7 September 1999

Media release

Unions have Labour in a strangle-hold

But we mustn't let the unions strangle our economy, said the Hon Roger Sowry, Minister of Social Services, Work and Income, commenting on Labour's industrial relations policy.

"As minister responsible for employment, it's clear to me that this policy would cost jobs, weaken our economy and plunge new Zealand back into the dark days of industrial strife."

There are 320,000 small and medium-sized businesses out there who are terrified of being caught up in industrial action - many of these just wouldn't be able to cope.

"We've been working hard to make it easier for businesses to hire more staff. This will undo the outstanding industrial relations record this country has achieved under the Employment Contracts Act and see unemployment start to grow again."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>