Wayne Mapp - National Party Industrial Relationships Spokesman

27 January 2005

25% increase in strikes a sign of things to come

National's Industrial Relations spokesman, Wayne Mapp, says a 25% increase in work stoppages is a sign of things to come.

Information released by Statistics New Zealand shows there were 36 work stoppages in the year to September 2004, up from 29 during the same period in 2003.

Dr Mapp says the unions are flexing their muscles to enforce the draconian new legislation.

"Constant strike action is exactly the kind of thing that Labour's industrial relations legislation will deliver at a cost of many millions of dollars.

"Last year's strikes resulted in a loss of 6,460 person-days of work. The impact on productivity and our essential industries will be many millions of dollars and will continue to get worse unless something is done to fix this stifling legislation.

"This increasing strike action marks a return to the bad old days of compulsion and union domination. Labour has reduced the freedom of workers and employers, making it much more difficult to do business."

Dr Mapp says National will strip out the monopoly powers of the unions under the Employment Relations Act and remove the 'us' versus 'them' nature of industrial law.

ENDS

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