Media Releases

The CTU congratulates the Labour Party for their foresight and focused attention in examining the Future of Work.

New Zealand is likely to come under pressure to extend the monopoly times for a new group of potentially life-saving specialty medicines under the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), say the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) and the Council of Trade Unions (CTU).

GDP figures out today show that there was a strong increase, at 0.9 percent, in what New Zealand produced in the three months to December 2015. Normally that should mean higher incomes for New Zealanders.

Working people in New Zealand are on the verge of being much better off with zero hour agreements [contracts] on the cusp of being outlawed.

“After seeing the final draft of the planned amendments to the Employment Standards Bill released today I am confident that working people will have more security of their hours of work,” CTU President Richard Wagstaff said.

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.