Announcements today that the our Defence forces are going to make over 308 people apply on the open market for jobs they already hold is an outrageous abuse of power and would not happen if these workers were covered by the standard employment relations law, CTU president Helen Kelly said.

The rebuild of Canterbury is stimulating New Zealand's national labour market, which is showing improved hiring intentions for the July to September quarter, according to the latest Hudson Report Employment Expectations Survey.

Alasdair Thompson, chief executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association, says its only right that women should be paid more than men when their output and productivity is greater than men.

We back higher pay for women when they're doing a better job than men, he said.

The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa is welcoming proposed changes to the Equal Pay Act, saying it will give thousands of low paid women some welcome ammunition in the fight for pay and employment equity.

Millions of domestic workers around the world stand to gain improved working conditions following a vote at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) last week.

Last year at a forum organised by the Retail Institute, New Zealand's top retail CEO's agreed that well trained supervisors and managers are key to retail success and improving productivity in the retail sector.

The Westpac McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index increased in the June 2011 quarter, rising from 105 in the March 2011 quarter to 106.1 currently. However, confidence remains lower than in June 2010, when the index stood at 108.2, and is well below the September 2008 level of 121.2.

"Whitcoulls staff are relieved that the sale process of the former REDGroup Retail company to the James Pascoe Group has now been completed," said Robert Reid, General Secretary of the National Distribution Union.

Since February's devastating earthquake the Unite Union office in Christchurch has been flooded with calls from union members describing horrendous cases of workplace bullying.

MPs like Act’s Sir Roger Douglas who are so completely of touch with young workers should not be critical of one of the most effective bodies addressing youth unemployment, says Labour’s Spokesperson for Employment and Youth Affairs, Jacinda Ardern.