Wayne Mapp
National Party Industrial Relations Spokesman

18 August 2005

Strikes skyrocketing under Labour

National’s Industrial Relations spokesman, Wayne Mapp, says massive increases in strikes and lockouts show the real folly of Labour’s employment relations policy.

Dr Mapp is commenting on statistics which show the number of strikes over the past four months have increased four-fold compared with the same period last year.

“This is a direct result of Labour’s irresponsible amendments to the Employment Relations Act in 2004.

“Labour gave unions far too much power to negotiate multi-employer collective agreements and now all New Zealanders are paying for it.

“Though Labour may be happy that they’ve ensured unions will remain their loyal mouthpiece – recently funding massive advertising campaigns – the rest of the country is suffering with more inconvenience and disruption.

“It begs the question: what lengths will Labour go to, to strengthen the union vote? Compulsory negotiations for multi-employer agreements? Work balance legislation? Compulsory pay equity? Even more restrictive OSH legislation?

“Only National will restore balance into workplace relationships so that New Zealanders won’t be at the mercy of strikes, week in and week out, “ says Dr Mapp.

ENDS

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