26 July 2002

National "Economic Policy" Would Deny Young Workers Dismissal Rights

“National deserves to be annihilated at the ballot box for including exploitation of young workers as a plank of its election policy,” the Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

Ross Wilson was commenting on the statement by National Leader Bill English in the TV3 Leaders’ Debate last night that the main feature of his party’s economic policy is to abolish the legal right of employees to take a personal grievance case against an employer for dismissal, discrimination or sexual harassment during the first 90 days of employment.

“It is there in black and white in National’s Workplace Policy,” Ross Wilson said.

“These changes would expose already vulnerable young workers to exploitation.

“It is exactly for this reason that CTU unions have funded a $30,000 radio advertising campaign on Auckland youth radio during the last two weeks warning young workers of these National policies,” Ross Wilson.

“Official statistics show that more than 100,000 workers start new jobs every year and the National plan is that they would be denied any legal rights for 90 days.

“It is these sort of rejected 1990’s policies that are taking the National Party to political oblivion,” Ross Wilson said.

“The New Zealand electorate is sending Bill English a very clear message yet again.”

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