Dunne backs employment bill as union promises huge protests

Union threats against a National Party MP's bill have strengthened United Future's support for it and given it a better chance of becoming law.

Wayne Mapp's 90-day probation bill passed its first reading in Parliament last month, with backing from United Future, and the country's largest union says it will launch "massive industrial protest" if it is not withdrawn.

Yesterday United Future leader Peter Dunne accused the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) of "bully-boy threats".

"Who on earth do the EPMU think they are that they should stoop to this sort of industrial blackmail?

"This is not France where industrial legislation is decided by street rioting - this is New Zealand where these matters are decided by people making submissions to a select committee and by the people's elected representatives in Parliament."

The bill, which would impose a 90-day probation period for new employees, passed its first reading despite being opposed by the Government and the Green Party.

It went through on the votes of National, Act, NZ First, United Future and three Maori Party MPs.

The union has warned of a protest starting with a stopwork meeting and a march on Parliament on July 20.

Yesterday the Council of Trade Unions threw its weight behind the EPMU.

"New Zealanders need to understand that the National Party plan will affect all workers," said council secretary Carol Beaumont.

"Teachers, caregivers, bank tellers, surgeons, cleaners, factory workers - every worker will have no rights of appeal against unfair dismissal in their first 90 days if the bill passes."

The bill is now before a select committee, which will hear public submissions. It has to be reported back by the select committee and then pass its second reading, committee stage and third reading before becoming law.

- NZPA