News
Dated 23/03/2007
Victory for disabled workers' rights
The right for disabled people to be paid according to their ability and not
where they work has been won with the passing of the Disabled Persons
Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill, said Disabilities
Minister Ruth Dyson.
"For 47 years, disabled people have not had the same employment rights or
protections as other New Zealanders," said Ms Dyson.
"By repealing the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion1960 Act, disabled
New Zealanders will finally be valued for what they can do, rather than
being defined by the place in which they work."
"The repeal means that all sheltered workshops will have to pay everyone
they employ at least the minimum wage, unless individual workers have an
exemption. It will also mean that all people who work in sheltered
workshops will have access to holiday and sick leave entitlements."
"People working in sheltered workshops - about one third of those who
attend sheltered workshops - will now be entitled to the conditions every
other New Zealand worker enjoys."
"Repealing this outdated legislation is part of a package of wider changes
aimed at ensuring that the voice of disabled people in New Zealand is heard
and acted upon. We have undertaken extensive consultation with disabled
people and their families, and with service providers, over the wider
package of reforms."
Workers who are significantly and demonstrably limited in their work can be
issued with a minimum wage exemption permit. Permits reflect the individual
contribution and skills of the worker, rather than their workplace being
issued with a blanket exemption for all employees.
"The passing of this Bill will bring our legislation into line with
existing New Zealand and international human rights law and further
strengthen this country's commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of
Disabled Persons, which I will sign in New York at the end of this month."
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Dated 20/07/2006
Lynne Crabb resigns from the ACHIEVE
NEC
It is with sadness that I have accepted Lynne's
resignation from the ACHIEVE NEC due to her retirement from her work at Auckland
University. I have spoken to Lynne and I know she is looking forward to being
kept busy by her family in her retirement.
Lynne joined the NEC about 3 years ago as a University Staff Representative, a
position she held for one year before taking up the role of Vice President. Over
this time I have had the pleasure of working closely with her on many projects.
She has advised and made many positive suggestions to help bring these to a
conclusion or a stage where they can be presented to the rest of the Executive
for their recommendations. There have been numerous phone calls early in the
morning or while Lynne has been out shopping to finalise the details of an
agenda or a problem I needed help with.
On behalf of the NEC and membership of ACHIEVE I would like to take this
opportunity to thank Lynne for all the hard work, time and effort she has put
into ACHIEVE and the disability sector over the years, and wish her all the best
for the future.
Kind regards
Errol Maffey
President
ACHIEVE
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Dated 05/07/2006
Achieve meets
the Right Honourable Ruth Dyson MP
at the Beehive
On
Wednesday the 5th July a delegation from Achieve went to Parliament
to meet with the Right Honourable Ruth Dyson MP. The meeting had been called to
discuss the difficulties many students have experienced in securing timely and
appropriate support from Workbridge. Information about the issue was presented
demonstrating that students are being disadvantaged in an apparently arbitrary
manner.
Laura Cronin, senior policy analyst from TEC was also at the meeting and a
discussion on the SSG review ensued. We were informed that because the review of
the SSG had not taken place as promised over the past six years, it was going to
be included in the general review of funding. It was also anticipated that it
could become part of the bulk funding received by an institution, not ring
fenced. We detailed the positive features of the current situation and its
failings. We stressed the point, however, that if the SSG became part of the
bulk funding students with impairments could find support services drastically
cut, if they existed at all. Laura said that she felt this meeting was timely
and she would be in touch to see how we could inform the review process.
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Dated 05/05/2006
John Goodrich is appointed as the
administrator of Achieve
During the second physical meeting of the Achieve executive
this year, the new administrator (John Goodrich) was introduced and signed his
contract. John will be working for us on a part-time basis alongside his other
work as the secretary of the Summit Road Society in Christchurch. John has
previously worked at Lincoln University and in various administrative roles.
John Goodrich and Errol Maffey signing the adminstrator
contract
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