26 May 2004
Unions and Wellington M.P.'s agree
Nearly 100 union members from a dozen different unions and Wellington M.P.’s agreed this evening that industrial
relations legislation needs strengthening if the declared aims of the Employment Relations Act are to be realized. The
meeting was organised by the Wellington Local Affiliates Council of the Council of Trade Unions.
Those attending declared their support for many of the new elements of the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill,
currently being considered by a select committee. They pointed out the need for some of the proposed changes to be
clarified and amended. Matters they raised included:
* The continuing difficulties in getting employers to negotiate collective agreements
* The need for provisions that better support multi employer agreements
* The need for genuine good faith, and how this can be enforced
* Their support for the protections in the Bill for workers whose work is contracted out to a new employer
* How employers can use non union members to undermine the negotiations of union members
* Concerns about changes to the equal pay provisions
M.P.’s attending included: Marian Hobbs, Moana Mackie, Nanaia Mahuta, Peter Dunne, Lynne Pillay (a member of the
Industrial Relations Select Committee) and Winnie Laban.
ENDS