July 18, 2007
Media Release

Employer militancy to blame for work stoppages – EPMU

Militant employers must shoulder the blame for work stoppages, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

While Statistics New Zealand data released today shows stoppages are down it is expected next quarter’s will indicate significant loss of working hours due to industrial action taken by employers.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says the rise of employer militancy will cost the New Zealand economy dearly.

“Unions are often blamed for lost productivity due to work stoppages, but at the moment we’ve got 200 miners and the SFWU have nearly a thousand hospital workers locked out by aggressive and ideologically-driven employers.

“Having nearly twelve-hundred people without income day-in, day-out represents a huge loss to the economy both in terms of production and cash-flow and is simply inexcusable.

“In both situations we’re seeing huge Australian companies attacking Kiwi workers’ wages and conditions. The companies involved in this new rise of employer militancy need to realise that Aussie-style union busting won’t work under New Zealand’s labour laws and this kind of corporate bullying is not acceptable here.”

While Statistics New Zealand’s methodology often fails to recognise lockouts as distinct from strikes, the two largest losses of work hours due to industrial action in the last twelve months have both been caused by employers locking out their workers.

ENDS

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