Interesting to read Duncan Garner’s take on John Key’s answering on the wage gap between Australia and New Zealand
Yesterday’s performance in Parliament was too selective and too slippery for him to get away with. All the statistics show the gap between Australian wages and Kiwi wages is growing – but Key refused to accept it. He refused to admit it. In fact he went the other way – he said the gap is closing. It’s not, no matter which figures you focus on.
It was an interesting insight into the sensitivity of the government on this issue that Key would try to argue that black was white, when the numbers, even under his chosen construction pointed to the gap widening. It was a bit more than slippery too- it was a very deliberate attempt to mislead.
All of this began as a result of questioning on the absence of an economic plan from National to achieve their stated objective of catching up with Australia. This is a vitally important issue for the country. Concern about this is not only coming from our side of the political spectrum but also from those more closely aligned with the Nats.
Trans-Tasman, the political newsletter today devotes a significant amount of space to concern about the lack of courage in the Government’s programme noting that the obesession with a safety first approach is raising questions about the willingness to take the hard calls and saying poll driven leadership is raising questions about policy intentions.
Many months ago on this blog I described Mr Key as being ” all map and no compass”. As they say in the House, I stand by that statement.
Posted in Australia, Wages, Economy and National. |
I have known Helen Kelly, the President of the CTU for quite a long time now. I admire her greatly. She has been, and is, an exceptional and passionate advocate for workers in New Zealand, and indeed internationally. I can appreciate the position she was in when National was elected and called on the union movement to be part of their Jobs Summit. I was a bit surprised when the CTU had John Key speak at their conference, but they felt this was a PM and the government that they should, and could, work with.
Just how let down Helen, and the workers she represents, are now feeling is clear from the letter that Helen has sent to the PM.
It is easy to feel the sense of betrayal in her words
She said he had breached his undertaking to consult her if the Government was going to move on union access and non-union collective bargaining.
“You also said you wanted to work with the unions,” she wrote. “And you portrayed yourself as a moderating influence in employment law matters. That has changed.”
I saw Helen at a function last night and I can report in person she is every bit as aggreived.
While the on-going debate will be and should be about the substance of the changes to workers rights and conditions, the role and the approach of the PM should not forgotten here. He led the union movement to believe he was their friend, but as soon as his perception of the political environment dictated a change, he moved swiftly to go against his word. That is a serious breach of trust, and one that I think the PM will live to regret.
Posted in Workforce, Labour and Union. |
Interesting, and good, to note that the EPMU have negotiated in their Metals MECA to make up one of the two holidays lost next year for workers, this being the one with ANZAC Day and Easter Monday falling on the same day next year.
As previously discussed here I think that something needs to be done to ensure that we protect the integrity of ANZAC Day and Waitangi Day, but also give workers the holidays that they should be entitled too. I am still working through the best legislative approach that takes account of those who do not already work Mondays. But as Andrew Little says in the story linked above if the provisions to make up for lost holiday entitlements appear in enough agreements this will increase the impetus for a law change. Well done to the EPMU.
Posted in Mondayising, EPMU, Waitangi Day and Anzac Day. |
It seems that at about 4.30 today Massey University announced to staff that they were closing enrolments for their summer school at 5pm. They had been due to close on the 1st of November. Seems a bizarre way to do it, and I am not sure if there was a rush in the half hour that they remained open!
The reason as stated on the Massey website is that they have now reached their funded cap and could take no more students in 2010 (except of course full fee paying international students). According to Big News those who had already enrolled may not get to study if there have not been sufficient enrolments in particular courses. Those courses will be cancelled.
As with Victoria closing off enrolments for the second semester this is going to disrupt plans and add costs for students and their families.
But I understand the position the universities find themselves in. Steven Joyce is still not moving to address this issue, and next year will be far worse. He is sitting on his hands, because he actually wants to “dampen demand”, and thinks it will all calm down in a year.
There is a lot of ad-hoc decision making from universities which will be leaving students and parents confused. There really is a need for leadership from the government on this to ensure that we get and retain as many people as possible in tertiary education over the next year.
Posted in University Enrolments, Massey University, Tertiary and Steven Joyce. |
“Kicking the Tyres” is the John Key/Steven Joyce/Crosby Textor phrase du jour. Anything the government is doing from mining to MMP to asset sales to student loans gets the ‘tyre kicking’ into action.
Its funny when I was growing up a ‘tyre kicker’ was someone who had no idea about a car or how it worked, so they kicked the tyres in a pointless and desperate attempt to look like they knew what they were doing. Sounds about right. Of course for the Nats its about making sure that they dont do anything to risk a scrap of popularity or offend anyone.
But I have also noticed a related tactic- feigned empathy. This is where you show concern for someone’s plight or give them an encouraging word, and then do precisely nothing to help them. This might sound harsh, and I am sure National MPs have genuine concern, but if you are not prepared to do anything concrete, then for me it amounts to feigned empathy.
Last night we saw this at its worst with the response to Carol Beaumont’s Bill to curb loan sharks. Speaker after speaker from the Nats got up and told us how much they felt for people who fell victim to out of control debt, but they were not prepared to actually do something about it, by voting the Bill through to Select Committee. No real reasons were given (they are reviewing the law so we should all wait and see seemed to be the main argument). It was shameful politicing to stop Carol and Labour being seen to ‘win” something. Privately a number of National MPs are embarrased by the approach.
When it comes to the economy , if we combine John Key being “relaxed” about everything with ‘Kicking the Tyres’ it means the country has no economic plan, no step change, no “aspiration”. Is tyre kicking the extent of John Key’s “ambition for New Zealand.”? It has gone on long enough. Its time for the government to stop kicking the tyres and actually put some petrol in the car.
Posted in Consumer Affairs and Economy. |
