Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS – WORK AND WAGES
Our vision
A founding value of the Labour Party is the protection of New Zealanders at work, including
the right to a fair day„s pay for a fair day‟s work, the right to join unions and bargain
collectively, the right to have a voice at work and the right to be protected from unfair or
unsafe treatment at work.
Labour believes that all New Zealand workers are entitled to a living wage and fair and safe
working conditions, and our workers should not be forced to leave for Australia to achieve
them. Fairness at work does not mean business is harder to do – in fact good work and
decent wages support New Zealand business to lift productivity, to perform well and to grow.
While Labour in government made important changes to the employment relations
framework, we believe that the current bargaining and minimum code laws need to be
further strengthened to keep up with the realities of the 21 st century and to deliver better
results for New Zealanders.
The reforms to the wider New Zealand economy over the last 25 years have seen income at
the top end grow by more than 40% in real terms, but workers on low and middle incomes
have struggled.
In particular, since the National Party abolished industry collective agreements in 1991
average wage rates have lagged well behind the increases in productivity and low income
workers have fared the worst. More of the same policy will deliver more of the same results:
wages lagging, productivity falling behind, and people leaving for opportunities overseas. It is
time for a change of approach.
Labour is committed to building a modern, fair and flexible employment relations system
based on a skilled workforce, secure employment, decent wages and increased productivity
as part of increased prosperity for all New Zealanders.
Part 1: Better wages and higher productivity
Labour‟s wages policy will help lift wages in New Zealand across the board, to help stem the
drift to Australia of our workforce.
We will work with employers, unions and sector groups to fundamentally change New
Zealand‟s economy from a reliance on low wages and longer hours to an investment in more
productive workplaces where high trust, high skill and high wages are the success indicators
of New Zealand business and jobs.
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