26 May 2004

Unions and Wellington M.P.'s agree

Nearly 100 union members from a dozen different unions and Wellington M.P.’s agreed this evening that industrial relations legislation needs strengthening if the declared aims of the Employment Relations Act are to be realized. The meeting was organised by the Wellington Local Affiliates Council of the Council of Trade Unions.

Those attending declared their support for many of the new elements of the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill, currently being considered by a select committee. They pointed out the need for some of the proposed changes to be clarified and amended. Matters they raised included:

* The continuing difficulties in getting employers to negotiate collective agreements
* The need for provisions that better support multi employer agreements
* The need for genuine good faith, and how this can be enforced
* Their support for the protections in the Bill for workers whose work is contracted out to a new employer
* How employers can use non union members to undermine the negotiations of union members
* Concerns about changes to the equal pay provisions

M.P.’s attending included: Marian Hobbs, Moana Mackie, Nanaia Mahuta, Peter Dunne, Lynne Pillay (a member of the Industrial Relations Select Committee) and Winnie Laban.

ENDS

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New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

Te Kauae Kaimahi

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.

CONTACT NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS

• Website - union.org.nz/
• Phone - +64 4 385 1334
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• Physical Address - Level 7, West Block, Education House, 178 Willis St, Wellington.

• Media Contact - huiaw@nzctu.org.nz
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• Postal Address - PO Box 6645, Marion Square, Wellington 6141.

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