THE UNIONIST: ACC, finance lending, work rights wage drive

In The Unionist this week: where is the evidence for an Australian Compensation Corporation, bank workers call for overhaul of lending practices, and the Work Rights Wage Drive heads north.   (Printable version here).

Where is the evidence for an Australian Compensation Corporation?

"Lets hope that the “more consultation and work” on National Party ACC policy which Leader John Key has promised results in a radical re-think, to bring the policy into line with objective evidence, and the wishes of all stakeholders in our ACC scheme," CTU president Helen Kelly said this week in a column, published in a number of Fairfax newspapers.

"Only the Australian insurance companies will benefit from the National Party’s ACC policy and it is notable that only the private insurance industry is supporting it. This inevitably gives some credence to the suggestion in Nicky Hager’s book “”The Hollow Men” that Australian insurance companies have made huge financial donations to the National Party." 

"Public statements on behalf of business, workers, and the medical profession have made clear that there is no major interest which wants to disestablish our public fund accident compensation scheme in favour of a private insurance market dominated by large Australian insurance companies."
 
National has attempted a play on words to avoid admitting that privatization of ACC is its objective, but a cursory analysis confirms that this will be the result.

"At the very least ACC will become a private insurance market which, the merchant bank Merrill Lynch report has advised, will enable private insurers to cream off $200 million a year in profits.
  
If John Key does undertake that further consultation and work he will find that the evidence shows decisively that New Zealand has the best performing accident compensation scheme in the world, providing world class benefits and rehabilitation at a cost much lower than any comparable scheme, Helen Kelly said.

For the full column, click here, and for more on ACC this election, check out the CTU's ACC election homepage.

Finance workers recommends major overhaul of lending regulation and consumer protection

Finsec, the finance workers union, has released a report that recommends a major overhaul of the regulation governing lending by financial institutions and proposes the establishment of a new agency to act as a watch dog of the industry.

"Urgent action is needed to clean up the unfair and unethical aspects of New Zealand's lending market. We recommend the establishment of a lending code and a social responsibility code that all lenders must follow, and the set up of a watch dog agency focused on ensuring all lenders adhere to the codes," said Andrew Campbell, Finsec Campaigns Director.

"Lenders in New Zealand are largely unregulated and many make their business out of preying on the most vulnerable in our society. The growth of loan sharks is of significant concern, however we shouldn't forget that most of the major banks also require their staff to push debt products onto customers," said Campbell.

"The time for a real change on these issues is now. We call on all political parties to support the proposals to build a more just financial system that promotes responsible and ethical lending practices, "said Campbell.  Read the full report Fairness in Lending here (PDF file, 664 kb).

Meanwhile union members in the ANZ National Bank have voted to take strike action to achieve an offer in their collective agreement negotiations that will deliver better banking services for customers of the billion dollar bank. 

“ANZ National is letting down their customers as well as their staff. Our claims for fairer sales targets, increased staffing levels and a real wage increase would deliver a better deal for New Zealanders,” said ANZ National staff representative Cathie Lendrum. "ANZ National is putting returning as much profit as possible to Australia ahead of investing in the business locally", she said.

Wage Drive continues through the North Island

The Work Rights Wage Drive has completed its South Island leg and has headed north, with mass member rallies in Wellington, Palmerston North, Napier and other parts of the lower North Island.

25 rallies are being held around the country this month as part of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union's drive to promote stronger work rights and higher wages this election.

At the Palmerston North rally, visiting Australian unionist Eduardo Gonzalez told Manawatu workers to be wary of electing a conservative government.  He likened the Labour-led Government to the All Blacks and then wondered aloud if workers would trust some other team to play for them instead.

Audio/video: Click here to listen to a news story on the Work Rights Wage Drive on Radio NZ this Monday.

Join the Fairness At Work campaign

'Plays of the Week' - a short weekly heads up from the Council of Trade Unions Fairness At Work campaign - continues, with Issue Three out this Monday.  Plays of the Week has a couple of short bites of information to help start worksite conversations each week, so be sure to subscribe to it - you can do so here: www.fairnessatwork.org.nz, look for the Plays of the Week logo in the top right corner. 

Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local - remaining August meeting times. For more info on Unions Local, including contacts for other areas not listed below, click here.

Unions Canterbury
Tues Aug 19, 4pm
TUC, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch
karena.brown@epmu.org.nz  

Unions Auckland
Thur Aug 21, 4pm 
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Friday Aug 29, 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St, Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz 

Unions Northland
Tues Aug 26, 5pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
garry.parsloe@munz.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Workplace Productivity Challenge Workshop
There is no charge to attend the Productivity Challenge which is an EREL-approved course. Financial assistance is available for travel, wage reimbursement (if not using EREL or other leave) and other associated costs. There are places available in the following workshops - Register now for one of these workshops:
- Monday 22 September, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Auckland Central
- Tuesday 7 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Hamilton
- Friday 10 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Wellington Central
- Tuesday 28 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Christchurch
- Tuesday 28 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Mangere East