CTU Media Release

17 January 2008

Research so poor you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel

CTU President Helen Kelly is dismissing claims today made by the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) that personal grievance claims are “out of control”.

“Independent research by the Department of Labour, released late last year, shows that businesses experience only 1.5 employment relationship problems per 100 employees and even less than that in the public sector.” she said. “The research also found that there was no evidence that the incidences of employment relationship problems were increasing and that they could in fact be decreasing. This research also showed most cases were settled at low cost to employers.” Kelly said.

“The EMA Northern is notorious for its negativity and eagerness to deny workers fairness at work,” Helen Kelly said. “Self serving research and negative press releases seem to have become the norm from this organisation. The latest press release criticises everything from collective bargaining to ACC, without a single constructive proposal that will build the New Zealand economy and modernise the workforce.” She said.

The DOL research recommended that good policies and procedures to employment and focussing on maintaining good faith relationships was the best method of avoiding employment relationship problems. The CTU runs courses for union delegates to develop these types of skills and are happy to keep working with employers to improve employment relationships.

“The CTU is also working constructively with Business New Zealand to improve productivity and increase skills training – these are the types of things the EMA Northern should be focussing on, rather than negative polling aimed at attacking workers rights.” Helen Kelly said.

ENDS

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