March, 2008

The Council of Trade Unions has congratulated the Human Rights Commission’s latest census on women’s participation, saying it is a very valuable tool for tracking progress on gender equality.

The Commission’s will later today release their third Census of Women's Participation.  This is the second release that includes data on trade unions.

“Workers campaigning in unions to lift low wages is paying off,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said, ahead of the $12 an hour minimum wage coming into effect next week.

“Unions campaigned for a $12 an hour minimum wage, and through agreements between Labour with both the Greens and New Zealand First, this has now fully delivered on it.”

New Zealanders' right to fairness at work is still as relevant a fight as ever, 100 years on from the crib strike in Blackball, writes the Unionist this week.  We also report on an agreement for commercial cleaners signed today, and give the weekly round up of union events and meetings.

“The work of thousands of low paid cleaners is being valued and recognised today through a landmark agreement signed by the cleaners’ union, members of the property services industry and government,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

“Increased provisions for workers for meal and refreshment and breastfeeding breaks are good steps in continuing to improve the minimum work rights that New Zealand workers can expect,” Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said following a government announcement today.

"New Zealanders' right to fairness at work is still as relevant a fight as ever, 100 years on from the crib strike in Blackball," Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today, ahead of centenary celebrations on the West Coast this weekend.

The Council of Trade Unions is calling on retailers to respect the trading restrictions in place over Easter, saying they are not an onerous requirement.

"We are calling on retailers to comply with the shop trading hours legislation which requires no trading on Good Friday and Easter Sunday for most retailers," CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said.

“Workplaces can do their bit to support breastfeeding mums on their return to work,” said CTU secretary Carol Beaumont.

The National Strategic Plan of Action for Breastfeeding was launched today, and was backed by the World Health Organisation.

John Key’s policy announcement on the public service shows his inexperience in this area of important public policy, writes the Unionist this week.  We also report on new funding for food research and development, the first report card on KiwiSaver and preview upcoming events, meetings and training.

The first comprehensive report on KiwiSaver shows it has been a great success with the numbers joining exceeding expectations, CTU Economist Peter Conway said today.

“The report does note however that the greatest reason given for those deciding not to join is affordability, and that KiwiSaver members have higher incomes than non-members.”

Productivity statistics out today show that lifting labour productivity in periods of relatively low unemployment remains a challenge, the Council of Trade Unions said.

“National leader John Key’s policy announcement today on the public service shows just how inexperienced he is in this area of important public policy,” CTU president Helen Kelly said.

“Ensuring the success of the food sector is hugely important for all New Zealanders,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today, welcoming an announcement from government of a significant new fund – NZ Fast Forward - to support innovation in the sector.

Today the Unionist reports on emerging details of National's worker rights policy, International Working Women's Day and a global campaign to free an Iranian unionist.

The Council of Trade Unions has backed the campaign by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) to free an Iranian unionist and bus driver jailed for standing up for worker and union rights.

“Comments from John Key to a Christchurch radio station this morning have now confirmed National’s approach to worker rights this election,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.

“National needs to start spelling out exactly what it would do with worker rights, after mixed messages from the party on the matter,” CTU president Helen Kelly said, following National Party industrial relations spokesperson Kate Wilkinson’s speech to a business audience in Auckland this morning.