Time for Parliament to reject employment law changes

The Government is not listening to New Zealand workers as it presses ahead with its divisive, imbalanced and unfair employment legislation, said the CTU today. The Employment Relations Act Amendment and Holidays Act Amendment Bills are to make a start on their second reading in Parliament today.

“80% of New Zealanders support the right to appeal unfair dismissal even in the first 90 days,” said CTU Secretary Peter Conway. “More than 22,000 workers took to the streets in October to express their opposition and thousands appealed to the Select Committee to abandon these changes.”

Heather Smith, the pharmacy worker sacked under a 90 day clause, said: “I don’t want what was done to me to happen for many more vulnerable workers in their first 90 days on the job.” Heather’s case along with the others publicised so far by the CTU show how the 90 day law is not giving marginal workers a chance in the job market, but is seeing skilled and experienced workers sacked unfairly. A summary of some of the cases brought to the CTU so far is attached below. 
 
“There is a lack of balance in this legislation,” continued Peter Conway, “swinging the advantage too far in favour of employers. The 90 day provisions undermine job security, as does the weakening of the personal grievance process. The restrictions on union access will obstruct workers seeking to exercise their democratic right to bargain collectively and get union advice and support. It appears that the decision to allow employers to unreasonably demand a sick note for a single day’s absence was made without reading current legal requirements. They show clearly that such demands can apply if there are reasonable grounds to believe sickness is not genuine.”

“None of these changes will make New Zealand more productive, reduce unemployment or lift wages. The Government is turning against the workers of New Zealand. Every time they touch an employment law it is to do the bidding of business interests.”

“The CTU is offering to work with the Government to try and help New Zealand close the gap with Australia. But to do that we have to lift the minimum wage, lift productivity, and establish industry wage standards which return a bigger share of the profits to the workers, bringing greater prosperity to the population at large, not just to a tiny minority of high earners.”

Notes to editors:
Heather Smith’s contact details can be provided on request.

For further information contact:

Peter Conway, Secretary, CTU
04 802 3816 / 027 493 9748