NZ Workplace Relations Updates: 2024 Sept Cuts & Strikes
Read on for a summary of ER events.
To view the full article click on the title
Job cuts
FA – hold tight, the economy is about to nosedive again, with more than 1000 jobs being rubbed out! Unemployment stats forecasts suggest we could go above 5.5% this year.
30 Aug
Over 600 nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants, students and administration staff went on strike at Waikato hospital. due to severe staff shortages and recruitment issues. The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) reported that the hospital needs around 600 more nurses to maintain safe staffing levels, but recruitment efforts have been stalled by a hiring freeze.
FA – Safe staffing in the health sector has become the main concern for employees and unions across NZ
2 Sept
Workers at social housing and service provider Visionwest at Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Christchurch are set to strike for fair pay. Union members are asking for 5% to keep up with the cost of living. Negotiations have been on going for eight months and this is the second strike the members have had.
The offer thus far has ranged between 0% – 2.6%
FA – A gap of 2.4% between the negotiating parties after 8 months of bargaining and two strikes still requires some serious compromise before resolved.
5 Sept
Transdev and Hyundai Rotem (HR) the companies running the Wellington commuter rail network have offered a three-year deal with 5 percent for Transdev workers and 4 percent for HR workers in the first year, followed by two years of inflation adjustments, and are looking to cut compensation for medical termination, retirement allowances and staff discounts on trains and ferries.
7 Sept
Woolworths new payroll system has continued to cause pay issues for staff members. The issues include being underpaid, being paid sick leave and annual pay at a lower rate, and having roles and rates adjusted without consultation. This payroll issues have come just after employees have been protesting about not being paid the living wage and also understaffing.
FA – more woes for Woolworths. If employees cant trust the pay system this then builds general mistrust of management in general.
9 Sept
Healthcare workers at Pacific Radiology, including MRI technologists, sonographers, and administrators, are striking due to regional pay disparities. Workers argue that staff in different regions are paid unevenly despite doing the same work, with some paid up to 6% less in certain locations. The PSA union emphasizes that this policy worsens recruitment and retention challenges. The workers demand fair pay that aligns across regions and is competitive with other medical imaging services.
FA – Regional pay differentials are not un-usual. However, it does requires transparent disclosure as to reasons for this
10 Sept
Almost 200 Woolworths stores have been affected by the strike that saw thousands of workers walk off the job for two hours to protest their wages and working conditions.
Woolworths have offered increases between 6.8 to 10.1% over two years.
FA – Although the company is offering a reasonable wage increase the employees and union are not accepting. Are there other issues in play?
Additional article
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/09/10/woolworths-employees-strike-for-living-wage-safe-staffing/
11 Sept
Some Woolworths supermarkets have issued suspension notices to employees who participated in the Tuesday strike, docked their pay, and prevented them from taking regular breaks.
FA – this ongoing bargaining dispute is getting ugly . Suspensions generally are used as a tactic to force the employees and unions back to the bargaining table and to be more reasonable.
13 Sept
The Maritime Union is taking legal action after being blocked from speaking with the foreign crew of the Manahau, which ran aground in late August. The union claims the crew is being denied access to proper support and welfare checks, raising concerns about labour rights. The union is pressing for better oversight, suspecting issues with the crew’s employment conditions and emphasizing the need for independent welfare checks to prevent exploitation.
15 Sept
Ambulance staff will strike for the second time after rejecting the latest pay offer from Hato hone St John. The strike action will include a full withdrawal of labour for six hours on the 27th of September and on the 30th. Negotiations have been ongoing since December 2023.
FA – no resolution on the horizon. Depends on how long the employees want to push this as it’s unlikely the government is coming to the party with more funds for St John
16 Sept
After the court case that made the ruling that Uber drivers were employees not contractors the government is introducing new tests to clarify whether a worker is an employee or a contractor.
if four criteria were met, then a worker would be classified as a contractor – and without the benefits being an employee brings.
The criteria are:
FA – Not a good look for the government e.g., changing the legislation after the court case. In general, some clarity around an employer’s obligations should not be unwelcome.
16 Sept
PSA members at the NZ Defence Force are taking industrial action after the refusal of a pay increase during collective bargaining. Civilian workers will work to rule and refuse overtime starting 18 September, with Kauri Point staff joining on 2 October. The action highlights dissatisfaction with NZDF’s pay freeze and redundancy plans.
FA – more strike action
18 Sept
Train services in Wellington will be disrupted as rail staff continue in their industrial action. Staff began working to rule on Tuesday which resulted in several cancelled train services.
FA – more strike action
Additional Articles
https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=163894
19 Sept
SeaLink ferry workers in Auckland have voted to strike over pay disparities starting 24 September. Represented by First Union, about 50 workers will participate in rolling strikes through 1 October. They are seeking wage parity with colleagues at Auckland Transport ferry providers, who recently received a pay boost. Despite reluctance to disrupt services, workers see striking as their only option.
FA – more strike action
19 Sep
New data from Stats NZ reveals a 0.2% decline in New Zealand’s GDP for the June quarter, marking a year of no real economic growth. CTU Economist Craig Renney expressed concern, noting that GDP per capita has been shrinking since September 2022, and unemployment is rising. Sectors like retail, wholesale trade, and construction have all seen declines. Renney calls for a change in economic policy, urging renewed investment to stimulate growth and avoid further economic contraction.
FA – The governments austerity approach is having a real and lasting impact on the NZ economy in general. The 4 big banks economists say that the turnaround could only start late 2025.
20 sept
SeaLink is negotiating with workers to avoid a strike over pay disparities. The company has proposed an 18% pay increase for master mariners and 10% for other staff. The company is working to prevent service disruptions and continues negotiations in hopes of reaching a resolution.
FA – More strike action on the horizon?
23 Sept
Rail travellers in the capital will be able to go back to work as normal with the disruptive industrial action is coming to an end. Since last Tuesday union members have been working to rule, talking all breaks, and refusing overtime or shift changes. The offer includes a pay increase above inflation, keeping compensation for all types of medical termination, and changes to their master roster.
FA – strike pressure assisted workers and unions to get an improved offer. Could this have been avoided with a better bargaining strategy by the employer?
23 Sept
Over 400 staff at Auckland, Massey, Canterbury and Lincoln universities will go on strike over inadequate pay offers due to the employer refusing to pay more than the living wage.
FA – more strike action?
24 Sept
Nurses and junior doctors are expected to protest against the proposed job cuts to the inpatient building in the new Dunedin hospital .
FA – doctors and nurses to protest again!
25 Sept
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) began negotiations with Health New Zealand for a new collective contract, representing 35,000 nurses nationwide. The talks come amid significant spending cuts and a voluntary redundancy process initiated by Health NZ.
FA – this is the big CA negotiations in the Health Sector with 35000 nurses pushing safe staffing levels and a decent wage increase.
27 Sept
Ambulance workers have gone on strike to push for full government funding of their emergency services.
Disclaimer: Fred A’s comments are solely his personal opinion and should not be viewed as factual or as an authoritative commentary in regard to any published article, individual and organisation.
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Image Credit/ Photo: Image by FIRST Union
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