Council of Trades Unions (CTU) officials said the CTU-organised meetings throughout the country had involved an estimated 22,000 people in nearly 30 locations, who were concerned about planned Government changes in workplace laws.
Unions Otago convener Glenda Alexander told the crowd that "unions strive for fairness at work" and Government proposals to remove the right to appeal against unfair dismissal during the first 90 days of employment for all workers were a backward step.
Unions were also concerned about proposed new restrictions on access for workers to union advice and support, and a proposal to allow employers to require a doctor's certificate for one day's absence from work, Ms Alexander said.
"This Government is shifting the balance of power away from workers. That's just not right."
Rail and Maritime Transport Union national president Jim Kelly, of Dunedin, said the Government was pursuing policies which were unfriendly to workers.
It was particularly unfair for young people, who were striving to gain their first employment, to be potentially sacked for no reason, and then have to explain that situation to a new employer.
Redundancies were continuing and insufficient efforts were being made to ensure that skilled workers at the Hillside workshops could work to their full potential by having Government train-building work carried out in New Zealand, he said.
A Dunedin Tertiary Education Union organiser, Kris Smith, said the proposed 90-day changes would adversely affect many workers.
The meeting ended with workers strongly supporting three resolutions.
These condemned "continued attacks on fairness at work" and proposed law changes which would undermine job security and workers' rights.
The Government was also urged to boost job creation, lift wages and maintain a strong public service.
Meeting-goers also pledged to keep campaigning to maintain the rights of workers to appeal against unfair dismissal and other workplace abuses.
• Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie said there had been debate for decades about exactly "where to draw the line" over industrial law.
Most employers were good employers who would not seek to dismiss employees without cause under the proposed 90-day provisions.
Common sense was required, and some fears about proposed changes may have been exaggerated, Mr Christie said.
