Andrew Little on Pike River
The fifth anniversary of the Pike River disaster has just occurred. This post records some comments made by Andrew Little on his recollection of the day after.
Economy
workers’ rights
AFFCO workers win
A win for workers at the Wairoa freezing works with a lockout ruled illegal.
Paying a generous wage
Well paid staff are happy, productive staff. Who’d have thought it!
Food Bank Charity
Guest post from Kōrero Pono on the politics and ethics of food banks.
Labour Day – won by workers
How America is killing the middle class
A short film from AJ+ which clearly describes what has gone wrong in the US since the 1980s. The film is just as relevant for New Zealand.
The equal pay initiative
After twice killing off pay equity legislation (2009, 1990), National have been forced to confront the issue again.
Helen Kelly’s speech to the CTU Conference
Speech notes from Helen Kelly’s address to the CTU Conference given today where she talks about the importance of the union movement and some of the achievements she has been involved in over the past few years.
Anat Shenker-Osorio on the creation of left metaphors
Communications Anat Shenker-Osorio has some simple messages for Labour in its quest for Government. The left’s strongest advantage is its care for people rather than the economy and the message that will resonate is a positive one emphasising the care of people and the environment.
Unions good for society and economy
Great post on the UK based NEF Blog: Don’t be fooled, dismantling the rights of workers is not good for you, or for the economy.
Go well Helen Kelly
Helen is standing down from her role as President of the CTU due to health reasons, but will remain active supporting union causes.
Greetings E Tū Union
E Tū Union, the amalgamation of the EPMU and the Service and Foodworkers Union has formally launched.
Launch of New Zealand’s largest private sector trade union
Details of the announcement tomorrow of the formation of the largest private sector union in the country.
Bunnings strike
Bunnings staff are striking today after rejecting unfair contracts.
OIA on Zero Hours reveals just what an attack on workers it is.
We have the documents leading up to the what can only be described as a dreadful piece of law legalising employment agreements which tie workers to an employer without any of the reciprocity of guaranteed hours of work. At a time like now – where work in this country is so badly paid, with so little protection – we get this.
Paula Bennett’s loopy rules do not actually exist
The Government has admitted that at least some of the loopy rules mentioned by Paula Bennett in support of the Loopy Rules review do not actually exist.
NRT: Go on strike, get a police record
Over in the UK, the government is carrying out an unprecedented attack on employment and union rights in an effort to return things to their C19th utopia. Now they want to force striking workers to wear armbands and give their names to police as well. Presumably for blacklisting people exercising their rights.
2.1 Times More Likely to get a pay rise…
If you still wonder WHY anyone would want to join a union, the fact that union members are 2.1 x more likely to get a pay rise might make you wade through the anti-union propaganda. Some unions escape scorn, like the Police Union which is referred to as an Association. It’s probably an oversight though, not anything deliberate…
Another farm death
Last night the Nats passed their widely ridiculed health and safety legislation. This morning a Waikato farm worker died in a workplace accident. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
No, National shouldn’t have balanced the books.
Simon Louisson recently made a post about National’s profligacy, and all of the debt they have racked up. Guest poster Michael disagrees with Simon and says that “Yes, National was profligate.” and “No, National should not have balanced the books.”
Watkins on health and safety mess
“John Key’s increasingly lacklustre defence of the shambles consists of answers that sound more like satire by the day.”
National scared of farmers?
As the worm turns, the Nats are all over the place on health and safety. Andrew Little suggests that National is “terrified of the farming lobby”. Something sure has to explain the fact that they ended up fronting this crock.
Health and safety categories – ludicrous and venal
A small sample of the reaction to National’s “health” and “safety” nonsense.
Zero integrity on zero hours
If you thought the Nats promising to sort out zero hours contracts was too good to be true — you were right.
Government braces for expected worm farm mini golf fatality onslaught
Apparently worm farms and mini golf ranges are dangerous places. And worm farmers playing mini golf are in grave peril.
Nanaia Mahuta: Māori Party should stand up for workers
Nanaia Mahuta is calling on the Māori Party to do the right thing for Māori workers and vote to strengthen the Health and Safety Reform Bill.
Key priorities – puppy photo op not Pike River people
Unbelievable.
Unite wins back pay for KFC worker
After winning guaranteed hours for Restaurant Brands workers, UNITE has held KFC in Kaikohe to their contract.
National Ltd™ Enabling Corporate Murderers
But wait there’s more . . . National Ltd™’s attitude to worker safety has, it seems, been successfully installed into the very government agency responsible for holding employers to account for worker deaths.
“A new union to fight for the future of work”
The two largest Labour Party affiliated unions are going to merge.
#Talleyban. Standard Exclusive: MWU Blacklisted by Boss
Talleys has de-recognised the Meat Workers Union and refused to bargain with them. They have told the workers to set up a new, yellow union. Or else. Brighter Future? Not under National. This is what the recent changes in employment law were intended to achieve. It’s union busting in a brutal, thuggish form.
250 to 300 Job Losses at Unitec in Auckland
Under Unitec’s new vision students will be known as Customers. Student services will be outsourced (overseas)
Aspiration statementTo be a world leader in contemporary applied learning and an agent of positive economic and social change.
Stand with the AFFCO/Talley’s workers!
Next Monday 1,000 workers at Talley’s owned AFFCO will take strike action.
# Talleyban
Talleys have fired the first shots in National’s new class war. You can stand with the AFFCO workers and reject the Tories new anti-union law. Boycott Talleys. Make a stand for your fellow Kiwis.
Why did this take a private prosecution?
The CTU win in a private prosecution over a forestry worker’s death. Where was WorkSafe?
Deborah McMillan’s story
Deborah McMillan’s husband and Skyla McMillan’s dad Shane was killed in a workplace accident five years ago. They are part of a campaign to strengthen the currently weakened health and safety legislation.