Is the union getting the win over TVNZ in their desire to lay some people off really a win?

When TVNZ sacked me many years ago, a lot of people advised me to fight them. They said I had a good case and would win.

My argument was, why on earth would I fight someone who doesn’t want to employ me? So, we negotiated a cheque and I wandered on my way.

Fast forward 25-odd years and the scenario is slightly different. TVNZ is in a world of financial pain, and they need to do something about it.

And that's the key to all this. They will do something about it, because they can't afford not to.

The fact they didn’t, according to the bloke at the tribunal was because they failed on one of the myriad of clauses in what is clearly a fairly complex collective agreement, doesn’t actually mean anything changes.

All that’s happened is they will go back to the boardroom, meeting room, whatever room they yack about these things in, and re-litigate what has already been litigated.

The people involved get nothing other than more pain and a delayed inevitability and that's before you get to the irony that the two programmes at the centre of this, Fair Go and Sunday, have finished this week anyway.

This has played out the way it has because unions need to be seen to be doing something. This was a move by the unions to make the unions look like it might be worth you paying your sub.

The warning, I would have thought, is it was driven by Michael "light rail" Wood, who has taken his inability to do a lot productive at national-political level and channelled it back into industrial scraps with tribunals.

None of this helps anyone. 

At the end of the day, business is business and if the business is in trouble, which it is, miracles, bright ideas and concessions are dealt with very early on in the process.

No business sets out to do what TVNZ has done because they are bored, or devoid of tapping into all possible ideas.

We are at the end of the line.

As they got to that line they erred, according to the adjudicator of erring.

Michael Wood might feel it’s a win, but then Michael Wood has a job. 

Let's see how many of those he saves by delaying the inevitable.

Is the union getting the win over TVNZ in their desire to lay some people off really a win? 
When TVNZ sacked me many years ago, a lot of people advised me to fight them. They said I had a good case and would win. 
My argument was, why on earth would I fight someone who doesn’t want to employ me? So, we negotiated a cheque and I wandered on my way. 
Fast forward 25-odd years and the scenario is slightly different. TVNZ is in a world of financial pain, and they need to do something about it. 
And that's the key to all this. They will do something about it, because they can't afford not to. 
The fact they didn’t, according to the bloke at the tribunal was because they failed on one of the myriad of clauses in what is clearly a fairly complex collective agreement, doesn’t actually mean anything changes. 
All that’s happened is they will go back to the boardroom, meeting room, whatever room they yack about these things in, and re-litigate what has already been litigated. 
The people involved get nothing other than more pain and a delayed inevitability and that's before you get to the irony that the two programmes at the centre of this, Fair Go and Sunday, have finished this week anyway. 
This has played out the way it has because unions need to be seen to be doing something. This was a move by the unions to make the unions look like it might be worth you paying your sub. 
The warning, I would have thought, is it was driven by Michael "light rail" Wood, who has taken his inability to do a lot productive at national-political level and channelled it back into industrial scraps with tribunals. 
None of this helps anyone.  
At the end of the day, business is business and if the business is in trouble, which it is, miracles, bright ideas and concessions are dealt with very early on in the process. 
No business sets out to do what TVNZ has done because they are bored, or devoid of tapping into all possible ideas. 
We are at the end of the line. 
As they got to that line they erred, according to the adjudicator of erring. 
Michael Wood might feel it’s a win, but then Michael Wood has a job.  
Let's see how many of those he saves by delaying the inevitable.

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Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.

Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.

The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

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Mike's Minute: Was the union win over TVNZ really a win?

Condemnation of the Reserve Bank's latest change to mortgage rules.

The central bank has confirmed it's going ahead with plans to introduce "debt to income" restrictions, preventing home buyers from borrowing more than six times their pre-tax income.

The changes will be partially offset by the easing of LVR restrictions, to allow for more low-deposit lending.

But property commentator Ashley Church told Mike Hosking that the restrictions are a mistake that will be reversed within three years.

He says this will be the "stupidest" move the Reserve Bank has ever made and will "screw up" the housing market at a time when it should be recovering.

LISTEN ABOVE

Condemnation of the Reserve Bank's latest change to mortgage rules. 
The central bank has confirmed it's going ahead with plans to introduce "debt to income" restrictions, preventing home buyers from borrowing more than six times their pre-tax income. 
The changes will be partially offset by the easing of LVR restrictions, to allow for more low-deposit lending. 
But property commentator Ashley Church told Mike Hosking that the restrictions are a mistake that will be reversed within three years. 
He says this will be the "stupidest" move the Reserve Bank has ever made and will "screw up" the housing market at a time when it should be recovering. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Ashley Church: Property Commentator on the Reserve Bank's changes to debt-to-income ratios

Part of the day of upset, or protest, or whatever the Māori Party are calling it tomorrow, is about the way they feel they are being treated by this new Government.

So, although it's Budget Day, it's not really about the Budget.

It's about section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act and the right to vote if councils unilaterally invoke Māori seats and the move to replace or repeal references to the Treaty in legislation.

One important thing that is worth remembering is the image that has been created by the coverage of the Māori Party that they somehow speak for all Māori, when they don’t.

They speak for a small section of Māori. How do we know this? The first is their vote, which is tiny. The second is that 66% of the leadership of the Government is Māori.

Winston Peters and David Seymour are Māori and want nothing to do with the Māori Party way of approaching how this country is run.

Shane Jones, who is also Māori, is doing the business with the Treaty references.

The references in law are a vague sprinkling of virtue signalling as pedalled by the last Government.

They are not prescriptive, or specifically helpful, in just what it is you need to be looking at or doing when it comes to Māori and any given bit of law.

That is partly down to the fact the Treaty itself is a very broad-based document open to a lot of interpretation.

But by sprinkling references to the Treaty all over the place like pick n mix, you can be seen to be doing the right thing, as long as the right thing doesn’t come with too many questions. That was the Labour Government wasn’t it? Lots of feels or vibes and not being too strong on the ol' detail.

By having a reference in everything it allows those who use taxpayer money to support themselves to activate a bit of legal advice, or legal action, if you perceive the Treaty isn't being appropriately nodded to.

To cover themselves, those who have to adhere to these sort of practices then go about falling over themselves trying to second guess what an appropriate nod might look like in the hope they don't upset anyone.

No one is better off, apart from those who make a living off the gravy train. Everyone is confused, if not angry and angsty, and a lot of time and money has been wasted in the ensuing period.

So, if the Māori Party want to waste some more time tomorrow moaning, that’s OK.

It's also a small price to pay if Shane is successful in ending the circus.

Part of the day of upset, or protest, or whatever the Māori Party are calling it tomorrow, is about the way they feel they are being treated by this new Government. 
So, although it's Budget Day, it's not really about the Budget. 
It's about section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act and the right to vote if councils unilaterally invoke Māori seats and the move to replace or repeal references to the Treaty in legislation. 
One important thing that is worth remembering is the image that has been created by the coverage of the Māori Party that they somehow speak for all Māori, when they don’t. 
They speak for a small section of Māori. How do we know this? The first is their vote, which is tiny. The second is that 66% of the leadership of the Government is Māori. 
Winston Peters and David Seymour are Māori and want nothing to do with the Māori Party way of approaching how this country is run. 
Shane Jones, who is also Māori, is doing the business with the Treaty references. 
The references in law are a vague sprinkling of virtue signalling as pedalled by the last Government. 
They are not prescriptive, or specifically helpful, in just what it is you need to be looking at or doing when it comes to Māori and any given bit of law. 
That is partly down to the fact the Treaty itself is a very broad-based document open to a lot of interpretation. 
But by sprinkling references to the Treaty all over the place like pick n mix, you can be seen to be doing the right thing, as long as the right thing doesn’t come with too many questions. That was the Labour Government wasn’t it? Lots of feels or vibes and not being too strong on the ol' detail. 
By having a reference in everything it allows those who use taxpayer money to support themselves to activate a bit of legal advice, or legal action, if you perceive the Treaty isn't being appropriately nodded to. 
To cover themselves, those who have to adhere to these sort of practices then go about falling over themselves trying to second guess what an appropriate nod might look like in the hope they don't upset anyone. 
No one is better off, apart from those who make a living off the gravy train. Everyone is confused, if not angry and angsty, and a lot of time and money has been wasted in the ensuing period. 
So, if the Māori Party want to waste some more time tomorrow moaning, that’s OK. 
It's also a small price to pay if Shane is successful in ending the circus.

Mike's Minute: The Budget is a scapegoat for the protest

There's no clear end in sight for student protests over accommodation fees at Auckland University.

Members of the Students for Fair Rent group haven't been paying rent since the start of this month.

They're demanding a blanket rent reduction and safeguards against future rises.

Group founder Matthew Lee told Mike Hosking that the university has a responsibility to provide safe, secure, and affordable accommodation for students, which they’re not doing.

He said that they also have the responsibility to engage with students and have explicitly refused to do so.

Lee told Hosking that striking is the only way they have to show the university that this is a significant issue.

LISTEN ABOVE

There's no clear end in sight for student protests over accommodation fees at Auckland University. 
Members of the Students for Fair Rent group haven't been paying rent since the start of this month. 
They're demanding a blanket rent reduction and safeguards against future rises. 
Group founder Matthew Lee told Mike Hosking that the university has a responsibility to provide safe, secure, and affordable accommodation for students, which they’re not doing. 
He said that they also have the responsibility to engage with students and have explicitly refused to do so. 
Lee told Hosking that striking is the only way they have to show the university that this is a significant issue. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike's Minute: Was the union win over TVNZ really a win?

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