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The $15.5 billion current account deficit reflects a range of factors including the high costs of petrol imports during the period, Council of Trade Unions Economist Peter Conway said today.

Council of Trade Unions Economist Peter Conway says that the removal of full employment and equitable distribution of income as objectives in the Policy Targets Agreement is a worrying sign, and has called on the Finance Minister to explain the move.

"The economic outlook and the Government accounts are clearly deteriorating.  This requires an economic strategy from the Government that can gain support from all sectors of the economy,” Council of Trade Unions Economist Peter Conway said today.

The Council of Trade Unions has today petitioned Parliament to send the Fire at Will Act to a select committee for proper consideration.

“National drove their employment law changes through Parliament under urgency last week when there was no compelling reason to do so,” CTU president Helen Kelly said.

Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly says that the ReStart package announced by the Government today has made a start to help workers being made redundant, but there are people who will miss out.

“The Council of Trade Unions is willing to discuss with small businesses the challenges that they face but cannot support any law which removes the fundamental right of appeal against unfair dismissal,” CTU president Helen Kelly said today.

In The Unionist this week: the return of the Fire at Will Bill.

“The Minister of Labour has misled the public on the level of protections available to employees unfairly treated by the 90 Day Fire at Will Bill,” Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly says.

Parliament has just begun pushing through an amendment to employment law to remove unfair dismissal protections for a third of the workforce who are in small businesses.

“Choosing International Human Rights Day as the day to bring in new laws taking away New Zealanders rights to a fair hearing at work is an unfitting, sinister choice,” Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.

Te Runanga o Nga Kaimahi Maori – CTU Runanga says there so many wrongs with rushing through the Fire at Will Bill, and acknowledges the Maori Party’s continued opposition to it.