In a determination of the Employment Relations Authority released yesterday, it was held that Wendy’s was required to offer Rosemary Williams additional hours of work before it hired new staff. It had failed to do so over a 3-month period which disadvantaged Ms Williams and Wendy’s was ordered to pay over $3000 in compensation.

Wendy's worker's picket store in Greenlane, Auckland, during bargaining for a collective agreement. 

Union members at New Zealand’s two largest cinemas are finally getting a fair go for their late-night work – all work done in the nasty hours of the mornings between 1 or 2 am and 8 am will be paid at time and a half at Hoyts and Event.

It is a mistake to underestimate the importance of the decision to lift the minimum wage to $20 an hour by April 2021.

This will involve a significant real increase in wages for hundreds of thousands of workers in this country.

Employers will be screaming. Every time there is a bump in unemployment as a consequence of capitalism’s business cycles, the increase will be blamed on the minimum wage increase.

Minimum wages usually go up each April 1.

The planned increases to the Minimum Wage to $20 are a major step forward for workers, equality and the economy overall according to Unite Union, which represents thousands of low paid workers in  food and hospitality workplaces.

As minimum adult wage moves towards the Living Wage then workers will simply be able to make ends meet after a weeks work, according to Unite National Secretary Gerard Hehir.

“It will make a huge difference to hundreds of thousands who most desperately need help. Over four years it is a 6.75% average increase per year. That is not excessive when we currently have full-time workers relying on welfare support, state subsidies and charity - and still struggling. Employers need to pay their workers enough to live - it really is that simple”

Kiwi workers are being killed at the rate of one a week and on average someone is seriously injured every day.

These grim statistics are contained in a report by the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety.

The Labour Party’s decision to go back to the official policy of not making any changes to any taxes until they have been presented prior to the next election was the only choice they could make – given the hole they had dug for themselves.

This was actually the policy announced earlier in the year by Andrew Little. He argued that the current system was completely unfair and needed a complete overhaul. That is demonstrably true. Working people in this country are heavily taxed compared to the owners of accumulated wealth.

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New Zealand Labour News

Like the rest of the nation, New Zealand’s unions were surprised by the resignation of Labour Party Leader Andrew Little but welcomed the new leadership of 37-year old Jacinda Ardern, the youngest person ever elected party head. E tū, the largest private sector union in New Zealand and the largest union affiliated to the Labour Party, praised Little and expressed the union’s “proud” support of the new leadership team. “We know Jacinda as someone with great values, commitment and energy. Our members were excited by her during the Mount Albert by-election. Her track record within the party of connecting with people and bringing people together are just some of her great leadership attributes,” said E tū National Secretary Bill Newson. The Meat Workers Union (MWU) also applauded Little’s years of service and pledged the union’s support to the party. "Jacinda has a great record with Meat Workers Union members. She gathered up Xmas presents from other Labour caucus members for locked out workers and then drove all the way to Wairoa to deliver them, ensuring the kids of Wairoa AFFCO MWU members had a better Xmas,” said MWU National Secretary Graham Cooke.

By John Crocker, Unite Union Industrial Officer

On the 4^th of August the Employment Court released its first judgment on ‘availability provisions’ in employment agreements. This judgment was eagerly awaited by unions, companies, HR and employment lawyers as it is the first guidance by the court on the correct interpretation of ss 67C & 67D of the Employment Relations Act. These sections, among others, were added by amendment under the Employment Standards Bill 2015. Those two sections are the operative sections that ban zero-hour contracts.

Protest against zero hour contracts during 2015 negotiations. Court case this year followed the law change to ban such contacts.