Key's wage promise is a con - EPMU

February 13, 2008

National leader John Key's promise in today's media to raise wages is a con, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

Key told media this morning that a National Government would raise wages but did not provide any substance on how they would do so.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says National needs to come clean on their employment policies.

"From what we've heard today John Key has no other plan for Kiwi workers than to cut taxes, and with a thirty percent wage gap with Australia that's no answer at all.

"For workers to get a fair share of our economic prosperity we need to see good quality collective bargaining and real productivity gains through sound investment and management, but the one employment policy we've seen from National so far undercuts both of these.

"It's all very well to promise higher wages but given National's shameful record when last in government, and their recent attempts to take rights from workers in a new job, John Key needs to explain to New Zealanders exactly how he plans to do this."

In 2006 the EPMU successfully campaigned against a National Party bill to remove workers' right to appeal against being unfairly sacked during their first 90 days in a new job. This is still official National Party policy.

ENDS

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