Bradford To Receive ERB Petition On Parliament Steps

Green Party MP Sue Bradford will today receive a 60,000 signature petition from NZ Post contractors concerned that the Employment Relations Bill could force them to become employees against their wishes.

Ms Bradford will receive the petition on the steps of Parliament at 1.15pm, the same steps where she was arrested and charged with trespass during a protest in 1998. The charges were dismissed in court last month.

"It is wonderful to be on the other side - helping people to access the democratic process without being arrested on the steps of Parliament and dragged away in police vans, as I was the last time I protested here," said Ms Bradford.

As the Green Party Employment spokesperson, Ms Bradford has been working with contractors to ensure they retain the right to choose their employment status, and not be forced to become employees.

All members of the select committee considering the Employment Relations Bill have been invited by the rural delivery contractors to be present at the delivery of the petition.

Picture editors: the petition will be delivered in a rural delivery van and contractors will be wearing NZ Post uniforms.

Sue Bradford MP: 04 470 6720 or 025 243 8667 Gina Dempster, Press secretary: 04 470 6723 or 021 1265 289

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