Union members benefit from a pay premium and other advantages resulting from their collective action and voice. But do unions provide a wider benefit to society over and above what they do for their members?
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Unions as a public good
Author: admin
The union pay premium, 2019
In July, the Centre for Labour, Employment and Work (CLEW) at Victoria University released their annual analysis of collective employment agreements (CEAs). It shows again that people who are part of a collective get better pay rises: the union pay premium.
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Company profits rising, wage shares falling
In June, Statistics New Zealand published data from its annual Annual Enterprise Survey (AES) which shows company profits, wages and salaries paid, and many other details of companies in the commercial economy. It shows a falling share of income going to wage and salary earners, along with increasing company profits which are even stronger when… Read more »
Read more... Fair Pay Agreements and the retail sector
Last Tuesday the CTU launched a report by economist Dr Ganesh Nana on the evidence as to the impacts of industry (or sector) collective bargaining. We commissioned the study to promote Fair Pay Agreements which the Government is currently considering. Fair Pay Agreements aim to form a floor of wages and conditions for an industry,… Read more »
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Fair Pay Agreements will make working life better for all Kiwis
The Council of Trade Unions has today released an independent report conducted by economic research company BERL into the validity of sector bargaining. And the findings are clear – there is no economic reason not to implement sector bargaining but many social and individual wellbeing reasons to do so. CTU President Richard Wagstaff is urging… Read more »
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The Wellbeing Budget
Was the “Wellbeing Budget” much different from any other Budget? Was it better? It is of course the first one, so we need to allow the Government some room to develop its ideas and processes. Quick answer: Yes it was a Wellbeing Budget in that it was built around the idea of focusing on many… Read more »
Read more... The CTU Budget Report 2019
The Government describes it as a Wellbeing Budget and has taken a different approach to the way funding has been prioritised, including stating five Budget Priorities last December. We have therefore not only assessed it in the usual way by each of the main Budget areas (by ‘Vote’) but include an assessment as to what… Read more »
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PTOM fix a welcome reform of a ridiculous system
Minister Twyford’s announcement this morning of reform of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM) will be a timely fix for bad legislation that has cost jobs and pay for drivers and left public transport systems broken says New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff. PTOM was introduced in 2013 with the intention of… Read more »
Read more... Big business attacks the low paid
Access Community Health’s decision to suspend approximately 40 contact centre workers and coordinators taking part in a partial strike is draconian and reflects badly on their reputation, says NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. “The owner of Access – Green Cross – is a big business with deep pockets. In trying to get tough and intimidate their… Read more »
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Finding enough revenue and the ‘Wellbeing Budget’
The Prime Minister has announced that the Government will not tax the income from capital gains while she is Prime Minister. It has therefore lost a future source of revenue at a time when needs are becoming ever more apparent, and just before its first ‘Wellbeing Budget’. Both supporters and opponents of taxing capital gains… Read more »
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