CTU Challenges Brash to Debate Workplace Agenda

The CTU is challenging Don Brash to debate National's workplace relations agenda.

"Don Brash says he wants to focus on the issues this week, and workers' rights is an issue which should be debated," said CTU president Ross Wilson.
Ross Wilson said National had kept their workplace relations agenda under the radar throughout the election campaign.

"Looking at their policies, aimed at reducing workers' rights and workers' ability to collectively bargain for achieve fair pay rises, that's not surprising," he said.

Ross Wilson said National planned to return to legislation similar to the Employment Contracts Act, make it much easier to sack workers, abolish extra pay for work on public holidays and put a fourth weeks annual leave up for sale.

"National says we need higher wages like Australia but wants to return to the very law that pushed wages down throughout the 1990s," said Ross Wilson.

National also wants to reduce the role of health and safety workplace representatives just when our shocking workplace fatality and injury rate is decreasing.

"No wonder National has kept quiet about their workplace agenda," said Ross Wilson.

"There are five days to go for National to front up to New Zealand workers and spell out their plan to reduce workers' rights."