Employment Law

The revelation that the Government’s proposal to allow employers to demand a medical certificate after only one day’s absence was made without any consultation with the Department of Labour only serves to confirm the CTU’s view that it is the ‘straw man’ in the current package of employment reforms.

The Government is not allowing sufficient time for submissions on its far-reaching employment law proposals, said the CTU today. The amendments to the Employment Relations Act and the Holidays Act have been allocated less than three weeks for submissions to be made by 13 and 17 September respectively.

The CTU determination to stick by workers unfairly dismissed under the 90 day law delivered results today after the Employment Court found young pharmacy worker Heather Smith was not only unjustifiably dismissed by her employer (due to a failure to comply with the contracting requirements of the Employment Relations Act), but the employer’s failure to treat her in good faith or to comply wi

Several thousand workers rallied in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today in protest at the Government’s proposed employment law changes. The rallies, organised by the CTU brought together workers from every sector of the economy in a celebration of Fairness at Work.

Workers across New Zealand will come together at a series of Fairness at Work rallies on Saturday and Sunday in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin to voice their opposition to the employment law changes introduced to Parliament on Thursday.

The CTU says that changes to the Employment Relations Act and Holidays Act introduced to Parliament today are unfair and unnecessary.

The CTU has released another story of unfair dismissal under the controversial 90 day provision for small enterprises.

This one involves a part time worker who is still at school. Florence was dismissed on the 85th day of her 90 day period and was completely unaware of anything that could have prompted the dismissal.

The CTU has published the first of a number of cases of workers unfairly dismissed under the 90 Day ‘Fire at Will’ law. Pharmacy worker Heather Smith was featured on national TV last night and a more detailed video of her experiences is now viewable at www.youtube.com/NZCTU.

The CTU President Helen Kelly today told students at Otago University not to be surprised or sucked in if the Government’s proposal to allow employers to request a doctor’s note for any day of sickness is withdrawn or amended.

The Government is putting business interests before workers’ health and safety and dignity by rolling back the Rest and Meal Breaks legislation introduced just last year, the CTU told Select Committee today. The wellbeing and fair treatment of thousands of workers are at risk by removing the right of workers to take reasonable breaks during their working day.