The EPMU is urging all members to attend the Council of Trade Unions' (CTU) "Fairness at Work" rallies in the main centres on Saturday 21 August. The rallies will be the first step in a public campaign opposing the Government's plans to extend the 90-day 'Fire at Will' law to all firms and related changes that weaken work rights.

Three of the rallies will be held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Saturday 21 August and one in Dunedin on Sunday 22 August.

The Auckland rally starts 1pm at the bottom of Queen Street, outside Britomart.

The Christchurch rally starts 1pm in Cathedral Square.

The Wellington rally starts 1pm in Civic Square.

The Dunedin event starts in Gt King St (outside Dental School) at 11am with a march to the main rally at the Octagon which starts at 11.30am.

"We need every member and their families who can possibly be at these rallies to attend them. Please join us at the nearest rally to give the message: we won't stand for these unjust laws," says Andrew Little, EPMU national secretary.

"There is no need to scrap existing fair dismissal laws. Under the Government's plans any worker starting a new job will be liable to having a clause in their employment agreement, effectively removing their right to be fairly treated in the first 90 days," he says.

"It is vitally important that workers have timely access to union advice and support in the workplace. The Government's plan to enable employers to refuse union access to workplaces undermines workers' freedom of choice," he says.

"New requirements for workers to get a medical note after a single day of sick leave are impractical and onerous."

"Taken together these changes will make work less fair and less rewarding for all workers."

Legislation is expected to be introduced to Parliament in the next 4-6 weeks where it will be vigorously debated for the rest of the year. The EPMU will continue building the momentum of the "Fairness at Work" campaign through this period.

+ read more about Fairness at Work

+ read Andrew Little's opinion piece