Dear John --
National supports our country’s employers to support people into
work and we will repeal this new law when we form the next government.
If you’d like to hear more about Opposition views on this subject,
please come along to the public meeting I’m hosting with Hon Scott
Simpson and Todd Muller at the Tauranga Sport Fishing Club at 6pm on
Monday 28 June 2021.
It’s hard to recall a more challenging time for our country’s
business owners. Here in Tauranga, more than 16,000 business owners
each employ up to 20 staff. That is a large chunk of our populace
dependent on small businesses for their livelihoods. The last twelve
months have been especially difficult for employers dealing with
lockdowns and the closure of our border to tourists while having to
find the money for overheads not covered by wage subsidies.
Last month many employers had to increase their staff salaries due
to minimum wage changes – even if they were not employing staff on the
lowest rate, the flow on effect will impact their wage outgoings
substantially. So it has come as quite a shock to business owners that
the Government is now proposing a new threat to their staffing budget:
the reintroduction of 1970s style interference in the workplace,
helpful for the unions, but certainly not the people who actually
create the jobs.
A collective pay agreement can incorporate even non-union members
if 10% (or 1,000 members) of that industry want it. A small café can
be impacted by a collective agreement if an award rate is forced onto
baristas, for example. Even if those staff are not interested in
negotiating, they’ll lose the right of consent to such an agreement
and also the right to privacy as this law will require employers to
give staff contact details to unions.
This “Fair Pay” law is a threat to job security if employers cannot
find the money to pay higher government-imposed wages. It may be
necessary to lay some staff off so employers can afford to pay a
compulsory increase to others. With over 75,000 more New Zealanders on
the unemployment benefit than when Labour took office, wouldn’t you
would think the Government should help employers take on new staff,
not lay them off?
WHEN
June 28, 2021 at 6pm - 7pm
WHERE
Tauranga Sport Fishing Club 66 Keith Allen Dr Sulphur
Point, Tauranga Google
map and directions
CONTACT
Simon Bridges · [email protected] ·
07 577 0923
RSVP by clicking: I would like to attend the Fair Pay Agreement Public
Meeting
Please forward this email to friends and family you know
who are in business and would like to know more.
Best wishes,
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