Blueprint for low wages, instability

For immediate release Thursday 24 July 2008 National’s Employment Relations policy – A blueprint for lower wages and instability? Bank workers’ union Finsec says that the National Party’s Employment Relations policy is likely to result in lower wages and greater instability in New Zealand workplaces. “Within the current framework, many workers have been able to achieve real wage increases like the 5% increase from Westpac our members have been offered this week,” said Finsec Campaigns Director Andrew Campbell. “These pay rises have come as a result of staff being able to bargain collectively through their own independent union. National’s policies undermining collective bargaining would weaken the ability of workers to achieve real wage rises.” Campbell said that while National talk about increasing wages to catch up with... [read full story]