Mood of the smokoroom – fearful

Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, January 18th, 2024 - 53 comments
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The Council of Trade Unions has completed its annual survey of workers and the mood is grim.

From Felix Desmarais at One News:

The survey, the sixth ‘Mood of the Workforce’ conducted annually by the CTU, gathered 2000 responses. Responses were from people who responded to an email from the CTU to a random selection of 50,000 people from the CTU’s ‘Together’ email list.

The email list is a database of people the CTU had contacted with over the last seven years via petitions, parliamentary submission calls, community events, and fundraising for community causes.

The CTU – which is closely aligned with, although not part of, the Labour Party – said the results of the survey showed more than two-thirds of working people felt the Government would make it harder to meet cost of living pressures, and more than three quarters of respondents believed the Government’s policies would make it harder to secure a “fair” pay rise.

President Richard Wagstaff said the results showed working people felt “insecure at work”.

“The feedback from this year’s survey is that many people are worried about the future of their jobs and well-being of their families.

“It’s clear the rushed and backwards looking repeal of employment legislation passed without consultation has signalled to working people that the Government does not care about their interests or the interests of most New Zealanders.

TV One’s reporting has somewhat toned down the tenor of the comments made.  The CTU’s analysis included these bullet points:

  • 80% of respondents said that the performance of the new government was bad or very bad
  • 70% of respondents said that the new government’s policies would make it more difficult to meet the cost of living over the next 12 months.
  • 53% of respondents said that the new government’s policies would make their job security worse.
  • Many comments from participants identified economic and/or societal divisiveness. They expressed ideas such as the new government “only cares about high-income workers not low-income”, that it  “is working for donors not the rest of us”, and that its policies “will increase inequality”.
  • 10% of comments provided described the government as racist or pandering to racists/racial division
  • The sentiment “the government is taking NZ backwards” appeared in 140 comments.

National’s Nicola Willis replied with a glib throw away line about how the survey only attracted a 4% response.  This  displays a disturbing lack of comprehension.  The survey email was sent to a sample of the CTU’s contact list, not every member.  And the responses poured in.

Of course National could surprise us all, work to improve the plight of ordinary workers, and increase their bargaining power so that wages can increase to address the cost of living crisis National trumpeted about.  But so far its policies have been retrograde.  Getting rid of fair pay agreements and extending the 90 day fire at will law will not improve worker’s conditions.

This National Government is not a John Key Labour lite with privatisation sort of Government.  It is more of the Ruth Richardson mother of all budgets Employment Contracts mode proudly brought to you by its right wing sponsors.  Workers are totally justified to be pessimistic about their future.

53 comments on “Mood of the smokoroom – fearful ”

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  1. James Simpson 1
    18 January 2024 at 9:59 am

    I am not sure you will get to much disagreement from the right on your conclusions.

    Their intention is to limit wage growth as a way to reduce the rate of inflation. Throughout the summer, they have proudly and repeatedly promoted the fact that they have amended the Reserve Bank's mandate. The Reserve Bank will no longer required consider employment when setting the OCR.

    That change will result in increased unemployment which will create downward pressure on wages.

    That was one of their key election promises so I don't see them going back on it and surprising us.

  2. backpats 2
    18 January 2024 at 10:04 am

    How many responses where there from the random selection of addresses emailed?

    • Hanswurst 2.1
      19 January 2024 at 5:54 am

      Just under 2000 within 7 days, according to the PDF summary by the CTU (linked in the post). If Willis' claim of a 4% response-rate is accurate, therefore, the email must have gone out to about 50,000 members.

  3. Tony Veitch 3
    18 January 2024 at 10:04 am

    Of course National could surprise us all, work to improve the plight of ordinary workers, and increase their bargaining power so that wages can increase to address the cost of living crisis National trumpeted about.

    Don't hold your breath!

    • Tricledrown 3.1
      18 January 2024 at 10:27 am

      Giving a $ billion to very well off landlords while the bonded rentiers peasants pay higher prices for rent and everything else.

      Creating more misery for the expendable peasants.

      Wealth disparity on crack!

      We have the same wealth gap as the UK these days.

      So do the class system it's just glossed over spun like it doesn't exist .But it exists.

      The peasants and bonded labourer ie beneficiaries and migrant labourers who often work in slave like conditions.

      The impoverished minimum wage worker. Who can t pay all the minimum bills

      Lower middle class you wage worker on under $35 per hour. Who just scrapes through

      Middle Middle class who can afford a few luxuries.

      Upper Middle class who can afford to keep all their bills paid and have a late model car and a few luxuries

      Then lower upper class who can afford a decent house a company car with a fuel card have an oversea trip every year

      Then Middle upper class the snobby gobby ones like Luxon Helen Clark Adrrn etc.

      Then the upper class The wide boys John Key type money is no object who don't give a rats about the poorer people and laud it over everyone.

      The two Ronnie's had a skit explaining it years ago.

      When NZ was a fare society.

  4. Tricledrown 4
    18 January 2024 at 10:09 am

    Austerity compounding low returns from our biggest exports will mean a lower tax take rising interest rates imports being dearer then tax cuts causing increased spending causing more inflation.

    Nationals economic policy could be described like putting your foot hard down on the accelerator while you have you handbrake fully on causing the economy to go into a tailspin leaving the economy drifting into a recession.

    • James Simpson 4.1
      18 January 2024 at 10:23 am

      I think we will find that we are already in recession. Liam Dann had a good analysis pre-Christmas

      Liam Dann

      Of course, government policy will accelerate this though.

  5. Pat 5
    18 January 2024 at 10:20 am

    The reason workers are feeling less secure in their employment is the slowing economy….something they witness in their workplace daily and something that has been grinding away for months (in some industries years).

  6. Ffloyd 6
    18 January 2024 at 10:49 am

    Thanks Pat. I feel so much better after reading YOUR reasoning of why workers are feeling less secure in their employment. Nothing to do with the repealing of legislation which was in place to protect their employment security then? Repealing under urgency with no consultations or scrutiny I might add. This COC Govt is very bad for New Zealand/Aotearoa. …..Something I just read recently…..’There is nothing more corrosive to character than money’. ….Very true. The evidence is sitting there in our present Government. All BOTTOM FEEDERS need to stand strong.

    • Pat 6.1
      18 January 2024 at 11:48 am

      There is nothing to be gained by misattributing cause nor erroneous analysis.

      'The fact remains that the economy was slowing prior to the election, the then Government had already announced public service cuts and fair pay agreements do nothing to protect positions that are no longer available.

      But if it makes you feel better by all means blame the current set of managers in the Beehive for events that were in train long before October and outcomes that will occur irrespective of who sits where in Parliament.

      The politicians gave away what little control they had of the real economy decades ago.

      You may wish to consider another factor impacting employment security unmentioned by the CTU…”In the whole of last year 204,327 people arrived in this country on work visas and another 73,659 arrived on student visas.”

      https://www.interest.co.nz/public-policy/125938/number-people-country-work-visas-increased-54-last-year

      • SPC 6.1.1
        18 January 2024 at 1:23 pm

        Given NACT were demanding more workers in (and the return of students), and so were their business backers it cannot be said that this was something they did not want.

        Labour buckled to the post lockdown Enzed mood – lest there be media reports about firms unable to find workers pre election.

        And so instead they got criticised for not maintaining a considered process, demonstrating "incompetence".

        The economy was slowing despite the increase in workers because of RB policy – holding the dollar up to prevent imported inflation (rising rates offshore), managing down property values (because of the poor allocation of QE money via banks) and the effects of weather related (and gib board) shortages.

        • Pat 6.1.1.1
          18 January 2024 at 1:38 pm

          So in summary

          Both Labour and National want increased immigration

          Both National and Labour are subject to media/electoral pressures

          Both National and Labour support central bank independence

          And neither National nor Labour control the weather

          • SPC 6.1.1.1.1
            18 January 2024 at 1:52 pm

            The economy was not slowing because of government action.

            The difference of degree, as per public sector cuts, was significant.

            Fair Pay Agreements apply to more than the public sector.

            The difference between a MW increase of over a $ and one of 50 cents would be c$75 a week in 3 years.

            And when added to the new ability for landlords to remove tenants they have maximised rent from …

  7. Patricia Bremner 7
    18 January 2024 at 11:13 am

    No Pat, it is the threat to the Public Service jobs, the removal of protections, and this Governments 100 day plan, which was cobbled together for the three unlikely coalition partners who care less about ordinary folk.

    Health has again become the preserve of the well off.

    Education will be undermined by light funding and heavy top down edicts, while Seymore will take from that pot for his charter schools.

    The black ops are active once more in media and in the background, putting up puff pieces to flatter the current “leaders”.

    When small businesses start to fall over, and mortgagee sales start in earnest we will be back into “The Fire Economy”. as Jane Kelsey explained so well in her book.

    Further, when many can not afford insurance any more, there will be no protection from climate change, covid or any other mishap, and those with money will buy up any worthwhile assets.

    We will become renters in our own land or homeless, especially those from families with no assets. They will be told “To work harder”. not quite “Work will set you free” but bloody close to that with the removal of all protections and back to the contracting spiral.

    The growth of money making charities tells you it is a sick society with band aides everywhere, leaning on the American idea of Foundations, where money gifts from the rich are tagged, and not part of taxes.

    Maori are holding a hui to discuss how to counter the Governments moves.
    Workers and other interested parties should send representatives or join online.

    Unions need to rally representatives of all unions, especially the Public Service. and work on strategies. Otherwise the self interested will win. We need to get tech savvy.

    The economy has slowed along with China, and all countries affected by the costs of fighting covid are fighting inflation. The way the USA arranges their recovery, makes it worse for other economies.

    The tale of woe sold to us, is just that, a tale. NZ wealthy did not suffer, NZ workers were supported through it, but those who went down rabbit holes made out it was a health shambles that caused inflation.

    So promised tax cuts were the answer for “the squeezed middle”, until those could not be conjured up in quite the way they dreamed, by selling off properties over 2 mill.

    The idea that this is all down to a “slowing economy” fudges the drastic behaviour of this cabal of greed imo.

    • Tiger Mountain 7.1
      18 January 2024 at 11:37 am

      Yes, the NZCTU should be calling regional delegates and members meetings–non members and families invited where appropriate–to organise action and support for communities as the union busting begins.

      Low membership density is the very reason direct action and community organising is needed–not an excuse not to, as the CTU has claimed over the years (we can only be as strong as our affiliates)–time now to provide some class leadership on a daily basis. Various state sector unions need to drop the BS political neutrality position and get stuck in. Several public sector unions were fine with strike action under a Labour Govt. so lets hope that continues under a filthy tory one!

      Minimum wage is likely to be frozen and whether other workers realise it or not the organised working class set a floor for them, and we all benefit from previous struggles…Paid Parental Leave, Redundancy agreements, weekends! holidays! time for a class left focused union movement to reassert itself.

      The Natzos are quite clear–they are here to enforce a “Tale of Two Cities” NZ Aotearoa, where the cashed up become better off at the expense of the bottom 50%.

    • Pat 7.2
      18 January 2024 at 12:04 pm

      Have a look at your list Patricia and then honestly answer yourself how different the fundamental settings of this coalition and the previous are…..the differences are marginal by design.

    • Tony Veitch 7.3
      18 January 2024 at 1:13 pm

      And when it finally becomes patently obvious even to Nicola that she hasn't the money to pay for the tax cuts for the wealthy and landlords, will she raise GST to 20% or just 17.5%?

      Because it's coming!

  8. Patricia Bremner 8
    18 January 2024 at 1:07 pm

    Pat, you may be in the “lucky” cohort who are not impacted by the changes.
    Your idea of “marginal” is quite strange and unsupported by the facts.
    I do hope your area is not impacted by climate change, as the money for that eventuality is being redirected to Landlords. Just one of those “marginal ” changes. this should link to Pat @ 7.2

    • Pat 8.1
      18 January 2024 at 1:56 pm

      Am I in the "lucky" cohort?…..I am in the cohort that dosnt seek to rail against those things which I cannot change, seeks to understand the causes and does its best to mitigate the ramifications….is that lucky?

      Or do you mean am I inured to economic conditions due to a wealth of financial assets…most certainly not (nor are my offspring) and it is for exactly that reason that I am in the cohort I am.

      • SPC 8.1.1
        18 January 2024 at 2:08 pm

        That sort of makes sense, you're here to gaslight those who think there being daylight being one party and another means anything.

        Just a more subtle nihilist than Corey, then.

        • Pat 8.1.1.1
          18 January 2024 at 3:04 pm

          If you consider facilitating understanding through discussion debate 'gaslighting' the you may be correct….if.

          As to daylight between one party and another….if the teams agree as to the format of the game does the game change if one team or another wins?

          • Patricia Bremner 8.1.1.1.1
            18 January 2024 at 4:49 pm

            Yes the "game" can aim at fairer rules for those with less.

            Doing away with the checks and balances and saying "they're all the same and nothing can be done" is rubbish defeatist and negates strategies to rebalance. It rubbishes voting.

            The fact you are in the cohort affected should rile you, and have you planning how to cope. Or do you believe it is all ordained, and we are helpless?

            I hope not, because that is what is wanted. Subservient workers and unemployed grateful for any "scrap" of charity.

            People have died to protect these rights. Why the hell are you so accepting and critical of well directed anger?

            I see responses like yours and Corey’s aimed at your own instead of the rich and powerful, who beat down opposition any way they can with their power and money. We need to use our numbers and the rules of the game, plus expose their crooked schemes.

            The 3 amigos have removed rights with urgency and no consultation. Like we don't matter. Well we do matter and some of us intend to fight back, because what has been done is plain wrong on any level.

            • Tiger Mountain 8.1.1.1.1.1
              18 January 2024 at 5:01 pm

              yes

            • Pat 8.1.1.1.1.2
              18 January 2024 at 5:18 pm

              "Yes the "game" can aim at fairer rules for those with less."

              Indeed it can (and should)…as I have outlined on numerous occasions. Labour refuses to go there

              "Doing away with the checks and balances and saying "they're all the same and nothing can be done" is rubbish defeatist and negates strategies to rebalance. It rubbishes voting."

              I have never said nothing can be done…on the contrary, I have called for progressive taxation, a compression of remmuneration and public ownership of infrastructure. In these manners they are the same….it dosnt rubbish voting because if sufficient agree then they are forced to change.

              "The fact you are in the cohort affected should rile you, and have you planning how to cope. Or do you believe it is all ordained, and we are helpless?"

              All cohorts are affected….some however more immediately than others.

              "People have died to protect these rights. Why the hell are you so accepting and critical of well directed anger?"

              Yes people have (and people have also died fighting them) …my criticism is the anger is NOT well directed.

              "I see responses like yours and Corey’s aimed at your own instead of the rich and powerful, who beat down opposition any way they can with their power and money. We need to use our numbers and the rules of the game, plus expose their crooked schemes."

              And I see mindless support of 'our team' and unthinking criticism of the other as detrimental to gaining sufficient support for real meaningful change.

              "The 3 amigos have removed rights with urgency and no consultation. Like we don't matter. Well we do matter and some of us intend to fight back, because what has been done is plain wrong on any level."

              The coalition has made changes to some policies rapidly and without consultation….just as the previous government did in implementing many.

              Ultimately they both succeed or fail by the will of the majority….the trick is to build policies wanted by the majority.

              • Drowsy M. Kram …
                18 January 2024 at 7:00 pm

                And I see mindless support of 'our team' and unthinking criticism of the other as detrimental to gaining sufficient support for real meaningful change.

                Liberal use of "mindless" and "unthinking" may also be "detrimental to gaining sufficient support for real meaningful change" – time will tell.

                “TOAD! TOAD!” The People chant in mindless fervour.

                ….the trick is to build policies wanted by the majority.

                If only the majority understood what’s best in the long run – that's the 'trick'.

                • Pat …
                  18 January 2024 at 7:26 pm

                  "If only the majority understood what’s best in the long run – that's the 'trick'."

                  The voting public are always right….despite your misgivings

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    18 January 2024 at 7:46 pm

                    The voting public are always right….

                    Despite your misgivings about the "mindless' and "unthinking"? smiley

                    Still, maybe we’re on the cusp of “real meaningful change” – time will tell.

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    18 January 2024 at 8:45 pm

                    Yes despite the mindless and unthinking…..for the alternatives are worse.

                    Democracy is indeed the best of a bad bunch (imho), but does it necessarily follow that voters (including the "mindless" and "unthinking") "are always right"? That seems incompatible with our impending environmental and societal collapse, but perhaps your view of the prospects for this iteration of civilisation is rosier than mine.

                    Unlike you, I'm not convinced "the voting public are always right".

                    • Pat …
                      18 January 2024 at 9:04 pm

                      If you consider that democracy is the best option then the voters must always be right ….otherwise you are suggesting there is a better system.

                      And democracy does not preclude environmental nor societal collapse though I would suggest that it is the system that would likely delay both of those the longest.

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    18 January 2024 at 9:59 pm

                    If you consider that democracy is the best option then the voters must always be right ….otherwise you are suggesting there is a better system.

                    Nope, I'm not suggesting there is a better system. Like you, democracy is my preferred option – I just don't believe that “the voters must always be right“. Surely you aren't suggesting that voters are (collectively) always infallible – what then would be the point of a supermajority?

                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Referendums_in_New_Zealand#Parental_corporal_punishment

                    Imho, the idea that in a democracy "the voters must always be right" is illogical – all individuals, groups, and even majorities make mistakes, for example when voter views are seriously at variance with facts.

                    To err is human – we can agree to disagree.

                    • Pat …
                      18 January 2024 at 10:16 pm

                      I did not say voters (or the governments they elect) are infallible.

                      They are however always right (or correct if you prefer) in their selection of government, otherwise you are questioning the method of governance…or suggesting that there is a better system (which you have twice agreed you dont believe there is).

                      It is so because ultimately the consequences of those decisions impact all….rightly or wrongly, and who is best to determine whether those decisions need to be revisited/changed/enhanced?….those impacted….and how best to ascertain such?….by majority.

                      Nothing else offers such ability to recognise and correct errors.

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    18 January 2024 at 11:59 pm

                    They are however always right (or correct if you prefer) in their selection of government, otherwise you are questioning the method of governance….

                    Obviously, the result of a correctly conducted democratic vote is (correctly/rightly) democratic. I (mis)interpreted your assertion that "the voting public are always right" to mean that voters are 'correct' (without error) in the broader sense, but (as you alluded to), this is not always (or perhaps even often) the case, hence the need to "correct errors".

                    I hope we can agree that even the 'best' (new and improved) democracies are failing to correct errors at an alarming rate – probably just a natural result of the human 'overshoot' condition.

                    Still, democracy is preferable to non-democratic governance – just imagine what a global democracy could achieve on spaceship Earth.

                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_globalization

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    19 January 2024 at 5:37 pm

                    I also suspect that democracy is at its most effective a smaller scale.

                    yes A shame, then, that our first global civilisation is so big – mismatch!

              • Patricia Bremner …
                18 January 2024 at 7:52 pm

                Pat First thanks for your full reply. Your last point.

                "To build Policies wanted by the majority."

                That is not what the majority voted in, as Policy building was not very evident.

                It was tax cuts which are not viable in this economic climate, plus promises to their base to change back laws which they considered punitive.

                Policies for nation building are thin on the ground imo.

                • Pat …
                  18 January 2024 at 8:06 pm

                  You are making a grand assumption on the reason(s) why the coalition received the votes they did…..tax cuts may have been the motivation (or part of) for some and may not have been.

                  The fact is they received the required votes to form a Government….and within 3 years we will have the opportunity to pass judgement on how we think they have performed.

                  • Patricia Bremner …
                    19 January 2024 at 2:18 pm

                    Pat, on reflection, after reading over the whole thing plus DMKs contribution…Wow your passive aggression is showing. 'Mindless railing', and now "grand assumption.' Just wow.

                    You are very critical but you do not offer any solutions, just passive aggressive comebacks. I note Drowsy M Kram tried to show you the fallacies in your statements, and then you redirected the conversation to democracy.

                    I looked back and many of your "discussions" are like that. "Above the fray" Well good luck with that. There are plenty of subtle digs from you at the left and supporters, but few comments critical of the right… except as a passive observer. No doubt you will return the serve, but try to discuss the points without the pejoratives thanks.

                    • Pat …
                      19 January 2024 at 2:44 pm

                      Wow your passive aggression is showing. 'Mindless railing', and now "grand assumption.' Just wow."

                      Im sure you will find passive aggression when you misquote me….perhaps you may wish to reread what I wrote.

                      "You are very critical but you do not offer any solutions, just passive aggressive comebacks. I note Drowsy M Kram tried to show you the fallacies in your statements, and then you redirected the conversation to democracy."

                      Again, reread what I wrote…e.g. "I have never said nothing can be done…on the contrary, I have called for progressive taxation, a compression of remmuneration and public ownership of infrastructure. In these manners they are the same….it dosnt rubbish voting because if sufficient agree then they are forced to change."

                      My conversation with Drowsy was about democracy…hardly a redirection.

                      "I looked back and many of your "discussions" are like that. "Above the fray" Well good luck with that. There are plenty of subtle digs from you at the left and supporters, but few comments critical of the right… except as a passive observer. No doubt you will return the serve, but try to discuss the points without the pejoratives thanks."

                      Wow, just wow!

                    • Tiger Mountain …
                      19 January 2024 at 3:55 pm

                      Pat = Passive Aggressive Tory…

  9. Chess Player 9
    18 January 2024 at 8:42 pm

    Possibly I missed this detail in the post, but my questions would be:

    1. How many of the 50,000 'randomly selected' replied, and were surveyed to get the 2,000 responses?

    2. How many people are on the total CTU list?

    3. Why was the full list not surveyed? (you know, to get a full picture)?

    Not doubting at all that people feel under pressure due to the so called cost of living crisis, but keen to get some perspective based on statistical integrity.

    • Incognito 9.1
      18 January 2024 at 9:19 pm

      It is [as] in the Post.

      Commentary and notes on methodology

      The sixth annual mood of the workforce survey was conducted between 3 January and 10 January, 2024 and had 1,990 recipients.

      The survey is based on people who respond to an email to a random selection of 50,000 people from the CTU’s Together email list. This is a database of people we have had contact with over the last seven years via petitions, parliamentary submission calls, community events, and fundraising for community causes. They have given previous permission to be contacted by the CTU.

      https://union.org.nz/working-people-fear-for-their-future-and-new-zealands/

      Any further question regarding the methodology and ‘statistical integrity’ should be directed to NZCTU @ https://union.org.nz/contact/ and your Statistics Professor if you’re still completing your studies at uni.

      Undoubtedly, your scepticism of “the so called cost of living crisis” is well founded.

  10. Mike the Lefty 10
    19 January 2024 at 10:08 pm

    In my workplace people who a couple of months ago were dancing in the streets at the fall of the Labour government are now asking themselves "what have we done?"