employment Archive

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  Southern Sojourns of a ‘mostly rational’ MP - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I have spent much of this recess week  in (sometimes) sunny Otago and Southland, and despite being about as far from my own rohe as it is possible to be without leaving the country, I found plenty to admire and enjoy. I made my first visit to a South Island  prison,  the Otago Correctional Facility, [...] read more
  April 5, 2013 3:53 pm - No Comments
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  Infographic – jobs in manufacturing vs mining - by frog

  
  
  
  One of these industries is shedding thousands of jobs, urging the Government to help, and being ignored. One of these industries is jobs-poor, urging the Government to back it, and being listened to. How about this instead? read more
  February 1, 2013 4:26 pm - 15 Comments
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  More jobs derailed as Government fails to address unemployment - by frog

  
  
  
  Slashing jobs at state-owned KiwiRail while the Government heaps pressure on unemployed people to go back to work – disconnect much? Today’s revelation that up to 220 KiwiRail workers could lose their jobs is shocking on many levels; the loss of paid work for so many families, erosion of rail safety, and the undermining of [...] read more
  July 10, 2012 11:11 am - 5 Comments
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  Nanny Goat Gruff does employment prep – Part 4 of many - by Jan Logie

  
  
  
  Among the changes proposed for sole parent benefits is the ability for Work and Income to require a parent to engage in preparation for work once their child is three or four. Exactly what this might mean is somewhat unclear. It appears to include work experience, budgeting, short courses as well as training which may [...] read more
  March 16, 2012 7:01 am - 2 Comments
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  Laid-off defence staff need special consideration - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  The Defence Force has put an overly positive spin on the laying off of 308 members of the armed forces whose jobs are being “civilianized”. While recognizing it is “a difficult day for the Defence Force” Lt Gen Rhys Jones claims that those laid off “will welcome the decision” if they have “registered their interest [...] read more
  June 29, 2011 2:57 pm - 3 Comments
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  Employment inspiration in Mental Health Awareness Week - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This morning I attended a very positive event in Thames hosted by the Like Minds Like Mine team from Te Korowai Hauora O Hauraki. It was a breakfast for employers to network with agencies like Workwise and Workbridge on the theme of the benefits of employing people with impairments. One of the town’s largest employers, [...] read more
  October 6, 2010 12:27 pm - 2 Comments
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  It’s a war on youth - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  It hasn’t been a good year for under-twenty year olds. Hopefully if you’re young, you’re out having fun and don’t really give a toss what those old fogies in Government are up to. But if you’ve followed some of the changes this year, you could be mistaken into thinking that someone’s declared a war on [...] read more
  October 5, 2010 11:32 am - 44 Comments
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  Job creation and welfare policies are failing - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Most people spend less than a year on a benefit and use that time to rebuild their lives and education. The few who abuse the system pale into insignificance against losses from failed investment companies, tax evaders and corporate fraudsters. read more
  May 7, 2010 12:13 pm - 27 Comments
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  Future unfocused for beneficiaries in Te Tairawhiti - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  What is the Government doing to help create sustainable employment in regions like Te Tairawhiti? Blaming the victims of our economy through packages like Future Focus won’t create any more jobs for them. read more
  April 15, 2010 9:54 am - 7 Comments
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  Economy with the truth - by frog

  
  
  
  We expect the truth about the economy from our Government – not economy with the truth. Of course politicians, of whatever hue, are going to attempt to spin statistics to their political advantage. I’m relaxed about that. Telling blatant lies about statistics is another matter. read more
  February 5, 2010 9:12 am - 23 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – Banks and Bangalore - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My regular column in the NZ Truth this week focuses on the banking industry, and the Government’s approach to it in the context of economic recession: Late last year the Government introduced a scheme which means that all taxpayers are now guaranteeing our local banking and finance industry. You would think that in return we [...] read more
  May 6, 2009 6:25 pm - 102 Comments
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  Banks should be expected to do their bit on jobs - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  Yesterday I hosted the launch at Parliament of a petition signed by 10,500 New Zealanders calling on the Government to protect jobs in the NZ banking sector. The Green Party, the bank workers’ union Finsec – and the signatories to the petition -  believe that in return for the massive support the NZ taxpayer is [...] read more
  May 6, 2009 7:50 am - 45 Comments
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  Universities under pressure to keep wages low - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  The Tertiary Education Union reports today that some universities are under great pressure to keep the wages and salaries of university staff as low as possible. The government’s document Expectations for Pay and Employment Conditions in the State Sector seems to be placing pressure on many tertiary-education institutions to depress wages rather than face explaining [...] read more
  March 19, 2009 5:24 pm - 49 Comments
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  Pay Parity Fax to Ryall: Do it Today! - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  The HandMirror and others are running a campaign against the Governments decision to can the pay parity roll out through the state sector. Its a no-brainer: women are still getting paid less than men in equivalent roles with equivalent experience. Surely the state sector is the first place where women are treated equitably in thier [...] read more
  March 6, 2009 12:08 pm - 23 Comments
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  Walking to work - by frog

  
  
  
  It was fairly impressive this morning to see swathes of people people enjoying the Wellington spring sunshine as they walked  to work along the waterfront.  Sadly this massive increase in pedestrians was all due to entirely the wrong reasons.  No matter what you may think of Go Wellington’s industrial dispute with its bus drivers, a [...] read more
  September 25, 2008 8:13 am - 33 Comments
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  Employment relations policy works for workers - by frog

  
  
  
  The Greens industrial relations policy, which Sue Bradford launched today, has been getting good reviews from workers and their unions. Laila Harré at the NDU said: It would be a good thing if the Green Party is able to have a strong influence on industrial relations after the election. They understand that most workers still [...] read more
  September 17, 2008 1:47 pm - 47 Comments
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  Recession-proofing our jobs - by frog

  
  
  
  Tradestaff recruitment agency has identified the top five recession-proof jobs with high earning potential in New Zealand at the moment.  You won’t be surprised to know Member of Parliament is not on the list. Instead you are recommended to become a wallpaper hanger, roading engineer, dairy farm worker/share milker, I.T engineer or plumber. Personally I [...] read more
  September 4, 2008 1:47 pm - 5 Comments
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  The end of a long working week - by frog

  
  
  
  NZPA reports today that: More than 150 years after a carpenter in Petone famously insisted on working an eight-hour day, one in three full-time workers are clocking up more than 50 hours a week. Meanwhile the Dominion Post reports: National  Party  plans to allow workers to cash in one week of annual leave will effectively [...] read more
  July 25, 2008 9:01 am - 94 Comments
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  Fair redundancy - by frog

  
  
  
  The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) have just made an interesting proposal calling for government legislation to ensure redundancy payments for workers. I think the argument in favour of looking at this as part of Minister of Labour’s advisory group that has just been been set up to examine the adequacy of redundancy laws [...] read more
  May 18, 2008 1:41 pm - 11 Comments
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  Bunnings workers turn down pizza for pay - by frog

  
  
  
  The Standard has a good summary of the Bunnings employment dispute that we covered a couple of months ago. Bunnings workers, who belong to the National Distribution Union, and their boss have been negotiating now for nearly a year. Sue Bradford hosted the workers at the Beehive this afternoon and is calling for a prompt [...] read more
  February 21, 2008 4:55 pm - 31 Comments