Labour work and wages policy good for working people

Labour’s new policy on work and wages, announced today, is good for the work­ing people of New Zea­l­and.

Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and Nation­al Sec­ret­ary Joe Fleet­wood says work­ing people need a voice in their work­places.

“The recog­ni­tion of the role of Uni­ons as this voice is a found­a­tion of the Labour policy.”

The rights of work­ing people would bene­fit from the abol­i­tion of the 90 days fire at will law, he says.

A com­mit­ment to strength­en­ing of pro­ced­ures for col­lect­ive bar­gain­ing and multi employ­er bar­gain­ing would also ensure fair­ness and improve­ments in wages and con­di­tions.

The res­tor­a­tion of rights of access for uni­ons to the work­place, and increases to the min­im­um wage and the intro­duc­tion of the Liv­ing Wage to core pub­lic ser­vices would help many strug­gling work­ers.

Mr Fleet­wood says the com­bined effect of cas­u­al­iz­a­tion, unem­ploy­ment and low wages is harm­ing New Zea­l­and.

He says the Mari­time Uni­on sup­ports the goals of the Labour Party for an inclus­ive soci­ety where all New Zeal­anders move for­ward togeth­er.

The Mari­time Uni­on is an affil­i­ate of the Labour Party.