Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson today slammed the call by EMA Northern for abolition of workplace injury victims right to reparations awards.Paul Jarvie of EMA Northern today called for abolition of the right for courts to make reparation awards for pain and suffering to workplace injury victims under the Sentencing Act 2002.

"This is a disgraceful call for workplace injury victims to be discriminated against as second class victims of crime," Ross Wilson said.

"Every victim of criminal offences is entitled to reparation awards and it is outrageous that a major employers organisation should suggest that work injury victims should be discriminated against and denied the same legal rights."

The Unionist this week looks at the CTU Runangas first meeting for the year, and flexible working hours, as well as a round up of CTU events and meetings.

Either read on, or you can download the printed version of The Unionist here (PDF file, 247 kb) [7]

The Council of Trade Unions says the governments Kiwisaver scheme is a positive initiative that will bring considerable benefit to workers, following the tabling of the Kiwisaver bill in Parliament today.

"The high level of support expressed by Wellington businesses for an increase to the minimum wage reinforces our view on the growing levels of community support for ending low wages in this country," said Ross Wilson, Council of Trade Unions President.

The Council of Trade Unions says that vulnerable workers such as commercial cleaners need the full protections of the Employment Relations Act when their employment situation changes due to the sale or transfer of a business.

The Council of Trade Unions says that unions will want extensive involvement in the planned reviews of expenditure announced by government today."The CTU notes that the reviews proposed [16] are not overall cost cutting exercises, which is a welcome signal," said Ross Wilson, Council of Trade Unions President. "In many cases, unions have been arguing for increased investment and capacity, rather than decreases, and unions will not be happy if this exercise ends up being a focus on cutting costs at the expense of quality public services."

"The CTU supports moves to examine productivity issues, but this needs to be done through the active involvement of public sector workers."

"We support government spending being of high quality and excellence in public sector management," said Ross Wilson. "Based on the Cabinet paper released today we are hopeful that the government's reviews will keep their focus firmly on strengthening New Zealand's public services."

The Council of Trade Unions is offering its support to striking Unitec staff members, who are picketing their institution today and tomorrow in support of their claim for a better pay increase.

"The Council of Trade Unions is supporting meat inspectors who began industrial action today in their campaign for 5%," said Ross Wilson, Council of Trade Unions President.Over 750 meat inspectors, members of the Public Service Association [20], are only fulfilling mandatory meat inspection duties for a week from today in support of their pay claim to Asure New Zealand, a State Owned Enterprise.

"These workers perform an important role with international significance, as much of the meat they inspect is for our export markets," said Ross Wilson.

"Asure New Zealand should reconsider their pay offer, and meet the reasonable claim of 5% that these meat inspectors are going for," said Ross Wilson.

"The Council of Trade Unions is eager to make the case to MPs for the removal of youth rates, and inject some sense and evidence into this debate," said Ross Wilson, Council of Trade Unions President.

The Council of Trade Unions is reminding the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) to look at the evidence when they enter the debate over youth minimum rates of pay.

"Last year's work stoppages were caused in many respects by employers being unrealistic about the union movement's 5% wage campaign," said Ross Wilson, Council of Trade Unions President.

Flexible working hours were necessary to meet the economic, social, and family demands and changing social and economic environments that workers in the 21st Century face, the Council of Trade Unions told a select committee today.

The Council of Trade Unions is pleased that Parliament will have the opportunity to debate Sue Bradfords Private Members Bill ending youth minimum rates of pay for 16 and 17 year olds, following the decision today by the Labour caucus to send it to select committee.

This week's Unionist picks up the debate on Public Private Partnerships, a different model of funding services and infrastructure that is gaining some interest here and overseas.

The Council of Trade Unions is challenging fast food operator Queen St McDonalds for its bullying of workers over their involvement in union campaigns for better wages and conditions.

The Council of Trade Unions is pleased with the latest figures on employment, which show unemployment has remained at a low level.The latest Household Labour Force Survey [32], released today, shows unemployment standing at 3.6% in the December quarter, a drop of 0.1% from the adjusted figures from last quarter. The figures include a slight fall in participation and in total hours worked, and show a slower rate of employment growth.

"The next Survey in early May will give us a better indication as to whether the recent announcements of redundancies are having a widespread effect on unemployment generally," said Peter Conway, Council of Trade Unions Economist.

"While the unemployment figures remain low, today's data shows us that there are still 78,000 people unemployed, and 145,000 people jobless. Further, while the pakeha unemployment rate is 2.5%, Maori levels of unemployment are much higher at 7.6, and pacific people at 6.2%," said Peter Conway.

"The Council of Trade Unions calls for continued efforts from government agencies to maintain an active approach in assisting those who have been put out of work through support in areas like retraining and relocation," said Peter Conway.

The Council of Trade Unions will continue its campaign for wage increases, to ensure that all workers receive a fair share this year."Wages movements have taken some time to catch up after 5 years of strong economic growth, and it is important that we continue to maintain real wages growth wherever possible during a dip in the economy," said Ross Wilson, Council of Trade Unions President.

The latest Labour Cost Index [35], released today, showed an overall increase in ordinary salary and wage rates of 0.8 per cent in the last quarter and 3.1 per cent in the year to December.

"For those that actually received an increase however, the average increase in the last quarter was 4.7 per cent," said Ross Wilson.

"Wages must continue to rise as we move the economy from one with low wages, and low capital investment to a high wage, high skill economy with increasing levels of productivity."

"Hopefully firms have used the excellent profits they have enjoyed over the last five years to reduce debt and invest in technology and skills, and this will leave them well placed to invest in wages in the coming period," said Ross Wilson.

"The CTU is strongly supportive of the striking Taylor Preston meat workers in their fight for a fair deal" CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

Meat Workers Union [37] members at Wellingtons Taylor Preston plant will be striking for three days this week in support of their claim for fair pay and conditions.

"MPs will have the opportunity to end unfair discrimination against young people when parliament resumes next week," said Ross Wilson, Council of Trade Unions President. The CTU is joining with others to call on MPs to send Sue Bradford's private members bill [39] ending youth minimum rates of pay for 16 and 17 year olds to select committee. The Minimum Wage (Abolition of Age Discrimination) Amendment Bill is due to have its first debate in Parliament on February 15.

"The CTU supports fair pay for a fair days work," said Ross Wilson. "We are encouraging all political parties to allow the bill to proceed to select committee so that the public too can have their say on the rights of young workers."

Minimum Wages on the Agenda - action needed now.

Interest is mounting in the campaign for a twelve dollar minimum wage and an end to youth rates, writes the Unionist this week.

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