In the around 35 years I worked for unions (over 30 with the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists and earlier with the New Zealand Educational Institute) I often cogitated over the distinction between unions and unionism. They are intertwined but not inseparable. I associate unionism with collective consciousness able to lead to collective action usually, …
It would be a great time to reform the benefit system according to former Deputy Chief Economic Advisor at the Treasury, Tony Burton. He argues the complexity of current benefit system means that it’s failing to achieve its difficult three core objectives, which form an “iron triangle”. New Zealand’s benefit system is remarkably unpopular. …
Have unions and the Government sold workers short with their attempt at fixing the so-called “Hobbit Law”? Unionist Ian Powell argues that the union movement has been outmanoeuvered, and the Government has agreed to a new piece of anti-worker legislation that retains the principles of the previous National Government’s hated law that it promised to …
Millionaires and billionaires can step up today and start making proper contributions to improving the world. They do not need to wait for governments to act. A group of 83 wealthy people calling themselves “Millionaires for Humanity” earlier this week released an open letter calling on governments to raise taxes on people like them “Immediately. …
The Greens have shaken up the election campaign with the announcement of their radical poverty and action plan to reform welfare provision and introduce a new wealth tax for millionaires. It’s a big-thinking, controversial policy and has generated a lot of disagreement over how radical it is, whether it could work, and what it might …
Hearing the Prime Minister castigate the Warehouse for laying off 1,000 workers after receiving $52 million in wage subsidies reminds me of the fabled frog who agreed to carry a scorpion across a river. The scorpion stings the frog halfway across, dooming both to drown. The frog cries “Why on earth did you do that?” …
What is the Government thinking ? The Herald on Sunday reported that a $371 million government contract for the electrification of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail line was awarded to overseas companies, said to be a joint bid from Chinese-owned firm John Holland and South-African-owned McConnell Dowell. Construction companies Fletcher and Downer, which were originally …
A fantastic thing happened during the lockdown. We eliminated rough sleeping in New Zealand. It took a few weeks. “It feels like an amazing achievement” one community worker told the media. “It is something we couldn’t have dreamed of being possible or actually happening two months ago.” It certain was amazing, especially when you consider …
The right of employees to strike is an internationally recognised employment right that has been a feature of New Zealand’s industrial relations system for over a century, albeit with different constraints and limitations at different times. Although more restricted, this right even continued under the anti-union Employment Contracts Act (1993-2000). It is a basic right …
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield at their daily media briefings make a point of publicly thanking different groups of essential workers. Cleaners, supermarket workers, caregivers and others have been singled out for their crucial role in keeping Aotearoa New Zealand functioning during the pandemic. Indeed, the entire country now understands …
As is often the case with crises, the coronavirus pandemic has been a boon for New Zealand’s political leadership. Jacinda Ardern’s decisive and effective health response to the virus has garnered both New Zealand and herself adoring headlines around the world, particularly in countries starving for basic governmental competence. New Zealand’s exceptional handling of the …
The experience of trying to implement ‘high performance high engagement’ (branded as HPHE) in the 20 district health boards is an unfortunate example of zealotry flavoured with a dose of duplicity leading to poor policy-making at the taxpayers’ expense. But for the intervention of pragmatism it could have been worse. It is a case study …
By Geoffrey Miller The National Secretary of the Unite union, Gerard Hehir, says government departments are failing to ensure low-paid hotel cleaners are given personal protective equipment while the hotels are housing returning New Zealanders in quarantine. Hehir gave the Democracy Project podcast an example of a Christchurch hotel which told its employees that they …
The Prime Minister currently gets paid $460K – about nine times the average wage. Other politicians receive less, but still magnitudes more than the average working citizen. So, are politicians paid too much, or do we need high pay to attract quality representation? The debate about politician pay has been reignited by the decision of …
There are just so many damning statements and statistics that need to be highlighted from today’s parliamentary bullying report. These all show that Parliamentary staff work in a dangerous and toxic place. But one of the most revealing facts in the report is actually found in the introduction and does not arise directly out of …
It’s hard to find anyone who disagrees with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s decision to freeze politician pay and review how increases are given. This indicates how the decision really was a no-brainer for the new government. They get kudos for what seems to be a benevolent and self-sacrificing move, and they avoid what would have …