The Council of Trade Unions is welcomingtoday’s announcement of WorkSafe’s new Chief Executive Phil Parkes
“The CTU has had a positive andconstructive working relationship with Phil since WorkSafe was formed in 2013.Phil has a deep and thorough knowledge of health and safety and the issuesfacing working New Zealanders. We have always found Phil to be a good listenerand receptive to new ideas. He understands the importance of working people andtheir representatives participating in the decisions that affect their ownhealth and safety at work. Phil brings to the role an understanding offrontline experience and the challenges that WorkSafe face in being an effectiveregulator,” CTU President Richard Wagstaff said.
“There is no question that while WorkSafehas made significant progress since its formation, it still has significantwork to do to make New Zealand workplaces as safe as other countries we compareourselves with, let alone world leading. Those in control of our workplacesneed to work with WorkSafe and step up their practices. The system of healthand safety representatives and other ways to allow working people toparticipate in their own health and safety needs to be strengthened.”
“The volcanic event a week ago onWhakaari/White Island and the deaths of 18 people have raised some seriousquestions about the regulation of adventure tourism and the way it has beenenforced.”
“Every working Kiwi needs to have theconfidence that at the end of their working day they can return safely to theirfamily. We look forward to working with Phil to make New Zealand a safer placeto live and work,” Wagstaff said.
