January 4, 2006
Bah humbug to you too, Dr Mapp
Wayne Mapp and the National Party are the real Christmas Grinchs if they expect people to work on public holidays for no
extra money, says the country’s largest union.
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that Dr Mapp’s claim that the
“Grinch-like Holidays Act” had put a dampener on Christmas because one in three eateries had closed in order to avoid
paying penal rates to staff was poppycock.
“It might have spoilt his Christmas if he was unable to have a latte at his favourite café, but making it compulsory for
employers to give staff working on public holidays time-and-a-half plus a day off in lieu had improved Christmas for the
thousands of people who actually work in cafes, restaurants, service stations and other workplaces.”
Mr Little said that expecting people to give up time with their families on public holidays without fair compensation
was anti-social and anti-family.
“If that is the National Party’s view, then it is the real Christmas Grinch,” he said.
ENDS