Police Spying on Unions a Waste of Resources

The police are abusing their powers by spying on legitimate union activities says the National Distribution Union.

NDU National Secretary Laila Harre says a file from the police provided to the union after an Official Information Act request shows the police are keeping details of day-to-day union business on their criminal investigation database.

“Notices of pickets and campaigns against things like youth rates are being gathered and stored by the police at a time when communities are crying out for more local police resources,” she says.

“Maintaining these files treats union activity and unions as a constant criminal threat.”

Ms Harre says none of the information the police are holding is secret.

“Much of what they have filed is notices of meetings and newsletters consisting of a roundup of events. All this stuff was widely disseminated – we wanted people to know about it.”

Ms Harre says the file also shows the police are monitoring international workers solidarity groups and a range of other activist organisations.

ENDS

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