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.
Working people are pleased that today politicians will be discussing the Minimum Wage (Contractor’s Remuneration) Bill.
“We are calling on political parties who care about working people, and their families, to support this fairer law,” CTU Secretary Sam Huggard said.
Hundreds of concerned New Zealanders have come together to fund a full page advertisement in the Nelson Mail today to tell Sir Peter Talley to negotiate fairly with people who work at Talley’s-owned meat processor AFFCO.
The public message is the result of crowd-funding by Together – the digital campaigns arm of New Zealand’s union movement.
“There is plenty that needs doing that could put more Kiwis in work. But figures out today show that there are still too many Kiwis out of work,” says CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg. In the June quarter official unemployment was 5.1 percent or 131,000 people, barely changed from 5.2 percent three months before.
The Council of Trade Unions is backing the call of two former All Blacks to protect family time at Easter.
A government bill, which will make it easier for shops to open on Easter Sunday, is due back before Parliament this week for its third and final reading.