400 West Aucklanders speak out against National's cuts to work rights

400 workers attended a meeting in West Auckland today to discuss National's proposed changes to the Employment Relations and Holidays Acts, which were tabled in Parliament this afternoon.

Another 1,000 in total are expected at further meetings in Central and South Auckland on Thursday, ahead of this weekend's 'Fairness at Work' rally in Auckland and other centres, the National Distribution Union (NDU) said today.

Delegations at today's meeting were elected to meet West Auckland based government MPs including Paula Bennett and John Key, and all those who were able to would take part in the Fairness at Work rally at Britomart this Saturday.

"Today's meeting was part of a series of 31 meetings nationwide organised by the NDU for its members, and the proposed law changes have become a major agenda item," NDU General Secretary Robert Reid said.

"Across the country, workers at our meetings have expressed their anger at the government's proposals, which will weaken many of our work rights, such as the right to a fair hearing if a person is fired unfairly."

70 people attended a meeting in Invercargill today also, and 30 in Wanganui, Robert Reid said.

Further meetings are being held tomorrow in Dunedin, New Plymouth and Northland, and in Central and South Auckland on Thursday.

ENDS

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