NZ Alliance wins union backing

By Frank Enright

The Alliance, after a strong showing in New Zealand's November general election, is beginning to win union backing previously reserved for the conservative Labour Party. A round of talks with the union movement in late January was concluded with an announcement by the Trade Union Federation, covering 35,000 workers, that it will cooperate with the Alliance.

“Where we agree with Labour we will work with them, but in many policies the Alliance policy more closely resembles what the federation stands for”, said TUF secretary Maxine Gay.

“There was real unanimity between the Alliance and ourselves that the minimum wage needs to be increased and to apply to youth rates”, commented Gay after meeting with Alliance leader Jim Anderton. The Alliance has agreed to consult with the federation on union and economic policies.

Earlier, Alliance representatives met with New Zealand's largest peak union body, the Council of Trade Unions (CTU), and concluded an agreement to open formal channels of communication. The CTU has been a mainstay of support for Labour.

When Anderton, previously a senior member of Labour, and others left that party over its implementation of monetarist policies, which caused so much hardship to working people, the CTU adopted a hostile position towards them and later to the Alliance. The CTU has now been forced to recognise that under the new proportional representation voting system the Alliance, which stands to the left of Labour, will play an increasingly important role.

The Public Service Association also met with Alliance MPs Anderton and Sandra Lee and agreed to work together to improve the country's industrial relations legislation.

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