Grid of posts 2×3

  • Solomon Islands calling for labour mobility

    While the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) has received a lot of coverage lately, less attention has been given to the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) which is a trade agreement between Australia, New Zealand and a number of Pacific Island states. Negotiations for a successor agreement, dubbed ‘PACER Plus’ have been on-going Read more

  • December-January issue of the Spark online

    Editorial In what came as a surprise to John Key and probably no one else, New Zealand’s unemployment rate has hit a 13 year high; 7.3%. Concurrently the underemployed who work part-time but want to work more hours rose to 113,300 from 109,500. The same day the new unemployment rate was announced Christchurch based manufacturer Dynamic Controls announced it would be closing its contract manufacturing business Read more

  • US Election: Four more years of Obama

    Byron Clark This year’s American presidential election saw a victory for incumbent Barack Obama. Obama was elected in 2008 on vague promises of ‘hope’ and ‘change’. While the election of the first African American president was historic, there has been very little change in foreign policy. Disillusionment is what could have cost Obama the election, Read more

  • Mana – A movement of the people

    The following is the text of a speech given at a Socialist Alliance public meeting in Melbourne on 7 November by Workers Party member Grant Brookes Tihei mauriora! Ko Ranginui kei runga Ko Papat nuku kei raro Ko ng tangata kei waenganui Ko Grant Brookes ahau Ko Helen toku mama Ko Don toku papa Na Read more

  • Iwi may be compensated for end of seaborne sweatshops

    Byron Clark A government agency has warned that the state may have to pay iwi upwards of $300 million in compensation for losing their access to foreign charter vessels (FCVs). The foreign ships became notorious for paying crews of mostly Indonesian workers less than New Zealand’s minimum wage, despite fishing in the country’s exclusive economic Read more

  • Strike Debt – Occupy Wall Streets latest campaign

    Kelly Pope After some months getting off the ground, Strike Debt, an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street, has grown fast in its efforts to alleviate poor communities from debt. The idea of tackling the issue of debt was first discussed at the encampment at Zuccotti Park, and since then has been developed by protesters including Read more