The age of eligibility to receive New Zealand Superannuation is again being challenged. The usual reason given for raising the age of eligibility is affordability of the scheme. For example the Commission for Financial Capability (formerly the Retirement Commission) in its 2016 Review of Retirement Income Policies justified it by asserting that in 2015/16 New… Read more »
Read more...
With the Transpacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in its death throes, it is time to think about what a good alternative – and what people-friendly globalisation – would look like. At the heart of public concerns, whether it is about the impact of these agreements on medicine prices, public health, labour rights, the environment, privacy, the… Read more »
Read more...
Looking ahead for the year is always educated guesswork, but this year it is more guesswork than educated. That’s because of some very big unknowns: in particular Trump and Brexit. At home we have had economic growth but it has been weak per person and per hour showing falling productivity which does not bode well… Read more »
Read more... “The current Government’s priorities for next year’s Budget say nothing about improving public services, yet deteriorating public services hurt working people as much as a pay cut,” says CTU Economist, Bill Rosenberg. He was reacting to today’s announcement of the Government’s intentions for next year’s budget and its Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update. “We… Read more »
Read more... We most often think about inequality in terms of income or wealth, but what if some people also experience the cost of living differently? What if the costs that one household faces go up more quickly than the costs of another household? That could add to – or subtract from – income inequality. Until now… Read more »
Read more... Kiwi women are closer to getting paid what they are worth with the decision by the Government to implement the Equal Pay Principles as successfully negotiated by representatives of working people, business and the Government following the historic victory of aged-care worker Kristine Bartlett in the Supreme Court. CTU President, Richard Wagstaff was a lead negotiator in the development of the Principles,… Read more »
Read more...
On November 19 2010, almost 6 years ago, 29 men were killed at Pike River Mine. Their deaths were completely preventable and no person or organisation has ever been held responsible. There has been no justice for the 29 men who remain in the mine. “There are so many unanswered questions which remain. There is… Read more »
Read more...
“The new information on prices facing different types of households released by Statistics New Zealand today means we should be even more concerned about inequalities and poverty in New Zealand,” says CTU Economist Bill Rosenberg. “The new Household Living-Cost Price Indexes show that since June 2008, households with the lowest expenditure per person faced price… Read more »
Read more...
Labour has significantly upped the stakes on new ideas generation for the future of work and good jobs, the Council of Trade Unions said today.
CTU President Richard Wagstaff said that since the global financial crisis, New Zealand economic conditions had improved, but the benefits had been very unevenly distributed.
Read more... Newshub’s revelation that the Ministry of Social Development is in partnership with Manpower – a labour hire company following some unlawful and shonky practices – shows an apparent disregard by both for people’s working conditions, says CTU Secretary Sam Huggard.
Read more...