July, 2007
“Whether District Health Boards like it or not senior medical specialists are in an international market and retention should be a key strategic issue in the negotiations over their collective agreement,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
The revised Flexible Working Hours Bill is an excellent step towards building a culture that recognises workers' responsibilities outside of the workplace, the Council of Trade Unions said today.
The Unionist today reports on the Spotless workers’ victory earlier in the week, youth rates, productivity education and the upcoming VUW employment trends seminars.
Victory For Low Paid Workers Over Aggressive Health Contractor
“Improving the employment conditions and ensuring decent wages for people providing care in the disability sector is fundamental to providing a better quality of care to people with disabilities,” CTU president Ross Wilson told a select committee inquiry this morning.
The CTU is calling on politicians to keep an open mind on strengthening the youth minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds as it progresses through the House.
“Young workers face discrimination in the workplace, purely because of their age, and there is broad public support for the abolition of youth rates,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said.
"The CTU supports the call by the PSA for clarification of policy and practice relating to actual and potential conflicts of interest for senior staff in ministries,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
"Spotless Services should never have dragged the chain over government funding that was not theirs to hold out on, and this was a completely unnecessary lockout," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
“If public hospitals and health services are to continue to offer an accessible, quality and highly regarded service they must be able to recruit and retain senior doctors,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
“The current high profile industrial disputes mask work stoppages figures which remain very low,” CTU president Ross Wilson said, following the release of latest figures by Statistics NZ today.
"Spotless Services should be ashamed of themselves for attempting to undermine the lowest paid workers in hospitals by attacking their advocates," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
"This is a cynical attempt to try and divert public attention from the real issues by a company which has extracted millions of dollars out of the health sector at the expense of workers' wages."
"The DHB contractual requirement for aged care employers to work collectively is a vital part of improving pay and conditions, and building better standards of training, health and safety and quality care in the sector," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
“Increasing workers’ skills is at the heart of economic transformation and the CTU is pleased to be working with others on a national plan to lift workplace literacy,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
The Unionist today reports on the actions of Spotless Services in locking out 800 low paid hospital workers this week, and on the recent CTU Women’s Conference.
Spotless Take On The Whole Union Movement
"Service and support staff in hospitals are some of the lowest paid workers in the country and by locking out hundreds of hospital workers Spotless Services are taking on the whole 350,000 strong union movement,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
“Ensuring the success of the food and beverage sector, including through greater skills development, quality work and security of employment, is hugely important for all New Zealanders,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today, following the government’s response to the Food and Beverage Taskforce final report.
CTU officer elections, KiwiSaver and bad employment practises in the wine industry feature in this week’s issue of The Unionist.
New CTU Leadership
A new leadership of the Council of Trade Unions, including the first woman CTU President, will be formally elected for a four year term at the organisation’s biennial conference in October, CTU President Ross Wilson announced today.
A new leadership of the Council of Trade Unions, including the first woman CTU President, will be formally elected for a four year term at the organisation’s biennial conference in October, CTU President Ross Wilson announced today.
“Employers in viticulture need to be careful not to put the reputation of a major export industry at risk through shoddy employment practises,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.
“The CTU supports the Department of Labour investigations into the case of several migrant workers in Blenheim vineyards, including eight Thai workers whose work permits have been revoked after they spoke out about their employer’s work practises.”
“KiwiSaver is good news for many workers, and the government and employer contributions shouldn’t be scrapped to help National pay for tax cuts that deliver the biggest benefits to those on high incomes," CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.