I confess I do not really understand the debate on national standards for education. This is a sad admission for an opinionated bloke like myself, but I really just don’t understand the teacher’s unions objections to them. I have tried to follow the debate but the union’s response makes no sense at all to me.
It seems [...]

Spam Journalism: The spurious use of sensational headlines to add spice to an otherwise pointless article.
Well, half the headline is ok…
DHBs, union clash over plan to axe 20 doctors
Plans to cut 20 resident doctor positions at Auckland hospitals will increase the pressure on remaining staff and threatens standards of patient care, a unionist says.
But the [...]

Ian Powell, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, is complaining that Tony Ryall has a privatisation agenda because he has removed the requirements of DHBs to use public services unless the private service is superior and he has also removed the need to consult frontline personnel.
Firstly, let me say that the headline “Doctors [...]

President Obama finds reality is considerably less pleasant than rhetoric:
Obama also raised the possibility of a controlled bankruptcy to help either or both companies to “restructure quickly and emerge stronger” – uttering the term that industry and union officials have warned repeatedly could lead to the collapse of an entire domestic industry.
Welcome to the real [...]

I am increasingly of the opinion that strike action is a complete and utter waste of time. It is divisive and generates polarisation rather than consensus. Both sides in the dispute produce increasingly absurd demands and claims. It is disruptive for all parties including union members, the public and the business concerned. It might occasionally [...]

Council of Trade Unions president, Helen Kelly announced that unions are going to conduct a “name and shame” campaign against firms that fire employees under the 90-day probation law. David Farrar appears to be quite comfortable with this, as long as the unions only target those using the law in an exploitative manner. Unfortunately, Ms Kelly’s language [...]

Have you noticed how often people are quoted, (presumably because they are “experts” or, perhaps, represent an “expert” organisation) yet they say precisely diddly squat? There’s a good example of this in today’s Herald. The New Zealand Medical Association (an organisation whose purpose, frankly, is a mystery to me) is being quoted concerning the doctor [...]

I blogged a while ago that I thought John Key was a lot smarter than he seemed. I’ve read a number of opinion pieces that describe National’s use of urgency in very unflattering terms, ranging from arrogant to dumb. The description usually depends on whether the commentator thinks the legislation is trivial (dumb) or abhorrent [...]

Dr Deborah Powell, head of the NZ Resident Doctors Association, announced today that Auckland hospitals are short of 160 doctors and need to shut core services “to keep people safe”. I tend to distrust Deborah Powell’s timing as she is inclined to make announcements at a time that suits her agenda, reinforcing her bargaining hand. She has, [...]

DPF over at Kiwiblog comments on this Herald story about Ian Powell of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS – the senior doctors union) criticising Deborah Powell (no relation!) of the Resident Doctors Association (RDA – the junior doctors union). Ian Powell apparently blames Deborah for the RDA’s propensity to strike and she accuses [...]