EPMU joins CTU in opposing National’s plan to scrap fair dismissal laws

The EPMU will join with the CTU and other unions in opposing National’s plans to extend its 90-day ‘fire at will’ unfair dismissal law to all workplaces at a rally outside the National Party conference at Sky City in Auckland on Sunday 18 July at 10.30am.

"There is no need to abolish existing fair dismissal laws. Under National’s plans any worker starting a new job will be liable to having a clause in their employment agreement effectively removing their right to be treated fairly in the first 90 days," says Andrew Little, EPMU national secretary.

"Legislating to allow employers to refuse union access to workplaces also undermines workers’ freedom of choice," he says.

"Make no mistake. This is an old-fashioned National Party attack on workers," he says.

“When the CTU calls union leaders together next week the EPMU will be calling for a full commitment from all unions and mass mobilisation of union members and workers to defeat this assault from National,” he says.

"In a modern age of workplace relationships based on mutual respect and engagement, abolishing fair dismissal rights goes against this and is a charter for bad managers to be even worse," he says.

"The heart of existing dismissal laws is the requirement for workers to be treated fairly and have a voice over decisions that affect them; it is not an onerous requirement."

"No worker, regardless of length of service, should have their economic livelihood taken from them unfairly, without good reason and due process."

The EPMU is New Zealand’s largest private sector union representing 50,000 workers across eleven industry sectors.

ENDS

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