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4 Oct
SkyCity faces legal action from union over allegations it’s undermining strikes
Skycity has proposed to pay the equivalent of the living wage – $23.65. However Unite Union has filed legal action against SkyCity. This action comes after Skycity has filled in the staff on strike with labour hire workers that are regularly hired by Skycity. The Employment Relations Act says workers can’t be employed principally for the purpose of performing the work of a striking or locked out employee.
Thousands of university staff walk off the job in first coordinated strike in 20 years
All 8 of New Zealand’s universities are on strike – all actions will take place on Thursday 6 October. For the first time in 20 years all the universities of around 7000 unionised staff will be taking industrial action. The members are asking for an 8% pay increase.
Universities on Stike:
University of Auckland
Auckland University of Technology
University of Waikato
Massey University
Victoria University of Wellington
Canterbury University
Lincoln University
University of Otago
5 Oct
Striking Oranga Tamariki staff say soaring vacancies an ‘elephant in the room’
Three strikes have been planned for Unionised staff at Oranga Tamariki, Members have already rejected a pay offer that was under the inflation rate, feeling that the wages are going backwards, if the offer could not keep up with inflation.
Oranga Tamariki have a large staffing shortage, and have been unable to recruit new staff, which has lead to the increasing of work loads for the staff already employed by the government department.
6 Oct
New Zealand Nurses Take Action Over Staffing Crisis And Pay Cut
Across New Zealand nurses in public hospitals are refusing to work overtime shifts after the government ended the “winter bonus” payment of $100 per extra shift worked.
This along with the increasing strikes among healthcare, manufacturing , firefighters and education is part of an international resurgence in response to the worsening COVID pandemic and rising living costs.
11 Oct
22% pay rises, $4k lump sums: Unions highlight this year’s best pay deals
Unions have revealed their highest pay deals they have achieved this year.
New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa – A school administrator is currently earning $26.2 per hour and that will be increased to $31.99 an average rise of 22%.
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (CTU) – Essity – 5% pay increase this year and a $4000 lump sum for workers; a 4.5% increase in 2023 and a $3000 lump sum; and a 4% increase in 2024.
FIRST UNION – Countdown – Average pay increase was 12% with current living wage as the minimum.
ETU – Southpine – Timber processing plant – 7.2% on wages and allowances for a 12 month term. New minimum rate of $34 per hour and new starting rates of $23.3 for operators
SGS Oil And Gas Workers Vote To Strike Over Pay
SGS Union members issued a strike notice as negotiations over pay increases – under the current inflation rates and rising cost of living stall. The rejected offer made by the company was under 7.3 % (CPI)
13 Oct
Primary Health Care Nurses to strike for Pay Parity
A 4hour strike on the 27th of October was voted in by nurses working across the primary health care sector after rejected a 3% pay increase and after employers informing the members that there is not enough funding from the government.
The strike will include 4300 nurses who work in medical centres and after hours emergency clinics, as well as Plunket and Healthcare New Zealand.
15 Oct
Firefighters resume industrial action as long-running dispute continues
Industrial action for the Firefights is restarting again after being given recommendations from a mediator. The industrial action consists of bans on some workplace tasks that does not affect emergency response.
17 Oct
PSA workers at Rotorua Lakes Council take action in support of cost of living pay rise
Members of The PSA employed by Rotorua Lakes Council will be protesting outside the council offices in support of a cost of living pay claim and changes in the remuneration system. Council workers are unhappy with the process around adjusting pay and about the pay increases offered by the council, members want a better pay system that allows for regular and reasonable pay increases.
20/10/22
Firefighters to walk off job again as pay negotiations drag
Firefighter have issued four more 1-hour strikes. Negotiations have been ongoing for over 16 months with Fire and Emergency “still yet to put up a reasonable offer for settlement”.
Nurses at three private hospitals strike over pay, conditions
Nurses at three private hospitals are on strike over pay and conditions. Bargaining has been going for the past 18 months, union members are asking for pay parity with other hospitals, inline with cost of living, and back-pay for the past 18 months.
Evolution healthcare has offered a median pay rise of 15 percent and a guarantee that pay would be revisited should the public hospitals raise wages during the term of the agreement -this offer was rejected.
21 Oct
Canterbury Public Bus Drivers Receive Wage Increase
Environment Canterbury has announces a wage increase for public bus drivers across Canterbury.
Go bus transport and Ritchies Transport driver wages in Greater Christchurch to $28 per hour. Timaru Based Ritchies will receive an increased wage to $25 per hour.
The new wages apply from 1 October 2022.
25 Oct
New Zealand Uber drivers win landmark case declaring them employees
New Zealand Uber Drivers have won the case against the ride sharing company, forcing the company to treat the workers as employees and not contractors- meaning they are entitled for workers rights and protections
26 Oct
Fair Pay Agreements Bill passes third reading in Parliament
image credit : RNZ
