Category: Politics

Government plan to scrap the Living Wage for contracts “abhorrent”

Posted on March 12, 2025 by - Living Wage, Politics, Public and Commercial Services

E tū is furious to learn that the Government is proposing to scrap the Living Wage for workers employed by government contractors.

Currently, contractors who deliver cleaning, security, and catering services for government agencies are required to pay at least the Living Wage ($27.80 at present time) to all their workers. In a media release today, Nicola Willis has announced a proposal to scrap that requirement altogether.

E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh says the proposal is cruel.

“It is heartless to consider taking away this important protection for workers, which will categorically mean their lives will become much harder,” Rachel says.

“The affected workers, once celebrated as essential workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, are employed by contractors to do crucial work keeping our public buildings clean and secure. They are the same workers who are often ignored by governments and exploited by businesses.

“The Living Wage requirement in the procurement rules gives these workers some much-needed reprieve. Our members have reported the huge difference the Living Wage makes in their lives, like allowing them to do the basics – pay the bills, put food on the table, buy clothing for their kids, and spend more time with their families.

“Proposing to end this support for these workers is frankly abhorrent.”

Rachel says the Government’s justification is completely inadequate.

“Nicola Willis says this is to “simplify the process” of procurement for businesses.

“Basic human dignity is not an obstacle to delivering services. Spinning this as some kind of streamlining process is disgusting – in reality, this is a proposal to make cleaners, security guards, and catering staff even poorer so the National-led Government can give more to their rich mates.

“Even more galling is Willis’ claim that this is “part of [their] plan to increase jobs and incomes” – you don’t have to be an economist to understand that you do not increase incomes by cutting them.

“Nicola Willis should face up to affected workers and justify herself to them. Why does she think they shouldn’t be able to put food on the table? Why does she want to make it harder for them to pay for their kids’ school uniforms?

“She will not face the workers. This Government has refused to engage with unions on these issues, so they can keep living in complete ignorance of the damage they are causing.”

Rachel says it’s not too late to change course.

“These changes are now open for public consultation, and if the Government has any regard whatsoever for the essential workers employed by contractors to look after government buildings and provide key services, they will keep the Living Wage requirement in their procurement rules.”

NZ Post cost-cutting another blow to Kiwi employment

Posted on March 6, 2025 by - Communications, Politics

Workers at NZ Post’s call centre have been told their jobs are being gradually moved to Manila, in the Philippines, as part of NZ Post’s need to cut costs.

While workers’ jobs are safe for now, they will be replaced by workers in Manila by attrition, with people not being rehired in Aotearoa New Zealand when one leaves.

NZ Post worker and E tū delegate Samatha Boe says the move is out of line with NZ Post’s values.

“I find it disappointing a government-owned business is looking to send jobs offshore, thus taking away from everyday New Zealanders trying to earn a living in a difficult economic climate,” Samantha says.

“The Government should be prioritising having Kiwis in jobs. They might save in some running costs, but they’ll lose out in tax revenue and unemployment benefits.

“One of NZ Post’s values is ‘stronger together’ – we should be keeping these values here in Aotearoa.”

E tū Negotiation Specialist Joe Gallagher fears this is just another signal of the Government’s overall goal of preparing NZ Post for privatisation.

“Our postal network is core infrastructure designed to help our communities and businesses, not just another thing to make a quick buck on,” Joe says.

“We’re deeply concerned that the Government is allowing NZ Post to make these kinds of changes in preparation to sell off this service to the highest bidder.

“The state-owned enterprise model has been appropriate for NZ Post, and we have worked very constructively with the company through some significant changes, always putting the interests of workers and the wider community who use the services first.

“Offshoring work, inadequate government support, and the talks of privatisation all point to an abdication of responsibility for both New Zealand’s workforce and the services we need.”

ENDS

For more information and comment:
Joe Gallagher, 027 591 0015

Fast-tracked mining, cut-rate safety? A miner’s warning

Posted on February 26, 2025 by - Engineering, Infrastructure, and Extractions, Politics

By Mark Anderson, Process Operator at OceaniaGold Waihi, and Convenor of the E tū Engineering, Infrastructure, and Extractives Industry Council

It’s 3 a.m. on a Sunday morning. I’m at work, constantly hopping in and out of my front-end loader to pull five-foot-long, waterlogged timber beams out of the ore that the underground crew has brought up overnight. These beams come from the old timber framing used to build the Waihi mine over 100 years ago.

Pieces of timber like this are absolute showstoppers for us – if they end up on the conveyor belt heading into the mill, they could jam the system or get stuck in the feed chute, shutting us down for hours and leaving a massive mess to clean up. I don’t want to be that guy, so here I am, sweaty and covered in mud at 3 a.m., hauling them out by hand. But I don’t mind. I’ve got a huge smile on my face because I love the job I do.

I work as a process operator at the gold mine in Waihi. There have been big developments recently, not just at the site but across the town, the country, and in the news. I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on that.

At the end of January, Hon. Shane Jones brought MBIE and the media pack that follows him to Waihi for his big “Critical Minerals” announcement. Naturally, the protestors followed too, eager to let him know exactly what they thought of his plans.

I was part of the delegation that hosted the Minister, not just because I work at the mill but because I’m also a union delegate and the Convenor of the Engineering, Infrastructure and Extractives Industry Council for E tū, representing nearly 8,000 members in these industries. One thing I’ve noticed in all the discussions about fast-tracking mining, the use of public land, and economic impacts is that the voices of workers have been completely missing.

For workers, the first part of this conversation is obvious: it’s great news for the industry. The Government wants to invest in and expand mining, which means more security for those of us in the sector. That kind of stability is rare.

When I started my job at Waihi in 2007, they told me the “life of the mine” was about 18 months. I didn’t tell my partner that right away – we had just bought a house and had our second child, and we had enough pressure as it was. Mines open and close depending on commodity prices and market shifts. That’s just the way it is. But for the first time, there’s a sense of long-term security for workers and contractors, and that’s a huge win. Most mines in New Zealand are in regional areas, so this also means a boost for those communities and the families who rely on these jobs.

That said, every silver lining has a dark cloud. In my role as delegate and Convenor, my job is to look at the bigger picture and consider how all this affects workers. Is the Government rushing into this? Have they really thought it through? Are we actually prepared to scale up the industry safely?

Safety is always the first thing on a worker’s mind in this industry. It’s the first thing we talk about at the start of every shift, and it’s the foundation of most of our training. While Shane Jones is out there making big mining expansion announcements, over in the health and safety sector, the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, has quietly been working on a review of the Health and Safety at Work Act – what most people know as the Pike River legislation.

Last year, she held a roadshow to gather input on the review. Workers and unions did everything they could to attend those meetings, but getting a seat at the table was very difficult. Meanwhile, business and industry representatives seemed to have no trouble getting in.

Late last year, I was lucky enough to attend a CTU-organised event at Parliament where Brooke van Velden was present. She was asked directly why she hadn’t been engaging with workers about the review, and she responded saying she had. Never mind the experience of the workers and their unions in the audience before her, who have found it impossible to have real engagement with her on this issue and many others.

After the event, I approached her and invited her to visit Waihi, to come and see firsthand the work we do and the risks we manage to keep people safe. I invited her because I believe we do a very good job with safety, in comparison to other places around the country. A few days later, her office emailed me back with a polite but clear refusal. She had no immediate plans to visit Waihi or the surrounding area. The invite remains open.

So here we are, with one part of the Government rushing full steam ahead to expand mining while another is quietly working to weaken health and safety laws.

Expanding mining means an influx of new, inexperienced workers into a high-risk industry. It takes time to train people properly so they can work safely in these hazardous environments. In Waihi, new workers wear green hard hats so they’re easily identifiable – so we can look out for them. But if we get too many “Green Hats” at once, especially in newly established mines, we might have a serious safety issue. Without enough experienced workers to mentor them, the risks multiply.

The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety hasn’t yet detailed her plans for the Act, but my biggest fear is that, in classic libertarian fashion, the goal will be to deregulate, deregulate, deregulate – then tell companies to sort it out by increasing their insurance premiums.

Maybe that sounds cynical. I hope I’m wrong. But this Government hasn’t exactly shown much concern for workers’ rights so far, so I wouldn’t be surprised.

Then there are the other questions. Where are these workers going to come from? Where will they live in the remote areas where these mines are located? No one seems to be asking those questions, and I fear they’ll just be left for “the market” to sort out.

Back in Waihi, when protestors delayed Shane Jones’ speech, I noticed him sitting alone and decided to take my chance to talk to him. I asked him about worker safety, about where we’d get the people we need, about whether the Government had a plan. For a man who’s usually never short of words, all I got was a raised eyebrow and a nod.

I don’t think this Government has the answers. This year we will acknowledge the 15th anniversary of the Pike River tragedy. The only way we can honour the lives of those workers is to ensure we never let health and safety standards fall behind again. Without workers at the forefront of this project, and without a Government committed to the highest standards, I find myself fearing the worst.

Media crisis continues amid Government inaction

Posted on February 20, 2025 by - Communications, Politics

E tū, the union for journalists and media workers, is sounding the alarm over the confirmation of an additional 30 job losses at NZME’s newsroom, as the wave of media cuts continues.

E tū Director Michael Wood says the latest redundancies are yet another blow to journalism in Aotearoa.

“Confirmation that a further 30 jobs will be lost from the NZME newsroom is part of a massacre of journalist capacity across the country,” Michael says.

“It follows on from NZME closing 14 regional titles, major job reductions at Stuff, and successive rounds of cuts at TVNZ. Cumulatively, these reductions mean that the New Zealand media system has less ability to perform its core functions – holding decision-makers to account, providing information in response to natural disasters, covering breaking news, and undertaking long-term investigations that help to inform the public on important issues.”

E tū members at NZME have engaged constructively, securing some changes to the original proposals that have preserved journalistic capacity. Michael says this underscores the value of union membership and collective action.

“The work of E tū members at NZME resulted in some changes to the original proposals, which have preserved some capacity, showing the value of union membership and engagement.

“However, we remain deeply concerned by the scale of these cuts and the clear signal from NZME that resources will be increasingly steered toward content that generates clicks. NZME must find a balance between generating short-term revenue and continuing to invest in high-quality journalism that drives long-term value.”

Responsibility also lies squarely with the Government, which has failed to act on the systemic issues affecting the sector.

“Primarily, though, this further round of cuts can be sheeted home to a Government that is missing in action,” Michael says.

“The sector continues to suffer because the content it produces gets used by social media platforms that do not contribute to its costs while earning advertising revenue from it. Last year, the Government committed to advancing the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill to address this issue, but now appears to have wilted in the face of lobbying from big overseas corporates.”

E tū is calling on the Government to take urgent action to support our local media.

“In the wake of yet another round of cuts, it is more evident than ever that the Government needs to wake up and take action so that we preserve a media system that supports New Zealand’s democracy.”

Minimum wage announcement “a pay cut for the most vulnerable”

Posted on December 17, 2024 by - General, Living Wage, Politics

E tū is appalled with the Government’s decision to increase the minimum wage by less than inflation for a second year in a row.

Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, announced today that from April next year the minimum wage will be $23.50, an increase of just 35c, or 1.5%. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) most recently reported annual change was 2.2%.

A calculation done by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions shows this will make full time minimum wage workers worse off by $1,206 per year, compared to how much they would have earned if minimum wage increases had kept up with inflation.

The announced rate is $4.30 below the Living Wage, which is $27.80 for 2024/25. The difference is $172 per week, or $8,944 per year.

E tū Assistant National Secretary, Annie Newman, condemns the decision.

“The Government has made another callous decision which will make in-work poverty even worse in Aotearoa,” Annie says.

“This is effectively a pay cut for the most vulnerable and lowest paid people in the workforce. Costs continue to rise across the board, with housing, food, transport, energy, and other essentials becoming even less affordable.

“Workers and their families are already up against extra costs imposed by this Government, such as ACC levy increases, the reinstatement of prescription fees, and slashing public transport subsidies.

“The Government seems hell-bent on making life hardest for those who need the most support.”

Annie says every worker deserves the Living Wage.

“The difference the Living Wage makes for workers is life changing. When our members win the Living Wage, they’re in a much better position to make ends meet. Many report being able to reduce their very long hours, allowing them to spend decent time with their families.

“Increasing wages in the best way to reduce in-work poverty. The Government should be lifting the minimum wage above the rate of inflation to bridge the gap between the minimum wage and the Living Wage.

“Instead of increasing the minimum wage above CPI, or even keeping up with it, they’ve chosen to give minimum wage workers a pay cut in real terms. It’s a decision to exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis for those it hits hardest.

“As Aotearoa’s workers finish 2024 and look ahead to the new year, those who earn the least are finding out today the Government has chosen to make life even harder for them in 2025. It’s frankly outrageous.”

Carers’ pay equity highlighted on Human Rights Day

Posted on December 10, 2024 by - Aged care, Community Support, Equal pay, Politics

On International Human Rights Day, E tū is calling on the Government to help fix gender-based pay discrimination by delivering pay equity for care and support workers.

E tū is the union for care and support workers, including those working in residential aged care, home support, disability support, and mental health and addictions. Over 65,000 care workers in Aotearoa New Zealand have been in a prolonged process for a pay equity settlement.

E tū Community Support Services Industry Council Convenor, Marianne Bishop, says it’s important to acknowledge the disparity on International Human Rights Day.

“The underpayment of people working in the care sector is a global issue, which reflects the undervaluation of work traditionally done by women,” Marianne says.

“In Aotearoa, we made some progress with Kristine Barlett’s historic equal pay settlement in 2017, but the pay has slipped back to near the minimum wage.

“A decent and enduring pay equity settlement is well overdue. Carers do this job because we want to make a real difference, and help people live their lives with dignity. Poor rates of pay are taking advantage of our commitment to helping people.

“By valuing care and support workers, we also show that we value the vulnerable elderly and disabled people who they care for.”

E tū National Secretary, Rachel Mackintosh, says fixing pay equity is an important human rights issue.

“Human Rights Day commemorates the anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),” Rachel says.

“This landmark document enshrines the rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

“To honour our commitment to human rights, we must end gender-based pay discrimination. Aotearoa has had some significant pay equity victories, but care and support workers are still waiting – and they’re fed up.

“It comes down to a political choice. The Government has prioritised tax cuts for landlords and tobacco companies, but won’t front up to pay women fairly.

“They must choose a different path, to prioritise working people and our communities. A decent and enduring pay equity settlement would be an excellent start.”

E tū is part of the Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa (PECA), an alliance of civil society organisations working together to bridge the gender pay gap.

Pike River: 14 years on and far too many of us are being injured at work

Posted on November 19, 2024 by - Engineering, Infrastructure, and Extractions, General, Politics

Statement by Mark Anderson, E tū Engineering, Infrastructure, and Extractives Industry Convenor

E tū acknowledges the anniversary of the 29 workers killed at Pike River. Today in Parliament the Minister of Workplace Relations, ACT MP Brooke van Velden, read out a statement commemorating the miners. While it is right that the House took time to recognise the hurt and pain caused by the explosion and its aftermath, the Government needs to do more honour the legacy of Pike River.  

The Minister’s actions on health and safety show the Minister has failed to understand the lessons of Pike River. Instead of boosting health and safety at work, her party and her Government are looking for ways to water down the protections it has delivered.

The Minister’s motion moved was:

That this House notes that today in 2010, 29 miners lost their lives while at work in the Pike River Mine: express its condolences to family and friends who will forever be profoundly impacted; and thank rescue and support teams for their service on that day and the days that followed.

If we want to honour the workers who died at Pike River, then let’s remember that WorkSafe and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 were an outcome of the Royal Commission of Enquiry. The true legacy of Pike River is that 14 years on we have managed to reduce serious injuries and deaths at work. But more is needed. The level of danger to workers is still far too high.

According to Stats NZ, last year a quarter of a million people were injured at work with 43,200 serious injuries or deaths. That is 120 serious injuries every day. There were 54 fatal work-related injuries. This is down from the 81 New Zealanders killed in 2022 but it is a fact that workers are still dying and that 43,200 serious injuries is still too many. One worker a week is dying at work in New Zealand.  

Pike River happened because the owners of the mine put potential profit before worker safety. They failed to be good managers. They blew up their business. They killed 29 miners and devastated the West Coast community.

The explosion in the mine was a brutal reminder that health and safety is not a barrier to business and economic progress. Better health and safety protects workers and it improves business productivity. We will have a better economy when we stop killing and injuring people at work.

The Health and Safety at Work Act is a good piece of legislation. It works because it requires everyone at work play a role in health and safety and it because ensures workers have a voice in how health and safety is practiced. Spending more on Worksafe and doing more to improve the Act and improve the guidelines, training and regulations that bring the Act to life must be a priority for every government. We owe it to the miners who died at Pike River to do more.

E tū members ready to ‘Fight Back Together’

Posted on October 22, 2024 by - General, Politics

E tū members will join the wider union movement and our community allies at the ‘Fight Back Together – Maranga Ake’ hui happening nationwide tomorrow, Wednesday 23 October 2024.

E tū is the biggest private sector union in Aotearoa New Zealand, covering a huge variety of workers including in aviation, communications, community support services, manufacturing, food, engineering, infrastructure, extractions, property services, and in many other industries.

E tū National Secretary, Rachel Mackintosh, says E tū members will be out in force.

“The hui are one part of the union movement’s mobilisation in the face of attacks from a shockingly anti-worker coalition Government,” Rachel says.

“The Government has already cancelled Fair Pay Agreements, re-introduced 90-day ‘fire at will’ trials for all workplaces, and increased the minimum wage below the inflation rate – effectively giving Aotearoa’s lowest paid workers a pay cut during a cost-of-living crisis.

“They aren’t stopping there. The Government has plans to remove the rights of workers to challenge their status as contractors, robbing them of an important legal protection. We’re deeply concerned about their proposals to meddle with health and safety legislation. They have deprioritised pay equity. We’re calling on the Government to reverse their dangerous agenda in workplace relations.”

Rachel says E tū members are troubled by the Government’s actions and plans beyond workplace relations as well.

“Luxon’s Government is overseeing a deliberate weakening of our public services, particularly in healthcare. They are stoking upsetting divisions in our society with their attacks on te Tiriti and te ao Māori. They have mucked up our social housing programme and cancelled modern transport solutions. It’s a Government of profits for rich mates ahead of people and the environment. Workers are angry, and they have every reason to be.

“We have a vision for something better for working people in Aotearoa. This can be a place where we have decent work, good social and physical infrastructure to support communities, justice under Te Tiriti, an end to inequality and hope for the future.”

Rachel says tomorrow will be a landmark event for E tū and the wider union movement’s activities to demand better for all, not just for a few.

“This isn’t the start, nor the end, of our campaign to protect workers and our communities from the harms of bad political leadership. However the hui will be a significant milestone, and I am proud that E tū members’ voices will join the chorus tomorrow and beyond.”

Hundreds rally for pay equity for care and support workers

Posted on July 1, 2024 by - Aged care, Community Support, Politics

Joint release from E tū, PSA, and NZNO

Hundreds of people came together across the country today (Monday 1 July) at rallies calling on the Government to fully fund a pay equity settlement for care and support workers.

The three care and support unions, E tū, PSA, and NZNO, organised the rallies in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill.

Workers chose today to rally because it marks two years since the claim was initiated and no settlement has been reached. Care and support workers at the rallies called on the Government to recognise their value.

“Imagine a world where our work is truly valued, where our contributions are fairly compensated” said PSA delegate Pinky Kumawat in her speech from Wellington. “This isn’t just a dream; it’s a demand for justice.”

In Wellington, NZNO delegate Anita Cook said, “Some of my colleagues regularly work 16 hours straight – some of them have even worked 24 hours straight. Vulnerable Kiwis depend on us for ensuring their well-being and livelihoods.”

E tū delegate Cushla Rahman got a resounding response in Auckland when she asked her fellow workers: “Do you feel like me; undervalued, not appreciated, and underpaid?”

“Pay equity means that caregivers can afford to have a life outside of their job,” said Cook. “And that means we have refreshed caregivers coming to work and giving their best. It means less burnout, less unplanned leave, and better care.”

The claim affects 65,000 people working in disability support, aged residential care, home support, and mental health and addictions support. The unions have worked with employers and Government in good faith for two years to reach a settlement, providing extensive evidence that care and support workers are underpaid.

ENDS