When workers rights are under attack...

National party Conference protest He came to brag to National Party delegates about his government's attack on young and vulnerable workers but hundreds of workers and unionists had a message waiting for John Key outside the conference: we will fight for our rights at work.

Key was invited to come outside and talk to the workers whose rights he is attacking. He wouldn't come out so the many of the workers decided to go in.

They wanted to tell Key and the National party what they think of their plans, which include:

-Extending 90 day period with no right of appeal against unfair dismissal to all workplaces - fire at will to apply to all new workers at all businesses.

-Employers will be able to ‘communicate’ directly with workers during collective bargaining - effectively bypassing the elected union reps.

-Union access will require employer consent, which ‘cannot be unreasonably withheld’ - this means unions will have to prove access is being illegally denied in court if employers don't want their workers talking to union reps.

-Reduced focus on procedural fairness in personal grievance cases.

-The Government will ‘ensure that an employer's processes are not the subject of pedantic scrutiny’.

-The Employment Court will have less ability to question the reason for dismissal as the test is changed from what a reasonable employer ‘would’ do, to ‘could’ do.

-Removing reinstatement as the primary remedy in dismissal cases.
Up to one week's annual holidays can be traded for cash.

-Employers will be able to ‘ask for proof of sickness or injury within three consecutive days of an employee taking sick leave, but will have to cover the employee's reasonable costs in obtaining proof’.

These changes come on top of the original 90 day law in December 2008 rushed through under urgency, the limits being proposed to how unions conduct strike ballots, the requirement to agree on meal and refreshment break times, the axing of the Pay and Employment Equity Unit, the cut in union education funding, and the cuts in ACC entitlements.

The Council of Trade Unions is having an emmergency National Affilates Council meeting on Thursday 22nd July to plan a co-ordinated response.

Media Coverage:
TV3
Labour unions slam fire at will scheme extension

Union unhappy with Key over 90 day trial period

90 day employment rule double disadvantage to youth

Proposed sickie laws encourage culture of mistrust- Unite

TVNZ
Heated protest outside national conference

Sweeping changes workplace laws

Employment changes unfair unions say

NZ Herald
Protest 'first shot' in fight over changes

All new workers set to face 90-day trial

Plan makes sacking workers easier

Comment:

Matt McCarten: Workers lose their right to fair process in class war

John Minto: Back to the future for National