Key’s Proposals take New Zealand Backwards

John Key’s speech today was meant to be about growing the economy. But the only new ideas he put to the National Party conference were around undermining the ability of Kiwi workers to improve their wages and working conditions, Labour Leader Phil Goff said today.

“The absence of any new ideas to grow the economy, wages and living standards means that we will continue to drift and fall further behind Australia,” Phil Goff said.

“Allowing all New Zealanders to be sacked during their first three months of employment without any reason being given is not a plan for growth and jobs.

“It simply undermines further employment security for Kiwis when unemployment is already high and growing.

“No New Zealander deserves to be sacked without good cause and this proposal means that vulnerable workers can be sacked without being able to question or challenge the reason for their dismissal.

“John Key’s proposal to stop union access to workers without the employer’s consent breaches an undertaking he gave the Council of Trade Unions that this was off the table,” Phil Goff said.

“Once more he has broken his word and shown bad faith.

“Mr Key’s choice of the National Party conference to make these announcements shows that they are politically motivated. If he really wanted a constructive way forward he would have entered into good faith discussions with those directly affected.

“New Zealand already has amongst the most flexible labour laws in the developed world.

“If he was really interested in growth, John Key’s speech today would have promoted a skills strategy.

“It would have proposed strengthening Kiwisaver to build savings for investment.

“It would have promoted research and development and put forward proposals for a clean tech and added value economy.

“Instead it was simply an attack on Kiwi worker’s conditions an wages,” Phil Goff said

ENDS

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