Lockwood Smith National Industrial Relations Spokesperson

11 October 2001

Another strike to add to Government's list

Today's strike action by secondary school teachers is further proof that the Government's industrial relations laws are unravelling, says National's Industrial Relations spokesperson, Lockwood Smith.

"The total number of work stoppages this year is already around 30, compared with 21 for the whole of last year. It is time the Government faced up to this growing burden of industrial unrest.

"Today's action by teachers shows that the Labour Minister's attempts to pander to the unions isn't working. What it instead shows is that the unions are rapidly becoming a law unto themselves.

"National warned the Government to expect growing disruption over its employment law changes. We've now had disruptions in our schools, hospitals, prisons, meatworks, manufacturing plants, on our waterfront - almost every sector of the economy. And Margaret Wilson considers this a success?" asked Dr Smith.

Ends

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