CTU Press Release
9 December 2011
A Decent Job – Right or Privilege
The Council of Trade Unions is asking employer organisations if they support decent jobs in New Zealand.
Peter Conway, CTU Secretary, said today, “there seems to be a mentality that if someone has a decent job, then it is a
privilege that must be withdrawn.”
“Despite a commitment to decent work by employers, alongside government and unions in the International Labour
Organisation, it looks like the very concept of decent work is being abandoned in this country.”
“For instance, there has been a conspiracy of silence by employer organisations in New Zealand over the 7 week lockout
of meatworkers in Rangitikei. Those workers will accept a pay cut, but just not the massive one the employer is
demanding. Yet not one employer group has called on the company to be more reasonable.”
Peter Conway said it is little wonder nearly 50,000 people left New Zealand permanently for Australia last year.
“Employer groups keep pushing for labour law changes to weaken bargaining rights”.
“It seems the approach of these employer organisations is that their role is to hunt down every decent job in New
Zealand and get rid of it in the name of competitiveness”.
Peter Conway said that unions stand unequivocally for decent jobs – where people are treated with respect, where there
is training, reasonable pay and conditions and engagement with workers on productivity issues.
“We need a new employer organisation in New Zealand that will promote decent jobs.”
ENDS