Don't burn the bridges, Clark tells employers

CHRISTCHURCH - Labour leader Helen Clark has appealed to the Employers Federation to tone down its campaign against her party's industrial relations policies, saying employers will have to work with a Labour-led government after the election.

She said the federation and its affiliates had nailed their colours to the mast of National and the Employment Contracts Act.

"Yet, despite the position adopted by the federation and its affiliates in this pre-election period, after the election you will want to talk with us and we will want to talk with you ...

"It is important that not too many bridges are burned in the heat of the election campaign," she said in a speech to the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce in Christchurch.

While some employers might question Labour's industrial relations plans, she urged them to "look at the bigger picture and work with us on a constructive relationship."

Helen Clark said some employer groups were saying that Labour's policies were damaging to the economy.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. Our major preoccupation this election is with the economy, and how to transform and strengthen it."

Labour MPs have criticised the federation for campaigning against their plans to repeal the Employment Contracts Act and replace it with legislation that is more favourable to collective employment contracts. Some have accused the federation and National MPs of lying about and misrepresenting Labour's policy.

Helen Clark said she appreciated that most employers wanted the Employment Contracts Act retained as it was, but Labour felt a fairer and more balanced law would be better for society and the economy.

She said Labour's plan "does not mean - and I repeat does not mean - a return to pre-1991 industrial law."

She said Labour's policy preserved the right of workers to decide whether to join a union, and to decide whether to have individual contracts.

Employment contracts covering more than one company or workplace would be possible but only if a majority of union members in each workplace agreed.

Helen Clark said Labour aimed to boost the economy by doubling spending on support for business to $200 million.

- NZPA