The Government is considering cutting sick leave entitlements for part-time workers. Brooke van Velden has introduced a new bill which legislate changes to personal grievances, the 30-day rule and the ability of workers to test their employment status in court. NZEI is considering legal action against the government’s decision to defund 174 fulltime literacy and Māori resource teachers in primary schools, confirmed last month as part of the Budget. After a frustrating years-long wait, 5900 southern district staff members who were paid incorrectly have received more than $40 million in Holidays Act remediation payments. The Green Party has released a fiscal strategy which calls for more public investment.
Union coverage
- CTU: Confusion over future of sick leave
- PSA: Employment Relations Act amendments aimed to boost labour market flexibility
- NZEI: Legal action over changes to resource teaching roles ‘possible’ – union
- NZNO: Thousands of southern nurses receive overdue Holidays Act payments
- MUNZ: Maritime Union says Aratere ferry should not retire, despite breakdown
- PSA: Protesters claim cuts will ‘decimate’ heritage staff
- NZNO, PSA, NZEI: Nurses set to test equal pay system as others lose trust
Employment
- Minister Brooke van Velden says sick leave cuts for part-timers is what businesses want
- Van Velden steers WorkSafe toward a softer touch
- Select committee rejects petition for paid placements (paywall)
Politics
- PM Christopher Luxon shrugs off critics as he heads to China
- Foreign Minister Winston Peters won’t be taking sides in Israel-Iran conflict
- Health NZ told to give private hospitals 10-year outsourcing contracts
- How top cop Richard Chambers weathered his first ‘scrutiny week’ grilling (paywall)
- Government tweaks visa settings for Chinese visitors (paywall)
- NZ’s carbon forestry offsets on trial in High Court case
- Ruth Richardson calls for super age hike, warns of fiscal ‘crisis’
Te Ao Māori
- Why tā moko should never be dismissed as ‘scribbles’ – Māori academic
- Teen changing gear for 894km bike ride promoting Māori wards
Economics
- Greens release fiscal strategy that calls for more public investment
- Government wants economy growth to expand building pipeline (paywall)
- Government considers Crown contributions to partnership projects
- Housing market remains mired, report shows
- ‘Economy hits a brick wall’ as services sector continues to decline – economist