Saturday, November 22, 2014

Andrew Little: Labour's New Leader

I must admit. I know little about Andrew. Good to know that he is a lawyer and in the last three days the huhaa over the CEO of Cera's behaviour towards women, and the State Services head's ineptitude re the case has seen him take the initiative over the case and call for the sacking of Mr. Rennie. I think he will be a formidable opponent of National and has already made his stamp. This is also the week that we learn how petrol pump employees have had their pay deducted when drivers fill up and take off without paying! In some cases the amount is over $700! As a Union Leader this is just up his street. As a union member all my working life this nonsense would never have happened to any member. And this is the same week almost when the Govt. has taken away the workers tea break in the name of flexibility. Come on Andrew, do something about all these anti-worker measures. 

You can also disabuse your caucus of any middle class notions they may have about the unemployed and those working class people who actually have a job. Unemployment is still high and hidden. The "Rock Star" economy is just Tory propaganda. When this country can say that there are more jobs than the country has workers then we will have a really Rock Star economy. 

You also know how hard it is to buy your own home now. We have homeless whanau and individuals. As someone who grew up in the 1950s, 60s and 70s when so many houses were built by the state and loans from State Advances  and Maori Affairs I do0n't quite understand why the current modern technology savee generations and governments (Labour and National) can't build an outside loo. 

Finally I think, focus on jobs, affordable homes, a fair tax system (more from those who can afford to and much less for those under $25k per year), reduce GST to 10% and free education and health from early childhood to 17 years. Above all lead a truly Labour Party of workers and small business.

But that's just my whakaaro.