18 November, 2010

News Release

Govt inaction fails workers over ANZAC Day

The government has let down Kiwi workers by failing to grant alternative days for the loss of the Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day public holidays next year, says the Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union (EPMU).

“Around 1200 Kiwi workers covered by 100 collective agreements negotiated by the EPMU this year will at least get one extra day in 2011 to compensate for ANZAC Day falling on the same day as the Easter Monday public holiday,” says EPMU national secretary Andrew Little.

"We expect more companies will follow suit between now and Easter, but it would have been a painless gesture of goodwill for the government to ensure the same for all workers when the Holidays Act changes were going through Parliament under urgency this week," Andrew Little says.

“Instead, all we heard was Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson telling Parliament the government won’t be taking action.”

“Most workers will now lose two public holidays in 2011: one because Waitangi Day falls on a Sunday and the second because ANZAC Day and Easter Monday are on the same day.”

“With all the negative changes being rammed through Parliament this week, including the dreaded 90-day no rights law, you would think they could have done something to show working New Zealanders that they care but they couldn't even bring themselves to make this simple gesture.”

"Every time National says they support fairness at work their words have a hollow ring to them."

ENDS

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