THE UNIONIST: KiwiSaver, Election Forum, Election Policy Statement
In The Unionist this week: National takes the axe to KiwiSaver, CTU Election forum, CTU releases Election Policy Statement.
Election 08: Axing KiwiSaver to pay for tax cuts is not a serious economic plan
"The National Party tax policy does nothing to address New Zealand’s low wage problem and significantly discourages long term savings. Axing KiwiSaver to pay for tax cuts is not a serious economic plan,” CTU Economist Peter Conway said on Wednesday.
“The National Party proposes to take money out of research and development, slash the popular KiwiSaver scheme, and exclude hundreds of thousands of families from their plan in order to deliver another $10 a week next year.”
“And it is hard to believe that the National party would take an axe to KiwiSaver when as a country we need to lift savings.”
The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa said while the National Party claimed it wouldn't cut frontline services to fund its tax cuts policy, it had failed to outline how it will achieve its goal of lifting educational standards.
Public Service Association National secretary Brenda Pilott said there was no way to cut taxes as deeply as John Key wanted without cutting jobs and services on which New Zealanders depend.
The Service and Food Workers' Union said NZIER tax calculator shows a caregiver in Aged Care receiving $12.55 an hour will pay $5.72 a week more in tax in 2010 and $8.65 more in tax in 2011 under National rather than Labour.
"Most of our members employed in Aged Care work part-time hours at close to the minimum wage and at a time in which they are crying out for political support they have been delivered a kick in the guts," SFWU National Secretary John Ryall said.
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union said if National's package were in place today the CEO of Telecom would be more than five hundred dollars a week better off while a family on a single average wage of $44,000 a year and receiving Working For Families would actually pay more tax and at the same time lose their employers’ contribution to their Kiwisaver schemes.
“We are seriously concerned about National’s plan to allow employers to take Kiwisaver contributions out of wage rises as this will mean workers will effectively be paying their own contribution and their employers. This means the average worker with a Kiwisaver account stands to lose more than $200,000 over their working life.
The real strugglers have been left out in the cold by Nationals tax cuts said the National Distribution Union.
"The poorest working people in New Zealand hold down part time minimum wage jobs, may be on a benefit or are raising kids on one or two incomes well below National's $40,000 starting point for families to get a tax cut before 2011," NDU National Secretary Laila Harre said.
Links: NZ Herald story -- 3 News story and video -- NZPA
Election 08: Work rights, wages and public services debated at CTU Election Forum
The Council of Trade Unions brought together employment spokespeople from the main political parties yesterday at a special Election 08 employment relations forum.
Sue Bradford, Peter Brown, David Garrett, Robin Gunston, Derek Fox, Trevor Mallard, Matt Robson and Kate Wilkinson presented their party's approach to jobs, wages and employment relations, and answered a range of questions, including on the need for a $15 minimum wage, National's controversial 90 days "trial" period (dubbed by unions as the Fire at Will Bill), coastal shipping and the recent lockout of Wellington bus drivers.
At the forum, Labour minister Trevor Mallard announced plans to consult the public early next year about guaranteed rights to redundancy payments for workers laid off, saying the government's preference was for some sort of statutory minimum.
CTU president Helen Kelly being made redundant was a stressful time for workers both personally and financially, and the greater the assistance available to workers in this situation the better.
"The reality is that when business is failing the burden of that failure falls unfairly on workers when they are laid off without compensation.”
“At a time when many fat cats offshore are getting big packages despite creating the global credit crunch, it is good to see the prospect of ordinary workers having decent compensation when they are laid off,” she said.
Multimedia/links: Click here to see a story about the forum on Maori TV's Te Kaea, click here to see a story on Te Karere, or click here to hear a story on Radio NZ's Checkpoint. Text only stories here, here, here, here and here.
Election 08: CTU promotes election agenda
Kicking off of a week in the election campaign when incomes policies were under scrutiny, the Council of Trade Unions released its election policy statement last Sunday, setting out how to lift incomes and protect workers rights in New Zealand.
“There is more to lifting incomes than taxes alone,” CTU president Helen Kelly said. “What really impacts on workers’ wage packets are the wages they are paid, and the social services we all enjoy. Parties need to spell out clearly how they will lift wages and protect core social services. National has linked tax cuts to cuts in public services – which workers will not support."
The document sets out the CTU’s medium term policy goals, including increasing the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage ($15 in the interim), 26 weeks paid parental leave, moving to 56 weeks, boosting investment in skills and technology and lifting the rate of multi employer collective bargaining and industry agreements.
The CTU’s election campaign centres on the three themes of rights at work, strong public services and higher wages, and the document also sets out CTU goals in a range of other areas, including economic policy, public services and health and safety.
Download the full Election Policy Statement or a summary version here: http://union.org.nz/policy/ctu-2008-election-policy-statement
Links: News stories on the CTU's policy release are here, here, here and here.
Weekly Events Calendar
Election 2008 events - in the week ahead.
There are many, many events coming up in the next 8 weeks! Only events in the next 7 to 10 days are listed, but click here for full details for all union election events.
Unions Hawkes Bay Work Rights Night
Unions Hawkes Bay will hold a Work Rights Night screening of “The Hollow Men” by Alister Barry and Nicky Hager to raise awareness around workplace rights as the election issue this year. All union members and supporters are invited to the Trade Union Centre, 2 Lipton Place, Onekawa, Napier, on Wednesday October 15th, at 4.00pm. Light refreshments will be provided.
More info: Thomas O’Neill, Convener, Unions Hawkes Bay, Ph: 027 204 6350.
Breakfast Debate 08: “That the Women’s Vote Makes the Difference”
Join us for breakfast and bring your friends on:
Thursday 16 October 2008, 7.30 am - 8.45am
The Jimmy Café and Bar, St James Theatre Courtenay Place.
A debate to highlight policies and issues for women in this year's General Election. (Breakfast options available for purchase).
Debaters confirmed to date: Grant Robertson, Sue Kedgley, Helen Kelly, Fleur Fitzsimons, Charles Chauvel, Annette King.
Organised by the Women's Electoral Network. RSVP REQUIRED to womenselectoralnetwork@gmail.com
NZEI Otago District Council Meet the Candidates meeting
Friday 17th October 2008, 7.00pm
Room EG04, Education Centre, University of Otago College of Education, Union St East.
NZEI Auckland District Council - Education election meeting
Monday 20 October, 7-9 pm,
Epsom Girls Grammar.
The Hollow Men
Friday October 24 2008 - 6pm - Regent Cinema, Masterton
Sunday October 26 2008 - 1pm - Regent Cinema, Masterton
CTU Meetings, training
Workplace Productivity Challenge Workshop
There are places available in the following workshops - please register now:
- Tuesday 28 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Christchurch
- Tuesday 28 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Mangere East
- Thursday 30 October, 9 am - 4.30 pm, Dunedin
Registration forms for these workshops and dates for others are on the CTU website. There is no charge to attend the Productivity Challenge which is an EREL-approved course. Financial assistance is available for travel, wage reimbursement (if not using EREL or other leave) and other associated costs. We are also seeking expressions of interest for a workshop at Tauranga, tentative date 6 November. Please email Sandy O'Neil if you and / or delegates and other members are keen to attend at this location. Email Sandy - productivity@nzctu.org.nz. See the WPEP website for registration forms & more information: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity
About EditorNews
Name
Sam Huggard
Phone
0064 4 802 3817
Email
samh@nzctu.org.nz