Fairness At Work rally: Join us and have your say!

[Fairness At Work rally: Come along to a protest against the Government's proposed changes to employment law. We did it for the National Parks, so let's do it again for our workforce! The second Christchurch protest is at 1.00pm in Cathedral Square, Saturday 21 August. They say "music and more" will be there, so check back here for more details.]

Many people will be aware by now of at least some of the National Government's proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act. These changes are a major attack on workers' rights, and if passed into law will make it even tougher for workers in New Zealand.

The Council of Trade Unions is launching a major national campaign to oppose these proposals. There will be major rallies nationally on 21 August and we will let you know more information about these rallies closer to that day.

But why are we doing it? Here are some of the many reasons you need to know about...

90 day trial period

Currently the law allows for a worker to be dismissed without any reason in their first 90 days of employment if they are employed in a business that has less than 20 workers and they have agreed to the trial period.

The reasoning for this was to enable employers to take a risk on workers who might not otherwise have been employed. The Government sees this as a success, even though 26% of all those employed under these conditions have been dismissed (that is 1 in every 4 workers). They now want to extend it to all workplaces. As Lianne Dalziel point out at a meeting recently, even Donald Trump gives a reason when the person is fired!

Cashing in one week's leave

The Government believes that people do not need 4 weeks holiday per year, so they will want to allow for people to be able to cash in one week by agreement.

The assumption is that workers have an equal relationship with an employer and are able to say no if the employer pressures them to cash in their leave rather than take it. And what does this mean for new employees? That pressure could see them 'agree' that their hourly rate includes the 4th week's leave.

Sick Leave Certificates

There is no need to change the current law because an employer already has the right to require a medical certificate if the worker is away for less than 3 days if the employer believes that the worker is not genuinely sick. However, according to Kate Wilkinson, we need to 'clarify' this law.

The change proposed will mean that an employer can require anyone to get a medical certificate after just one day's sick leave as long as the employer pays.

This will stress our already over-stretched health system and will see people with a cold or the flu fronting up to doctors surgeries and infecting everyone they meet. Changes like these are the reasons why we are protesting. Come along and show your support this Sunday 8 August at 12 noon. There will be a rally on the corner of Colombo and Hereford Streets.

This is a build up to the 21 August and we would urge you, and as many of your workmates, friends and family as you can talk to before then, to come along and stand up for a fair go for kiwi workers!

Is it a waste of time protesting? No! The campaign against mining in Schedule 4 land won because of our widespread national protest. We can stop this Government from denying workers rights if we mobilise.

Come along on Sunday 8 August and at the other rallies we have planned to show John Key that we care about our rights and won't let them be taken off us without a fight!