Job Stats Show Government Is Failing Workers

Rising unemployment and stagnant wages show the Government is failing workers, says the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

Job statistics out today show unemployment is up to 6.4% and wages have stagnated, with nearly half of all workers not receiving a pay increase in the last year.

EPMU director of organising Rachel Mackintosh says the Government should drop its plans to gut the Employment Relations Act.

“These figures show that four years of cutting employment rights has failed to grow jobs or lift wages. Working families are finding it harder than ever to pay for basics like power and food, and the Kiwi dream of home ownership is fast slipping away.

“This is a record of failure and New Zealanders deserve better. Our Government should be focusing on creating jobs, not looking for new ways to cut workers’ pay.

“We urge the Government to listen to workers and drop these unfair laws.”

More than 12,000 New Zealanders have sent in submissions against National’s employment changes. Later this month unions will hold rallies in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to demand fairer workplace laws.

Proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act will allow employers to:

Refuse to negotiate a collective agreement with their employees
Pay new workers less than the rate in the collective agreement
Opt out of industry agreements in order to undercut their competitors on wages
Deny workers meal and rest breaks
Reduce the wages and conditions of vulnerable workers such as cleaners when a contract changes.
Dock the pay of workers taking partial strike action
Impose more restrictions on the right to strike
Refuse to provide employees the information they need to challenge an unfair redundancy or dismissal

For more information about the rallies visit www.workrights.org.nz.

ENDS

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