Workplace Productivity Education Project

The CTU is running a worker education programme on productivity.

The Project
1. What is Productivity?
2. Why is Productivity Important?
3. Why are Unions involved in productivity education?
4. What does the Workplace Productivity Education Project involve?
5. Who is participating in the Workplace Productivity Education Programme?
6. What will the education and the information be used for?
7. How will this project benefit me and my workmates?
8. How can I get more information about this workers' education programme?
9. Related Projects
10. The Great Workplace Productivity Challenge
11. Download options

The Project

The NZ Council of Trade Unions Workplace Productivity Education Project (WPEP) is an initiative, funded by the Department of Labour. It arises from a joint exercise on productivity involving business and union representatives and the government. It is part of a broad series of actions and initiatives that, combined, are designed to enhance productivity in New Zealand.

The project provides opportunities for workers to engage in discussion and education on productivity, addressing both the risks and benefits.

Download an information brochure here

workers

1.What is Productivity?
Productivity is a measure of how efficiently inputs are being used within the economy to produce outputs.

Labour productivity is a measure of output divided by labour inputs. For example, this could be GDP (Gross Domestic Product) divided by hours worked.

Multifactor productivity is output divided by total inputs.

'Total inputs' includes labour, materials, capital, intangibles such as managerial expertise and information, and so on. There are many factors that can influence this equation. For example, productivity can rise by increasing output with the same number of inputs (do more with the same amount of resources), or by achieving the same outputs with fewer resources (do the same with less). We can work harder (intensification of work) or we can work smarter to achieve these changes.

2.Why is Productivity Important?
Improving productivity has been identified as a key factor for New Zealand's long term, sustainable economic growth and prosperity. Prodictivity levels affect our living standards, our ability to create jobs and our ability to afford education, health and other services.

Workers in New Zealand already work long hours, so it is important to find smarter ways to work to improve our productivity levels, rather than work even longer hours each week. Unions want a high wage, high skill economy and high performance work places that deliver for workers. That means we will campaign for a "fair share". We also want high productivity on a sustainable basis. This means investment in education, science, skills and infrastructure. But it also means productive workplaces.

You can find out more about the Government's and the Department of Labour's work on this subject by clicking here

3.Why are Unions involved in productivity education?
The CTU and unions have considerable expertise in running worker education programmes. Our productivity education project arises from the work that the CTU and several unions have already been involved in as participants in discussions with the Government and Business NZ on productivity issues as part of the Workplace Productivity Working Group. The education programme will help to provide a better foundation for any engagement on productivity, so that:
- Workers and their reps can have a say about more than just wages
- Improvements that benefit workers can be achieved
- Health and safety issues can be addressed
- Models of change are contested
- Gains are shared more fairly
- Workers' collective rights to organise and have a voice are improved.
Unions are providing education about productivity so that their members can broaden their knowledge of the 7 drivers of productivity and other economic factors, and so that they have a good foundation for engaging in productivity-related initiatives within their workplaces.
Research has found that:
- There is a strong association between increased productivity and the involvement of workers and their unions in their workplaces
-"Establishment practices" that encourage workers to think and interact in order to improve the production process are strongly associated with increased firm productivity.

The WPEP education programme is helping workers become more knowledgeable and more involved in workplace practice. Unions and union members have already led some of the debate around the introduction of innovative ideas and projects and other contentious issues. But there is more work to do if we want to make long term gains and ensure security of employment.

You can find out more about the work done by 2 unions on productivity by following these links:
• The Engineering Printing Manufacturing Union (EPMU)
• The Public Service Association (PSA)

Click here to read CTU President Ross Wilson's article "The Great Workplace Productivity Challenge" as published in Employment Today April/May 2006

union educators

4.What does the Workplace Productivity Education Project involve?
The project provides an adult education programme for union delegates and other workers. Part of the productivity debate is to look at how we can work ‘smarter’ rather than work harder. The WPEP education programme introduces and focuses on the ‘seven drivers’ of workplace productivity as a constructive and practical approach to identify smarter ways to work to improve NZ’s productivity levels.
The education programme enhances participants' awareness of productivity and provides training in the use of tools to analyse and evaluate productivity processes in their workplaces. It also provides an opportunity for participants to learn about
• themselves and their own skill bases and potential
• different ways of looking at productivity
• contributions that they can make in their workplaces
• strategies to suggest or implement changes in their workplaces
• the relevance of their unions in these processes.

5.Who is participating in the Workplace Productivity Education Programme?
A range of workers from many different industries and services, both private and public sector, right across the country. These include union officials, union delegates, union members and other workers who are not union members.
Some employers may also be involved.
Educators with training skills and a wide range of union education experience run the education programme.

6.What will the education and the information be used for?
There are a number of different possible outcomes.
- Some of the workers who participate in the programme will set up discussions on productivity matters in their workplaces.
- Some may identify projects to follow up within their own workplaces after the initial education session.
- Others may develop in depth analysis of their work processes to find improvements to their productivity levels.
- Some workers and their employers will find new ways to work that mean they are working smarter to improve productivity, rather than just working harder (which in the long run is not the answer to sustainable growth).
Following the initial success of the WPEP pilot programme, the NZCTU will be evaluating the education programme on and ongoing basis and providing information to the Department of Labour.

7.How will this project benefit me and my workmates?
Improved understanding of the terminology and economics of workplace production and productivity will help with:

- Talking to fellow workers in the workplace about important work developments
- Finding smart ways to improve productivity
- Developing responses to new initiatives and proposals that arise in the workplace
- Involving your union in consultation about productivity and workplace change
- Working together with employers to improve the work environment and workplace culture in a way that benefits everyone.

8.How can I get more information about this workers' education programme?
Contact the Council of Trade Unions or your union. The Co-ordinator of the Workplace Productivity Education Project is Sandy O'Neil. Her phone number is 04 385 1334. Email is sandyo@nzctu.org.nz and the postal address is PO Box 6645 Wellington.

9.Related Projects
H.A.N.G.I Project
H.A.N.G.I. : Helping Advance Nga Mahi in Growth and Innovation - is a follow up initiative from the Hui Taumata conference on Maori economic development (and productivity), focusing on the importance of developing skills and lifelong learning to ensure greater earning opportunities for Maori workers.
For more information contact sharon.clair@huitaumata.maori.nz

Learning Representatives
This project is establishing workplace representatives to encourage learning and training opportunities, advocate for skill development and industry training, and support workmates on learning issues.
For more information contact Don Farr at donf@nzctu.org.nz or phone 04 385 1334 ext 820 or check out the Learning Reps website at http://www.learningreps.org.nz

10.The Great Workplace Productivity Challenge
12 May 2006 [full story]
Opens a word document

11.Download Options

Download an information brochure here