Hon Max Bradford
Minister for Enterprise and Commerce

MEDIA RELEASE

September 5, 1999

Labour's industrial relations policy to be released on Tuesday will cost many working families hundreds of dollars a year, Enterprise and Commerce Minister Max Bradford says.

"Labour Industrial relations spokesman Peter Hodgson has confirmed that if Labour is in government after the election, workers wishing to be part of a collective contract must belong to a union and have a union as their bargaining agent.

"Not only is this part of Labour's plan to return power to the unions, but it will cost workers dearly.

"Union fees will amount to hundreds of dollars a year for some employees, who will be forced to join a union," Mr Bradford said

"Since the introduction of the Employment Contracts Act, the voluntary use of unions has fallen dramatically.

"When people are given a clear choice, they don't want a union as their bargaining agent.

"It is no coincidence that as an election approaches, there has been an increase in industrial relations conflict. It is in unions' interests to try and create the impression all is not well.

"If Labour takes office and returns New Zealand back to the old days of union domination, the public should expect even more disruption," Mr Bradford said.

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