CTU Media Release

8 November 2012

175000 unemployed deserve support

Council of Trade Unions Secretary says Peter Conway the shocking jump in the unemployment rate to 7.3% shows the government really must make jobs a priority.

Peter Conway says “7.3% unemployment is the highest rate we’ve seen since March 1999. The government needs to act on jobs now.”

“There are now 175,000 people unemployed, 294,900 jobless and over 113,000 people looking for more hours at work. This means that we have 400,000 people out of work or looking for more work. This is a national crisis.”

“Longterm unemployment is also growing with almost a third of unemployed people (32 percent) out of work for more than six months, and the number out of work for more than a year almost twice what it was a year ago (21,100 compared to 10,900). People are struggling to find jobs, or enough hours to support their families – they deserve support and deserve a government that cares and is prepared to do something to make jobs a priority.”

“These are not just numbers; they are people, and families. They deserve support and the government needs to give urgent attention to the jobs plight now.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Arguably Reassuring: Inspector-General Finds GCSB "Arguably" Legal

Of the 88 individuals:

• 15 cases involving 22 individuals did not have any information intercepted by GCSB.

• another four cases involving five individuals were the subjects of a New Zealand Security Intelligence Service warrant and the GCSB assisted in the execution of the warrants. The Inspector-General is of the view that there were arguably no breaches and the law is unclear.

• the Bureau only provided technical assistance which did not involve interception of communications, involving three of the individuals, so no breach occurred.

• the remaining cases involved the collection of metadata, and the Inspector-General formed the view that there had arguably been no breach, noting once again that the law is unclear.
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