Media Releases

Please be advised of the following arrangements for the public farewell and celebration of Helen Kelly’s life. 

When: 1pm, Friday 28 October
Where: Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield St, Wellington

“Today New Zealand mourns the loss of union leader Helen Kelly. She was a fighter who died after a battle with cancer.

Helen died too young, and will always be remembered in our hearts, minds and on the frontlines of the fight for everyday working people.

“It’s good to see incomes rising,” says CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg, commenting on the income statistics released by Statistics New Zealand this morning, “but a big part of it is from people working harder and longer.  We can see the pressures in household debt at re

Information released this morning by Statistics New Zealand shows that New Zealand is getting no closer to achieving pay equality between men and women with the average female wage 13.6% less than what men receive.
 
In real terms this means that unless meaningful action is taken it will take over 110 years for Kiwi woman to be paid what they are worth; the same as men.
 

The Draft Productivity Commission Report looking at new models of tertiary education poses risks for students and working people if the recommendations to open up tertiary education to increased private provision were to go further. 

The Council of Trade Unions has received a response to an official information request revealing that at least $35 million has been paid in outstanding holiday paid to working Kiwis in 25 identified organisations.

“We are seeing low quality growth in what New Zealand produces,” says CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg commenting on the June GDP growth statistics released today. “Not all growth is equal.”

Justice Minister Amy Adams will announce her response to the Strengthening New Zealand’s Legislative Response to Family Violence report at midday today, and working people are calling for better support systems at work for survivors of violence.

Working people in New Zealand deserve the freedom to be respected and valued at work regardless of where they were born.

Today the Council of Trade Unions spoke to the Labour, Green and Māori parties’ inquiry about the importance of every Kiwi having a home; a place to raise and look after family.

“Today the National Government voted to make regional authorities responsible for deciding whether people get to spend time with the families on Easter Sunday or not. This was a bad decision by the National Government,” CTU Secretary Sam Huggard said.