Media Release: FIRST Union
Monday 15 September 2014
National’s economic strategy underpinned by attacks on workers rights
The National Party’s ‘Workplaces’ policy confirms that their economic growth strategy relies on attacks on workers rights, according to FIRST Union.
National’s proposed employment law reforms includes removing the duty to conclude collective agreements, repealing the
30-day rule, letting employers opt out of multi-employer collective agreements and cutting workers’ breaks.
“Since they took office six years ago the National Party immediately started cutting workers rights,” said FIRST Union
General Secretary Robert Reid.
“Now, with Bill English admitting the Party has no new ideas to boost economic growth, it’s becoming clear that attacks
on worker rights are a core part of their economic strategy,” said Robert Reid. “Their own documents even tell them
these reforms will drive down wages.”
“They know these reforms are unpopular with most voters, which is why they’ve waited this long in the campaign before
releasing the policy. It’s the same reason they shelved the reforms until after the election: because even they knew
that hacking away at the rights of workers would kill their chances of re-election.”
“This election the parties of the left have been accused of bribery to win votes in the form of social spending. At the
same time the government is throwing bribes to businesses, by rolling back the rights that protect workers’ lives and
livelihoods.”
“An economic strategy based on attacking workers rights will not address the poverty and inequality that have defined
this election. We need an end to this stone age economics, and a government that puts workers first.”
-Ends.