Media Statement
4 July 2002

Alliance must be back to push Labour on Industrial Relations

Alliance leader and Associate Labour Minister Laila Harré says Labour’s industrial relations policy is big on considerations and short on any clear commitments to improving conditions for New Zealand workers.

What’s more many of the victories being claimed should rightly be attributed to the Alliance, she said.

“Labour is claiming credit for the things the Alliance pushed them into.

“Things like 12 weeks paid parental leave and increases in the adult and youth minimum wage simply would not have happened without the Alliance in Government to force them along.”

Laila Harré said there were also glaring omissions in the policy, which should remind workers and trade unions why the Alliance needs to be back.

“This policy contains no mention of four weeks annual leave, and no commitment to the protection of jobs on the sale, transfer or contracting out of a business,” she said.

“The Alliance has worked hard to keep these on the agenda in this term of government.

“We know after almost three years that to push Labour from “consideration” to “action” will take the Alliance.”

ENDS

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