Be pragmatic
A fundamental of social democratic politics is full employment. It is sometimes said that work is the best form of welfare. When people […]
Economy
workers’ rights
No ReStart for Fire at Will even if unfair
So much for all National’s fine words about probation periods and job creation. Today’s Dominion reports that ReStart will not be available for […]
Class divide
Taken a matter of minutes ago, the Workers Party protest outside John Key’s multimillion dollar Parnell mansion. Just to remind you that we’ve […]
Risk
If you’re still wondering what the Fire at Will Bill (about to become law just over a day after it was first made pubic) is all about take […]
Long live the Free Speech Coalition
David Farrar, champion of democracy. We salute you for speaking truth to power, no matter who’s in charge. [Original here]
Minister of Education lies to teachers
Here’s Anne Tolley telling teachers before the election that they would not be covered by the fire at will legislation. Turns out she […]
Maori Party does the right thing
Well, it’s a relief to see that while the Maori Party might have voted to take money out of the pockets of the […]
Happiness? How much can you sell that for?
We’re told that every country in the OECD except New Zealand and Denmark has a probation period like National/ACT’s Fire at Will law. […]
On mandates
The National/ACT line in defending pushing through legislation like the Fire at Will Bill under urgency, without any select committee process, without any […]
Arrogant and out of touch
The Manawatu Standard has a good op-ed piece today on how National has squandered its honeymoon with its arrogant and out-of-touch behaviour on […]
All I want for Christmas
This viral email from the Council of Trade Unions is doing the rounds. Make sure you click on through and tell John all […]
Tough law for tough times
Against the backdrop of tough new employment laws there’re predictions that “35,000 jobs could be lost in the construction sector.” No wonder that there […]
Some questions for Kate
Kate Wikinson, John Key’s hapless Minister of Labour, has told NZPA the public shouldn’t get to have their say on the fire at […]
Spin-busting: Probationary periods
National has been working hard to push the idea that its fire at will policy introduces a ‘probationary period’ of employment. This is […]
Kia kaha
The Greens have joined in opposing National’s “Fire at Will” Bill which they say puts “jobs and democracy at stake”. They’re calling on […]
Bringing it home
These ads made by the ACTU to oppose John Howard’s removal of unfair dismissal rights sure bring home what National’s fire at will […]
Ramming it through
I’ve just been informed that the National/ACT Government has put its 90 day fire at will bill on the Order Paper and could […]
No longer at the back of the class
Word is National’s David Bennett will be chairing the Transport & Industrial Relations select committee. After his unhinged performance over the youth minimum […]
Work rights? Gone by Xmas
Tracy Watkins reports that the National/Act government will be taking all work rights from anyone in a new job in a firm with […]
Urgency
During this morning’s Nine to Noon politics segment Matthew Hooton was saying how he thought the Government’s 100-day action plan would only include […]
Occupy, resist, produce
Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis describe in the New Statesman how: [a]lmost entirely under the media radar, workers in Argentina have been responding […]
What to do with Treasury
It’s good to see Treasury’s extreme right-wing prescription for New Zealand has not been wholly embraced by the National Party – and it’s […]
A journal for the ruling class
The Herald continues its campaigning today with a puff piece about a poll that claims business wants National’s 90 day ‘fire at will‘ […]
Work choices
Watching this new ad from the Australian Council of Trade Unions on employment law reform was kind of depressing – while the Aussies […]
Redundant
I was talking to a friend the other night. Her job is disappearing. Fortunately, she is getting a decent-sized redundancy payment. I asked […]
Farmers workers protest today
Workers from Farmers stores in the Auckland area will take part in a ‘Skinny Santa’ parade down Queen Street today to protest against […]
Credit where it’s due
It’s exam season for high school students. So, for 10 points explain how the following statement (in the ACT-National agreement and repeated uncritically […]
Key reneges on PSA promise
Well, just days after a high profile meeting with PSA head Brenda Pilott and a promise to engage with unions John Key has […]
Time for a Green New Deal
With a masterful awareness of the import of his actions, President Roosevelt termed his economic program to lift the US out of the […]
Playing clever but playing with fire
On one level, the Maori Party’s dealing with National is smart work. Key needs to look inclusive even though he doesn’t need the […]
Unions offer better option for Kiwisaver changes
The unions have proposed an alternative to National’s plan to slash Kiwisaver in half. If Kiwisaver has to be cut, and with National/Act […]
How to stimulate the economy
During the debate over the economic stimulus package in the US earlier this year, Moody’s produced a model that shows which stimulus options […]
The fundamental question
The fundamental question of politics is how the wealth of society should be divided among the members of society. We live in a […]
Key to work rights activist: you’re an idiot
You know, you can fly around acting all presidential if you like in a cheap attempt to wow the press gallery but that […]
More unemployed but more employed too
Unemployment has risen to 4.2%, the first time in four years it has topped 4%. That’s lower than the experts expected, they thought […]
Economy healthier than expected
The latest government accounts show the economy is in better condition than was expected. Tax take was $500 million higher than expected due […]