I was Minister of Labour and SOEs when the rest break legislation came in. Sole charge air traffic control towers were the subject of some discussion.
Controllers have offered to take their breaks when no planes are scheduled and to carry devices so they can be called back in an emergency. Their industrial agreement has always had a safety clause in it and has worked well.
Some idiot from CAA has said they all have to have their breaks at the same time. He said pilots won’t understand if it is different at different airports nothwithstanding the fact that that has always been the case and that towers are open at different times all round the country.
On the basis of this stupid decision Kate Wilkinson has decided to repeal the key parts of the rest and meal breaks legislation. Of course we know John Key never supported it – but Crosby Textor told him to be quiet until after the election because their polling showed that most people think having a 30 minute lunch break and two breaks a day to have a cup of tea and go to the toilet is reasonable.
Also interesting was that the media statement announcing the change came from the Department not Minister of Labour – even though it was in her name! !
They made a tragic mistake with Kate Wilkinson, she is the most appalling minister. Maybe we could second her to the UK and they can have her defending moat cleaning on the taxpayer.
Because I dont want to get banned here I wont get personal, but what were the Nats thinking putting her on the list let alone letting her loose with a ministry. I bet the coms staff are getting huge amounts of job satisfaction and cant wait to update their CVs, be like turning up for a job interview with leperosy.
Next thing they will be expecting workers to use buckets and give up the toilet breaks!
No doubt when there is resistance to this, Calamity Kate will claim there’s nothing she can do and that the science is “very slim” on the issue, then The Goober will rescue her and she will have to resort to saying “my staff made a mistake”.
Unbelievable. She really is an abysmal minister.
The rest is just too abusive Trevor
Is this a belated April Fools media release? Surely that idiot Wilkinson doesn’t think the public will accept the entire workforce losing statutory protection for lunch and meal breaks to save 9 regional flights a week? This is a joke, right?
This is Wilkinson 101. When it goes “tits up” she’ll claim her office “made a mistake” – the ‘blame the staff’ routine works every time.
This is one of those ones where you look at what’s happened, look at who’s involved and just shake your head.
Surely this legislation was brought in to protect the rights of workers who’re employed by less ethical characters who would rip them off with regards to lunch breaks and the like.
You’d hope that with an outfit like the CAA, this would be a non-issue, and kinda looks like it was, up until now.
Honestly, at my work, I tell my staff, look, you are to take 15 minutes, on or around 10am. If you’re doing something and want to finish it, go nuts, if you don’t want to start something new at five to 10, take the 15 minutes then and there. It’s common dog, surely?! If you wanna take lunch early, I don’t mind as long as the place has coverage at all times.
I sometimes think we’re getting more and more like the States, where people look for loopholes, “what ifs” and ‘yeah, buts” in what should be pretty straightforward rules!
This legislation was introduced after parents of young workers became horrified about their children working in the hospitality sector and getting no breaks during their working hours.
At the select committee we presented a restaurant worker who was sacked for insisting on a rest break. His employment agreement didn’t mention breaks and every time he asked for one his employer said the restaurant was too busy.
It is thousands of workers like this for whom this legislation was introduced.
It looks like it is back to the bad old days.
Good post on the Standard :- http://www.thestandard.org.nz/rest-breaks-under-attack/
This is outrageous. The solution was found but as you say the CAA stopped it and said no they have to be at th same time.
Does anyone think air traffic controllers should have to pee in a bottle?
Is it “safe” to allow a controller work a 7 and 1/2 hour shift with no break getting hungry, mentally exhausted and busting to go to the loo?
The solution is simple, let each individual unit work around the Air NZ schedules and fit in a legal break to make everyone happy.
Oh well, if people happen to wet their pants and walk around with that beautiful sound that only an empty stomach can make then that will be just great.
I’m just lovin’ this already, not cranky at all, what a brilliant idea. 
No one in the media or from the political spectrum has raised the issue of safety.
If air Traffic Controllers don’t get a break is safety put at risk? I think the answer would be yes. Do you perform your best when your hungry, or mentally exhausted?
I certainly wouldnt want to fly with a controller like that.
And also has anyone questioned AIR NZ? The cancellation of flights is only smoke and mirrors. They fly many flights a day into uncontrolled busy airports such as Taupo, Whangerei, W(H)anganui, so whats new?
“deleted” in a bag and carry it out in your crib tin”…if you don’t take your crib no bastard’s going to give it to you.
Now that this government is moving closer to America, is the following case a sign of our back to the 90s future?…
‘Women at a chili processing plant in California filed suit claiming that they were forced to wear diapers because they were denied bathroom breaks…Women who did steal bathroom breaks were suspended for three days without pay. The suit was settled for an undisclosed amount in April 1996.(14)’ (National Womens Law Center Washington DC)
What can workers expect when they are denied simple human rights, a break to eat, drink and go to a hygienic toilet facility during their work day.
Frequent fliers will no doubt be running out of luck with tired air controllers. I guess that includes Parliamentarians…
Wilkinson, Tolley and Bennett were great appointments that’ll hopefully increase the chances National’s downfall, whenever that may be. All three have one thing in common, which is there’s very little brain activity going on, and is clearly in their cases a natural phenomenon. None have the ability to listen. Look at Wilkinson’s performance during the folic acid debate, and Tolley over the night class cuts. Whenever they werre asked questions they just resorted to repetitive chanting which made absolutely no sense. Bennett tries to listen but like Wilkinson and Tolley just doesn’t have anywhere the intellect to get anywhere near understanding anything. Her “tart cart” pretty well says it all. I wonder if John Key really is okay with a minister of the crown running around in a leopard skin car calling it the “tart cart”. Go well, Paula, and hopefully soon.