A better New Zealand is possible if the Government
stopped fearing unions and adopted reforms suggested by the
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions that respected the
rights of workers.
The PSA today said it strongly
supported the CTU’s New Deal for Workers launched at its
annual conference.
“Law changes are desperately needed
after the damage inflicted by the most anti-worker
government in a generation,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National
Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga
Here Tikanga Mahi.
“If the Government really wants a
productive, high-wage economy, it needs a positive labour
relations environment that respects all workers. The New
Deal for Workers provides the blueprint.
“Last week’s
strikes by public sector workers showed just how bad labour
relations have become. This Government disrespects the very
workers who are key to an efficient public sector and
critical to a productive economy that meets our
challenges.
“There needs to be a fundamental
reset.”
The PSA backs the CTU’s three key priorities
for the first 100 days of a new government: restoring Fair
Pay Agreements, introducing Automatic Union Membership, and
preventing sham contracting.
“These reforms will
improve workers’ rights, lift labour productivity, and help
build a higher wage economy. Countries that perform well
economically respect their workers through strong collective
bargaining.
“Yet the Government has made it a priority
to erode the rights of workers, axing Fair Pay Agreements,
reinstating 90-day fire-at-will, scrapping pay equity for
women, and suppressing the minimum wage – all while claiming
to support economic growth, growth that has failed to
materialise.
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“The CTU is right to demand political
parties commit to these reforms in their first 100 days.
It’s time governments stopped fearing workers and worked
in partnership with unions to achieve our common goal of
raising living standards for all.”
The
Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing
and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central
government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health
boards and community
groups.
