Fair Pay Agreements: Thank you Helen and thank you Michael
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10:14 am, October 27th, 2022 - 43 comments
Categories: employment, michael wood, Unions, workers' rights -
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Yesterday was a big day for the Progressive movement in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Fair Pay Agreements Bill made its way through Parliament and is now waiting for Royal Assent before it becomes law.
The motivation for the Law dates back to National’s mother of all budgets as well as the Employment Contracts Act. That Act was designed to severely attack the Union Movement and drive workers’ wages down.
It worked. The country has descended into poverty induced chaos ever since.
The Fifth Labour Government improved things somewhat. Working for Families meant that ordinary families coped better, but because of state support, not better wages and conditions.
There has been a lot of angst thrown at this Government. Why has it not improved things for ordinary people at a time when its power was as strong as we can ever hope for.
Well four reasons.
Firstly we have been through a one in a 100 years health crisis. We have come out of it pretty well. Compare our death rates to the US or the UK and then complain. Although the local debate does not occur with this context.
Secondly this Government has reversed the mother of all budget benefit cuts and actually went further.
Thirdly we now have fairly full employment and increasing wages. If it was not for the Ukraine war and internationally induced inflation then things would be improving dramatically.
Fourthly housing stocks are on the improve.
And now there is a fifth reason. The introduction of fair pay agreements is the most significant change to the Industrial Relations system since the Employment Contracts Act.
There are many heroes but two should be acknowledged. Helen Kelly who advocated strongly for this change and Michael Wood who did the hard work in getting it through.
The third reading debate was a joy. Grumpy right wingers promising to repeal the law if given a chance. Left wingers praising the change and pointing out the potentially significant benefits there are for ordinary workers.
During the debate Michael Wood said this:
This one’s for Helen Kelly. Over the course of this debate, we’ve talked about the people that fair pay agreements will help—those who clean, those who care, those who drive, those who serve—workers who, for 30 years, have been left out in the shadows of our deregulated labour market. And sometimes, when you know the problem, you need someone who will help to light the way, and Helen was that person for so many of us. Helen spoke directly about the problems; Helen spoke directly and issued challenges to those of us who could make a difference. She said to Rebecca Macfie, who wrote her biography, “We don’t need low wages in this country. There’s no excuse for it. People should be able to go to work, work their hours, and have a decent standard of living at the end of the week.” And, as Rebecca Macfie said, reflecting on that, “It was a matter-of-fact comment that belied a monumental ambition to shake up the movement she now lead so that it worked for all workers and to build the case for a law change that would stop workers’ wages being eroded in a competitive race to the bottom.”
Helen Kelly’s challenge was to all of us: it was to our economy, it was to decision makers in this House, and it was indeed to the union movement—to stop looking inwards and just looking after short-term interests, and to look outwards to the needs of the hundreds of thousands of workers who needed a change.
And Grant Robertson gave a barnstormer of a closing speech in the debate.
National’s promise to repeal the law when it regains power is the perfect reason for progressives to campaign heavily for a progressive government next term. The system once bedded in should be able to withstand right wing attacks. But next year it will still be vulnerable to right wing attacks. As will the aspirations of our poorest paid workers.
For the meantime this is a reason for celebration. Well done Labour Government.
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- Study shows need to remove distractions in classThe Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...4 days ago
- Minister sets expectations of CommissionerToday I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...5 days ago
- New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETSNew Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...5 days ago
- PISA results show urgent need to teach the basicsWith 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids. The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...6 days ago
- Collins leaves for Pacific defence meetingDefence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...7 days ago
- Working for Families gets cost of living boostPutting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...1 week ago
- Post-Cabinet press conferenceMost weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...1 week ago
- Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrappedThe Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...1 week ago
- NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in GazaNew Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...1 week ago
- Condolences on passing of Henry KissingerForeign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...1 week ago
- Backing our kids to learn the basicsEvery child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...1 week ago
- US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through tradeI would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber. I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...2 weeks ago
- Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, AucklandGood morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States. This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...2 weeks ago
- India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic PriorityGood morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...2 weeks ago
- Coalition Government unveils 100-day planPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade AgreementA significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...3 weeks ago
- Chainsaws, chokos and culverts: All the weird things New Zealand googled in 2023
Google New Zealand revealed its annual ‘Year in Search’. Sam Brooks runs down the expected, the unexpected and the downright strange. Each year, Google New Zealand releases what New Zealand has been searching for, from the most googled people of the year (Jacinda Ardern, often) to more obscure things like ...1 hour ago - Free Fares NZ Submit Petition Calling For New Government To Keep Public Transport Affordable
Today the Free Fares Campaign presented their 6,650+ strong petition to MPs Julie Anne Genter and Ayesha Verrall, demanding that the new Government retain the current public transport discounts and expand this to 100% free public transport for target ...1 hour ago - Male infertility is more common than you may think. Here are 5 ways to protect your sperm
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karin Hammarberg, Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University Shutterstock Infertility is often thought of as a female problem but one in three IVF cycles in Australia involve male infertility. We ...2 hours ago - The government is bringing immigration back to ‘normal levels’ but cuts are not as dramatic as t...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Stevens, Research fellow, Australian Catholic University metamorworks/Shutterstock On Monday, the federal government announced plans to fix Australia’s “broken migration system” and to “bring migration back to sustainable, normal levels”. Its long-awaited migration strategy aims “to build a migration system ...2 hours ago
- Report Shows Government Must Act With UrgencyThe Gas Supply and Demand Study released today from the Gas Industry Company shows that the new Government must act urgently to restore investment confidence in New Zealand’s upstream oil and gas sector or put our energy security at risk. Energy ...2 hours ago
- CAPHRA Supports Beaglehole's Commentary On Vaping In New ZealandThe Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) supports Emeritus Professor Robert Beaglehole's recent commentary on New Zealand's progress in addressing vaping among young people. Beaglehole, the chair of Action on Smoking ...2 hours ago
- How the poetically-charged art of Tacita Dean gives its audience a moment for stillness and timeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donna West Brett, Associate Professor in Art History, University of Sydney Tacita Dean, Paradise (film still), 2021, with music, Paradiso by Thomas Adès, 35mm colour anamorphic film, image courtesy the artist, Frith Street Gallery, London and Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, Paris ...3 hours ago
- Doing science in Antarctica has harmed an environment under great pressure. Here’s how we can do b...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shaun Brooks, Fieldwork Coordinator/Research Technician, CSIRO The Argentine research station, Base Primavera, on the Antarctic Peninsula. Shaun Brooks Scientific research in Antarctica has played a key role in many important discoveries of the past century. But it has also come at a ...3 hours ago
- Doing science in Antarctica has harmed an environment under great pressure. Here’s how we can do b...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shaun Brooks, Fieldwork Coordinator/Research Technician, CSIRO The Argentine research station, Base Primavera, on the Antarctic Peninsula. Shaun Brooks Scientific research in Antarctica has played a key role in many important discoveries of the past century. But it has also come at a ...3 hours ago
- International cricket is withering on the vine – why do we still play so much of it?Players are sending a clear and obvious message: there’s too much cricket and not enough of it matters. This is an excerpt from The Bounce, a Substack newsletter by Dylan Cleaver. We are less than a week from the start of the home international men’s cricket season and… what a wet ...3 hours ago
- Return of the ‘consultocracy’ – how cutting public service jobs to save costs usually backfire...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Barbara Allen, Senior Lecturer in Public Management, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington It has been clear that change is coming to the New Zealand public service since the election campaign. Just what impact that change will have is less ...4 hours ago
- Return of the ‘consultocracy’ – how cutting public service jobs to save costs usually backfire...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Barbara Allen, Senior Lecturer in Public Management, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington It has been clear that change is coming to the New Zealand public service since the election campaign. Just what impact that change will have is less ...4 hours ago
- Walking and talking: The Waitakere hīkoi teaching locals about the place they liveA West Auckland iwi is sharing its stories with other Waitakere community members through a unique programme of guided walks. At the meeting point of the Whau awa and Te Waitematā in Waitakere sits Harbourview Park, a taonga of te taiao near the heart of our nation’s biggest city. ...4 hours ago
- Digital ID will go mainstream across Australia in 2024. Here’s how it can work for everyoneSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Santow, Professor & Co-Director, Human Technology Institute, University of Technology Sydney Simon Lee / Unsplash In a world promising self-driving cars and artificial general intelligence, the prospect of a new form of digital identity verification can feel … less ...5 hours ago
- If Ryanair’s social media jumped off a cliff, would yours jump too?The budget airline’s famously sassy tweets and TikToks have commanded millions of eyeballs, and spawned almost as many imitators. What does the brand’s former head of social make of them all? “When you try to be something you’re not, the users can smell bullshit a mile away.” Very calmly and ...6 hours ago
- Prime Minister Christopher Luxon: High net migration not sustainable for New Zealand
New Zealand's 118,000 net migration gain in a year is unsustainable, and infrastructure needs to be better managed to support growth, says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. ...6 hours ago - Transporting New Zealand Outlines Road Freight PrioritiesRoad freight peak body Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand has released its industry briefing to the Minister of Transport Simeon Brown, including setting out eight actions that would provide practical support and reassurance to the freight ...6 hours ago
- Greenpeace billboard labels government 'climate extremists' over oil and gas exploration p...Anyone promoting more fossil fuel use in the midst of a climate crisis deserves to be called out as "extremist", Greenpeace says. ...6 hours ago
- What’s your money doing in Palestine?Your KiwiSaver could be helping to fuel the cycle of violence. Barry Coates, CEO of responsible investing charity Mindful Money, explains how to check. The images of dead and injured civilians pulled from the wreckage in Gaza is tragic. But what is even more tragic is that the atrocities committed ...7 hours ago
- Opinion: Will Our New Government Take The Chance To Fix Accessibility Bill?By Peter Reynolds, New Zealand Disability Support Network CEO I’m holding my breath - hoping for better Accessibility legislation that delivers world class support for all disabled New Zealanders. There’s work to do before we get there. Earlier this ...7 hours ago
- The Geminids: the year’s best meteor shower is upon us. And this one will be a true spectacleSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Shutterstock As an astronomer and meteor enthusiast, I’d say it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Each December sees the return of the Geminid meteor shower – the best natural fireworks ...8 hours ago
- Israel-Hamas war: What is Zionism? A history of the political movement that created Israel as we kno...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Thomas, Lecturer in Middle East Studies, Deakin University Shutterstock As the Israel-Hamas war continues, there’s been a lot of discussion around Zionism. Put simply, Zionism is a nationalist movement that advocates for a homeland for the Jewish people in ...8 hours ago
- I’m trying to lose weight and eat healthily. Why do I feel so hungry all the time? What can I do a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Fuller, Charles Perkins Centre Research Program Leader, University of Sydney Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, famously said nothing is certain except death and taxes. But I think we can include “you’ll feel hungry when you’re ...8 hours ago
- Australia has one of the weakest tax systems for redistribution among industrial nations – the Sta...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jim Stanford, Economist and Director, Centre for Future Work, Australia Institute; Honorary Professor of Political Economy, University of Sydney Shutterstock One of the chief purposes of government payments and taxes is to redistribute income, which is why tax rates are ...8 hours ago
- How an underwater sculpture trail plays a role in the health – and beauty – of the Great Barrier...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Smith, Adjunct Associate Professor, James Cook University The widespread demise of coral reefs due to climate change is now a certainty. But what role does art have in our future for coral reefs? Art is about feelings. One of the ...8 hours ago
- Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden 'less certain' of good relationship with un...The new Workplace Relations and Safety Minister has a busy two weeks ahead, with promises to axe Fair Pay Agreements and start work to reinstate 90-day trials before the summer break. ...9 hours ago
- 2024 will be make or break for New Zealand infrastructureRoads, pipes, houses, hospitals: our infrastructure challenges are overwhelming in their size and scale. Will the government’s new approach make any difference, asks Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A challenge of ...9 hours ago
- Sliding backwards on human rights
This week marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But is the agreement New Zealand signed up to at the UN so long ago still relevant? And are assumptions that we’re doing just fine in this area starting to look a little smug? Today on ...10 hours ago - Workplace Relations Minister 'less certain' of good relationship with unionsThe new Workplace Relations and Safety minister has a busy two weeks ahead, with promises to axe Fair Pay Agreements and start work to reinstate 90-day trials before the summer break. ...10 hours ago
- Xmas: the best nonfiction of 2023New Zealand nonfiction in 2023 went in pursuit of worthy subjects – Māori health, white privilege, law and order, the foaming mad of the alt-right – but lacked the personal touch. In contrast with the blazing artistry and honesty of Charlotte Grimshaw’s memoir The Mirror Book (2021) and Noelle ...10 hours ago
- Winston Peters’ rabbit hole problemClaims by a Whatu Ora staffer have attracted the attention of conspiracy groups in NZ and around the world. And they’re demanding attention from someone they thought was on their side. They didn’t all love him. This was the guy, after all, who stood in lockstep with their bete noire, ...11 hours ago
- Defence Force boosts sexual assault response after ‘serious’ staff auditFormer Navy engineer welcomes reinforcement of armed forces' Sexual Assault Response team, in the hope her daughters' generation won't suffer what she did. The post Defence Force boosts sexual assault response after ‘serious’ staff audit appeared first on Newsroom. ...11 hours ago
- Beyond Xero: Is Wellington ready to take on the fintech world?Seventeen years after Xero launched in a one-bedroom apartment on Willis St, the next generation of Wellington financial startups is ready to go big. Will the capital take advantage? In 2006, Rod Drury and Hamish Edwards started a little company in a one-bedroom apartment on Willis St with the janky ...11 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 11 DecemberLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 11 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...11 hours ago
- Mackenzie solar farm stoush heads to courtApplicants for an 88MW solar array in the Mackenzie Basin says the site's biodiversity values are 'vastly overstated' The post Mackenzie solar farm stoush heads to court appeared first on Newsroom. ...11 hours ago
- Strong and stable pay for all – not just for politiciansIf a market is structured so a race to the bottom is encouraged, then businesses will start racing there The post Strong and stable pay for all – not just for politicians appeared first on Newsroom. ...11 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Monday 11 DecemberThe post Daily crossword, Monday 11 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...11 hours ago
- Surging migration expected to lift economic outputNet migration of 120,000 in 2023 has helped to grow population by 2.7% and supported higher output and demand The post Surging migration expected to lift economic output appeared first on Newsroom. ...11 hours ago
- Leaders go round in a circle at climate summitSigns of weaker language on the phase-out of fossil fuels emerged yesterday as the United Nations’ COP28 climate summit delegates prepared for the final few days of talks. To that end, Sultan Al Jaber, the United Arab Emirates’ chair of the negotiations, convened a majlis – a gathering of elders ...11 hours ago
- Government to toughen scrutiny of international students as it slashes net migration over two yearsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australia’s net-overseas migration levels will be cut dramatically over two years to bring the country’s exploding intake back to sustainable numbers. In estimates to be released on Monday, net-overseas migration will be 375,000 this ...16 hours ago
- Another march on the cards if new government lets Ngāpuhi down – Hinerangi Cooper-PuruDame Whina Cooper's daughter says her mum would have urged Ngāpuhi to never give up the struggle for justice. ...18 hours ago
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- Environmental Defence Society releases its Briefings for Incoming MinistersEDS has today released its Briefings for Incoming Ministers in the new Coalition Government. The BIMs cover the following portfolio areas and Ministers: Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister for the Environment Hon Chris Bishop, Minister for Resource Management ...1 day ago
- Tobacco researcher: New Zealand's reputation 'now pretty tarnished' amongst scientist...A public health academic says New Zealand's rowback on smokefree legislation is "very embarrassing" and has tarnished our reputation. ...1 day ago
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- Food writing isn’t really about foodWith a topic so universal, it’s almost always about something bigger. Consider the contents of your fridge. What kinds of fruits and vegetables are in your crisper drawer? How much did that block of cheese set you back? Where did you source most of this kai from? Are there ingredients ...2 days ago
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Well done Michael
Personally I marched against the Contracts Act of Bill Birch and National 30 years ago.
It started the race to the bottom with workers having to work for poorer pay and to not have any say about work conditions.
Helen Kelly and Michael Wood Thank you for fighting for Fair Pay Agreements. IMO this is huge.
Me too–marched against ECB.
FPAs are huge, because they open a door for working class organising. FPAs will need lots of work, nothing is being handed directly to people despite employers already catastrophising, whinging, bleating and threatening.
WFF always seemed off because it was another taxpayer transfer, rather than working class and middle class people obtaining their own pay rises from employers.
And it was unfair because those on benefits, discarded by Rogernomics and ground into the dust by MOAB, market rents & punitive WINZ/MSD were never eligible for WFF.
This is the hook that is needed to keep the Natzos and ACT out. It is traditional Labour type policy, big ups to Mr Wood.
Next big one to knock off is the reinstatement of a 21st century Ministry of Works. That would send the opposition into a real headspin.
Hell yeah. There's definitely a case for it and there could be several models for it. I wouldn't carbon copy the old one but I'd use it as an inspiration.
There definitely should be a government owned construction and development corporation, perhaps a smaller version of the old ministry of works that gets govt funded housing and project contracts or one that is able to compete with fletchers.
It could be done and managed well could be very profitable and beneficial to NZs housing and infrastructure crises.
Could provide full time work, or as full time as people want, and return some infrastructure management to the public. Contractors Fulton Hogan always seem to be busiest doing odd stuff when their funding allocation needs to be used up!
Anything owned or run by the state is anathema to the neolib idealogue, lets face it they want everyhing privatised from schools, hospitals, prisons, military, utilities, etc etc even welfare is privatised. Just look at Nicola Willis and Nationals latest idea of philanthropy funding welfare, just like back in the Victorian era. You can just imagine the tax deductability for the wealthy in a scheme like that.
Congratulations and thanks to Michael Wood and the whole labour party for delivering this blow against catastrophic neo-con nastiness. Chip by chip the hideous edifice neo conservatives have duped the world into admiring is being dismantled. Their avarice, lying and threats are blinking in the headlights as the steam roller rattles forward. The dictatorship of the salesmen is over.
It really is simple, anything other than 'a fair days' pay for a fair days' work' is akin to slavery; anyone who disagrees is therefore a supporter of slavery. We, and the National Party especially, should be ashamed that we have relied on exploited immigrant labour to keep wages low. I can only hope the new law will be a start in remedying that – and that Labour gets (at least) another term to entrench the legislation.
https://twitter.com/dbseymour/status/1585177451717857280?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Easy to see who the 'enemies of the people' are.
The battle lines are being drawn for next year's election: Natz and Act for the 1% and their 9% enablers, and the rest of us bottom feeders championed by the Greens, Labour and Ti Pati Maori.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/historic-day-everyday-workers-fair-pay-agreements-bill-passes-third-reading
Act must be kept from the levers of power. Bottom Feeders Unite!!
A belated after-thought (which is why I never made a politician!)
Bottom Feeders Unite. You have nothing to lose but your poverty!
The only way they can get rid of this legislation is by more legislation.
Cynical?
By Rich capitalists for Rich capitalists?
Time will tell, but I think NACT doesn't realise we've left the greed of the boomer days behind.
We all want to do well for ourselves but I think the new breed of centre right voters (swinging voters) will, if they haven't experienced the outcomes of Ruthenasia) will have stood next to someone who has. And many will remember their own times in low paid jobs.
After two terms of Labour this could be Nationals election to win but it needs to rid itself of the horse and buggy thinking and there's no sign of that yet.
National hates Fair Pay. You’re essential workers to us.
Seymour is so far away from the average NZer he begrudges workers enough money to feed house and heat their families.The last 2 years have seen the wealthy increase their wealth exponentially while the middle classes are now going to food banks while most of the money printed around the world has gone to the very wealthy speculating on property causing more hardship for most of the worlds people.Seymour is advocating for more Tricleup policies.
“Unions by stealth………”
How long before we see the 2023 version of 'Dancing Cossacks' in the media……..the influence and power of the corporates and the constant whinging and whining of business and fed-farmers will be unleashed through the media in election year.
WELL fed-farmers at that. Theres been quite a few comments on here previously exactly how WELL NZ business and farmers…are actually doing ! Never mind their continuous "organ" grinding. IMO should really be the world smallest violin. : )
The smashing of the unions in NZ was driven by the corporate, business, farming and transport sectors that were in turn driven by the neolib idealogue politicians, financiers and bankers.
How dare some grubby faced coal miner, seaman, railwayman or engineer hold out for better pay………
sums it up well
https://twitter.com/RobbieNicol/status/1585143445282508800
Very good,thanks for sharing.
If its possible…that Helen Kelly is smiling somewhere…..it will be so.
She was a Brave, Stand-Up Leader..to me, and many Workers
And also big Respect for Michael Wood. He another Labour Star. Keep on this track Labour. We need you to STOP nact..from ever getting their poisonous claws on NZ again !
I love paraphrasing Grant Robertson.
"By design, the Tory's want to hurt working people."
Is their design ideological?
At this point the nat's look like a punch drunk Boxer
Was telling him indoors the Bill had passed its 3rd reading.
"Bloody marvellous!!" he said, 'Hope people use the legislation to agree their rights"
" Why has it not improved things for ordinary people at a time when its power was as strong as we can ever hope for !
Oh Mickey you are on fire you actually really believe this stuff and you suffer from delusion.
Reasons
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2022/10/theres-more-than-one-way-to-tame.html
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2022/10/coming-home-to-roost.html
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/10/26/if-you-want-to-get-tough-on-crime-get-tough-on-poverty/
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/10/20/guest-blog-dr-dana-wensley-child-poverty-is-a-human-rights-issue/
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/10/25/drain-the-swamp-why-cant-labour-regulate-basic-capitalism/
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/10/10/must-read-child-poverty-in-nz-what-is-the-truth-here/
Helen Kelly’s challenge was to all of us: it was to our economy
No its not our economy and hasn't been for 35 years and there is so much that could of been achieved to rectify that with a historic MMP majority but no change to the power of the 1 % and Lino and its enablers.
Full credit to Michael for this move but where is the safeguards to protect so many more in this plutocracy ?
Left wingers praising the change and pointing out the potentially significant benefits there are for ordinary workers.
What left wingers ? those that are ” left ” are no longer have any influence.
How about this as an idea no socialism, just basic regulated capitalism!
They just don't have the balls to be a real Labour government.
Read kiwi blog and the other far right web sites that call themselves the right.
To them what labour have done is full blown communism.
So if you don't mind I'll take this small win. One which makes the right this rabid has got to be better for workers.
Your right it's a small gain – but with the ideological rigidity of those who infest the civil service we could hardly get anything more.
The above is my opinion and sorry incognito not going to link to the david farrar loony far right dirty politics machine.
" Read kiwi blog and the other far right web sites that call themselves the right "
No I don't care what they spew out as nonsensical garbage.
I deal with the real world and the people who are economic refugees of this neo liberal repressive system that sells itself as protectors of freedom and democracy.
This Labour party is a long way away from what it was founded to do before it drank from the corporate cool aid.
Yes it is a small win Adam by a Labour government with a majority not seen since 1990 under FPP.
" ideological rigidity of those who infest the civil service we could hardly get anything more "
Know thy enemy while in opposition then exert authority….
The professional Managerial Class of Wellington Bureaucrats and the vested interests that control our economy.
When these 'reforms' were put through in the late 80s and 90s the Public Service departments showing ideological rigidity were mainly Treasury and for the State Sector SSC. They were captured very early on in the process with Graham Scott/Chicago school and for the State Sector 'Stan the man' or Stan Roger. These two depts were had to vet anything that went up to Cabinet/cabinet Cttees. We could not get anywhere. All sorts of ideas were used to get around this, such as Ministers taking material direct to Cabinet where their deps had not had a fair go. Ministers pushing material to Cabinet that should have been limited to the Cttees so that they could try to get allies on side against the 'puritans on the cabinet Committees. The two Ministers I worked for Nat/Lab worked hard against some of the worst neo-lib excesses as they applied to their depts.
Other departmental heads were appalled, I know of many who fought tooth and nail over the waste of talented people thrown aside in the endless restructurings in pursuit of Chicago school ideology.
Then came the quasi political appointments to the CEs of departments when we had endless numbers of appointments, many from overseas, who had a dearth of knowledge about NZ, its people, the departments they were working for……
Neo lib is a wily and poisonous creed. I think (perhaps hope) that now CE appointments are slowly turning back to talented NZers who have experience in the NZ Public Sector.
Of course some (home grown and imported) don't know the conventions about dealing with politicians in their role as Ministers etc, The most notable example being the former head of MSD who broke client confidentiality and advised, his NP minister, on the spurious grounds of 'no surprises', personal details of Winston Peters.
A truly wonderful development… though somewhat soured by the sense that Wood had to fight his own Government every step of the way on this. Why else would it have taken them so long?
DS because Winston refused to vote for it and Labour didn't have the numbers until 2020. Then we had a little pandemic.
The passing of the FPA is a great day. Like many of the so-called reforms back in the late 80s and 90s many people with commonsense could have told the Govts that these reforms cost, in human-terms, more than they gave back. And Grant Robertson's speech…..brilliant.
Now, ever onwards, looking at you Megan Woods, what can we do about energy costs? Can we do something to unroll the Bradford 'reforms'.
Always good to see, not, headlines like this. These changes have now come to pass.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/127889980/electricity-users-on-lowusage-plans-told-their-daily-fixed-charges-are-doubling
'Woods’ expectation has been that power companies would use the extra revenues to apply an equivalent reduction in charges paid by households that use more power, meaning consumers overall would be no better or worse off on average as a result of the change despite there being winners and losers.
However, the Government did not seek a guarantee from power companies that tariff changes would cancel out on aggregate.'
The removal would be 'broadly neutral' …such classic weasel words. They are either neutral or they are not.
Yes. Thank you Labour and Helen
The 4th Labour government was probably a bit unnerved by the 2000 winter of discontent – the un-elected neo-liberal regimes objection to moderate reform of the ECA.
Fair pay doesn’t create a fair life style ifall the increases go to landlords, there are no back yards and too much of a day is spent communing. If there is no access to safe local parks instead of back gardens and economical camp grounds to holiday at our beaches. There are other promises of our parents and grandparents bequeathment that go unaddressed.
Pay alone doesn’t provide the social compact that the members of this parliament enjoyed. Security and recreation for a day’s work.
Good job. More to do.
Yes and another is to limit the requirement to be available to work shifts to get jobs.
In former times people would volunteer to work evenings or weekends on top of their main job (if saving to own homes). Variable shift jobs were just a means to get rid of overtime rates – and they had a pernicious effect on community engagement – as to sport etc.
PS A rent freeze is an obvious move during high inflation.
There’re so many ways that little cuts here and there add up.
For example, you could try to out Christian the Nats on working on the Christian holidays and providing penalty rates on Sundays. Because the point of these days is a fixed point where you don’t belong to your job or the commercial cycle. You belong to your family, your home and yourself! They have a lot of members whose professed Christianity does nothing for Kiwis and kiwi families, but a lot for Crefflo Dollar junior. Abortion bans without mental health support. Rules and punishments without improving people’s lives. Business masquerading as holiness.
8 hours work, 8 hours rest, 8 hours recreation!
It’s not only the cost of rent, it is the design of the properties, cities and infrastructure.
How far to the supermarket, how far to the bus stop and train station, can you push a trolley or stroller along the footpaths, are other shopping and cultural amenities easily accessible, do young and old people feel safe on their own, how much additional time is taken in friction to accomplish survival tasks? A 15 minute walk to an amenity is not really good enough for many.
Let alone is it mouldy, is there enough sun etc etc…
The Labour-National agreement on urban intensification to 3 storey buildings the worst recent example of a lowering of standards. Doing to urban planning what the building reforms did, unto the consequence leaky homes.
Instead of building along transport spines, it could occur anywhere – regardless of local facilities etc.
great comment newsense.
*if all
*commuting