Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff said that today marks ‘working for free day’ for Pasifika women because of the gender pay imbalance. “The latest figures out this year show that on average, per hour of work Pasifika women are paid just 68.5% of what Pākehā men receive, and 72.3% of what all men… Read more »
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Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sam Huggard said today that union members and officials around the country would be turning out to support NZEI Te Riu Roa industrial action to protect quality public education and the teaching profession. “Teachers and principals have been the last line of defence for our education system through a decade… Read more »
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An Ombudsman’s report released last week shows our deportation rules aren’t working, especially for eight Indian students who were deported last year, says CTU Vice-president Rachel Mackintosh. The report concluded that our law did allow for deportation of the students because of “fraudulent” paperwork, even when they committed that “fraud” unknowingly and were powerless actors… Read more »
Read more...Ensuring that employment practices are free from gender bias, that pay rates are transparent and that the role of unpaid work is finally recognised, are among new Principles launched today to help workers and employers eliminate the gender pay gap in the state sector. The Gender Pay Principles were launched at an event at Parliament… Read more »
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Reflecting on the Coalition Government’s first Budget yesterday, Dr Bill Rosenberg posed the question why the Government won’t increase spending to 30 percent of GDP, at least. “The Government is understandably and justifiably spending on capital projects such as hospitals, schools, housing and transport infrastructure. The direction of the Budget is good, but it is… Read more »
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The new Government’s first Budget will be announced on 17 May. What pressures is it facing? It will be in a pincer between the spending needed to plug the gaping holes in our public services and infrastructure left by the previous Government, and its own Budget Responsibility Rules. These rules restrict its operational spending to… Read more »
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Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff said today that he was excited to see such swift and broad progress on the Provincial Growth Fund for regional economic development from the new Coalition Government. “This is the biggest opportunity we’ve had to create sustainable, flourishing communities in our regions in an entire generation” he said.… Read more »
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Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff said today that the National Party was not fooling any women with the return of its intentionally flawed Employment (Pay Equity and Equal Pay) Bill through the members bill ballot process. “I have to say, I’m impressed by their persistence trying to throw hurdles in front of women’s… Read more »
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The Council of Trade Unions is expressing its sympathy to the family of Jim Anderton following his death overnight, and marking his huge contribution to New Zealand political life. CTU president Richard Wagstaff said that Jim Anderton had been a friend and ally to working people throughout his extensive political career. “Working people experienced dark… Read more »
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CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg welcomed the Government’s Half Year Fiscal Update as a positive sign that the Government was willing to repay the social and environmental deficits run up over the last 9 years. “We’re seeing some movement towards acknowledging there is repair work to restore the trust and confidence of working people in Government,… Read more »
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