Health and safety

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 publicly expressed wishes  of all stakeholders in our ACC scheme.

In The Unionist this week: National releases their ACC policy, and more on the comments from ANZ National on the public service.

“National’s desire to reward the Australian insurance industry with access to New Zealand worker compensation has clouded their policy release on ACC, which flies in the face of available evidence on the scheme,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.

In The Unionist this week: National's plans for accident compensation, new work rights to request flexible working arrangements come in to force, the launch of the EPMU's work rights campaign, and economic news this week.

The Council of Trade Unions is today asking National to explain how their plan for ‘choice’ in accident compensation could benefit anyone in New Zealand.

News that the Australian insurance industry is lining up to profit over National’s secret plans to privatise ACC means the party must come clean on their intentions, the Council of Trade Unions said today.

The Unionist this week reports on the 'Hollow Men' film about to screen around New Zealand, a push for greater cover for injured workers, a call for business to play ball over climate change, and the debate on migration prompted by fish processing redundancies in Nelson.

The Council of Trade Unions said today that the case to retain ACC as a monopoly provider of workplace accident cover was clear, and called on political parties who support increased “choice” in workplace cover to explain why.

The Council of Trade Unions is asking the National Party to please explain its stance on ACC. Pansy Wong was quoted last Friday as saying "we're committed to choice in accident compensation". The same report in the National Business Review said that Bill English has made similar comments.

“The jury is in – ACC is a world leader and brings both economic benefits and social benefits to the country.  The case to retain this core asset is now clear,” CTU president Helen Kelly said.

ACC this week published an independent report conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (Sydney) on the social and economic impacts of the scheme.