The Council of Trade Unions today reiterated its call for National to release any background material in support of last week’s employment policy release.

“National's employment policy left as many questions unanswered as answered and letting the public in on the ‘real’ policy might address some of the issues outstanding,” CTU president Helen Kelly said.

In The Unionist this week: National's employment relations policy, and kiwis working long hours (still).

“The two themes threading through National policy to date continued today with the release of their Employment Relations Policy,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said.

The CTU has slammed the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association’s campaign to stop an amendment to the law that will ensure workers get their fair share of KiwiSaver entitlements.  In a very small number of cases employers are making workers pay both their own and the employer’s contributions out of their pay.  

“Increasing workers’ skills is at the heart of economic transformation and unions are pleased to be working with others on a national skills strategy,” Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said, following the launch of the New Zealand Skills Strategy [15] Action Plan.

In The Unionist this week: National releases their ACC policy, and more on the comments from ANZ National on the public service.

“National’s desire to reward the Australian insurance industry with access to New Zealand worker compensation has clouded their policy release on ACC, which flies in the face of available evidence on the scheme,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.

The Council of Trade Unions has welcomed moves to amend employment law to ensure workers get their fair share of KiwiSaver entitlements. 

“New Zealanders have shown a strong interest in KiwiSaver, with over 700,000 members joining since the scheme started last year,” CTU president Helen Kelly said. 

In The Unionist this week: more detail on National's work rights policies, CTU slams ANZ National report on the public service, nurses launch election campaign and a new initiative to improve energy efficiency in the workplace.  (A printable version is here [21]).

“It is not surprising that at the same time as ANZ National is moving to outsource “back room” staff overseas, it chooses to attack the Government’s success in rebuilding the dilapidated public services of the 1990s,” CTU President Helen Kelly said in response to ANZ National’s report criticising public spending on public services. 

“After confirmation workers in small businesses will be able to be fired unfairly in the first 90 days [24], now a National MP has said that KiwiSaver employer contributions need ‘adjusting’ for small businesses,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.

“What sort of party has policy that advocates legislating for unfair workplace practice,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today. 

In The Unionist this week: National's plans for accident compensation, new work rights to request flexible working arrangements come in to force, the launch of the EPMU's work rights campaign, and economic news this week.

The Council of Trade Unions is today asking National to explain how their plan for ‘choice’ in accident compensation could benefit anyone in New Zealand.

News that the Australian insurance industry is lining up to profit over National’s secret plans to privatise ACC means the party must come clean on their intentions, the Council of Trade Unions said today.