CTU MEDIA RELEASE
30 October 2008
Protection and security for workers timely
The Council of Trade Unions is welcoming initiatives announced today to give workers more security as the economy slows.
CTU president Helen Kelly said a job search allowance helps to deal with the immediate impact of job losses, and workers
would value it.
“This needs to work in conjunction with other forms of support already established around assistance with CVs,
identification of training needs, assistance with relocation if required and other forms of customised support for
workers.”
“We note that the National Party will also be announcing a policy to support workers made redundant, and we look forward
to tomorrow’s release of the detail.”
“The CTU is requesting that National shelve its policy of removing the right of appeal against unfair dismissal in the
first 90 days, from all workers starting work in small firms.”
“This creates huge uncertainty and anxiety for workers, and is an approach that would be bad for business, discouraging
people from taking jobs in smaller firms where their protections are removed.”
The CTU would like an early review of the rules around the job search allowance to consider extending it to those with
less than 5 years in the workforce, Helen Kelly said.
The CTU has released a paper today “Short Term Stimulus for Long Term Gain” as a contribution to the broader debate on
what should be done to support workers, firms and communities during the global financial crisis which is starting to
impact on the real economy.
ENDS