Economy

A lot has been said about the need to increase productivity in New Zealand workplaces.  What we need to see more of is steps to achieve this, and so I was pleased last week to attend the launch of an initiative by two unions who are set about doing just this.

The Unionist reports on an election poll out this week showing people dont want cuts to public services to pay for tax cuts, a new centre aimed at improving work and lifting wages, work rights for casuals and today's economic news.

The CTU has today congratulated both the EPMU and Dairy Workers' Union on the launch of the Centre for High Performance Work.

“Workers are feeling the pinch with rising costs, and the Reserve Bank governor is wrong to single out wages increases as a future inflationary threat,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.

The Council of Trade Unions today welcomed the announcement that import tariffs will be held at their 1 July 2009 levels until 30 June 2011.

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

“Higher food and petrol prices alongside a lift in mortgage interest rates mean that workers are feeling the cost pressures as we start the year”, said Peter Conway, CTU Economist.

The Consumer Price Index was updated today and showed a 1.2 percent rise in the December quarter, taking annual inflation to 3.2 percent.

The Council of Trade Unions says that a major concern in the current account deficit figures announced today is the continuing trend towards repatriation of profits to foreign owned firms in New Zealand.

“New Zealand now has a structural problem of low wages, and the 30% wage gap with Australia will only be closed through more widespread industry wide collective bargaining, supported by ongoing improvements in productivity,” said CTU economist Peter Conway.