POST: Exploited Worker & Massey Update

content/posts/2023-10-22-exploited-pizza-worker-owed.md

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+---
+title: Exploited Pizza Worker Owed $98,000
+date: 2023-10-22T13:00:00+13:00
+author: Finn Le Sueur
+series: Deepak Dhiman
+tags: ["Wages", "Immigration"]
+---
+
+[Tom Taylor for Checkpoint, RNZ](https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018912057/exploited-pizza-shop-worker-wants-former-employer-put-in-jail) reports this truly horrific case of worker abuse and unethical behaviour. The case of Deepak Dhiman reflects extremely poorly on both the ethics of some business owners and the immigration system of New Zealand. From not being paid anything during a "training week", to being paid $8/hr when the minimum wage was $13.50/hr, withheld holiday pay, no overtime pay, and a [visa which only allowed him to work for that business](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/accredited-employer-work-visa).
+
+<!--more-->
+
+Of course, that visa could have been changed but that could cost up to $750 (94 hours of work, before tax) – which is simply outrageous for someone stuck in those conditions and with that pay. Simply not feasible. In my eyes, this visa leaves the door open to abusive employers and practices and [needs to be looked into](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/496017/accredited-employer-work-visa-scheme-to-be-reviewed-after-whistleblower-s-allegations).
+
+After being referred to Sunny Sehgal, a migrant rights advocate, Dhiman managed to take his case to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), who ordered the employer to pay him over $98,000 in wage, holiday pay and interest arrears. After ignoring the ERA, the Employment Court has stepped in and I hope that they throw the book at Mann, the employer. This kind of prolonged, abusive behaviour and unwillingness to admit wrongdoing is disgusting and New Zealand should not abide by it.
+
+> "I was working in his store like I'm a prisoner," he said. "If he goes to prison then he will know how it feels working as a slave."
+> 
+> - [Dhiman, RNZ](https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018912057/exploited-pizza-shop-worker-wants-former-employer-put-in-jail)

content/posts/2023-10-22-words-fly-at-massey.md

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+---
+title: Words Fly at Massey
+date: 2023-10-22T13:00:00+13:00
+author: Finn Le Sueur
+series: Massey University
+tags: ["Massey", "TEU" "Job Cuts"] 
+---
+
+[As we saw earlier in the week](https://solidarity.nz/posts/2023-10-17-massey-univerisity-protest-cuts/), Massey University is proposing further job cuts, and [Tertiary Education Union (TEU)](https://teu.ac.nz) members were planning to rally at the campus on Wednesday 18 October.
+
+> The university has previously said no decisions would be made until the proposal was "carefully and thoroughly" considered by the college, staff, students and the wider university community.
+>
+> - [RNZ](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/500575/massey-university-job-cuts-protesters-demand-vice-chancellor-s-resignation)
+
+<!--more-->
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+Unfortunately, Massey seems to be feeling the pressure of the financial year, and have resorted to job cuts and instability for students rather than taking a more considered long-term approach:
+
+> "During a financial year, it is expected there could be adjustments...
+> 
+> Organisational finances are never static. However, we are confident that adjustments will be minor and not substantive to the financial drivers for the need for a proposal for change,"
+> 
+> - [Ray Geor, pro vice-chancellor for Massey's College of Sciences](https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018911706/massey-university-science-staff-and-students-fight-to-save-their-jobs-and-studies)
+
+The main thing that everyone seems to be asking for is more – time to see how the new Government intends to approach teriary education. Cutting jobs, disrupting education, and losing capacity from the tertiary education sector is not something that they should be jumping head-first into.
+
+TEU has [a petition](https://www.together.org.nz/provide_tertiary_institutions_a_funding_boost_to_enable_good_long_term_staffing_decisions), and [an open letter](https://www.savingtertiary.nz/) to the Minster of Education. Check them out and get involved!
+
+More reading here:
+
+- TEU | [Stop The Cuts](https://teu.ac.nz/campaigns/stop-the-cuts/)
+- RNZ | [Massey University science staff and students fight to save their jobs and studies](https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018911706/massey-university-science-staff-and-students-fight-to-save-their-jobs-and-studies)
+- RNZ | [Massey University job cuts: Protesters demand vice chancellor's resignation](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/500575/massey-university-job-cuts-protesters-demand-vice-chancellor-s-resignation)
+- Stuff | [Massey University leadership defends proposed cuts](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/300991616/massey-university-leadership-defends-proposed-cuts)