April, 2007

“It is clear that the Reserve Bank’s attempts to cool the housing market by putting up interest rates is worsening the exchange rate and hurting exporters, and the CTU is encouraging the Finance and Expenditure select committee to look at a more appropriate approach to monetary policy,” CTU president Ross Wilson said.

The Council of Trade Unions is welcoming a pre-budget policy announcement today of additional funding for the tertiary education sector.

“The best way to honour those who have died at work is to recommit to fighting for better safety and health standards on the job for all workers,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today on Workers Memorial Day.

Tomorrow is Workers Memorial Day, writes the Unionist this Friday.

Either read on, or you can download a printable version here (PDF file, 50 kb)

Mourn The Dead, Fight For The Living

“The Fisher and Paykel closures yesterday signal an exchange rate accelerated crisis for our manufacturing sector,” CTU president Ross Wilson said.

The Council of Trade Unions says more needs to be done to lift the wages of working New Zealanders if we are to address the housing affordability crisis.

The CTU’s Workplace Injury Advocacy service is now available to union members nationally, writes the Unionist this week.

Either read on, or you can download a printable version here (PDF file, 53 kb) 

Advocacy Service Goes Nationwide

"Most of the 2,000 plus collective employment agreements were settled last year without the need for industrial action," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

With heightened focus on the high New Zealand dollar, CTU Economist Peter Conway said today any discussion on improving support for the exporting sector was welcome.

“The real threat to transparent, democratic elections comes from big business donors that hide behind anonymous donation rules, not unions who are upfront about their political activity,” CTU president Ross Wilson said.

The CTU has released its policy statement on climate change, writes the Unionist this week.  Also this week, Auckland is next in line for a 'Hollow Men' election campaign financing forum, and the Human Rights Film Festival is just around the corner.

“Tony Ryall’s proposal to insist that health workers negotiate directly with their employer is a recipe for complete chaos in the health sector,” CTU president Ross Wilson said.

The well known international financier George Soros has warned that “[p]erhaps the greatest threat to freedom and democracy in the world today comes from the formation of unholy alliances between government and business.”

“It is irresponsible for the climate change sceptics to suggest that there is no climate change threat,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today. “Its time they got real.”

“The wider union movement backs the stand being taken by staff in the newsrooms of two large media outlets to halt current threats to quality and well resourced journalism in New Zealand,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

“Latest unemployment benefit figures strongly support the Government’s active labour market approach which invests in people and boosts skills and training,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

 The Council of Trade Unions today released its statement on climate change.

The CTU Komiti Pasefika said today that any easing of Easter trading restrictions would have a negative impact on the ability of Pacific families to take part in worship, family and community activities.

The Council of Trade Unions is encouraging all workers to get behind the campaign to save Easter for retail workers, CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

“The CTU is a strong supporter of a government role in regional and industry development,“ CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said, in response to the launch of the government’s regional development policy today.