Max Bradford

National Industrial Relations Spokesperson

Friday 11 August 2000

Unions get Government pay-back

Unions have had a big-time pay-back with the Government blocking amendments to the Employment Relations Bill that would've given employees more choice and curbed union powers, National's Industrial Relations spokesperson Max Bradford said today.

"Labour and Alliance MPs have failed to support a new Part 5(a) in the legislation that would have helped employees.

"The Government has voted against giving New Zealand workers the right to choose to negotiate their own collective agreements.

"It's okay internationally and with the ILO to have non-union collective bargaining. The only explanation why New Zealanders can't has to be because it's a pay-back for unions supporting Labour at the election.

"What about an employee's rights, and an employee's right to choose?

"Why shouldn't non-union employees enjoy the same rights as union members, including having the right to strike as they now can under the ECA?

"National will keep fighting today to reduce the costs to business from the Employment Relations Education Leave, the strict strike provisions and the soft personal grievance provisions.

"The Government has had example after example of small business and employer deeply concerned about these clauses in the Bill.

"But time after time it is blocking any change - proving once again it isn't interested in listening to business."

Ends

© Scoop Media