“Harsh and oppressive” standards to rule overtime

From Redback No. 12

A reference to posties only being required to work overtime on a “time to time” basis was removed from the collective employment contract 2000 – 2002. The Postal Workers Association (PWA) had previously negotiated that two days overtime per week was “reasonable”.

His assurance to the PWA that “employees cannot be compelled to work overtime at a level which is so excessive or extreme that it could be characterised as harsh or oppressive or even unsafe” appears to be Post’s (New Zealand’s postal service) new upper limit on posties’ overtime obligations.

“Criteria against which we would review overtime at an unreasonable or harsh level,” would include a number of factors, and work reallocation would be appropriate if overtime reached “such levels”, says Mr Fenton.

Work is a killer

From The Dominion, Wellington, 2 April 2002

More than 500 workers suffer work-related deaths each year in New Zealand. Because the rate is higher than in other comparable countries, the government plans to introduce new legislation to tackle the problem. The issue is more sensitive and complicated than it may seem at first. Despite regular claims of worker negligence in the media, most accidents and diseases are caused by unsafe and unhealthy systems, processes, and work tools.

The biggest problem at present is that firms are not complying with the existing 1992 Health and Safety in Employment Act which requires employers to identify workplace hazards and minimise or eliminate them.

Low fines on companies that violate the law have been identified as the major cause for the grim situation. Fines average $6,200 (US$2,733) per case, making it cheaper for companies to pay the fines rather than fix the problems. Employers fear fines that they are unable to afford. Consequently in a recent statement issued by unions, business, and Occupational Safety and Health department representatives, employers will not be saddled with excessive fines.

New legislation will increase maximum fines, introduce instant fines, and include certain groups such as rail and air crew workers who are inexplicably not covered by the 1992 law. It also aims to raise the profile of the often-neglected effects of stress and fatigue on death and injury.

Tiger Woods urged to shun Nike

From The Evening Post, 9 January 2002

Protesters greeted golfing ace, Tiger Woods, when he arrived in Wellington on 8 January. The peaceful protest took place outside a gala dinner hosted by Nike, Woods’ sponsor.

Protest organiser Rob McEwan said, “Nike’s chief executive earns millions a year while workers in Bangladesh get only [US$]0.08 cents an hour ... We think it’s great Tiger Woods is here to play golf, but we want him to review his support of Nike.”