ACT proposes practical solution to vet strike
ACT proposes practical solution to vet strike
Thursday 15th Feb 2001 Richard Prebble Media Release -- Economy
ACT leader Hon Richard Prebble said today he had drafted an amendment to the Labour government’s Employment Relations Act that would enable MAF to continue to issue export certificates and keep the freezing works open.
“The sole reason freezing works are forced to close is that under section 97 of the Employment Relations Act, for the first time employers cannot order employees to do the work of strikers or hire staff to do the strikers’ work.
“This means that MAF management vets cannot be instructed to issue export certificates and new vets cannot be hired to keep the export works going.
“Margaret Wilson told the House yesterday that she did not understand this when this was pointed out to her last year. Today the Prime Minister has said the government would take “every legal measure” to stop the strike.
“Accordingly I have drafted a bill to repeal section 97.
“I have asked the Minister to pass this bill through all stages under urgency today.
“It is a very short bill, it could be law by 6pm tonight so ensuring the freezing works stay open, even if vets strike at midnight.
“The rural sector needs to know this strike is 100% preventable. If the strike goes ahead, the Labour-Alliance-Green coalition is solely responsible,” Hon Richard Prebble said.
ENDS
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.