Printers nervous about employment Bill

Printing Industries New Zealand, the body that represents a large number of printing companies, says its members are ‘nervous’ about the impact on their business of the Employment Relations Bill.

“Printing is a service industry, and needs to operate in a flexible industrial relations environment to meet customer expectations,” says Chief Executive Warren Johnson. “Since the demise of the restrictive national award system, employers and employees have been able to negotiate changed working structures to everyone’s advantage.

“But the Employment Relations Bill as it has been referred back to Parliament has the potential to create uncertainty in the workplace. Our industry is very capital intensive with many operations having millions of dollars worth of plant and equipment that must be kept operating for extended periods. To remain competitive in the international marketplace, company owners must have surety of production. The potential for impact from outside influences through the introduction of multi employer agreements is unacceptable to our members.

“What our industry does not need is uncertainty brought about by a new industrial relations environment. Issues such as the interpretation of “good faith bargaining”, the disruption caused by union officials visiting and attempting to recruit members during working hours, paid time off for union meetings, and the increased potential to have a personal grievance brought against you are but a few of the concerns being expressed.

The printing industry does not need the Government to drop on it a totally new piece of legislation that has the potential to seriously impact on an industry already under pressure,” Mr Johnson said.

End

For further information contact:

Warren Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Printing Industries New Zealand
Telephone 0800 654 455
Mobile 025 454 115

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