Sometimes in our quest for what is perfect we forget what has been achieved
I did a quick summary of worker’s rights enacted under Labour since 2017, with a help from the Greens and reluctant support (and opposition) from NZ First, who held up a lot of these:
- 10 days sick leave (increased by 5 days)
- 26 weeks paid parental leave
- Restored meal and rest breaks
- Strengthened collective bargaining
- Extended protections for vulnerable workers to include security
- Workers in “triangular” relationships can challenge both bosses.
- Limited 90 day trials to small workplaces
- Matariki holiday
- Bereavement leave now includes miscarriage (Greens)
- Domestic violence leave (Greens)
- Screen workers restored rights to collectively bargain
- Minimum wage increased from $15.75 to $21.20 per hour since 2018
- Living Wage applies to contract workers in government departments
- Equal Pay Amendment Act passed
- Historic pay equity settlements – many more underway.
- Fair Pay Agreements making their way through parliament.
Labour sets the agenda for NZ, (and yes it could be more perfect with criticism from our own because we want them to go further, faster), but ignore the opposition who inevitably return to their own pathetic programme of tax cuts, 90 day trials, attacking unions etc.
We need to take stock and while of course there is more to do, and I for one will continue to push Labour on this, the election of a National/ACT government could see us go backwards pretty quickly.