MEDIA RELEASE
30 April 2006

‘What Really Matters’ is Not the Denial of Unfair Dismissal Rights

“The key issue facing the labour market right now is how to attract workers with skills, not how to sack them,” said Council of Trade Unions President Ross Wilson, commenting on remarks at National’s regional conference in Auckland today.

“’What Really Matters’ was the header for Don Brash’s speech this morning in Auckland, while his welfare spokesperson rejoiced in National’s bill to deny all New Zealand workers unfair dismissal rights in their first 90 days on the job.”

“What the country needs is more investment in skills and training, in capital and in sound health and safety systems,” said Ross Wilson. “National’s plan to do away with workers’ rights is a direct challenge to this investment approach, and it is a strategy that failed the New Zealand economy in the 1990s and will fail it again now.”

“The bill is the thin end of the wedge for National, who given the chance would also do away with the highly successful network of workplace health and safety reps, throw up the fourth week of annual leave for negotiation and abolish time and half for working on public holidays,” said Ross Wilson.

ENDS