The modern precariat and the Unconditional Basic Income
A UBI would allow ordinary people to shift their daily focus from doing paid jobs making money for others, to doing useful work of their own choice, under their own control.
Economy
workers’ rights
A thinking opposition
So the news on Labour’s first paper from its “Future of Work” Commission revolves around “ex-Labour member” Phil Quin noticing some missing quote marks and National making gleeful diversions from it. But of course what is actually important is the content.
Parasite Drive; the NBR Rich List
The NBR’s annual list of the one percent is out. No surprises that the growing inequality in New Zealand is working well for the parasites at the top of the hill.
We can do better on health and safety
Labour is proposing a set of amendments to fix the Health and Safety Reform Bill. They need the support of Peter Dunne and the Māori Party. Will they do the right thing?
left wing leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn well ahead
Hard lefty Jeremy Corbyn has a 22 pt lead in the UK Labour leadership race. The Labour Party Blairites are definitely not happy.
291 workers dead since Pike River: where’s the law we were promised?
National Party delegates were greeted at their conference today by a sea of crosses representing the 291 workers who have died on the job since the Pike River disaster.
Health and Safety
The CTU’s excellent campaign to get a stronger version of National’s post-Pike River Health and Safety law has produced this excellent video, and you can sign to support Iain Lees-Galloway’s amendments to improve the bill.
Labour on fire at will
It was reported yesterday that “Labour would retain 90-day trial periods, but make them fairer”. Despite last minute claims to the contrary on Twitter, I think that this is probably correct.
My Daddy Was Killed at Work
Can you help us share this clip? It’s powerful and about the reality of workplace deaths for families that suffer them. The health and safety law going through the Parliament will betray these families if it is changed as the Government is proposing.
Helen Kelly
Not the “end to zero hour contracts” you were looking for
Who would have suspected that Michael Woodhouse would be completely ineffectual in cracking down on zero-hour contracts?
Lets restrain those damnfool knights eh?
“THE struggle has been long and arduous. But gazing across the battered economies of the rich world it is time to declare that the fight against financial chaos and deflation is won. In 2015, the IMF says, for the first time since 2007 every advanced economy will expand.”. But lets restrain the damn fool ideological idiots from screwing it up. Like Bill English and his damn stupid taxcuts…
That one time Government almost did something decent for workers
There was this one time when the Government understood that workers coming into NZ to help rebuild Christchurch were very vulnerable to exploitation.
Older white men paid double young ethnic women
That’s not my headline. That’s Stuff’s business section’s headline.
Our assumptions about work and workers
Beyond discrimination against women, there’s a broader set of assumptions we make about work and workers, and it’s hurting us – workers, society, and business.
Colin Craig’s Contempt for His Victim
The Conservative Party’s Colin Craig has victimised his former Press Secretary by deliberately breaching a confidentiality settlement in order to frame his inappropriate behaviour as a minor matter they were both equally responsible for. Well, that’s crap, Colin. It’s actually a rich man using his power and privilege to belittle a woman. Again.
Sexism, babies, and our assumptions about work
It’s 2015, and we’re constantly told that sexism is over, feminism has had its day – so why can’t this woman find a job?
Iain Lees-Galloway: how many meathooks to the head will it take?
Some strong stuff from Labour’s spokesperson for Labour, Iain Lees-Galloway, in Question Time yesterday.
Peter Talley on health and safety law: unions are evil, workers’ lives cheap
Whenever unionists talk about the bad employers who put profit over people’s lives, the right wave it away as fear-mongering. Well, here it is straight from the horse’s mouth.
Heartless government
A few stories of recent weeks which show exactly what kind of government we have.
Bravo big business!
Bravo to those “big business” leaders who have come out in support of strong universal health and safety legislation. Shame on the Collins faction in Cabinet who are fighting to water it down.
Petition for safer workplaces
Helen Kelly: “Sign our petition and tell John Key that you support better health and safety in workplaces!”
Flip Flop isn’t just another word for a Jandal
IN a breaking news update, the New Zealand Prime Minister has a revelation on Health and Safety
Anti-union rant in The Herald
An anonymous editorial in The Herald this morning really is atrocious. Apparently the limited uptake one of the Nats’ pet education policies is all the fault of the unions.
Helen Kelly Q+A on health and safety
O’Brien on health and safety
Tova O’Brien has written an excellent piece on squabbles within National over health and safety legislation, calling it a disgrace and a power-play by the Collins faction.
Some Nats growing a spine on health and safety?
Helen Kelly and the CTU have done a great job raising the issues of workplace health and safety. Have they even got the attention of some Nats? Apparently there are delays to proposed changes as some in caucus resist.
ILO – 75% of world jobs insecure
Only a quarter of the world’s workers have permanent jobs. A worldwide trend away from secure jobs risked “perpetuating a vicious circle of weak global demand and slow job creation” that has dogged many countries since the 2008 crisis, the ILO reports. Decoupling of wages from productivity has led to a loss of aggregate demand the report estimates at $3.7trillion.
Human Synergistics, Richard Prebble, and the end of government
Back in March 1988 David Lange had a clear idea about what lay ahead for New Zealanders as the long-term consequences of Roger Douglas’ psychopathic worshipping of the metaphysical Invisible Hand gradually materialised.
Farming prosecutions need to be part of health and safety programme
Half the workplace deaths in NZ last year were in agriculture. Already this year the toll has been massive.
Worst. Interview. Ever.
On Radio NZ this morning John Key gave an interview that was cringe-worthy, defensive and accidently hilarious. The man is a joke … and not even an original one.
Not bad for an “entertainment” show
“When we began covering zero hours, BK, Pizza Hut, KFC, Starbucks, Carls Jr, Hell & McDonald’s all had them. Now none do. Great!”
Gilmore Sutton Key
Don’t be mean to John!
Thanks David!
I’m planning to enjoy a day off today – the first “mondayised” public holiday – thanks to the work of David Clark, Grant Robertston, and others in Labour and the parties that supported the Bill. National and ACT voted against this holiday.
A Friend first, and a Boss second, probably an Entertainer third.
“I’m a friendly guy that likes to interact with the public. I do like to have a bit of a laugh and I’m probably the most casual Prime Minister New Zealand has had.”
John Key’s week has turned from drama to farce. David Brent looks good next to this clown.
Herald’s interview with the waitress – updated
Late night developments, the “hair pull” waitress states that a Herald interview (to be published today) was obtained under false pretences, and she withdrew her consent for it.
Multiple updates on the changing story.