October 5, 2007 Media Release

National, Business NZ must come clean on work rights - EPMU

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union is challenging the National Party and Business NZ to come clean on where they stand on workers’ rights, after both made statements today describing work rights as a “compliance burden.”

National and Business NZ were responding to the KPMG compliance survey and took issue with ACC, the Holidays Act and the Employment Relations Act.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says attacking core employment rights as a “compliance burden” shows a lack of respect for working New Zealanders.

“Let’s get one thing straight. These so-called ‘costs’ are about New Zealanders getting a fair go at work, decent holidays and safer workplaces. If the National Party and Business NZ want to cut these rights then they just should come out and say so.

“We already know National’s policy is to strip Kiwis of all work rights during their first 90 days in a new job and to remove health and safety reps. It’s time National came clean on what other work rights they plan to scrap.

“Thanks to our unrestricted labour market and record low unemployment the most common reason given by employers for not being able to expand is the shortage of labour, yet our pay rates lag behind the rest of the developed world and we’re losing skilled workers overseas. This is the real issue and the attitude that working New Zealanders are nothing more than a labour cost to be reduced isn’t going to help anyone.”

Last year the EPMU successfully campaigned against a National Party bill that would have removed all work rights from people during their first 90 days in a new job.

ENDS

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