Back to the future with the ERB

National’s Labour spokesman Wayne Mapp says a threat by the National Maritime Union to take Auckland’s port strike nationwide is a sign of things to come.

On radio Trevor Hansen, secretary of the National Maritime Union suggested that the strike could be extended to include other ports.

“A move to coordinate further strike action around the country is the first warning sign that the Unions will go all out to get multi-employer collective agreements.

“This wave of strikes is exactly the kind of thing that Labour’s Employment Relations Bill will deliver and will cost the country many millions of dollars and is bound to effect other critical industries like dairy and meat processing at a huge cost.

“This strike action marks a return to the bad old days of strikes, compulsion and multi-employer collective agreements. All these moves reduce the freedom of workers and employers and will make doing business in New Zealand a lot harder.

“And what is Labour doing about it? Nothing.

“It’s nothing just another slap in the face for those who generate this country’s wealth,” says Dr Mapp.

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