Woodhouse: tough on bad employers?
Michael Woodhouse is talking tough on bad employers … but what does it really mean, coming from this government?
Economy
Posts on the economy, work, business, income, and labour
Labour History Project 2015 essay competition
The Labour History Project is inviting essays on the theme of “Another World is Possible”.
Wikileaks releases TPP chapter
Another chapter of the secret draft TPP agreement has been leaked.
Kiwis Stand Up To Corporate Bully
Cotton On’s act of provocation is matched in its cynicism only by the company’s contempt for the negotiation process. While attempting to feign an understanding of how the new law actually works, Cotton On simultaneously may also have breached the newly amended sections 4 and 32 of the ERA
On poverty, parenting, and Paula
In times of trouble for the National Party, you can always rely on them to raise the rallying cry of “Personal responsibility!!!”
Cottoning on to new ways of exploiting workers
Cotton On has become the first employer in the news for trying to take away its workers’ rest breaks.
Screaming left-wing conspiracy theorist shocked at spying on Diplomats
In the NZ herald today, Terence O’Brien has been questioned about the recent revelations of spying to get Minister’s jobs after politics. Despite […]
Salvation army says no
Where does this leave National’s “social housing” sell-off?
The rich want to hide their wealth because of kidnap threats
The Liberal National Party Coalition in Australia want to overturn a requirement for corporations with a turnover of $100 million to disclose tax information on the grounds that kidnapping will occur even though the rich’s ostentatiousness is plain to see without the information being published. And in America it has been estimated that Wall Street’s bonus pool is twice the amount paid to full time American employees living on the minimum wage.
A Fool’s Paradise?
The pre-election, headline-grabbing, so-called “rock-star economy” may be less in evidence today, but there is still a good deal of self-congratulation about an […]
The “Brighter future”.
Labour, in 1984, with Richard Prebble and Roger Douglas, promised that if we adopted their prescription we would have a “Brighter Future”. Ruth Richardson in the 90’s promised a “Brighter Future”. Again in 2014 John Key’s National promises a “Brighter Future”.
A “Brighter Future”. For whom?
Northland’s ghost jobs
One of National’s big claims in the Northland buy election was that they had created 7500 new jobs in Northland. Lies lies lies.
$46.25 per week Minister!?!
One way the Government is transforming the disability support system is by keeping quiet about allowances desperately needed by those caring for disabled children.
PM can’t calculate GST
Gotcha politics is all good sport when the opposition makes a mistake. How about Key’s self-inflicted blunder?
Feed the Kids
Harawira / Turei’s Feed the Kids bill is up tomorrow today in Parliament…
International travel perks for the people who got us into this mess?
The blogosphere leads the way in breaking a story about yet another sack of cash for MPs …
Are you saving to buy a house?
Are you saving to buy a house? Are you saving more than $1000 a week? If not, you are going backwards.
UPDATED: Developers will save Kauri – for a Price
Was driving through Henderson today toward the City centre and spotted a car with screen painting on its bumper…
“Keep Kauri standing”…
Discussion starter for the day…
I’d love to share these two posts with you and pick your brains on what you think!
John Key’s weird “gotcha” moment on ACC
John Key and his MPs were acting like they’d scored a real hit on Andrew Little in Question Time. The reality is … not so impressive.
Police announcement – 1080 threat
3 News is advertising a special announcement of “national significance” at 3:45. Will update post…
It’s a 1080 threat to the dairy industry – that has been known since last November. Look – over there!
Polity: Pork bridges
A sudden enthusiasm for local infrastructure projects on the eve of a tight by-election. What a remarkable coincidence! I wonder whether the cost/benefit ratios on these bridges are up to scratch? Last year National bribed people in the general election. OIA time
Little: ACC levies need to come down
A National government which loves to cut taxs + workers and business being overcharged ACC levies = levy cuts, right? Wrong!
Helen Clark’s statement on International Women’s Day
“International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.”
Gender pay gap still growing – of course
Tomorrow is International Women’s Day. In New Zealand the gender pay gap is growing – perhaps because National abolished the Department of Labour’s Pay and Employment Equity Unit.
Anti TPPA Rallies this Saturday
For details of protest action nearest to you check out the itsourfuture website.
Dita de Boni on zero-hour contracts
When Michael Woodhouse and the bosses’ lobby are talking about “workplace flexibility”, you know who’s flexing their muscles.
National Ltd™ Battling Truth On Two Fronts
The lies and media pap being distributed for public consumption by the boys down at “The Club” are old and worn out now. Politicians, public commentators, and media heads who really think they can get away with this flimsy “rinse and repeat” justification of the indefensible are treated us with contempt.
What has Michael Woodhouse actually got right about employment relations?
For someone responsible for managing employment relations in New Zealand, Michael Woodhouse doesn’t seem to understand what “employment relations” means.
Expect more zero-hours crisis cases
Today is not a good day for workers. Employment law changes that take effect today weaken workers’ rights and will result in more cases of zero-hour contract “excesses”. Labour’s Iain Lees-Galloway has been doing good work on this issue (sign the petition). In contrast National’s position now appears confused, with Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse acknowledging problems even as today’s changes make matters worse.
Nats getting squeamish on zero hour contracts
Zero hour contracts are the logical end point of National’s agenda for employment legislation. But last night Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse promised legislation to “prohibit the worst excesses”. “Excesses” in the free market – who would have thought?
Local Bodies: A Luddite Led National Government
The development of new knowledge and technology is growing at a faster rate than ever before and successful businesses generally have to remain at the cutting edge of their industries to survive. But National likes the obsolete extractive industries from early last century.
Dim-Post on *that* $168k cake story
Danyl at the Dim-Post has looked more closely at the decision to award a worker $168k over a cake and a Facebook post – and what it tells us about National’s employment law reforms.
Politicising banking
The attack on banking services for Mega is a high profile example of the politicisation of banking. We’re on a very slippery slope here…
Key folds on pay rises
Key has folded on MPs’ pay rises. Vernon Small and others are covering events on Twitter.
Political donations and conflicts of interest
Whether it’s about election donations or portfolios, some people do seem to think MPs should always get the benefit of the doubt.