Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Changing the News

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  • Sacha,

    Kerre Woodham does nothing to challenge her reputation for deep thought, this time about employment relations.

    Terry was on a two week unpaid work experience. After that, he just stayed, still without a wage, and worked every hour God sent to scrape together enough money to survive while he learned the tools of the trade.

    The company got an enthusiastic worker bee for nothing; the kid got the experience he needed to get him the first foothold on the ladder of a career that's taken him all around the world and to the top of his game.

    I suppose the unions would see it as exploitation but Terry was grateful for the opportunity and TV3 got a talented young camera assistant for nothing.

    Surely a win/win situation. And isn't that what the 90-day trial is all about?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Seka,

    Those creating the laws are also generally from the same socio-economic background as television reporters.

    So whether directly or indirectly, the laws are probably constructed purposefully around every aspect of opinion for that socio-economic group.

    I don't think it's a mistake that reporters are allowed to read the lies, misinformation and one sided stories that they do so frequently.

    For a show that generates as much income as TV3 news to not pay everyone working for them is rather disgusting... what ridiculous salary are their reporters on again?

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2010 • 8 posts Report Reply

  • Seka,

    And as for the 90-day trials... it didn't take this policy for me to understand John needs the boot, I'm surprised he was voted in in the first place.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2010 • 8 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    There's hope yet - WorkChoices was John Howard's Waterloo.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    There's hope yet - WorkChoices was John Howard's Waterloo.

    Garden centre anecdata from the Dim-Post, as well as this:

    Personally this is just going to make me more risk averse about changing jobs: if I move to a new employer and they suddenly run into budget problems a couple of months after hiring me then I could be summarily dismissed with no warning and no redundancy. Not a chance I’m willing to take while I have a mortgage to pay.

    Sure, this law might make employers more likely to take risks when hiring – but employers already have the option of hiring new employees on three month contracts before making them permanent. So the benefits are likely to be negligible – medium and large companies can now avoid this minor bureaucratic overhead – with the drawback being decreased labour market mobility.

    So how do those costs and benefits balance out? New Zealand is already one of the easiest countries in the world for companies to do business – that just got slightly easier. Great. Decreasing labour mobility will reduce productivity and wage growth. National based its entire election campaign on improving these two metrics and this policy is another indication that they have absolutely no idea of how to do that – so why not toss some red meat to their members and donors at their conference this weekend instead?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    And if well-established workers are facing the chop, they'll probably be more bolshie about it. It worked in France - all it took was a couple of padlocks.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Seka,

    On the news topic :

    Who's seen the Sunday Agenda website lately?

    The Executive Director advertises on the main page of the government funded programme's website that he "likes Nationals broadcasting policy"

    Are they allowed to use tax payer money to promote a particular political ideology? Surely not?

    Tried to contact him about this but their email system rejects all incoming messages. (Not surprised).

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2010 • 8 posts Report Reply

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