Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 


Second Forest Death this year

Second Forest Death this year
 
The CTU is saddened but not surprised that already this year there have been two deaths and three serious injuries in the Forest Sector.

“The report of a forestry worker killed at work yesterday is tragically the second of many for the year to come, unless the Government steps up and puts a break on the manner in which the forestry industry is operating” Helen Kelly, CTU President said.  

The CTU has called for an inquiry into the most dangerous industry in NZ in which 33 workers have died and 874 have been seriously injured since 2008.
 
“The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is not taking this matter seriously enough. Late last year they released new standards for the industry which are completely inadequate and far inferior to Australian and other international forestry standards. The Ministry is collaborating with the industry to fund “safety” breakfasts to which unions have been excluded and even the provision of information to workers on work rights has been denied, and it continues to blame workers for these deaths in its investigations without seeking out the underlying causes” Helen Kelly said.  

"The industry response is always that “one death is too many” but what about 33?" 
 
"We are again calling on the Minister of Labour to get together a group of experts who can carefully identify the issues in the industry that is causing this carnage.  We know from the Pike River inquiry that there can be serious shortfalls in health and safety practice that require a strong response.  The Forestry Industry is a Pike River every 5 years.  The Forest owners have shown contempt for the criticism to date and need to have stricter rules and controls on the manner in which these trees are being harvested," Helen Kelly said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

 
 
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

Full Scoop Coverage: NZ Budget 2013

"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

The report also showed that the detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>

 

Parliament Today:

Roy Morgan State Of The Nation: All About Attitudes

As the latest Roy Morgan State of the Nation New Zealand reveals, the different attitudes of Kiwis around the country offer a fascinating glimpse into its varied population. More>>

ALSO:

Various Deadlines: Make Sure You Can Vote In The Ikaroa-Rāwhiti By-Election

“You can only vote in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election if you are eligible and correctly enrolled,” says Sue Braybrook, Registrar of Electors for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate. More>>

ALSO:

Unsold Energy: Government "At War With Solid Energy Board"

Despite having known the scale of Solid Energy’s troubles for years the Government was prepping the company for sale just days before it cut 400 jobs and revealed it was in serious trouble, says Labour’s SOEs spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove. More>>

ALSO:

Special Schools: Salisbury Stays open After Court Ruling, Community Pressure

The Minister of Education Hon Hekia Parata met with Salisbury School students and the Board this morning and confirmed that Salisbury will remain open as part of the delivery of service within the new Intensive Wrap-Around Service, along with the other two residential special schools. More>>

ALSO:

Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Trampling On The Rights Of Family Carers

Don’t want to be unduly alarmist about this, but we seem to have an outlaw government on our hands – if by that we mean a government willing to suspend the ability of citizens to seek the courts’ protection if and when the government violates freedoms set out in our Bill of Rights. More>>

ALSO:

Wellington Local Government Survey Results: "Support For Change"

Almost 2000 submissions have been received by the four Wellington councils consulting on possible change to the region’s local government, demonstrating support for change. More>>

ALSO:

Wellington.Scoop: Derailment Stops Wellington Train Services

A morning derailment stopped all Wellington train services for most of the day Monday. A KiwiRail spokesperson said the derailment had involved the 7.43am train from Porirua and there were no reported injuries. More>>

ALSO:

Salvation Army Report: Pacific Peoples Making Progress Despite Increasing Adversity

Co-author Ronji Tanielu says the report shows that while Pacific communities continue to face social, health, education, and economic problems that became pronounced in the 1970s, and in many cases have worsened, the Pacific community is tenaciously making progress in some areas, but struggling in others. More>>

ALSO:

Get More From Scoop

 

LATEST HEADLINES

 
 
 
 
Politics
Search Scoop  
 
 
Powered by Vodafone
NZ independent news