This commentary is an edited version of a recent speech, “Transforming New Zealand’s low wage economy”. Whether we look at international comparisons, or look at… Read More »Transforming New Zealand’s low wage economy
The Council of Trade Unions is welcoming the release of today’s report from the Tax Working Group. The CTUs Economist Bill Rosenberg was a member… Read More »CTU welcomes Tax Working Group report
The Council of Trade Unions is welcoming signs today, in the Labour Market Statistics, of stronger pay rises coming through but says there is a… Read More »Labour statistics show more effort from government required
The results are in for the CTU Together 2019 cost of living and income survey and it is clear that urgent change is needed with… Read More »Mood of the workforce shows urgent need for change
Newly released statistics allow us to update the share of New Zealand’s income that goes to wages and salaries – the labour share – for… Read More »How New Zealand’s income is shared, 2018
Today’s wage figures show that Governments can and do make a real difference to the wages of working people, and that the effort needs to… Read More »CTU comment on employment statistics
In August, the Centre for Labour, Employment and Work (CLEW) at Victoria University released their annual analysis of collective employment agreements (CEAs). It shows again… Read More »The union pay premium, 2018
How well does New Zealand’s tax system perform in reducing inequality? What would be the effect of some likely changes to it discussed in the… Read More »New Zealand’s tax system: weak at reducing inequality
Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff said that today marks ‘working for free day’ for Pasifika women because of the gender pay imbalance. “The… Read More »Pasifika women effectively working for free for the rest of the year
It is often said that New Zealand has a low-wage economy in comparison to other high-income countries such as those in their club, the OECD.… Read More »Does New Zealand have low wages? Yes.
An Ombudsman’s report released last week shows our deportation rules aren’t working, especially for eight Indian students who were deported last year, says CTU Vice-president… Read More »Deportation of Indian students shows need for a rule change
Reflecting on the Coalition Government’s first Budget yesterday, Dr Bill Rosenberg posed the question why the Government won’t increase spending to 30 percent of GDP,… Read More »Bill Rosenberg and Ganesh Nana deliver independent Budget analysis