Andrew Gorrie/Stuff
Helen Kelly died of lung cancer in 2016, but her legacy as an activist and the Council of Trade Unions’ first female president lives on in health and safety law reform. “Helen Kelly was a fearless activist and leader,” Martin said. “That’s why this book honours her and [we] honour her by attending its [local launch].” Before Kelly’s death in 2016, at age 52 from lung cancer, she served as Council of Trade Unions president for a decade. She spent most of her adult life fighting for workers’ rights and her life was inseparable from the history of the modern union movement.
WARWICK SMITH/Stuff
Humphries Construction carpenter Aaron Malcolm, right, says he appreciates being able to use mental health as a valid reason for sick leave. King recently surrendered his membership to the New Zealand Order of Merit in protest over the lack of progress addressing mental health, despite $1.9 billion invested by the Government in Budget 2019.. Humphries said he agreed with King that changing the way mental health was handled wasn’t just the government’s responsibility, and everybody needed to step up. “It is my hope that by talking about mental health, our team will be more comfortable in raising any issues they may have, and will seek help without the fear of any stigma being attached.”
Paul Mitchell11:43, May 05 2021
Stuff
First Union organiser Dion Martin says the union closed the Westpac branch in Palmerston North’s The Plaza shopping centre on Monday afternoon because severe understaffing poses an appalling risk to the safety of the two employees who were rostered on.
A sudden bank closure in Palmerston North has exposed Westpac workers’ growing unrest with understaffing and a lack of support as customers’ frustrations with bank closures boil over into abuse. On Monday, as Westpac announced its half-year profit had doubled to $583 million, the First Union closed up the bank’s branch in The Plaza because only two staff were rostered on.