Holidays under threat - thin edge of the wedge...
The unions say the government has completed a review of the Holidays Act and wants to change the way leave is calculated.
Unions are outraged at what they believe is a move by the Government to cut holiday entitlements.
A review of the Holidays Act has been completed, and Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson is indicating she will accept a recommendation for workers to be able to cash in exchange for a week of their annual leave.
CTU President Helen Kelly says it will have a huge impact on families on low wages, who will feel forced to give up part of their holidays just for cash to survive. She says while employers want struggling families to be able to exchange their leave, the solution to the problem is higher wages.
Ms Kelly says the Government should honour its election promise to protect workers' leave entitlements.
In addition, a change in the way annual leave is calculated will lessen its value for workers. As well as cashing in the fourth week of annual leave, there is talk of a new formula for calculating sick leave.
Ms Kelly is alarmed the Minister may be considering such changes. She says it will mean some people will not receive the same amount of pay on leave as they would if they worked. Ms Kelly says the CTU will be campaigning hard to protect all leave entitlements.
National wants to reduce holidays. If workers do cash in on their holiday pay, National will eventually say they don't need or want an extra week.
Acknowledgements: © 2009 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Asset sales in a second National administration...
Asset sales were always on the cards...
Labour claims National is softening up voters for a programme of state asset sales which would take place if it gets a second term in office.
Finance Minister Bill English delivered his Budget Policy Statement yesterday which shows the economy has turned the corner. The economic recovery has occurred earlier than forecast at the time of the Budget. The unemployment peak is now estimated at seven percent early next year and not the previous estimate of eight percent late next year. Future budget deficits have been revised down but it will still be 2016 before surpluses return.
Mr English also warned that the Government is examining the risks of owning state assets and identified SOEs Cordia, TVNZ, Kiwirail and New Zealand Post as companies that are struggling and are not keeping pace with change.
Labour MP David Cunliffe says that smells like an asset sales programme looming.
"New Zealand Post is an extremely profitable centre for the government. It's also the owner of Kiwibank, the only domestic bank in New Zealand. This government would sell us down the river."
The Government's books will be in the red at least until 2016.
Asset sales are a total unnecessity - we need public assets for when there is an economic recovery. NZ Post/Kiwibank is not struggling, and rail is the future around the world; in some countries competing well against air travel. It would be totally stupid to privatise our public assets.
>> More Politics News
© 2009 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Labour claims National is softening up voters for a programme of state asset sales which would take place if it gets a second term in office.
Finance Minister Bill English delivered his Budget Policy Statement yesterday which shows the economy has turned the corner. The economic recovery has occurred earlier than forecast at the time of the Budget. The unemployment peak is now estimated at seven percent early next year and not the previous estimate of eight percent late next year. Future budget deficits have been revised down but it will still be 2016 before surpluses return.
Mr English also warned that the Government is examining the risks of owning state assets and identified SOEs Cordia, TVNZ, Kiwirail and New Zealand Post as companies that are struggling and are not keeping pace with change.
Labour MP David Cunliffe says that smells like an asset sales programme looming.
"New Zealand Post is an extremely profitable centre for the government. It's also the owner of Kiwibank, the only domestic bank in New Zealand. This government would sell us down the river."
The Government's books will be in the red at least until 2016.
Asset sales are a total unnecessity - we need public assets for when there is an economic recovery. NZ Post/Kiwibank is not struggling, and rail is the future around the world; in some countries competing well against air travel. It would be totally stupid to privatise our public assets.
>> More Politics News
© 2009 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Monday, December 7, 2009
"Boy rider" Hone Hariwera being investigated...
"Boy Rider" Hone Harawwira being investigated...
Complaints laid with police after Hone Harawira filmed riding motorbike on forecourt of Parliament not wearing a helmet.
Maori Party MP Hone Harawira is being investigated by police after riding a motorcycle on Parliament's forecourt without wearing a helmet.
The incident happened a few months ago when the Maori Party MP was filmed meeting anti-violence campaigners. Two viewers have laid official complaints and it will be up to police to determine if the area in front of Parliament's steps is a road and therefore a place where the MP should have been wearing a helmet.
Mr Harawira is spending the rest of the Parliamentary year in his Te Tai Tokerau electorate after the Maori Party decided not to expel him over the racially abusive email he sent to a critic of his side trip to Paris while on Parliamentary businesses in Brussels.
He has since paid back part of the cost of the sightseeing trip at the request of Speaker Lockwood Smith.
Complaints laid with police after Hone Harawira filmed riding motorbike on forecourt of Parliament not wearing a helmet.
Maori Party MP Hone Harawira is being investigated by police after riding a motorcycle on Parliament's forecourt without wearing a helmet.
The incident happened a few months ago when the Maori Party MP was filmed meeting anti-violence campaigners. Two viewers have laid official complaints and it will be up to police to determine if the area in front of Parliament's steps is a road and therefore a place where the MP should have been wearing a helmet.
Mr Harawira is spending the rest of the Parliamentary year in his Te Tai Tokerau electorate after the Maori Party decided not to expel him over the racially abusive email he sent to a critic of his side trip to Paris while on Parliamentary businesses in Brussels.
He has since paid back part of the cost of the sightseeing trip at the request of Speaker Lockwood Smith.
Friday, December 4, 2009
What would you expect from Invercargill...
What would you expect from Invercargill...
Some nightclubs and bars are resisting Invercargill City Council's move to close them down earlier.
At the moment the night spots can stay open till 4.30am and some of the the licenses with that closing time are valid for a couple more years. But the Invercargill council has brought in a new policy to have licensed premises closed by 3am.
Councillor Darren Ludlow says its disappointing some bar owners are not playing ball. He says the council was looking for an accord that would bring everyone into line to shut down at 3am. He says they have not been able to get everyone to agree and it is frustrating.
Mr Ludlow says from now on all new liquor licenses issued will stipulate premises close at 3am.
Some nightclubs and bars are resisting Invercargill City Council's move to close them down earlier.
At the moment the night spots can stay open till 4.30am and some of the the licenses with that closing time are valid for a couple more years. But the Invercargill council has brought in a new policy to have licensed premises closed by 3am.
Councillor Darren Ludlow says its disappointing some bar owners are not playing ball. He says the council was looking for an accord that would bring everyone into line to shut down at 3am. He says they have not been able to get everyone to agree and it is frustrating.
Mr Ludlow says from now on all new liquor licenses issued will stipulate premises close at 3am.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Hone Harawira's behaviour unacceptable to the Maori party...
Tariana Turia says the Maori Party has been flooded with abusive angry emails in response to Hone Harawira's tirade
A reluctant Tariana Turia has finally answered media questions over the Hone Harawira email saga.
After refusing to front on the issue, the Maori Party co-leader had no choice when door-stopped by reporters this afternoon.
When asked how damaging Mr Harawira's expletive-laden email has been, Mrs Turia admitted it has caused considerable damage to the Maori Party. She says it has been been flooded with abusive and angry emails in return.
"Of course it's distressing to find that our relationships with the public are particularly fragile. And that's what we've noticed from the responses that have come in."
Mrs Turia says the past week has been very tough.
"I think that what was in the email was particularly distressing. There's no doubt that number one - nobody likes to be spoken to in that manner. No one likes abusive emails, least of all myself. So I have found that incredibly distressing."
Mrs Turia says Mr Harawira's behaviour is unacceptable and the Maori Party leadership is taking the matter very seriously. She says a decision on possible disciplinary action will be made at tomorrow's hui in Kaitaia.
As far as the public is concerned, the Maori Party is dog tucker at the next elections!
Acknwledgements: NZCity, NewsTalkZB
A reluctant Tariana Turia has finally answered media questions over the Hone Harawira email saga.
After refusing to front on the issue, the Maori Party co-leader had no choice when door-stopped by reporters this afternoon.
When asked how damaging Mr Harawira's expletive-laden email has been, Mrs Turia admitted it has caused considerable damage to the Maori Party. She says it has been been flooded with abusive and angry emails in return.
"Of course it's distressing to find that our relationships with the public are particularly fragile. And that's what we've noticed from the responses that have come in."
Mrs Turia says the past week has been very tough.
"I think that what was in the email was particularly distressing. There's no doubt that number one - nobody likes to be spoken to in that manner. No one likes abusive emails, least of all myself. So I have found that incredibly distressing."
Mrs Turia says Mr Harawira's behaviour is unacceptable and the Maori Party leadership is taking the matter very seriously. She says a decision on possible disciplinary action will be made at tomorrow's hui in Kaitaia.
As far as the public is concerned, the Maori Party is dog tucker at the next elections!
Acknwledgements: NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Government accused of not taking the issue of cancer seriously...
Demand for melanoma awareness:
Cancer Society spokeswoman Judith Galtry says the government must raise melanoma awareness among young people
The Government is under fire for not appearing to take the issue of skin cancer control seriously enough.
The Cancer Society has released figures today showing the disease costs the health system more than $57 million a year. Spokeswoman Judith Galtry says there should be more funding for a schools sun protection programme. She says part of the problem is the issue is being sent backwards and forwards between the Ministries of Health and Education.
Dr Galtry says neither ministry appears to support the programme, despite the fact it is very successful. She says young people are at a higher risk of melanoma and early learning can be effective for establishing good practices throughout life.
Dr Galtry says skin cancer prevention is highlighted as a priority in the Cancer Control Strategy developed by Government and non-Government agencies.
Acknowledgements: NZCity, NewsTalkZB
© 2009 New Zealand City Ltd
Cancer Society spokeswoman Judith Galtry says the government must raise melanoma awareness among young people
The Government is under fire for not appearing to take the issue of skin cancer control seriously enough.
The Cancer Society has released figures today showing the disease costs the health system more than $57 million a year. Spokeswoman Judith Galtry says there should be more funding for a schools sun protection programme. She says part of the problem is the issue is being sent backwards and forwards between the Ministries of Health and Education.
Dr Galtry says neither ministry appears to support the programme, despite the fact it is very successful. She says young people are at a higher risk of melanoma and early learning can be effective for establishing good practices throughout life.
Dr Galtry says skin cancer prevention is highlighted as a priority in the Cancer Control Strategy developed by Government and non-Government agencies.
Acknowledgements: NZCity, NewsTalkZB
© 2009 New Zealand City Ltd
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Badly behaved Mongrel Mob members get the boot...
Badly behaved Mob members get the boot...
The Hastings Mongrel Mob is throwing out members who behave badly, a number have been de-patched in the past year.
The Mongrel Mob is trying to amend past wrong-doings in Hastings by kicking out badly-behaving members.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule has been meeting with senior gang members to try to find long-term solutions to youth gangs and anti-social behaviour in the area.
He says the Mongrel Mob is starting to listen to the community's concerns.
"They have de-patched a number of members in the last year because of certain incidents. They basically said that if they wanted to belong to a gang then they need to behave, basically."
Mr Yule says the Mongrel Mob admits that criminal behaviour stems from high unemployment
The Hastings Mongrel Mob is throwing out members who behave badly, a number have been de-patched in the past year.
The Mongrel Mob is trying to amend past wrong-doings in Hastings by kicking out badly-behaving members.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule has been meeting with senior gang members to try to find long-term solutions to youth gangs and anti-social behaviour in the area.
He says the Mongrel Mob is starting to listen to the community's concerns.
"They have de-patched a number of members in the last year because of certain incidents. They basically said that if they wanted to belong to a gang then they need to behave, basically."
Mr Yule says the Mongrel Mob admits that criminal behaviour stems from high unemployment
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