Posts on the economy, work, business, income, and labour
Written By: - Date published: 3:28 pm, March 9th, 2015 - 40 comments
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
Written By: - Date published: 2:30 pm, March 8th, 2015 - 30 comments
A National government which loves to cut taxs + workers and business being overcharged ACC levies = levy cuts, right? Wrong!
Written By: - Date published: 7:45 am, March 8th, 2015 - 64 comments
“International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.”
Written By: - Date published: 12:18 pm, March 7th, 2015 - 42 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, March 6th, 2015 - 11 comments
For details of protest action nearest to you check out the itsourfuture website.
Written By: - Date published: 1:30 pm, March 6th, 2015 - 7 comments
When Michael Woodhouse and the bosses’ lobby are talking about “workplace flexibility”, you know who’s flexing their muscles.
Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, March 6th, 2015 - 13 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, March 5th, 2015 - 17 comments
For someone responsible for managing employment relations in New Zealand, Michael Woodhouse doesn’t seem to understand what “employment relations” means.
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, March 5th, 2015 - 8 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 10:14 am, March 4th, 2015 - 61 comments
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?
Written By: - Date published: 4:01 pm, March 3rd, 2015 - 25 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 12:07 pm, March 3rd, 2015 - 80 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 7:25 am, March 3rd, 2015 - 110 comments
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…
Written By: - Date published: 4:41 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 82 comments
Key has folded on MPs’ pay rises. Vernon Small and others are covering events on Twitter.
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 53 comments
Whether it’s about election donations or portfolios, some people do seem to think MPs should always get the benefit of the doubt.
Written By: - Date published: 12:21 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 64 comments
The release of the candidate donation returns has shown us that the National Party are still rorting the system. However, there are issues for the NZ Labour Party as well. Four MP’s have taken money from sources that do not have the interests of the Labour party or, indeed, the majority of Kiwis at heart. Brassneck or bought and sold?
Written By: - Date published: 4:51 pm, March 1st, 2015 - 92 comments
The Christchurch earthquake was a catastrophe that was national in its impact and significance but that required the people of Christchurch to pay its terrible price. In the four years that have since elapsed, they have had to shoulder the burden of rebuilding shattered lives and a devastated environment. There has been no shortage of […]
Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, March 1st, 2015 - 23 comments
If you analyse the many things said by Spock you would come to the conclusion that he was a strong progressive.
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, February 27th, 2015 - 106 comments
John Key has yet again asked the Remuneration Authority to limit the increase in MPs pay. And yet again they have said that the law required them to make the decision they did. So MPs get a hefty raise at the same time that the minimum wage is raised slightly. And the media report Key’s comments sympathetically. He is the Prime Minister. If anyone can change the law he is the person best placed.
Written By: - Date published: 3:26 pm, February 26th, 2015 - 36 comments
John Key has said today that he has urged the Remuneration Authority not to give MPs a salary increase. Get that feeling of deja vu? Idiot Savant at No Right Turn explains why.
Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, February 26th, 2015 - 64 comments
Its 100 days since the NZ Labour Party elected Andrew Little as its leader. What an inspired decision that has turned out to be! Little has galvanised the party, united the caucus and looks set to be the next PM. How has he turned Labour around?
Written By: - Date published: 4:16 pm, February 25th, 2015 - 7 comments
Yesterday the families lost only a small bit of the battle for justice at Pike in an application to get some of the documentation on the Peter Whittall decision. It is clear from the decision that the process of filing itself caused MBIE to agree to release a number of the key documents.
Written By: - Date published: 5:59 am, February 25th, 2015 - 76 comments
New Zealand banks (which are really Australian banks) are REALLY worried for us (oh, and for themselves).
Written By: - Date published: 12:31 pm, February 20th, 2015 - 4 comments
Prof Guy Standing is talking next Friday at 11am at AUT’s Auckland City Campus.
Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, February 18th, 2015 - 51 comments
I’ve been involved in exporting from NZ for more than 35 years in everything from manufacturing to software. I support free trade. It is always embarrassing watching idiots waffling on a subject without any facts. But that is what you get with the secrecy of the TPP restraint of trade negotiations.
Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, February 17th, 2015 - 54 comments
Celebrate International Right to Strike Day on 18 February by sending a message to Kiwi employers: stop undermining our right to strike!
Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, February 16th, 2015 - 226 comments
The PM running from a yacht club when confronted with protestors against poverty. Pretty fair summary of where this country is at.
Written By: - Date published: 3:28 pm, February 15th, 2015 - 77 comments
Steven Joyce has announced (because Key likes to stay clear of bad news) that SkyCity will not be seeking public funding for its convention center. So looks like it will be Key’s “eyesore”.
Written By: - Date published: 2:32 pm, February 13th, 2015 - 29 comments
I/S at No Right Turn adds some detail to Matthew Hooton’s extraordinary piece at the NBR.
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, February 13th, 2015 - 33 comments
A staffer in Paula Bennett’s ministerial office has apparently mistakenly withdrawn cash from the Ministerial credit card. The money has been paid back and no harm caused and no further action should be necessary. If only Bennett extended to beneficiaries the same tolerance of predictable mistakes.
Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, February 13th, 2015 - 417 comments
NZ is again being asked to go to war in Iraq. The Clark Labour Government said no a decade ago, but in 2015 there may be a compelling reason to join the fight; this time it’s the right thing to do. New Standard author te reo putake puts the case for NZ entering the battle against ISIS.
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