Media Releases

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.

The CTU is extremely concerned  with the release today of a High Court decision declining to review the decision by Worksafe not to proceed with the prosecution against Peter Whittall in relation to the 29 deaths at Pike River after his insurers paid $1.42m into the Court as an alternative.

In New Zealand one in three women experience domestic violence at some point during their lives. 2014 research by the Public Service Association found the cost of family violence to employers is about $368 million annually.

Everyone should have access to high quality safe housing. The CTU supports the nationwide ‘Hikoi for Homes’ happening around the country tomorrow.

The CTU congratulates Meat Workers Union and their members who have successfully won a major legal development today in their push for a fair collective agreement at Talleys AFFCO.

The Council of Trade Unions supports the 300 employees working at Unitec whose jobs have been disestablished in a decision made by Unitec’s chief executive, Rick Ede.

Unitec, New Zealand’s largest polytechnic, decided last week to take away the jobs of 300 people (about a quarter of their employees).

Today is the last day for oral submissions on the Employment Standards Bill. This Bill puts zero hour contracts into law for the first time.

Working people have been very clear in their oral and written submissions that zero hour contracts are unfair and unreasonable. We urge the committee to not put zero hour contracts in law.