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New Zealand Labour-led government imposes public sector wage freeze
New Zealand’s Labour-led government, which includes the Greens, last week declared a pay freeze across the public service for the next three years. The move, which extends a measure introduced last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, will inevitably be used to suppress wages in the private sector as well.
Green Party co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson with PM Jacinda Ardern and Labour Party deputy leader Kelvin Davis [Source: NZ Labour Party Facebook page]
Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins announced that workers earning more than $NZ60,000 will only be offered pay increases under “exceptional” circumstances, while increases for those on salaries over $100,000 are ruled out. Only about a quarter of public servants earns less than $60,000 and will theoretically qualify for pay increases, which still have to be negotiated.
COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS
Helen Kelly pics. In 2010 the National government announced plans to roll back worker s rights. Helen Kelly led a Fairness at Work protest in October.
To some she was a hero. To others she was “a bloody pain in the neck”. Kirsty Johnston reports on a new biography of Helen Kelly, an ordinary girl who refused to be quiet. It was early 1981 when 50,000 people marched down Auckland’s Queen St, an angry uprising against the union movement that seemed to take even its participants by surprise. Led by a young woman called Tania Harris, the protesters united under the “Kiwis Care” banner, railing against “Pommie stirrers” and “commos” they believed responsible for recent strikes. “We must pull together, not apart,” Harris, a 22-year-old sales representative, told the gathered crowd.
The pay freeze debate: Crisis meetings, the Prime Minister steps in as Govt and unions in showdown
14 May, 2021 05:00 PM
12 minutes to read
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded to questions about the public backlash to last week s wage freeze announcement.
Video / Mark Mitchell
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded to questions about the public backlash to last week s wage freeze announcement.
Video / Mark Mitchell
As journalists headed to a government announcement on pay in the public sector, they walked past Cahill standing at the Beehive reception Cahill was heading in for his regular meeting with Police Minister Poto Williams before going to Police National Headquarters for negotiations on the police pay round.
BusinessNZ claims its input on risks of FPAs is ignored in Cabinet paper
13 May, 2021 05:27 AM
4 minutes to read
BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope claims a Cabinet paper on fair pay agreements leaves policy questions unanswered and appeared to overlook feedback. Photo / Michael Craig
BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope claims a Cabinet paper on fair pay agreements leaves policy questions unanswered and appeared to overlook feedback. Photo / Michael Craig BusinessNZ, the lobby group which is being lined up to take a structural role in New Zealand s industrial relations landscape, say its views appear to have been ignored in a Cabinet Paper on fair pay