Hundreds turn out to protest against employment law
changes, in a march and rally in Dunedin yesterday. Photo
by Ellie Constantine.
Hundreds of Dunedin workers added their voices to the
thousands of others across New Zealand protesting against
employment law changes yesterday.
The rally, organised by the New Zealand Council of Trade
Unions (CTU), marked the start of a campaign for fairness at
work.
CTU secretary Peter Conway addressed the crowd of about 500
in the Octagon, after it marched up George St, and spoke
about the right of all workers to decent pay and conditions
and to be treated with respect.
He argued against the Government's move to extend the 90-day
probation law to all businesses, to restrict union access to
workplaces, and force workers to produce medical certificates
for every day they were unwell.
The changes were "a disgrace" and a sign the Government had
"turned against the workers".
The Bill to enact the changes passed its first reading in
Parliament on Thursday 64-57 after strident protests from the
Labour Party.
The probation period now covers businesses with 19 or fewer
employees.
Unions say when it covers all businesses it would affect
400,000 workers - the number who start work or change jobs
each year.
During the probation period, employees can be sacked without
the right to claim unfair dismissal.
The Government says it has already benefited hundreds of
unemployed people who would not have been hired without it.
If the Bill becomes law, union access will be conditional on
the consent of the employer. Rally participants were treated
to a performance from American singer-songwriter David
Rovics, and heard from workers concerned about the changes.
Jo Hunter, a teacher, said she was "sick and tired" of the
"insidious creep in the erosion of workers' rights", and Dave
Kearns called on the group to "change the Government".
"John Key knows this is not about fairness. It's about giving
all the power to one side of the table, the side that his
friends sit on," Mr Kearns said.
Mr Conway urged people to make submissions on the Bill, sign
petitions and to continue talking about the changes to raise
awareness.
Other rallies were held in Auckland, Wellington and
Christchurch on Saturday.
A national day of action has been planned for October 20.
- ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz
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