Dennis Maga
Morning Report Essentials for Thursday 5 December 2024
On today's episode, the culling of 80,000 hens is now into its second day at Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm in Otago as biosecurity officials work to contain an outbreak of the H7N6 bird flu virus… Audio
Union looks into claims of trafficking
More than a dozen Filipinos say they've been trafficked to New Zealand, facing death threats to stay silent and their families back home targeted. Workers First Union General Secretary Dennis Maga… Audio
Court rules Uber drivers are employees not contractors
The multi-billion dollar global rideshare company Uber lost a landmark appeal in a New Zealand court, which ruled that drivers should be treated as employees, not contractors. FIRST Union General… Audio
ELE receivership leaves hundreds uncertain of working future
Hundreds of migrant workers are unsure whether they can stay in the country after their employer went into receivership on Thursday.
The ELE labour hire and recruitment firm was unable to pay staff… Audio
Telling customers to respect retail staff a sad indictment
The union representing retail staff says it's a sad indictment on the public that customers need to be told to respect workers. Woolworths says there has been a 131% rise in physical assaults against… Audio
Public transport campaigner not happy with budget
A public transport campaigner is giving the government's budget just 3.5 out of 10.
The two month extension of half price fares and a permanent cut for community card holders did little to sweeten… Audio
Unions preparing for staff shortages due to Omicron
The transport and freight industry says it may need to be more flexible with prioritising products, if a Covid-19 outbreak hits supply chains.
Supermarkets are already stockpiling and industries are… Audio
Union supports workers' right to refuse vaccine
First Union supports border workers' right to refuse the Covid vaccine. The Covid 19 Response Minister is moving to ensure all staff at the border are vaccinated. But if a worker decides they don't… Audio
First Union responds to new NZ horticulture worker incentives
The government is this morning announcing new incentives to attract New Zealand workers to the wine and horticulture sector.
This comes alongside the news that 2000 seasonal workers from the Pacific… Audio
Government grants border exemption for 2000 RSE workers
The Government is giving a border exemption to two thousand seasonal workers. It has come as a relief for the horticulture and wine industries.
Experienced workers will begin arriving from the… Audio
The Warehouse using Covid-19 to justify redundancies - union
Up to 750 jobs are set to go from the Warehouse.
The retailer confirmed the cuts yesterday, after the chief executive previously flagged that up to 1000 jobs could be lost across The Warehouse Group.
…The Warehouse announces job losses and store closures
Union delegates representing Warehouse employees say the retail giant has used Covid-19 to justify decisions that will leave hundreds of workers without jobs and thousands more with significant… Audio
Coronavirus: Lawyer warns workers will fall through cracks
An employment lawyer is warning many workers will fall through the cracks under the Government's Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme.
The Finance Minister Grant Robertson has dramatically expanded the… Audio
First Union challenges all banks to address gender pay gap
The union representing bank workers is challenging all banks to follow Westpac's lead and put more women into high paying roles. Audio
ANZ boss excused where staff would be punished - union
First Union general secretary Dennis Maga says departing ANZ chief executive David Hisco's actions - using company expenses for a chauffeur-driven car and wine storage - were especially galling when… Audio
FPA report details leak
The working Group on fair pay agreements has delivered its report to Workplace relations Minister Ian Lees Galloway. The full details aren't known, but a few of the details have been leaked. Audio
Union dismayed by charges of two decades of slavery
A union leader who represents migrant workers is dismayed a man accused of human trafficking and slavery in New Zealand went undetected for more than 20 years. Viliamu Samu (better known as Joseph… Audio
Chorus subcontractors exploited - First Union
Subcontracters working for broadband installer Chorus have been exploiting migrant workers - taking their cash and promising visas in return. Chorus chief executive Kate McKenzie said the company had… Audio
Migrant workers rep says he's fed up with exploitation here
An investigation by the Labour Inspectorate found more than half of the Bay of Plenty kiwifruit companies they looked into were failing to provide the minimum wage, correct holiday pay or even give… Audio
Union welcomes Masala's tax forfeiture
A union fighting the exploitation of migrant workers hopes it has found a potent new ally - the tax department. Dennis Maga from First Union explains. Audio
