Trade unions face another stoush with the Government after a Bill to allow employers to hire casual labour during a strike was drawn out of the ballot yesterday.
The Bill, promoted by Jami-Lee Ross, wants to repeal section 97 of the Employment Relations Act, which prevents the use of volunteers, contractors or other casual employees by an employer during a strike or lockout.
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Bill Newson said the extreme legislation would only empower bad employers and entrench low wages.
''The reality is, low-paid workers have little negotiating power beyond the ability to withdraw their labour.
"In a time of high unemployment, any workers who tried to better their conditions would find themselves down the road with someone else doing their job.''
Mr Newson reminded Prime Minister John Key that late last month he had indicated the legislation was not on the Government's agenda, despite a remit similar to the Bill getting strong support at a National Party regional conference.
Mr Newson called on Mr Key to stick to his word and bin the Bill.
Mr Key said yesterday he would support the Bill, at least to its first reading.
Otago-Southland Employers Association chief executive John Scandrett said while he felt most employers embraced the concept of working under fair and reasonable employment terms and conditions, it was not always easy to please everyone.
''By way of an example, we are a country that relies heavily on primary product processing and exporting and the prospect of businesses being denied the means, on a temporary basis, to handle pressing animal-based production demands must generate concerns in many quarters.
''I feel that any new legislation should at the very least incorporate special provisions to cover these cases. I think too that few in the employer sector would agree that collective bargaining is the way to higher wages.''
The development and implementation of relevant skills was needed to lift wages. Employees and employers should be sharply focusing best combined effort on attaining those goals, Mr Scandrett said.
Council of Trade Unions secretary Peter Conway said the latest data showed that in 2011 there were only 12 work stoppages - the lowest number since the series began in 1986.
If the Bill became law, it would reduce the impact of a strike, create huge conflict between strikers and replacement labour when there was a dispute, and make it harder to protect pay and conditions.
