Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Industry Standard Agreements plan would take us back 50 years

We don't need backward looking policies like the one today on industrial relations from the Labour Party, says Kim Campbell, chief executive of the Employers' and Manufacturers' Association.

"The Industry Standard Agreements policy is a one size fits all approach that would take us back to 1960's," Mr Campbell said.

"People sitting in Wellington can't decide what's good for businesses and their employees in Invercargill and Kaitaia. It simply doesn't work.

"Business wants to work to build an exciting future for all New Zealanders and we all want to get on with it.

"We want to focus on increasing productivity and attracting more investment to lift our business performance.

"But no matter how its dressed up this policy takes us back to system of national awards and it would undermine all the progress made towards flexible workplaces.

"We don't need a back to the future approach like this.

"National awards in today's world would take us back to where we've been before - crippling transport disputes during school holidays and exports rotting on the wharves.

"As for trial employment periods they are world best practice, and standard in virtually every country including Australia. Repealing them would another backward step."

ENDS

© Scoop Media