Strikes continue to increase
Wayne Mapp MP
National Party Industrial Relations
Spokesman
17 October 2006
Strikes continue to increase
Labour’s union-centric industrial relations legislation has led to an increasing number of strikes at the expense of economic growth, says National’s Industrial Relations spokesman, Wayne Mapp.
Statistics New Zealand figures released today show that the year ended June 2006 saw the highest number of strikes since 1997.
“So much for Labour’s plan to enhance workplace productivity,” says Dr Mapp.
“National said Labour’s 2004 changes to the Employment Relations Act, born of sweetheart deals with their union funders, would cause problems, and they have.”
In the year to June there were 59 work stoppages resulting in an estimated $5.2 million in lost wages and salaries – or an average of $322 per striking worker.
“But neither Labour nor the union leaders have any concern for the impact of such industrial action on families and the economy,” says Dr Mapp.
“Labour has reduced the freedom of non-union workers and employers, making it much more difficult to do business and access essential services.
“In government, National will remove the union preference and the ‘us v them’ mentality it has brought to employment law.”
ENDS