EPMU and PSA members at TVNZ have rejected a sub-inflation pay offer in favour of industrial action in pursuit of a 5% pay rise. This will take the form of "surprise stoppages aimed at high profile New Zealand-made programmes". I'd say the targets there are pretty clear: Breakfast, Close Up, and One News. That's a lot of advertising revenue which could be under threat. How much will TVNZ have to lose before bowing to the inevitable?
Of course, the real question is why a Crown Entity Company such as TVNZ is forcing its workers to take industrial action simply to keep up with inflation. Surely under a Labour government we should expect the state sector to be better than this?
Why isn't income tax tagged to inflation?
ReplyDeleteEver heard of the 'wage-price spiral' I/S?
ReplyDeleteM'lud
M'Lud: Yes. And the one thing worse than a wage-price spiral is a price spiral by itself (which is what we have now). At least if wages go up too, you get to keep pace. But that way, employers don't get to keep all the growth for themselves, while demanding that the plebs sacrifice "for the greater good" (namely, theirs).
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately this is not the only example of a Govt Dept, SOE or Ministry taking a negative role in agreement negotiations since the Labour-led govt was re-elected. I really despair sometimes.
ReplyDeleteClose-up could be interesting as I think we can pretty safely assume Ms Woods is not union, but assumedly much of the crew are...
As a previous employee of TVNZ I can tell you that, other than the high profile autocue readers, most of the legions of behind-the-scenes wokers are paid appalingly. As I'm sure Canwest does and radio, TVNZ relies heavily on the 'glamour' premium associated with TV, safe in the knowledge (and the threat) that another bright young thing will eagerly step into any vacancy. The result is a young and often inexperienced workforce. No wonder then that our news is so often dismal.
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