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The New Zealand government is " thumbing its nose" at the ideals of the United Nations with its plans for controversial employment law changes, the head of New Zealand's trade union movement told the UN's labor agency Thursday.
Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly made the claim to the International Labor Organization conference in Geneva as a New Zealand government legislator presented a new Bill to the New Zealand Parliament that would allow employers to break strikes by hiring outside workers.
The government was promoting "an image of an egalitarian society where everyone gets a fair go, of a liberal social agenda with strong social dialogue, and of a modern international outlook which respects and actively supports the international institutions and in particular the United Nations," Kelly said in a published speech.
"This is how our government is pitching New Zealand to the UN as part of seeking a position on the UN Security Council.But, sadly, it is no longer a reality."
The government was deliberately choosing to legislate in a way that breached its commitments under ILO conventions.
"By knowingly doing this, the government is effectively thumbing its nose at the founding ideas of the UN and its constituent bodies."
Law changes that would allow employers that weakened collective bargaining would reduce pay and conditions for New Zealand workers and were in breach of freedom of association and collective bargaining conventions.
Kelly said Minister of Labor Simon Bridges would be at the ILO next week and had said he would seek advice from the organization about the international legality of the proposed employment law changes.
"The ILO office has agreed that they can help with this meeting and I hope our minister shows sufficient respect when he is attending this conference to afford the organization at least that courtesy," she said.
New Zealand's main opposition Labor Party on Thursday accused the government of violating international labor laws with its proposals.
