Dr Lockwood Smith
National Industrial Relations Spokesperson

15 February 2001

Govt abandons legal efforts to stop strike

Today in Parliament Labour Minister Margaret Wilson confirmed the Government was abandoning further legal action to stop the MAF vets' strike that looks set to cause upheaval in the meat industry, National's Industrial Relations spokesperson Dr Lockwood Smith said today.

"This back-down has made Prime Minister Helen Clark look silly. Only yesterday she boldly vowed to take legal action against the vets.

"Helen been caught out this time. She specialises in making popular statements, but this time she couldn't get the facts to fit the spin.

"The Government has abandoned the meat industry and our farmers, leaving the Employers Federation to try and save the day with a last minute appeal to the Court of Appeal.

"Supported by the Meat Industry Association and Federated Farmers the Employers Federation now seeks to clarify important aspects of this Labour-Alliance Government's troublesome new Employment Relations Act," Dr Smith said.

Ends

© Scoop Media