Category: Unions

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NZCTU stands in solidarity with Myanmar community in opposition to junta visit

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Today NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff joined the Myanmar community at a rally outside MFAT’s Lambton Quay offices, in opposition to the attendance of officials from the illegal Myanmar military junta at today’s ASEAN-NZ dialogue meeting.

“Myanmar’s military junta has been internationally condemned for crimes against humanity in its ruthless war against its own people,” said Wagstaff.

“The union movement stands in solidarity with the Myanmar community in their fight for peace, justice, and democracy.

“Given this Government claims its tough on crime, how can it allow war criminals into the country? The Government should revoke the officials’ visas and expel them from the country.

“Across the world governments have stood firm in excluding and sanctioning the junta. For New Zealand to break ranks now and welcome them to our country is a stain on our democratic principles and international reputation, and a betrayal of the Myanmar community in New Zealand,” said Wagstaff.

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Education job cuts short-sighted with serious implications

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

“First and foremost, we want to express our concern and sympathy to the huge number of people who are losing their jobs because of the Government’s stubborn commitment to tax cuts that it cannot afford. We are talking about people’s livelihoods here and it must be incredibly stressful and worrying – everyone who has been told today that they no longer have a job is in our thoughts. Kia kaha.

He says the number of jobs being cut at the Ministry of Education was equivalent to the staffing of 10 average-sized secondary schools.

“Sadly, we have seen situations before where Ministry of Education positions are done away with, only to create a gaping hole in essential work and support for schools and teachers further down the track. I have no doubt that this is the case today. One area that troubles us greatly is the cut to staffing in the NCEA change and curriculum refresh programmes. These programmes are at the heart of teaching and learning and young people’s qualifications and opportunities.

“The work will still need to be done and it will most likely mean school leaders and teachers will pick up the shortfall, creating further pressure on an already straining system.

“Staffing cuts in these areas make a bit of a mockery of the Education Minister’s announcement recently about slowing down implementation of the NCEA levels 2 and 3 changes. The extension of the timeline was meant to enable more work to be done on the curriculum changes and ensure that the assessment changes were developed as effectively and robustly as possible. How can this happen when you’re axing a whole team of staff whose jobs were dedicated to this?

“These cuts will have serious ramifications – maybe not immediately but increasingly over the next couple of years.”

Chris Abercrombie said PPTA Te Wehengarua appreciated the Ministry’s offer of a briefing later this week to get more details of the cuts and the implications.

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Inflation data shows need for a plan on climate and population

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Data today shows headline CPI inflation at 4%, continuing the fall begun in March 2023. Rises are concentrated in particular sectors – especially services. This data also shows that that the minimum wage increase will be half the rate of inflation this year, taking money out of the pockets of those with the least.

“Inflation was being generated by rents, (4.7%), rates (9.6%), and insurance (14%). Rents are rising at the fastest rate since they were recorded in 1999. Housing & vehicle insurance increased more than 20%. These are all in areas that working people can’t avoid,” said CTU Economist and Director of Policy Craig Renney.

“Pricing for goods that in the past have generated inflation such as food are now much more subdued. Vegetable prices have fallen nearly 15% annually according to this report.

“However, petrol prices rose by 12% from last year. This is worrying as petrol pricing tends to lead inflation data. The faster we can transition to an electric vehicle fleet the better.

“Inflation is now in sectors that don’t respond well to interest rate changes in New Zealand – such as insurance. This should give the Reserve Bank a reason to pause and reflect on its future interest rate path.

“Overall, this data suggests that inflation is continuing its long road back to the Reserve Bank rate. In the last three months, inflation was well within the 1-3% band being targeted.

“Inflation is still higher in New Zealand than it is in other comparable countries such as Australia or the USA, where economic and employment growth is also stronger on the back of strong infrastructure spending, government investment, and higher wages.

“Prices in New Zealand are responding to pressures such as population growth and climate change. The absence of both a plan and investment from government in these areas suggests an absence of action on future price rises,” said Renney.

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TVNZ’s consultation process legally challenged by E tū – E tū

Source: Etu Union

E tū has filed a claim with the Employment Relations Authority against TVNZ, as the company did not follow their consultation requirements that are guaranteed for workers in their collective agreement.

The filing comes as TVNZ makes formal announcements about the fate of major parts of their news and current affairs offering, including Fair Go, Sunday, Re: News, and the Midday and Tonight bulletins.

E tū Negotiation Specialist, Michael Wood, says it’s vital TVNZ follow the correct processes through such significant changes.

“It’s crystal clear in the TVNZ collective agreement that workers must be involved in developing proposals like this, not just asked for their views at the end of the process,” Michael says.

“The requirement is that union members must be involved in the developmental stages of decision-making processes and in the business planning of the organisation. The fact is, members simply weren’t given the opportunity to engage with the design of TVNZ’s plan until the proposal was presented.

“It is vital that workers are involved all the way through – not just because it’s their right, but because they have valuable insights that would have helped TVNZ to develop a better proposal.”

Michael says the short consultation process has already shown the value of member participation.

“Even just within the flawed process we’ve seen to date, workers have convinced TVNZ to introduce a new team for long-form consumer and current affairs reporting. That’s a win and reinforces that a proper process could have led to much better outcomes.

“There has been a massive outpouring of support for TVNZ’s workers and the vital content they create. The community supports robust news and current affairs to tell Aotearoa’s stories and hold power to account. This is all the more important given we’ve also learned today the plan to take Newshub off air is going ahead.

“We reiterate our call for TVNZ to go back to the drawing board and work properly with their staff to shape a way forward which properly values their massive contribution to our media landscape.”

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Minister of Finance admits to new borrowing need

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

At Finance and Expenditure Committee today the Minister of Finance admitted that the Government will have to borrow to make ends meet in the forthcoming Budget.

“This admission is in direct conflict with the statements made by Nicola Willis in opposition that the tax plan requires no additional borrowing. Yet today we discover that additional borrowing will be happening,” said CTU Economist Craig Renney.

“The Minister is still insisting that the additional borrowing will not pay for tax cuts, even though it’s clear that without these tax cuts, additional borrowing would not need to take place. The obvious lesson from all of this is that the government is borrowing to pay for tax cuts.

“The economics of this make no sense. Given the economic circumstances that New Zealand is in, if we are borrowing, it should be for investments that will lead to long-term productive growth. It should be for infrastructure, R&D, and public services. Instead, we are providing yet more money for landlords, and more money for higher-income earners.

“The Minister of Finance had an opportunity at the Budget Policy Statement to come clean about how her tax plan would be paid for. The Minister should provide that information to the public, bearing in mind we are just seven weeks away from the Budget, so the details should have been finalised.

“But what would be even better is if the Minister announced a plan to invest in public services, deliver economic growth, and abandon the currently unfunded tax cuts,” said Renney.

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Principals and teachers agree changes to NCEA timeline necessary

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

Secondary principals and teachers welcome significant changes, announced by the Minister of Education today, to the timeline for implementation of new NCEA Levels 2 and 3 qualifications.

“Delaying the implementation of Levels 2 and 3 is a sensible move. Schools, and communities will rely on the certainty of the new timeframes.  “says Kate Gainsford, Chair of the Secondary Principals’ Council.

“Making sure curriculum development is ahead of the assessment changes is an important development.”

However, we also recognise that the delay will be a source of frustration for schools who have done a significant amount of work on subjects that were to be introduced for assessment at the new Level 2 next year. Nevertheless, NCEA remains a robust qualification and a better experience for students and teachers is on the way.”

Chris Abercrombie, president of PPTA Te Wehengarua, said secondary teachers were pleased the Education Minister had listened to teachers’ concerns about the need for the curriculum changes to be more aligned with the assessment changes and the significant impact of the implementation of the new NCEA Level 1 this year.

“This pause will give time to embed the changes to the teaching and learning programmes we need to ensure that the implementation of Level 1 is manageable and for learning from this to be part of the development and lead in for levels 2 and 3.”

“It is really important that now this decision has been made that the time is used effectively, so that when finally implemented the curriculum and assessments are aligned, and the support materials necessary are ready to go.”

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CTU stands in solidarity with public service workers

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The NZ Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is standing in solidarity with workers affected by the latest round of public service job losses and calls on the Government to stop their reckless attacks on essential public services, said CTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“These cuts have a massive impact on services that save New Zealanders lives, as we can see with cuts to the Suicide Prevention Office, but we also must not lose sight of the devastating impact job losses are having on thousands of families across the country,” said Wagstaff.

“Many of these workers are low paid and already struggling to get by, serving their communities in jobs that deliver essential services for the public.

“Hearing stories of laid-off workers having to pull their kids out of childcare and stop mortgage repayments demonstrates the real heartbreaking impact of public service cuts.

“It is the role of government to invest in services and prevent rising unemployment. Yet here we have a government that is actively pushing people into unemployment in their ideological pursuit of tax cuts for landlords and high-income earners.

“These ongoing job losses highlight the importance of the income insurance scheme the Government axed in haste.  It would mean any workers who lose their jobs would continue to receive a decent income while they look to find a good job that utilises their skills and experience.

“New Zealand workers are among those with the lowest levels of redundancy protection in the world. As we deal with a challenging global economy, now should be the time to give workers more income and economic security – rather than less,” said Wagstaff.

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New histories curriculum on track – more support needed

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

“The new histories curriculum has a big focus on New Zealand and Māori history – something which was missing for more than 160 years,” says Chris Abercrombie, PPTA Te Wehengarua president.

“You talk to people from other countries and they have a deep, well-formed knowledge of their history  – they know very much who they are and where they are going in the world. Yet, up until only last year the unique history of Aotearoa New Zealand was not part of what we were required to learn at school. The vast majority of New Zealanders know a great deal more about European or American history than their own.

“It’s really important for children and young people to learn about the history of Aotearoa New Zealand to get an understanding and sense of where we are at in Aotearoa New Zealand today, how we got here and the challenges that lie ahead of us.

“It’s also equally important that young people are able to see themselves in the curriculum – it helps them to identify with what they’re learning about and whets their appetite for learning more.”

Chris Abercrombie said the ANZ histories curriculum was very new – it only began to be implemented in schools last year – so there was still a lot of bedding in to be done. “And we still need a lot of support to make this curriculum as fantastic as it can be for all students. We hope the recommendations  made by ERO, particularly in terms of more support and resources, are picked up and run with.

“This new curriculum is a huge improvement on what we were teaching previously. Clearly there is a need for more support for teachers to ensure that the curriculum content is covered in full. These are momentous changes and they will take time to tweak and improve.”

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CTU calls on Government to exclude Myanmar Junta from ASEAN meeting

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is supporting the 33 Myanmar community organisations in New Zealand who are calling on the New Zealand Government to reverse the invitation to the Myanmar military junta to join the ASEAN-NZ Dialogue meeting scheduled for 18-19 April in Wellington.

“Inviting the Myanmar junta representatives at this time sends the signal that New Zealand both recognises and supports the existence of this murderous regime,” said Wagstaff.
 
“Myanmar’s ruling junta has targeted trade unions and has been internationally condemned for crimes against humanity in its ruthless war against its own people.
 
“Across the world the UN and democratic governments have stood firm in excluding and sanctioning the military junta. For New Zealand to break ranks now, and welcome them to our country is a betrayal of our principles and our reputation, and a betrayal of the Myanmar community in New Zealand. 
 
“The New Zealand Government, as host nation, must intervene to prevent the Myanmar junta representatives attending this meeting,” said Wagstaff. 

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Maritime Union National Secretary Craig Harrison resigns

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison has resigned from his position as National Secretary of the Maritime Union of New Zealand for personal reasons, effective immediately.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National President Carl Findlay thanks Craig on behalf of the Maritime Union for his dedication and commitment to his role since 2020 and the Union wish him all the best in the future.

The National Council of the Union will be meeting next month in Wellington.

In the interim, all Union related business can be directed to National President Carl Findlay and all media inquiries can be directed to Communications Officer Victor Billot (details below).

Maritime Union of New Zealand National President Carl Findlay on 021 760 887

Maritime Union of New Zealand Communications Officer Victor Billot on 022 4791786