Attacks on unions are costing working people – NZCTU
A new report from the OECD shows that working people are being left behind by this Government, says New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges.
“The Employment Outlook report for 2026 shows real wages falling faster in New Zealand than anywhere else in the OECD. In real-terms, New Zealand’s working people are earning 6.4% less than they were in 2021.
“Strong unions mean better wages. The OECD calls in this report for collective bargaining to be put at the heart of labour market policies—but this Government has relentlessly attacked working people and their unions since coming to power.
“Last year, 73% of working New Zealanders saw their pay go up by less than inflation, according to Stats NZ. 44% saw no increase at all. Yet those same New Zealanders see the cost of living continuing to climb.
“As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, the Government should be looking for solutions that lift the wages of working people. Instead, they’re making workers’ lives harder by pushing through legislation like the Employment Leave Bill.
“It’s clear that working people aren’t getting back on track. Oil prices are rising, interest rates are increasing, and wages continue to lag behind inflation. How are New Zealanders meant to keep up?”, said Ansell-Bridges.
Every day I feel I have to ask the same questions, main one being, who in the hell is voting for the greedy, arrogant and pompous RW parties? It simply doesn’t make sense! Either our media are doing a “job” on our workers, who have never caught up with our rampant inflation, or there are too many out there who are being paid more than they are worth while the “real workers” subsidise their earnings! So either the smug, complacent, greedy change their attitude or NZ will go down the gurgler very soon. And where is Simeon these days – imagine he is in hiding – because he has single-handedly totally crashed our health system with his privatisation agenda? This coming election is one of the most important for NZ because if they can’t get back on a fair and even track, our country and its people are doomed! Even our media are hauling Hipkins into their question as to who should lead the National party. A simple response, National don’t have anyone at all any more capable than the apology for a PM we currently have! Hipkins has yet to show his real strength but it’s there – get on with it Hipkins!