Legal

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions biennial conference this week called for the Terrorism Suppression Act to be repealed, restating their original objection to the Act, that it could be used to suppress political expression.

The withdrawal of the security risk certificate against Ahmed Zaoui today is great news for Mr Zaoui and his family, and is long overdue, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said.

The Council of Trade Unions today welcomed the Supreme Court decision as strengthening the civil rights of all citizens.

"In upholding the civil rights of Mr Zaoui our Supreme Court is protecting the rights for us all" CTU president Ross Wilson said.

"The CTU has been concerned for some time that Ahmed Zaoui is being held in prison without charge, and is subject to a flawed and unfair process," Ross Wilson said.

"The speed with which the appeal has been heard also vindicates the establishment of our own Supreme Court to replace the Privy Council in London.

The select committee report on the amendments to the Employment Relations Act is expected to reflect wide consensus over proposals which "fine-tune" the law, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

In committing the National Party to repeal the Employment Relations Bill, its leader Don Brash is clearly saying 'don't vote for me if you want fairness at work', Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

"Business New Zealand's attack on the Employment Court is completely misguided and ill-founded," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

Business NZ today called for the Employment Court to be replaced because of the time and cost involved in taking cases, and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday claimed that employers were paying up to resolve conflicts rather than incurring legal costs.

"Neither organisation mentioned that there is a free Government mediation service and an Employment Relations Authority disputes process which doesn't require lawyers," Ross Wilson said.

Even employers had acknowledged that these services were operating extremely well, he said.

"Business NZ is correct in drawing attention to the low level of awards," Ross Wilson said. "The CTU also supports action by the Authority to lift awards to realistic levels."

Employers should be told that they don't need lawyers at mediation or the Authority, and there was certainly no case for attacking the Employment Court because of lawyers fees.

"The reality is that almost all disputes are resolved at mediation or the Authority level and only a very few get to the Court.

"Business seems to be on its old hobby horse, tilting at windmills."

Employers should put up the evidence of widespread sick pay abuse or admit that recent accusations are just part of another political campaign, Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

The government is currently considering amendments to our employment law. Several of these amendments are important to promote good employment relationships.

"The Law Commission proposal to demote the Employment Court will legalise employment disputes and increase the cost of justice for workers," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

"Business organisations are doing their members and New Zealand a disservice with unjustified scaremongering about the Employment Relations Act amendments," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.