EPMU releases employment law submission

The Government’s unfair changes to employment relations laws are about giving employers control over the choices workers would otherwise be free to make and will do nothing for constructive workplace relations, the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) said today.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little will deliver the union’s oral presentation on amendments to the Employment Relations and Holidays Amendments Bills to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee at 7.15pm this evening. He will be accompanied by EPMU organiser Kim Ellis and EPMU delegates from the manufacturing, print and media, and postal and logistics sectors.

“Making union access dependent on employer consent just treats workers as chattels of business,” said EPMU national secretary Andrew Little.

“Interfering in the relationship between employees and their freely chosen unions is about saying ‘the boss knows best’ and shows no respect for the choice made by employees.”

“Taking away work rights from Kiwi workers won’t close the widening wage gap with Australia.”

“All that the proposed changes will do is to dampen down current increases in the pay and conditions of workers in unions, as well as the general workforce.”

“Workers in unions have won average pay rises of 4.6% this year compared to 1.6% for the general workforce.”

“National and Act know unions are able to win better pay rises for their members. Now they want to tilt the playing field in favour of employers by weakening work rights and union access as ways to dampen down wage increases.”

“UMR opinion polling found 80% of people support the right to appeal against unfair dismissal during the first 90 days of employment. This shows the Government cannot claim it has a mandate to extend its unfair dismissal laws to every workplace.”

The EPMU submission will be posted shortly at www.epmu.org.nz

ENDS

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