The National Distribution Union says John Key is scoring an own goal with his attacks on workers rights.
Karl Andersen, assistant general secretary of the NDU, says countries that have strong workers rights legislation have higher wages, better working conditions, safer workplaces and healthier economies.
"John Key has frequently talked about his aspiration to raise wages to Australian levels," he says.
"Australia still has industry bargaining and processes that allow unions to negotiate better wages and conditions. Wages have risen faster there than here because of this - they didn't occur in a vacuum, or just because of a mining boom. If we want to compete with Australia in the labour market we need to strengthen unions' ability to bargain, not reduce workers rights.
"Recent New Zealand experience is that weak employment law leads to low wages, even when the economy is doing well, so John Key is setting the scene for further deterioration in New Zealand pay rates relative to the rest of the developed world."
Mr Andersen says he does not believe employers all support the Governments attacks on workers.
"There are two distinct employer voices in this country. Business New Zealand tends to represent the large multi-nationals and the financial sector, and is an ideologically based organization that has little interest in the well-being of ordinary New Zealanders. Then there are the genuine Kiwi manufacturers who tend to have a more practical approach.
"John Key seems to be overly influenced by the ideologues and is putting our whole economy at risk by following their lead on employment matters rather than looking at the evidence"
Contact:
Karl Andersen
Assistant General Secretary
National Distribution Union
021674310
Bill Bradford
Media Liaison
National Distribution Union
09 622 8439
021 856 074
bill.bradford@ndu.org.nz
