The Standard » employment

Spin v reality

Ben Clark — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:45:41 +0000

National have become a very adept PR machine. While not adept at running the country, they’ve become great at running statistics. John Key was pushing things a little too far with his lines that unemployment rising to 6.7% showed an improved economy and that Europe electing anti-austerity leaders showed their austerity policies were right, but ...

Inter-generational theft

Jimmy Reid — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:24:43 +0000

Baby boomers strike again. In 1989, University fees for domestic students in New Zealand were less than $300. Moreover, for many students, 90% of that cost was met by the government through a fees grant. NZUSA has a very good history of fees in New Zealand. But I just want to say thank you to the baby boomer generation. ...

Woka Woka Wharfie Fundraiser – Akl tonight

Julie Fairey — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:15:24 +0000

Something to do in Auckland tonight: What: Special screening of The Muppets Where: Hoyts Sylvia Park, Mt Wellington When: Tonight, April 3rd, 6.10pm to 8.30pm Don’t let those muppets at the Ports of Auckland get you down, come laugh at the real Muppets instead! Some door sales will be available, or you can email julie.fairey@gmail.com ...

On those that need to work harder

Jimmy Reid — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:06:03 +0000

Recently, an article appeared in the Wall Street Journal describing how CEOs around the world spend their time. The article drew on data from a larger study, the Executive Time Use Project . This project relied on reports of time use by CEO’s personal assistants; making it more accurate. It came across my usual reading and I thought I might share some of the findings with you.

Port protest gone international

Anthony R0bins — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:12:30 +0000

The labour dispute is turning into a fiasco for Ports of Auckland. Thousands marched today through Auckland in protest, and cargo loaded by non-union labour is being blacklisted internationally. How long will Ports of Auckland stay on their self-destructive course?

FIFY

Anthony R0bins — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:05:26 +0000

Bill English: "A government can’t have a lot of impact on the job market. It is what it is.” He's only half right.

Stick a fork in Port management, they’re done

James Henderson — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:03:45 +0000

A leaked Ports of Auckland strategy document shows their goal is to reduce the stevedores' wages by 20%. They were planning to manufacture a crisis even before the stevedores' collective expired. They've been rumbled breaking the law by not bargaining in good faith. Their political support will now evaporate. They should cut their losses, and a deal with the workers, now.

Workers worried about job security

Guest post — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:42:53 +0000

Employment confidence has plunged to its lowest level in 2 years, according to the latest Westpac survey. A bosses' shill says workers are wrong to be worried about their jobs. Unfortunately, the bosses have been promising us that everything's going to be OK for four years now, and workers have a good track record on picking the state of the job market.

What’s really going on at Ports of Auckland 2

James Henderson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:03:54 +0000

Since my post yesterday, Ports of Auckland has upped the ante threatening to sack all its workers and contract out (to quick and loud cheers from the National-aligned blogs they are working with - Cameron Slater's rate is $10,000 for an operation like this). What they're proposing is a breach of the law and wouldn't work, but its just setting the scene for the next stage.

Trading Futures

Bill — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:46:50 +0000

This post is intended to do more than merely generate discussion. It’s a serious proposition seeking action. Its intent is to lay out or sign post (at least some of) the basic or necessary legal and social structures of a Community Collective comprised of both workers and housing collectives that would enable people to assume meaningful control over aspects of their futures.

Law firm sets out business wish list

Anthony R0bins — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:09:41 +0000

Law firm Chapman Tripp has taken it upon itself to summarise the business community's expectations for National's second term. Back to youth rates, and that's just for starters.

How we got where we are

Anthony R0bins — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:35:24 +0000

Last election we had a choice between competent economic management and a bunch of hollow promises. We made a poor choice then, and the record shows that we have wasted three years as a result. Coming up to this election we don't need more tired Nat excuses, we need solutions. Bring back Labour!

Labour’s jobs policy

Anthony R0bins — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:04:39 +0000

Now that we're all over Nice Mr Key, maybe we can focus on minor details like the environment, the economy, assets, and jobs...

Creating opportunities

Anthony R0bins — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:14:31 +0000

The Nats admit that they've failed to close the gap between rich and poor. In fact, of course, it's getting worse. Bill English says they've "created opportunities", which is Tory speak for doing nothing at all.

Another empty promise

Eddie — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:13:25 +0000

National says it'll get 57,000 more people off benefits and into work over 4 years. That would require 50% more job creation than Treasury projects. Unless you do something about the lack of jobs, you won't get benefit numbers down. Promising the latter without doing the former is a fraud on New Zealand. Just another broken Nat promise waiting to happen.