The Government has softened its stance on restraining public sector pay following two meetings with furious unions. It will now review the policy a year earlier and will consider cost-of-living increases for public servants on moderate incomes. Public Services Minister Chris Hipkins said this was not a backdown and the Government had always been happy to discuss cost-of-living increases. But this doesn’t match his statement last week that public servants earning between $60,000 and $100,000 could only expect pay increases in “special circumstances” with the permission of the Public Service Commission.
ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said he was not concerned about thousands of leftover lunches, saying schools went to great lengths to ensure they weren’t wasted (file photo).
Monday, 10 May 2021, 10:50 am
What has a pay freeze got to do with a universal public
health system? Actually quite a lot. Health systems,
especially public hospitals which handle the more complex
and urgent cases that the rest of the system can’t fix,
are by their very nature labour intensive. Overwhelmingly
delayed or denied access to public hospitals are due to
workforce shortages of at least one occupational
group.
To the extent that pay impacts on workforce
morale, retention or recruitment it also impacts on the
accessibility, quality and effectiveness of a health system.
This is no more the case than for medical
What has a pay freeze got to do with a universal public health system? Actually quite a lot. Health systems, especially public hospitals which handle the more complex and urgent cases that the rest of the system canât fix, are by their very nature labour intensive. Overwhelmingly delayed or denied access to public hospitals are due to workforce shortages of at least one occupational group.
To the extent that pay impacts on workforce morale, retention or recruitment it also impacts on the accessibility, quality and effectiveness of a health system. This is no more the case than for medical specialists.
CTU, council slam appalling tactics from NZ Bus in locking out striking Wellington bus drivers
22 Apr, 2021 07:15 PM
5 minutes to read
Wellington bus driver Mike Greer. Photo / Nick James
NZ Herald
By: Wellington reporters
Wellington bus drivers are standing resolute against a deeply frustrating lockout notice issued by NZ Bus following their planned strike action today.
Following the Tramways Union s announcement that Wellington bus drivers would strike for 24 hours from 4am Friday, NZ Bus issued an indefinite lockout notice.
This would effectively bar striking bus drivers from returning to work after the planned strike was complete.
Around 50 bus drivers and supporters gathered at Kilbirnie Depot on Friday morning.
Jacinda Ardern has fulfilled her election promises by raising New Zealand s minimum wage to $20 an hour and increasing tax on the nation s richest to 39 per cent.
The changes came into effect on Thursday and will impact up to 175,000 of the nation s lowest earning workers.
The Ardern Government said those working a 40-hour week on minimum wage will pocket an extra NZ$44 per week.
Jacinda Ardern has fulfilled her election promises by raising New Zealand s minimum wage to $20 an hour and increasing tax on the rich to 39 per cent
The Ardern Government said those working a 40-hour week on minimum wage will pocket an extra NZ$44 per week