22 November 2001 Media Statement

Minister Welcomes Police Wage Round Agreement

Police Minister George Hawkins says he is very encouraged that agreement has been reached on the proposed terms of the 2001 Police Wage Round settlement.

Police and the Police Association have reached agreement on the proposed terms, which now await ratification by Police Association and PSA members.

The proposed settlement will give police a two percent increase from 1 December this year and a further one percent from 1 December 2002. The term of the agreement is from 1 December 2001 to 30 June 2003.

“This year’s early settlement is an excellent achievement, particularly compared to some of the more contentious and drawn out wage negotiations in recent years. It is a credit to the Police, Police Association and PSA, who have worked constructively to create a fair and timely outcome.

“With wage issues resolved, police can focus on continuing to win the war again crime – and that’s great news for New Zealanders,” said Mr Hawkins.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>