While most of us will be easing down today thought a few nerds will still be interested in the fact that I have written to the Speaker following Brownlee’s Hobbit comments and the release on the facts.
Will continue to look at Key’s comments but to date his most blatant misleading appears to be of the media.
Letter below (more…)
I don’t agree with her emphasis but Fran O’Sullivan has highlighted a less obvious outcome of John Key’s employment relations reform.
Helen Kelly last year initiated contact between Tim Groser, the Nact Trade Minister, and Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO, in an attempt (and in itself a risk on Kelly’s part) to get the US union support necessary for a free trade deal through congress and to push it up the Obama agenda.
Trumka, who is not a natural supporter of free trade, agreed to visit NZ and talk with unionists as well as politicians.
Kelly’s intervention was based on a fairly co-operative arrangement with the Key government, involving a large degree of trust. It resulted from some undertakings – especially relating to consultation.
Key broke his word, co-operation finished and Trumka was told that the positive working relationship no longer existed and he pulled the pin on the visit.
Nice one John. Just to be seen to give wage and salary earners a bit of a kicking at your party conference.
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.
The Labour Party conference starts with sector days. I’m at the affiliates. Biggest group I’ve seen in the nearly 30 years I’ve attended. Interesting discussion of complementary roles of social partnership/accord and industrial approaches.
Real issues around the position of the low paid, methods of growing the cake to ensure wealth for all and questions of New Zealand ownership.
Phil Goff, Helen Kelly and Andrew Little have all made presentations. Phil and Andrew have ten other sector groups to talk too. Really good talks tailored to audience but with themes which I am sure will be reflected in the plenary speeches.
