The Maritime Union of New Zealand says changes in employment law today are just the start of a broader attack on New Zealand's society by the National Government's right wing agenda.
Maritime Union General Secretary Joe Fleetwood says the changes to employment laws that came into force on 1 April are serious enough, but represent the tip of the iceberg.
“The fire at will law, and the attempt to hinder workers from getting access to representation from unions, are clearly intended to rip into the wages, conditions and hard won rights of working class people.”
“The picture is now emerging of a National Government preparing to embark on a second attack to complete their programme of the 1990s, under the banner of austerity for the workers to pay for tax cuts for the rich.”