October, 2007

“Ruth Dyson has served the labour relations portfolio well and has demonstrated her commitment to protecting and enhancing workers rights in her two years in the role,” CTU president Helen Kelly said.

Two national surveys out today have reinforced core Council of Trade Union campaign policy planks of stronger public services and higher wages, CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

The Unionist today reports on the recent Council of Trade Unions biennial conference, a seminar marking the 70th anniversary of the Federation of Labour, and the Australian federal election.

DomPost Business Column.
Monday October 22 2007.
Helen Kelly, CTU president.

As unions, we know we need to be leading the debate on the future of work.    Over past years the Council of Trade Unions has encouraged initiatives towards a workplace of the future that can nurture a high value, high skill, high wage economy. 

Te Runanga O Nga Kaimahi Maori o Aotearoa (New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Runanga) have reiterated the CTU Biennial Conference resolution to repeal the Terrorism Suppression Act.

Syd Keepa, CTU Runanga Convenor said “The Runanga is appalled at the irresponsible use of the Terrorism Suppression Act on political groups and Maori communities.”

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions biennial conference this week called for the Terrorism Suppression Act to be repealed, restating their original objection to the Act, that it could be used to suppress political expression.

“As a union movement we should be leading the debate on the future of work.  Te Huarahi mo nga Kaimahi, launched today, sets out what we are doing now to build the workplace of the future and looks at the challenges going forward,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.

“We think there are five features that will define decent work and the modern workplace.”

The CTU today called for an increase in the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour.  The policy position was announced at the launch of the CTU political strategy in Wellington this morning.

Enhanced work rights, strong public services and higher wages. These are the three policy planks of the political strategy announced today by the Council of Trade Unions leading into election year 2008.

CTU president Helen Kelly said the political strategy was about fairness and respect at work and in our communities.

Fairness and respect at work
UNIONS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

SPEECH BY HELEN KELLY, CTU PRESIDENT
CTU CONFERENCE
WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER 2007

We are what we say we are
We do what we say we’ll do

SPEECH BY CAROL BEAUMONT, CTU SECRETARY
CTU CONFERENCE
WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER 2007

Fairness, respect, work, unions, voice for workers.

That’s what we’re about.

200 delegates at the CTU biennial conference in Wellington this afternoon paid tribute to outgoing CTU president Ross Wilson.

CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said “Ross has been spectacularly successful in unifying the New Zealand union movement and leading a positive, constructive and active union agenda.”

“The unanimous acceptance of kaumatua into the CTU is recognition of the important and vital role that kaumatua provide, not only to iwi, hapu, marae and organisations, but more importantly whanau,” CTU vice president Maori Sharon Clair said today.

“Unions are the political voice for workers. That is a huge responsibility and if we are not recognized as the legitimate voice for workers then there is unlikely to be an effective voice for them,” Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said in opening the CTU conference in Wellington.

CTU Media Release
15 October 2007

Ross Wilson, President, NZ Council of Trade Unions

CTU Biennial Conference Opening
9.15 am, Monday October 15 2007.
Wellington

Haere mai Haere mai haere mai. Welcome to the 2007 Conference of the CTU Te Kauae Kaimahi.

The latest figures on KiwiSaver enrolments are encouraging, the Council of Trade Unions said today, following an announcement that 212,794 people had joined a KiwiSaver scheme.

“The figures don’t show us as yet the average income level of those signing up to KiwiSaver though, and it will be important to assess this information also,” CTU economist Peter Conway said.

The Unionist this week reports on New Zealand events in support of the Burmese democracy movement, and on the latest New Zealand Income Survey.

“The gender pay gap is stubbornly persisting at around 15 per cent, despite rising incomes, showing there is still discrimination against women in today’s labour market,” CTU vice president Helen Kelly said today.