The Herald carries a very interesting and enlightening story this morning on Ruth Dyson's reaction to the employment figures released during the week - here 'tis: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10509029
Why interesting? And why enlightening? Well, Dyson is quoted as saying:
""I don't think that this is bad news at all actually, the fact we've got 350,000 more jobs than we had when we were elected (1999) to lead the Government should be very good news for New Zealand.""
This is just another example of a Labour Minister hopelessly out of touch with the real world. I challenge Ruth Dyson to pay a visit to the F&P factory at Mosgiel before it closes and tell the workers there "I don't think that this is bad news at all actually". I would love to see the reaction! Or to step out of the comfort of her office in the Beehive and wander up Lampton Quay to talk to the workers at the ANZ Bank whose jobs are about to vanish to Bangalore. I'm sure that they will tell her that the spectre of unemployment is anything but good news for them and their families.
Dyson may well claim that commentators are over-reacting when they say things like "very grim" and "an absolute shocker" in regard to the employment figures. But her spin and denial is little more than an insult to the intelligence of all of us who fund her lifestyle.
1 comment:
Who's surprised - that's the usual result of huge increases in benefits and the minimum wage!
The one thing that needs to happen urgently will not happen: that is realigning wage rates with productivity - or at least it will not happen until the government changes. This 29,000 jobs are just the drop in the bucket, but with a resposible government they would be a start.
Instead - we have wage rates (and employment) especially in the public service, going up & up & up. Perhaps the New Govt can start Fiji style: a mandatory 30% wage cut for all public servants except police, prison guards, and armed forces. That would at least start things off on the right foot.
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