Politics – Workers will never forget van Velden’s damaging legacy – PSA

Source: PSA

Workers feel no joy in Workplace Relations Minister Brooke Van Velden resigning from Parliament at this year’s election – her tenure marks the end of one of the most destructive tenures in the history of New Zealand workplace relations.

“It is hard to think of an individual who has done more damage to workers in the modern era,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“She destroyed pay equity, stripped away freedom from unfair dismissal, and exploited the vulnerability of contractors including Uber drivers. She handed employers more power than they had ever hoped for – and that harm will be felt for years to come by women denied the pay they deserve, workers dismissed without remedy, and contractors left without protection.

“Today she had the gall to say she was ‘proud’ of all the decisions she made in government. How out of touch with the lived reality of the workers’ lives she damaged is that? They are less secure and many will earn less because of her decisions.

“This is a Minister who delivered to ACT’s business mates, but her relentless attack on workers’ rights did not happen alone. National and New Zealand First were right there, alongside ACT enabling every one of the attacks.

“These were not accidents or oversights – they were deliberate choices that make the lives of New Zealand workers worse every single day.

“The Coalition Government is still pursuing cuts to sick leave, annual leave and health and safety protections in the workplace. Van Velden is still the Minister till election day so the fight is not over.

“At this year’s election, on 7 November, this Government’s record on workers will be front and centre – specifically how National, NZ First and ACT, have enabled the biggest attack on workers and their families in a generation.

“The damage is real, it is ongoing, and we will be asking voters to kick them out. That would be a fitting parting gift from workers to Brooke van Velden.”

ENDS

Van Velden’s legacy

• Cancelled pay equity for more than 150,000 women workers
• Made it harder to bring pay equity claims in future
• Axed Fair Pay Agreements
• Reinstated 90-day fire at will trials
• Made it easier to fire workers at will by weakening personal grievance rules
• Suppressed minimum wage increases
• Appointed more business aligned members to the Employment Relations Authority
• Delivered employer contracts for Uber
• Proposing to cut back sick leave and annual leave for part-time workers
• Proposing to make workplaces less safe.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.