And now, some good news
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- Date published:
9:46 am, October 23rd, 2012 - 8 comments
Categories: Unions, wages -
Tags: manufacturing crisis
Union members are the ones who win decent wages and conditions for everyone. And the good news is union membership is increasing, despite rising unemployment. So much for the Right’s attempt to frame workers who stand up for themselves and their families as a dying breed.
When you dig down, you can see quite clearly the impact that the manufacturing crisis has had – while membership has been rising in other sectors, it is falling in the manufacturing unions because so many of their members are being laid off and leaving for Australia.
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Trade Minister Todd McClay will travel to Vancouver today for the 8th Commission Meeting of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). “CPTPP is a gold-standard free trade agreement. The accession by the United Kingdom and the interest shown by other economies shows the value of the Agreement,” Mr ...11 hours ago
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Farmers and rural communities are the backbone of New Zealand’s economy. Over the past year, the Government has delivered practical reforms to reduce costs, cut red tape, provide certainty, and get Wellington out of farming. With 80 per cent of all the goods exports coming from the primary sector and ...14 hours ago
- Speech to the Community Housing Aotearoa Annual Conference
Introduction Good morning. It’s great to be here at the Community Housing Aotearoa Conference and to see so many people dedicated to fixing New Zealand’s housing crisis. I’d firstly like to congratulate you on celebrating 20 years. Well done, and here’s to 20 more. I’d also like to thank you. ...15 hours ago
- Levelling the playing field for Community Housing Providers
The Government has agreed to a series of changes to remove barriers faced by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) in delivering social housing, Housing and Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Social housing is an important part of New Zealand’s housing market, providing affordable rental housing for low income tenants. CHPs ...15 hours ago
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Prime Minister and National Party Leader Christopher Luxon and Deputy Leader Nicola Willis are deeply saddened by the passing of Nikki Kaye, a cherished colleague, friend, and former Minister, Deputy Leader and Member of Parliament for Auckland Central. “Nikki’s contribution to our party, her community, and New Zealand has left an ...15 hours ago
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- Funding for 50 new senior doctors, more nurses
Frontline funding by the Government will enable the employment of 50 new senior doctors, as well as additional specialist nurses and other health professionals. “This will reduce wait times, enhance patient safety and support vulnerable specialties like dermatology,” says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “Our senior doctors are key to ...17 hours ago
- Board of inquiry for Te Awamutu waste-to-energy proposal is appointed
Judge Brian Dwyer has been appointed as chair of the newly established board of inquiry for the Te Awamutu waste-to-energy proposal, alongside a group of high skilled individuals, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “I am pleased to announce Judge Brian Dwyer of the Environment Court as chair,” Ms Simmonds says. “With a ...17 hours ago
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- Prime Minister’s scholarships awarded
New Zealand is strengthening its global connections with Asia and Latin America, as 119 individual recipients have been awarded Prime Minister’s Scholarships for education experiences abroad, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Expanding New Zealand’s global engagement through world-class international education is a key government priority,” Ms Simmonds ...1 day ago
- Climate Minister to see Antarctica research first-hand
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is travelling to Antarctica on Monday to see the impacts of climate change first-hand and see New Zealand’s scientific work on the ice. “Antarctica is under increasing pressure from climate change, with rapid changes to the Antarctic ice sheet, ice shelves, sea ice, and biodiversity now ...2 days ago
- Joint Statement: Singapore-New Zealand Article 6 Negotiations reach consensus
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Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Ka mihi ki te mana whenua ko Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Kia ora and good morning everyone. Thank you Fran and Simon for inviting me here today, and importantly your leadership of this forum over several years now. I want to acknowledge David Gehrenbeck, Deputy ...5 days ago
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- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...5 days ago
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People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...5 days ago
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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...5 days ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...6 days ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
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Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...6 days ago
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One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...6 days ago
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Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...6 days ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...6 days ago
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The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...6 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...7 days ago
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Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...7 days ago
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The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...7 days ago
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Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...7 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
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- Social media companies won’t be able to compel people to provide digital or government-issued ID t...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Alexander, Adjunct Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management, Curtin University Remember back at the turn of the millennium, when sending a small letter only cost 45 cents? If you haven’t used the postal service recently, you might be in for a ...9 hours ago
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Police have confirmed funding for their new Federal Street station comes out of a Budget bid earmarked for recruitment. ...10 hours ago
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I have always believed that union membership should be compulsory . If not ,only union members should enjoy the benifits unions win.Even a small rise in membership is good news.
hah wow. No thanks.
Do you not want to join a union, or do you merely not want to give up the advantages that are the products of union members’ work?
I don’t believe it should be compulsory. Voluntary unionism ensures that unions have to learn to organise to get results rather than rely on a large legal prop.
However, the clear and unambiguous legal ability to keep negotiated increases to union members only is something that the left and right broadly agrees with, as I do. The right wingers talks about ‘user pays’ and ‘property rights’ etc so they will support a law that keeps negotiated benefits away from workers who choose not to join the union.
yeah, you’d think.
But I don’t see National stopping non-members freeloading off workers’ awards any time soon. It would make joining a union too attractive and piss off the fief lords.
I wouldnt mind joining a union if I could, the negotiation of good wages and conditions appeal, but more so the fact that if I get hauled over the coals by management (something that happens a tiny bit too often), there is always someone in my corner.
Though it wont happen. There is (a) no union for office workers, (b) the people at my work are indifferent at best to unions, and (c) the company is not really keen on unions. One lady who worked there had been pretty high up in the CTU/PSA in her past lives, and was bounced out after a long period of being picked on.
I dont think union membership should be cumpolsory either. A lot of people arent keen on them, especially those holier-than-thou independent contractors who think everyone should be one.
Can’t you join unite?…it appears that the reasons you give for not joining a union are really the reasons why you need to.
But I know what you’re saying…NZ is a place that sees unions as a burden
It should be compulsory especially for all the young, naive workers that are paid a pittance at Pak ‘N’ Save, New World and Foodstuffs. That company and their cohorts are just nasty. If they want a war about this I’m ready and loaded.