Hon Ruth Dyson Minister of Labour

Key Should come Clean

Media release 10 December 2006

Ruth Dyson today questioned John Key's abandonment of National's long held opposition to fair industrial relations law and the sincerity of his latest branding exercise.

While it's welcome that National have finally admitted that Labour's employment law has had a major role in achieving the world's lowest unemployment rate, workers are right to be sceptical about Key's motives.

"Key has fundamentally misunderstood the differences between the Labour government's Employment Relations Act and the Employment Contracts Act of the 90s," Ruth Dyson said.

"He needs to come clean on what he means by tinkering round the edges; the public deserves to know:

-Does he now oppose National Party MP Wayne Mapp's 90 day probationary Bill which only two weeks ago he supported in parliament?

-Does he support the "Work Choices" Australian model?

-Does he now support the vulnerable workers legislation which he opposed only a few months ago?

-Does he support keeping the bargaining fee in the Employment Relations Act?

"The basis of the Employment Relations framework is the preference for collective bargaining and the obligation for good faith negotiations. Will both of these remain? Will employees be entitled to multi employer collective agreements?

"Workers and employers deserve better than ill informed, sweeping generalisations," says Ruth Dyson.

"Where is the detail, John?"

Ends

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