Minister for Workplace Relations Brooke van Velden's Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed its first reading. If it becomes law, it would seriously undermine workers' rights in New Zealand's legal system. This Bill threatens every working person in the country.
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi has put together this guide for submissions-make sure the Government hears workers' voices on this issue. Submissions close 13 August.
Start your submission with your stance
e.g. "I oppose the Employment Relations Amendment Bill."
Why do you have this stance?
Tell the Select Committee why you oppose the changes being made to the Employment Relations Act 2000. We recommend making this personal and putting it in your own words.
- Are you a union member concerned that the changes to the 30-day-rule will weaken your union in your workplace?
- Are you a platform worker (i.e., anyone who works through an app, e.g. Uber drivers)? Do you worry that the changes to contractor law made by this Bill will mean you lose employee benefits like sick leave and holiday pay?
- Does it alarm you that Brooke van Velden met with Uber's corporate lobbyists at the same time that she was developing this Bill?
- Do you have concerns about the attacks on personal grievance set out by this Bill?
- Are you a worker who could be 'fired at will' because of the wage threshold this Bill sets for unjustified dismissal?
Make your recommendation
You can recommend changes to the Bill, or you can recommend it not be passed at all. We recommend abandoning the Bill. Be clear and specific in your answer:
- e.g. "I recommend that the Select Committee abandon this Bill.", or
- "I'd like to make the recommendation that the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is thrown out."
Other things to keep in mind
- Keep it personal. Really making your submission your own will mean that the Committee gets to hear the full range of workers' voices on this Bill..
- Keep it relevant. It might be tempting to get into a full list of this Government's attacks on workers… but this Select Committee is specifically on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill. Your submission should reflect that.
- Keep it respectful. Leave out any personal attacks on political parties or MPs-these could lead to your submission being left out. Don't include any offensive language.
When you're ready, make your submission here
