Maori Party to oppose “fire at will” bill

The Maori Party is to be congratulated for its announcement not to support the 90 day employment bill. The bill would give businesses with fewer than 20 employees the right to instantly sack new staff. Meaning an employer with 19 employees including a new problem staffer will not employ anyone else until the problem staff member is sorted, and those in secure jobs will be silly to leave a secure job for a better job in a workplace of fewer than 20 people.

The passage of this bill means that anyone who is on an benefit and gets a job, or a WINZ employer subsidy will be hoping that they get a job with a business employing at least 20 employees. Lots of unemployed will be finding out how many employees a business has and applying for positions in larger businesses.

Unions are moaning that they won’t be able to make submissions as the bill will be passed under urgency. It would be a fair bet that most union representation is for workers in businesses with more than 20 employees. Since when have unions been actively concerned for the rights of workers that are not union members?