Reverse tax cuts for millionaires – and leave our public services alone!

The Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and says New Zea­l­and work­ers have to get ready for a ser­i­ous and long term battle to defend pub­lic ser­vices.
Mari­time Uni­on Gen­er­al Sec­ret­ary Joe Fleet­wood says there are clear indic­a­tions the Nation­al Gov­ern­ment intends to drain resources from pub­lic ser­vices and cre­ate more unem­ploy­ment.
A speech by Fin­ance Min­is­ter Bill Eng­lish today to the Insti­tute of Pub­lic Admin­is­tra­tion out­lined the Nation­al Gov­ern­ment’s plan of so-called aus­ter­ity meas­ures and an ongo­ing assault on pub­lic ser­vices.
Mr Fleet­wood says last years tax cuts for the wealthy have now been con­firmed as irre­spons­ible and unaf­ford­able.
“This is aus­ter­ity for the work­ers to pay for handouts for those trav­el­ling first class.”
“The Fin­ance Min­is­ter has said that he will cut so-called ‘nice to have’ ser­vices. The Mari­time Uni­on says that now is the time to reverse the tax cuts that are ‘nice to have’ for those on upper incomes, like John Key and Bill Eng­lish.”
Mr Fleet­wood said the response of New Zea­l­and should be to copy work­ers in the UK, USA, Ire­land and France who have strongly res­isted attacks on pub­lic ser­vices and work­ers in those ser­vices.
“At this time, New Zea­l­and needs strong, well-resourced pub­lic ser­vices and state invest­ment to rebuild from nat­ur­al dis­asters and to tackle unem­ploy­ment which remains at ser­i­ous levels.”
He says the Nation­al Gov­ern­ment now intends to fur­ther starve pub­lic ser­vices of resources in order to pay for the “sports car and cham­pagne” tax cuts to their friends.
The Mari­time Uni­on would play a lead­ing role in defend­ing pub­lic ser­vices and work­ers from any attacks by the Gov­ern­ment.