MEDIA RELEASE

24 July 2008

Ain’t no sunshine for workers in National’s employment policy

“The two themes threading through National policy to date continued today with the release of their Employment Relations Policy,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said.

“Cuts in workers’ rights and entitlements and privatisation are all this party has to offer to date. The threats to workers rights hinted at in today’s release just add to their policy to privatise ACC, allow 90 days of unfairness at work, remove free early childhood education and threaten KiwiSaver contributions.”

“In contrast with other parties who have a record of policies that improve workers rights through more holidays, increases in minimum wages and paid parental leave, it really will clarify for workers and their families which parties have their interests at stake.”

“Nationals policy does not mention how they will lift wages, suggests workers could lose the fourth week of annual leave and have pay for statutory holidays cut, and reduces the democratic right of workers to belong to unions. This is consistent with them opposing all legislation that has improved workers lives over the last 9 years.”

“The proposal to restrict union access to workers who have freely chosen to join a union and to pretend that workers not in a union can successfully collectively bargain, simply continues the boring and predictable approach of National. Instead of supporting the current approach balancing employer and employee interests, this party is trying to drag us backwards.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media