"Today's day off for many workers is a reminder that workers need to balance the demands of work against the need for rest and recreation, and time with family and friends," Council of Trade Unions secretary Paul Goulter said today.

"Our appalling workplace toll can be turned around if both business and unions commit to implementing the employee participation provisions of the new health and safety law," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

"The claim by Dr Brent Layton that Lyttelton port unions have somehow engineered his demise is just plain silly," said Paul Goulter, CTU Secretary and advocate for the port unions.

"Industrial relations stability under the Employment Relations Act continues to be reflected in the latest strike statistics," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

"It is time for the elected Health Boards to intervene with their managers who can't get past the Employment Contracts Act ideology," the president of the Council of Trade Unions Ross Wilson said today.

New Zealanders crossing the Tasman for this weekends rugby league game are being asked to show support for striking Sydney Hilton Hotel workers.Sydney-based Kiwis and Pacific workers are walking the picket line on Saturday, and while they are rooting for the NZ team, they want the NZ fans staying at the Sydney Hilton Hotel to lend them their support.

On 2nd October the CTU hosted a large delegation of Mayors to discuss ways in which the Mayors for Jobs Project could cooperate with the CTU on employment and training initiatives, particularly for young people.

The NZ Council of Trade Unions joined New Zealand maritime unions today in condemning the lockout of longshore workers on the West Coast of the USA."The irresponsible action of the employer in locking these workers out which can only make resolution of the dispute more difficult," said CTU secretary Paul Goulter today.

Union and community groups will come together on Friday with the launch of a new publicity campaign highlighting the issue of Pay Equity. The Coalition for Equal Value Equal Pay (CEVEP) and the Council of Trade Unions will be hosting the launch of the latest poster targeting the issue.