Media Releases

In February CTU Secretary Sam Huggard wrote to the Parliamentary Committee about the very brief timeline to hear from the public about the TPPA.

The CTU is is proud to be joining faith groups and community groups in calling on employers to pay working people the living wage of $19.80 per hour.
 

Today’s announcement by the Government to increase the minimum wage from $14.75 to $15.25 per hour “is treading water” CTU President Richard Wagstaff said.
 
“Increasing the minimum wage by $0.50 to $15.25 an hour, or $610 a week (which is what a 40 hour week gross earnings would be), is simply not enough to sustain a family on,”
 

Talley’s company South Pacific Meats (SPC) has been fined $144,000 in an Employment Authority decision released yesterday for their refusal to allow for union access.

The CTU is calling on the Government to genuinely listen to New Zealanders about the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

“The four week period announced for the Select Committee to hear submissions is simply undemocratic,”

The Council of Trade Unions is celebrating a huge win secured by union members who support people in their homes.

Members of the PSA and E tū will finally be paid fairly. “These people do incredible work supporting members of our community to stay in their homes and at the same time receive the care they need,” CTU President Richard Wagstaff said.

Nelson supermarkets should have nothing to fear from their workers joining together in union, and the Police have no place in blocking workers from getting organised for better wages. 

Tomorrow’s signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is a missed opportunity to value the contribution of working people, not just in New Zealand but in all the countries who sign on.

“The fall in official unemployment from 6.0 to 5.3 percent is welcome,” says CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg, “but the unfortunate fact is that the economy is still not creating enough jobs to match the increase in the working age population, which is swollen by the highest annual net immigration in 25 years.

The President of the NZCTU, Richard Wagstaff, has confirmed today that the CTU will support Anna Osborne, whose husband Milton Osborne, and Sonya Rockhouse, whose son Ben Rockhouse, were both killed at Pike River Mine in 2010, in their appeal of the High Court’s decision released in November.

As part of the ongoing break down in relationships between Talley’s AFFCO and their staff, yesterday they stood down five staff for wearing a campaign t-shirt which Talley’s AFFCO has said resembles gang insignia.

Strong growth in the economy in the three months to September was not matched by growth in employment, with more people not in work.

“While stronger growth is welcome, it needs to be shared with the people who need it most,” says CTU economist Bill Rosenberg.