The release of the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) by Statistics New Zealand shows that incomes are not keeping up with the cost of living. “Prices are rising faster than wages, and some of the biggest price rises are basic necessities for the lowest paid” said Sam Huggard, Council of Trade Unions Secretary.
Read More »Living in New Zealand now even more expensive – especially if you are poor
A new report on inequalities in wages, salaries and the income of the self-employed finds growing inequalities in the income they earned per hour over… Read More »Shrinking share of income to low and middle-income earners
A new Council of Trade Unions Inequality in Wages and Self-Employment 1998-2015 over the period 1998 to 2015 finds the hourly earnings of low and… Read More »Wage and salary earners below the average wage lost out on income growth
The Council of Trade Unions (CTU), speaking on behalf of working New Zealanders, is putting its weight behind efforts to oppose resurrecting the Trans-Pacific Partnership… Read More »Working people back “A New Trade Agenda for the 21st Century”
Key announcements from Labour and the Green Party in the last week deliver the foundations of a strong alternative government in waiting which would make… Read More »Addressing inequality the greatest test of governments
“The Government’s media spin on the Health budget is hiding some inconvenient truths about what’s happening with our public health services,” says Council of Trade… Read More »Government responds to increasing health needs with spin
The Government’s big Budget promises of additional mental health funding are nothing more than a cruel deception on people already struggling to get the help… Read More »So-called Budget mental health funding boost is a cut in real terms
The Budget last week was, as expected, an election year Budget. Many low and middle income families will welcome the relief of some extra money… Read More »A socially unbalanced Budget
Joint Media Release: Council of Trade Unions, New Zealand Nurses Organisation, and the Public Service Association Operational health funding will need to increase by almost… Read More »Vote Health needs $1.1 billion increase to pay for rising population, costs and commitments
On 25 May, the Government will announce its last Budget before the election. Budgets are always political statements whose facts are difficult to spot amid… Read More »Budgeting for People’s Needs
“Not only is the 1 percent overall rise in prices this quarter larger than expected, but it is concentrated mainly in necessities that hit the… Read More »Prices of necessities rising
A just-released OECD report on New Zealand calling for a more active role for the government in supporting redundant workers prompts a welcome debate, the… Read More »OECD calls for better redundancy support – who is listening?