"While there is clearly an international focus for Global Poverty day, events today are sending a message that there is poverty in this country too," CTU president Ross Wilson told a union rally in Wellington.

A rally in Wellington in a couple of weeks is putting the youth rates campaign back on the agenda, writes the Unionist this week.

Either read on, or download a printable version here (PDF file, 115 kb).

Campaign To End Youth Rates Continues

"Air New Zealand management is jeopardising worker confidence in the Government development agenda with its 1990s style restructuring approach," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

Following on from comments by CTU president Ross Wilson this morning on the need for greater investment in education and skills, social services and infrastructure, rather than large tax cuts, the CTU now releases its submission to the Business Tax Review. Key points are below.

“The CTU Runanga believes that if unions had been at the table during discussions over wages in the fishing industry we would have been able to see this through to a resolution, instead of the 11th hour discussion we have witnessed,” CTU vice president Maori Sharon Clair said today.

"Massey University’s Home Affordability report highlights the importance of measures like Kiwisaver in assisting New Zealanders with their first home purchase," CTU president Ross Wilson said.

"Government’s decision today to set minimum standards for foreign workers in the New Zealand fishing industry will be welcomed by workers in the fishing industry," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

The CTU is pleased that the gender pay gap was dropping, but it was still along way to go before we saw true pay and employment equity for women.

Te Runanga o Nga Kaimahi Maori o Aotearoa, NZ Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi joins the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education (ASTE) in their celebrations to welcome their very first Maori President Sharon Stevens.

"We look forward to the Reserve Bank Governor joining our strategy for wage increases as an essential part of economic development," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

The Reserve Bank’s wage bill was reported today to have increased by up to 15 per cent in the last year.

"Working women will be welcoming news today that the gender pay gap has decreased from 16 per cent to 13 per cent in the last year," Council of Trade Unions Vice President Helen Kelly said today.

The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed moves announced today by the ACC Minister to improve recognition of occupational illness under our ACC scheme.

“The fishing industry needs to significantly lift its game in the treatment of foreign and domestic fishing crews if we are to see a sustainable fishing industry in New Zealand,” Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

“It is a disgrace that an increasing reliance on exploited foreign crews has developed over recent years,” Carol Beaumont said.