Cunliffe commits to employment law reform

Labour Party leadership contender Hon David Cunliffe has committed to an immediate increase of the minimum wage and rolling back National’s employment law reforms.

“Under John Key workers’ rights have gone backwards,” says Mr Cunliffe. “The latest changes pushed through have seen an attack on collective bargaining and undermining the freedom of choice of workers. I will roll back those awful changes.”

Mr Cunliffe has pledged that in Labour’s first year in government he would:

·     Raise the minimum wage immediately to at least $15 an hour

·      Introduce industry standard agreements to ensure New Zealand workers have a real choice to join a union

·     Use the Government’s purchasing power to promote the Living Wage campaign in both the public and private sectors

·     Ensure the government takes a more hands-on approach to lifting pay and providing job security for all Kiwis

·     Work with unions to protect vulnerable workers, including restoring Part 6A protections to all workers

“I’m committed to making Labour’s work and wages policy central to my plan to lift living standards,” said Mr Cunliffe.

“I want to take New Zealand into the future, not repeat National’s mistakes of dragging our labour laws back into failed policies of the past.

“The relationship between workers and employers is not equal. It never has been; it never will be. That’s why we need policies and laws that are fair, just and provide protection.

“I’m here to work hard, and I’ll take the fight to John Key and the National Party. I will be fighting for the rights of today’s workers, and the workers of tomorrow. And I mean to deliver.”

ENDS

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