Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Union offers 11th hour solution on Easter trading

For immediate release: 24 August 2016

Retail workers union offers 11th hour solution on Easter trading

The union representing working people in retail is calling on the Government to withdraw the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill and convene a cross-sector working group to develop Easter trading laws the country can agree on.

The move comes after mounting opposition including pleas from a group of former All Blacks, an admission that even Deputy Prime Minister Bill English opposes reform and a 10,000-strong leaflet drop by unions in the Ohariu electorate asking residents to sign a petition calling on Peter Dunne to withdraw his support.

“If this were a conscience vote, the Bill would fail at its third reading,” said FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid.

“John Key is throwing local authorities a hospital pass. The Bill makes Easter trading laws more complicated, not less, and could lead to situations where local authorities in tourist areas vote to keep shops shut on EasterSunday while non-tourist areas vote to open their shops.”

“That’s not a solution, it’s a cop out,” said Reid.

“Easter Sunday is one of only three and a half days that working people in retail can count on as a day off. The Government says they’ll have the power to say no to work on Easter Sunday, but we know from bitter experience it isn’t that simple.”

“A person on a 90 day trial might be out of work on day 89 after choosing to spend Easter Sunday with family rather than at work.”

“We’re willing to come together with retailers, churches, the Government and local authorities to sort this out. There’s already a model for how it should be done – the Equal Pay Working Group.”

“The Government should withdraw the Bill and allow its own MPs who oppose the Bill to be at peace with their conscience,” said Reid.


ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.