The minimum wage is not a living wage
Credit where it’s due for an increase in the minimum wage – but the gap between that and a living wage keeps growing…
Economy
Posts on the economy, work, business, income, and labour
Bridges to Nowhere
Lying, incompetent or duped. One of these descriptions applies to Transport Minister Simon Bridges. He’s been sprung allowing Kiwirail to mothball a rail line he has repeatedly said was not under threat. What did he know and when? If he didn’t know, why the hell didn’t he know?
The Butcher’s Apron or the Tea Towel
Next week the voting on part two of the Key Legacy Project © begins. We’re being given a choice between the outdated and the bland. The Butcher’s Apron or the Tea Towel. Do you care?
the Global Death Economy
A new edition of “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” has been released. It makes it clear that we are in the grip of a global “Death Economy” and a collective embrace of ‘Thanatos’, the death instinct.
Christchurch, keyisms and this state we’re in.
There was a gathering in Cathedral Square in Christchurch on Sunday the 21st of February.
A one and a half hour recording of the event was put on youtube. Speaking begins at around 13min.
What poverty?: Emirates declares 1st Class a success
Looks like the top 1% and the cashed up asset rich are doing just fine. The rest of you, work harder.
Christchurch – 5 years on
The people of Christchurch don’t need any more words about how brave and resilient they are. They need action.
Another poverty report to ignore
Another report on child poverty for the Nats to ignore.
NZMWU scores $144,000 win against Talleys
For the Talley family, $144,000 is nothing, but the fine will sting because the Authority has ordered that it be paid to the Meat Workers Union.
Auckland bus drivers strike
The strike is an escalation of on-going industrial action designed to bring bus company bosses back to the negotiating table with more of a humanitarian, rather than fiscal, attitude to the plight of their workers.
This is not the growth you’re looking for
There are different views on The Standard about growth and whether we really need it. But here’s one bit of growth that really seems pointless to me: that achieved only by increasing the number of people. Because if we’re only increasing GDP by increasing the number of people, as we are currently, we’re loading up the environment and we’re not even individually getting any richer for it. Thanks National.
More blood on its hands as National Ltd™cuts mental health funding in Christchurch
‘ In between slurping simpers during his most recent session of MediaWorks virtual fellatio, John ‘The Liar’ Key managed to express concern for […]
Syria escalating
Turkey has started shelling the US backed Kurdish forces that are fighting against ISIS. What could go wrong?
Police illegally arrest and detain union officials
Its bad enough that workers’ rights and conditions are being crushed by National Ltd™ but now Police have joined in. Again.
Corporate Saviours
oh, hallelujah…
Key’s Bitter Legacy; Gareth Hughes Nails the PM’s Vanity.
The Green’s Gareth Hughes delivered a blistering speech in reply to the PM’s statement to the House. It begs the question ‘what will Key’s lasting legacy be?’. A failed flag referendum? Poverty? Inequality? Corruption? Selfies with AB’s?
As Key’s star fades, the less he seems to have left us to remember him by. What was the point of him anyway?
Bob McCoskrie confuses correlation with causation
Family First’s Bob McCoskrie has released a research paper that essentially concludes that the anti smacking bill and not child poverty is responsible for the plight of children deteriorating over the past decade.
What have the Unions ever done for us?
A video from the TUC in the UK explaining how important Unions are which is just as relevant for Aotearoa as it is for the UK.
National the party of economic lunacy
A “$17 billion hole in the economy”. An estimated $18 billion lost because National stopped investing in the super fund. A record national debt. And we’re still talking about tax cuts? Lunacy!
The TPPA could blight public education
The TPPA could bring us charter schools on steroids, and threaten policies like free tertiary education. In general its a way of locking in a permanent, international right-wing governance which can limit and constrain the kind of social policies that any future NZ left-wing government might want to enact.
Fight to save Christchurch’s trees
Christchurch has already lost so much. Now its “notable trees” are threatened. A small group is fighting to save them. Please help spread the word, or make a donation.
Happy Mondayised holiday!
Thanks to David Clark, to Grant Robertson, to Labour, and to those who supported the bill…
Racist Talleys to Cancel Waitangi Day Holiday?
The Talley’s owned meatworks in Rangiuru is threatening to discipline workers and sue their union if workers choose to observe the Waitangi Day holiday tomorrow. How’s that Brighter Future working out, people?
NOW UPDATED! Hear what Talleys have to say.
TPPA snippets and media coverage
Snippets from recent pieces on the TPP, including The Spinoff’s José Barbosa an his take on the media coverage of the Auckland protest.
Jobs and wages
Boring stuff about boring old jobs and wages.
20,000 protesters – 0 arrests
Despite the travesty inside SkyCity, what was happening outside was in many respects a democratic nation at its finest.
Waitangi: Chicken John Plucks Off
The coward John Key will not now be going to Waitangi. He’s far too scared to find out directly how his sovereignty sell out has been received by Kiwis.
UN experts issue warning on TPP
When the UN is issuing warnings on the TPP, don’t you think it would be wise to listen?
The TPPA day of shame
Undated: The TPPA has now been signed, but not ratified, and not (hello NZ Herald!) “passed in to law”. There have been widespread protests throughout Auckland.
RNZ had live coverage with John Campbell.
NRT: 28,000 unemployed under National
No Right Turn (with a side of Bernard Hickey) on today’s unemployment figures.
Garner’s TPP rant rejected by the silent majority
NRT: “The TPP is too important for democracy”
Fran O’Sullivan seems to be arguing against democracy in her bitter little rant in Saturday’s Herald against Labour’s opposition to the TPP. Labour, of course, is representing its constituents, many of whom have significant doubts about the TPP or its benefits to New Zealand (or to them). That’s what political parties should do in a democratic country.
So, how would you spend $1.2B per year?
A Kiwi Kids allowance for all under fives, with totally fee free public primary and secondary schools.
New Day Rising
Goff and Shearer’s disloyal and self serving support for the TPPA has backfired. They’ve shown that the ABC faction are now a spent force and that Andrew Little has the overwhelming support of caucus. The sun has set on the splitters and there is a new day rising.
Postcards from the brighter future
Part of an occasional series.
Kelly interviewed by Campbell on RNZ Checkpoint
