September 19 marks the 126 anniversary of women winning the right to vote in New Zealand. “Winning the right to vote was the first priority for our suffragists, their second priority was securing equal pay,” said National Council of Women President, Vanisa Dhiru. “The fact that we continue to campaign for equal pay for work… Read more »
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Changes to working visas
Yesterday’s announcement from the Minister for Immigration, to improve temporary work visas for migrant workers, provides some positive changes but more detail is needed. The Council of Trade Unions fundamentally supports the principle of making work better for everyone in New Zealand; migrant workers and New Zealanders. “Simplifying the visa process for those wanting to… Read more »
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Gender Pay Imbalance – call for PM to take action
Statistics out today from the Government show that the gender wage imbalance, or gap, in the average wage is 11.9%, a strong 2 percentage point improvement from 13.9% last year. The gender pay imbalance in the median wage is 9.3%. “This is a significant and welcome improvement in the gender pay imbalance. It clearly demonstrates… Read more »
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2019 Health Budget Analysis – Has the Government Budgeted enough for the health of New Zealanders?
CTU Economist and Director of Policy Dr Bill Rosenberg along with Lyndon Keene, Director of Policy and Research at the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) have completed their detailed line by line analysis of the Governments 2019 health budget. Rosenberg and Keene’s research in the lead up to the Budget estimating what funding was needed to maintain the same level of service as… Read more »
Read more...CTU welcomes lowest unemployment rate in a decade
Statistics out today show the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in a decade and that wages are improving for many. “Here is the proof a reduction in the unemployment rate and increased wages can go together if well managed.” “It’s great that the unemployment rate is lower than it has been… Read more »
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More homes: a public good
Every Kiwi should have a safe, warm, dry place to call home. Today’s announcement from the Government that this year they have delivered the biggest increase in the number of public houses in almost 20 years “is to be celebrated. Ensuring we have enough homes for all, especially those living in poverty is a huge… Read more »
Read more... CTU Rūnanga calling on Fletchers to return sacred Ihumātao
Media release on behalf of CTU Te Rūnanga o ngā Kaimahi Māori The collective voice of Māori working people, Te Rūnanga o ngā Kaimahi Māori, the partner of the Council of Trade Unions, is calling for the sacred Ihumātao land in South Auckland to be returned to Iwi. CTU Vice-President Māori Syd Keepa, on behalf… Read more »
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Making work better – Fair Pay Agreements
Government figures out today are consistent with what working people have told the Council of Trade Unions in our own survey, that a significant group of working Kiwis are unhappy and dissatisfied at work. Now the Government must act to make meaningful change. “Having good jobs is fundamental to peoples wellbeing,” said Council of Trade… Read more »
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CTU Women’s Conference – Wāhine Toa
On Friday 12 and Saturday 13 July 200 union women from 18 different unions are coming together in Wellington for the Council of Trade Unions biennial conference ‘Wāhine Toa: Organising for change’. Rachel Mackintosh, CTU Vice President is excited about what the two days have in store, “Union women are a force for change.… Read more »
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Wellbeing Survey shows Fair Pay Agreements are part of the solution
Stats NZ has today released its latest findings to Wellbeing of New Zealanders, Well-being Statistics: 2018. The facts are clear; working Kiwis need to be paid more to make ends meet. CTU President, Richard Wagstaff comments,”Kiwis are clearly expressing that incomes are too low. It is not good enough that almost a third, 33%, of… Read more »
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