Four Weeks Holiday a Huge Boost for Working Families
“Four weeks holiday will be a huge boost for working families and the Council of Trade Unions is very proud of the union
role in achieving it,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.
The CTU acknowledged that it was not part of the Labour Party manifesto in 1999 or 2002 to introduce four weeks annual
leave, he said.
“It is a great achievement for unions to have secured a commitment to legislate in advance for the next term of
Government, and we acknowledge the leadership which Progressive Party MP Matt Robson has shown in the campaign for four
weeks leave.”
There was no doubt that four weeks annual leave would not only be good for families but would contribute to improved
productivity as well, Ross Wilson said.
“This investment in people is entirely consistent with the Labour-Progressive Government’s economic and social
development approach.”
It was disappointing that National and other parties of the centre-right seemed unable to see the benefit to families
and communities that increased annual leave would bring, he said.
“Working people won’t miss the irony that the employers and political leaders who oppose four weeks annual leave for all
workers already get at least four weeks themselves.
“The successful union campaign on this issue is a clear example of the role that the union movement plays on behalf of
all working people.”
For further information contact Ross Wilson, Tel: (04) 802-3812 (w), 027 446 8767, (04) 934-8541 (h) or Christine
Cessford, Tel: (04) 802-3817 (w), 027 243 7031