Richard Wagstaff
Morning Report Essentials for Tuesday 3 June 2025
In today's episode, the government's making big changes to WorkSafe, the agency tasked with keeping workers safe including shifting in priorities from enforcement to giving advice, the Energy… Audio
CTU on govt's changes to WorkSafe
The government is shifting WorkSafe's priorities from enforcement, to giving more advice. Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Thursday 15 May 2025
In today's episode, the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden has refused to have regular meetings with the Council of Trade Unions and has ruled out undoing the Pay Equity… Audio
Labour leader on use of c-word in Parliament
Labour is defending not condemning a newspaper column about pay equity which used the c-word in reference to female ministers. Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Charlotte Cook. Audio
Workplace Relations Minister refuses regular meetings with union
The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden has refused to have regular meetings with the Council of Trade Unions and has ruled out undoing the Pay Equity Changes. New Zealand… Audio
Why strikes happen on May Day
NZCTU president Richard Wagstaff joins Emile Donovan to share the history of May Day, a historic workers' rights commemoration, after 5,000 salaried medical professionals striked for 24-hours today. Audio
The Beehive doors are shut to the CTU
She says her government is delivering for workers, but Brooke Van Velden won't meet with the biggest worker organisation we have - the Council for Trade Unions. Audio
Morning Report Essentials for Monday 16 September
On today's episode, the government has released a draft list of 35 minerals it considers essential to the economy, the Police Minister is hailing a 22 percent drop in serious assaults in the Auckland… Audio
Union and business leaders on new test for contractors
The government is introducing new tests to define whether workers are employees or contractors. It comes after a Court of Appeal case ruled four Uber drivers were employees and should receive benefits… Audio
Axing fair pay agreements could cost bus drivers up to $10,000 a year - union
Axing fair pay agreements will shave up to $10,000 a year off a bus drivers salary according to the Council of Trade Unions. The government plans to get rid of the policy by Christmas, putting an end… Video, Audio
Workers' rights in new Minister's sights
The new Workplace Relations and Safety minister has a busy two weeks ahead, with promises to axe Fair Pay Agreements by Christmas, and start work to reinstate 90-day trials. ACT's deputy leader Brooke… Audio
Business leaders want to see changes from new government
Business leaders want to see quick changes from the new National-led government, scrapping fair pay agreements and reintroducing 90-day trials.
Unions say that's nothing but bad news for workers.
… Audio
CTU runs ad campaign against National
National is facing heat from another angle after the Council of Trade Unions launched a highly visible advertising campaign explaining - in its words - why the country will be worse off under a… Audio
Slow progress to reinspect businesses putting tradies at high risk of silica dust exposure
Frustrations are building over slow progress to reassess manufacturers deemed to be putting tradies at high risk of silica dust exposure. Fatal lung disease silicosis can develop after breathing in… Audio
CTU hails $300mil plans to transition away from fossil fuels
In what is the country's largest ever initiative to reduce carbon emissions , the government is partnering with New Zealand Steel to install a Clean Electric Arc Furnace at the Glenbrook Steel Mill in… Audio
Call to ban stone benchtops due to risks for manufacturers
The Council of Trade Unions wants the government to ban engineered stone benchtops due to the risks to workers from making the benches.
People manufacturing them are being exposed to dangerous levels… Audio
Hopes for more progress on pay equity from new PM
The Council of Trade Unions is hoping for further moves on pay equity from the incoming prime minister.
Chris Hipkins says his government will fix big issues such as the "inflation pandemic" hurting… Audio
Remembering Union leader Ken Douglas
One of New Zealand's best known union leaders, Ken Douglas, has died aged 86.
Known as Red Ken, Ken Douglas was the inaugural president of the Council of Trade Unions from 1987 until 1999.
He was… Audio
Union on trouble at toilet paper plant
The Union for workers locked out of the Essity mill in Kawerau says the company's launched legal action against its own staff.
The Pulp and Paper Workers Union says the toilet paper company is… Audio
Court rules forced annual leave during lockdown unlawful
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and E tū are savouring a win in an employment case over whether employees can be forced to take annual leave during a lockdown.
The case went to court after… Audio
