Prime Minister should get his facts straight

John Key’s attack on workers’ unions is a desperate ploy to distract attention from serious questions about his own party.

“We’re a democratic organisation representing thousands of hardworking Kiwis, and we have nothing to hide,” says Bill Newson, national secretary of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

The Prime Minister made wild accusations about union donations to the Labour Party after his Cabinet ministers were implicated in a cash-for-access scandal.

“Our members expect us to support policies which are good for workers and their families, good for wages, and good for the economy,” says Bill Newson. “That’s why they continue to support our affiliation to the Labour Party.

“We’re completely upfront about the donations we have made to political parties. We make no secret of wanting Kiwis to get a fair deal at work, decent training and wages. It’s no surprise we’re going to support parties like Labour and not National, which is legislating to undermine wages and take away the basic right to a tea break as we speak.

The Prime Minister’s desperate accusations about unions funding the Labour Party to the tune of millions of dollars is absurd and a blatant diversion tactic.

“It’s absolutely rubbish,” says Bill Newson. “Unlike National’s elite backers, we don’t have millions of dollars. Last election, the EPMU donated $40,000 to the Labour Party’s campaign. That’s less than John Key got from Oravida for a round of golf, and less than he got from just one dinner at Antoine’s.”

ENDS

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