Fairness at Work

Contents

The issues - unworkable, unnecessary, unfair employment laws
Make a Fairness at Work submission to parliament
What we are doing – the campaign for fairness at work
Resources to help you campaign
The latest Fairness at Work news

Unworkable, Unnecessary, Unfair

Changes being proposed to your rights at work by the government will affect all working New Zealanders and our families.

Countries that have strong laws to protect working people have higher wages, better working conditions, safer workplaces and healthier economies. But the government’s proposals weaken your work rights.

Unworkable

It’s already difficult to get a doctor’s appointment on the day you are sick. But now , if your employer demands it, you will be required to provide a doctor’s certificate if you - or your child – is sick for just one day. new Zealand already has one of the lowest levels of sick leave (5 days) in the western world.

Unnecessary

The government wants to remove entirely your protection against unfair dismissal in your first 3 months in a new job. And if you last 3 months, then it wants to weaken your ability to appeal against unfair dismissal throughout your entire working life.

Unfair

Your rights to challenge an unfair dismissal are going to be weakened. Employers will be able to stop union representatives coming to workplaces to meet people who need help or want to join a union. And rather than lifting wages, the government wants to allow workers to trade a week’s annual leave for cash. So much for work/life balance!

Fairness at to Work, the campaign

The CTU and affiliate unions like us here at the TEU are running a campaign to promote fairness at work.

Fairness at work is about the basic rights we all have as workers to respect, safe employment conditions, and the chance to spend time with friends and family. It’s about workers working hard, but also knowing our work is respected, fairly paid, safe, and family friendly.

On July 18 John Key announced the government’s plan to drastically change employment law in New Zealand.

If passed the changes will take away workers’ rights, remove protections, cut pay, reduce holidays and diminish access to sick leave.

Unions are committed to stopping these changes and building a New Zealand where we all enjoy fair rights at work, decent wages and access to strong public services.