90 Days With No Rights - Wrong!

Union Campaigning Beats 90 Day No Rights Bill

In early 2006 the National Party introduced a Bill to Parliament to set up a 90 day 'probationary' period for all new employees. 

National's Bill would have meant no right of appeal against unfair dismissal in the first 90 days, and would have given the boss the right to sack workers for any reason - no basis for the decision would be needed.  The Bill was supported by a majority in Parliament when it came up for its first reading in March, and went to select committee.

The debate on the Bill provoked a significant response from workers throughout the country, evidenced by the big turnouts at union rallies in Auckland and Wellington. 

On November 22, Parliament voted down the National party bill, with only the 5 MPs from Act and United Future joining the National caucus in voting for the Bill to continue through its remaining stages.  Labour, New Zealand First, the Greens, the Maori Party and the Progressive Party voted against.   Read a report about it in the November 24 issue of the CTU's newsletter The Unionist.

The bill was beaten through the actions of thousands of union members and members of the community - at the rallies, leafleting at fleamarkets, lobbying MPs, postcard campaigns and campaign websites.

This campaign page was set up to help unions with the campaign against National's Bill.  Parts of it have been archived below.

Click here to read all media releases on the 90 Days No Rights Bill

Other Campaign Sites

A number of unions in New Zealand established campaign sites with different resources and material for the campaign in 2006.