AWU calls Rich out

The Autonomous Workers Union has invited National Party MP Katherine Rich to address their rally protesting her party’s 90 Day no-rights Bill.

The protest is part of a nation-wide union campaign to stop National’s Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill getting to its second Parliamentary reading.

If it becomes law the Bill will mean all workers who start a new job will have no employment rights for 90 days.

AWU Organiser William Clark says the invitation is an opportunity for Rich to explain her support for the Bill. “If it becomes law this bill will strip hard-won work rights from a lot of vulnerable workers and leave them and their families with no security, we’re giving Katherine the chance to face some of those workers and tell them why she supports this.”

“Rich constantly claims to stand for the values of ordinary New Zealanders but by supporting this bill she’s helping to undermine the rights of tens of thousands of ordinary working Kiwis, as far as I can see that doesn’t add up.”

The protest will be at Rich’s Moray Place Office at 12:30pm, Thursday the 20th of July, and will tie in with the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union’s mass rally on Parliament at the same time.

ENDS

Dear Katherine,

As you probably know by now we will be rallying outside your office on Thursday (20th July) to protest your party's Employment Relations (Probationary Employment) Amendment Bill.

We see his Bill as an attack on the rights of New Zealand workers and in particular an attack on New Zealand's most vulnerable workers.

If this Bill becomes law:

• Workers who were not paid or were underpaid in the first 90 days of a new job have no employment law to help them get their money
• Many unskilled workers would be put on one 90 day contract after another - they'd never have any rights
• Workers who changed jobs (and, on average, most people have 6 jobs in their lifetime), could be sacked for any reason, in fact there doesn't have to be a reason, just two simple words: "You're Fired"
• Anyone working a summer job, or any job for less than three months, would lose all their rights

We simply cannot understand why you and your party would consider this Bill to be a good idea or how you can claim it will help the vulnerable workers it strips the most rights from.

So we are inviting you to address our rally and explain to us why you and your party are intent on taking our rights.

The rally will be at 12:30pm outside your office and we will put aside five minutes for you to speak.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Yours,

William Clark

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