The Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union (EPMU) welcomes Labour’s announcement today it wants to ensure New Zealand workers get the eleven public holidays they are entitled to, every year, by legislating for it.

“The EPMU welcomes the announcement by Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson that he will introduce a Private Members’ Bill to ensure New Zealand workers get the eleven public holidays they are entitled to, every year, by legislating for the holidays for Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day to be taken on a Monday whenever they fall on a weekend,” says EPMU assistant national secretary Bill Newson.

“John Key has let down Kiwi workers by failing to grant alternative days for the loss of the Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day public holidays this year,” says Bill Newson.

“Around 1,000 Kiwi workers in over 100 companies covered by the trend-setting Metals multi-employer agreement negotiated by the EPMU last year will at least get one extra day this year to compensate for ANZAC Day falling on the same day as the Easter Monday public holiday,” says Bill Newson.

“Most Kiwi workers will lose two public holidays this year: one because Waitangi Day falls on a Sunday and the other because ANZAC Day and Easter Monday are on the same day.”

“With all the negative employment law changes John Key’s government rammed through Parliament late last year, including the unfair 90-day fire-at-will law, you would think they could have done something to show working New Zealanders that they care but they couldn't bring themselves to give back the two days of public holiday that will be lost in 2011.”

ENDS

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