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26 June, 2006
In New Zealand, the National Party’s assault on workers’ rights in the form of the proposed 90-Day Probation Act has been met by a new website, www.workrights.org.nz. A campaign led by ICEM affiliate Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union (EPMU) is in full swing aimed at stopping the legislation.
The website will allow the public to e-mail members of a select committee of members of Parliament who are overseeing the bill, as well as MPs who currently support the anti-worker legislation. “This bill is not about probationary periods, it’s all about taking rights from all Kiwi workers,” said EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little.
The EPMU is leading weekly pickets and information handbilling against the proposed legislation, which would allow employers to fire workers with impunity during their first 90 days of work. The ICEM encourages trade unionists to visit the website to express to New Zealanders their opinion on the proposed bill.