"Helen Clark's claim (at the Tourism Industry Association conference in
Wellington today) that the tourism industry's concerns have 'Led to
significant changes being made' to the Employment Relations Bill are an
absolute outrage," National's Tourism Spokesman David Carter said today.

"The submission which the TIA made on the Bill called for significant
changes, and the need for those changes was backed up by a recent survey
which showed most operators expect the number of jobs in tourism to decline
because of the ERB," Mr Carter said.

"The Association wanted a clear definition of 'good faith bargaining', the
removal of clauses which could create compulsory unionism and tight controls
on provisions which would require commercially sensitive information to be
released. TIANZ also wanted the removal of clauses which create the
potential for industry-wide strikes.

"However it is clear that the Government has not listened to the tourism
sector's concerns, as Ms Clark would have us believe. They have made meagre
changes which offer the sector nothing except compulsory unionism and
increased compliance costs.

"Recent statements by the Service and Food Workers Union, who represent the
tourism sector, suggest tourism operators have valid reasons to be
concerned.

"The SFWU have already released a newsletter which says its members 'must
work hard to ensure that our sites do not become full of free loaders
enjoying the same terms and conditions as union members... this means we get
vocal, we get organised, we get political and we get active'.

"These comments should serve as a dire warning to the Tourism sector.

"Tourism is booming and instead of enhancing the sector's direction the
Government is more concerned with archaic legislation which will only hinder
its performance," said David Carter.

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