Employers have welcomed the Government's new labour laws,
but unionists say it's an attack on worker's rights
and will drive down wages.
These striking AFFCO workers don't agree with the changes
to the labour law.
The Vice President of the Council of Trade Unions says
it's going to impact badly on all workers.
These workers have been striking for four weeks,
and under the new law,
collective negotiations will no longer exist.
Wayne Katene says it's history repeating.
In conjunction with the new law,
employees will have the right to halt payments to workers on strike.
According to these workers,
the poor get poorer and the rich get richer.
Just last year more than 50,000 NZers
moved to Australia to work.
Anzac Pikia, Te Karere.
Te Ururoa Flavell of the Maori Party joins us now from Rotorua.
Does the Maori Party support the labour reforms?
We haven't really seen the details of this law.
We've heard some information,
and hearing what Syd Keepa had to say is concerning.
If some bosses can do that, then that's an issue.
What we believe is that it's better to sit face to face
to sort things out.
I've just come back from a meeting in Rainguru
with their AFFCO workers.
They're still at odds with Talley's, and nothing good has come of it.
So there are still some issues,
but we have yet to see just what the Minister has planned.
What about the rise in prescription costs?
Will you be supporting that?
We're still concerned about this issue,
particularly for those in poverty.
Hearing those elderly on Te Karere today,
it's concerning and I feel for them.
One thing we do like is that children under 6 years
will still be free and those with community cards.
We hear the concerns from those people who are affected.
It's been said that WINZ will be there to support them,
but we'll wait and see if some more information
will come out to help them.
Maori whanau have told us that the increase
will have a huge effect on them. What can you do to help them?
The Maori Party don't always have all the answers.
The problem is that National has its plan,
and they have two votes behind them,
and that's Peter Dunne and John Banks.
From that they're able to pass the Budget
and all those sorts of things.
What we can do is sit at the table.
Tariana and Pita can debate and negotiate issues.
For example, we've received rheumatism funding,
housing funding and so on.
For us it's better to nut out those benefits than being in opposition.
There's no benefit to that stance.
But we know there are challenges to sitting with the government,
whether it's a National or Labour Government.
Te Ururoa Flavell, thank you for your time.