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Union boss urges National to keep ACT away from finance, workplace relations portfolios
Sandra Grey speaking at Labour's conference earlier this year. The CTU has close ties to Labour but is not an official party-affiliated union.
Council of Trade Unions president Sandra Grey is urging National to keep ACT away from both the finance and workplace relations portfolios if the right bloc returns to power.
Speaking to Stuff, Grey says National has a better track record than ACT: "We need experienced politicians who are listening to the public and clearly National has got the most candidate electorate votes.”
As it stands, National, ACT and New Zealand First have just enough seats to form an administration. National has 42 seats, ACT has13 and New Zealand has 12.
National won the most electorates and far more than its 29.2% party vote entitled it to, which resulted in what’s called an “overhang” with an unusually large 131 seats in Parliament.
It’s been described as bittersweet for National because it means the party cannot bring in any list MPs, including deputy leader and finance minister Nicola Willis.
It means the finance role is up for grabs if the right bloc retains power after the special votes have been counted.
ACT leader David Seymour says he has discussed the role of finance minister with his National party counterpart Christopher Luxon.
When asked on Ryan Bridge Today if he has discussed the finance role with Luxon since the election, Seymour said he had.
“Only in the sense of how we form a wider government, and as far as we’re concerned we’ve actually got to wait until all the votes are counted and then serious negotiation will begin.”
The CTU is now urging Luxon to not only ensure the finance role stays with National, but also keep ACT away from the workplace relations portfolio, which was held by Brooke van Velden, the former ACT deputy leader who oversaw sweeping reforms of employment law.
“We do also need - as workers - need National to take back the workplace relations portfolio. That portfolio going over to ACT caused chaos and meant that all of our rights have been vandalised by a far-right party.
“We need National, if they are forming the government, to take back the two core issues of this election: cost of living and jobs.”
Grey wouldn’t say which National MP she would like to be in charge of finance or workplace relations.
If the special votes boost seats on the left, there is a chance that Labour could form an administration with the Greens, Opportunity and Te Pāti Māori. In that scenario, Grey suggested Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds would be an ideal finance minister.
“Barbara Edmonds has put together a very, very sound fiscal plan that does address the core issues of this election.”
ACT hadn't responded by the time the original story was posted, but has since sent Stuff a statement from a spokesperson:
"Last term an ACT minister restored balance to employment law, finally fixed the Holidays Act mess that successive governments failed to resolve, and saved more taxpayer money than any other minister.
“That’s the sort of change that gives businesses more confidence to hire and create opportunities for workers, and their savings have led directly to an earlier predicted surplus. Exactly what you’d want from the finance portfolio as well," the statement said.
Speaking to Stuff, Grey says National has a better track record than ACT: "We need experienced politicians who are listening to the public and clearly National has got the most candidate electorate votes.”
As it stands, National, ACT and New Zealand First have just enough seats to form an administration. National has 42 seats, ACT has13 and New Zealand has 12.
National won the most electorates and far more than its 29.2% party vote entitled it to, which resulted in what’s called an “overhang” with an unusually large 131 seats in Parliament.
It’s been described as bittersweet for National because it means the party cannot bring in any list MPs, including deputy leader and finance minister Nicola Willis.
It means the finance role is up for grabs if the right bloc retains power after the special votes have been counted.
ACT leader David Seymour says he has discussed the role of finance minister with his National party counterpart Christopher Luxon.
When asked on Ryan Bridge Today if he has discussed the finance role with Luxon since the election, Seymour said he had.
“Only in the sense of how we form a wider government, and as far as we’re concerned we’ve actually got to wait until all the votes are counted and then serious negotiation will begin.”
The CTU is now urging Luxon to not only ensure the finance role stays with National, but also keep ACT away from the workplace relations portfolio, which was held by Brooke van Velden, the former ACT deputy leader who oversaw sweeping reforms of employment law.
“We do also need - as workers - need National to take back the workplace relations portfolio. That portfolio going over to ACT caused chaos and meant that all of our rights have been vandalised by a far-right party.
“We need National, if they are forming the government, to take back the two core issues of this election: cost of living and jobs.”
Grey wouldn’t say which National MP she would like to be in charge of finance or workplace relations.
If the special votes boost seats on the left, there is a chance that Labour could form an administration with the Greens, Opportunity and Te Pāti Māori. In that scenario, Grey suggested Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds would be an ideal finance minister.
“Barbara Edmonds has put together a very, very sound fiscal plan that does address the core issues of this election.”
ACT hadn't responded by the time the original story was posted, but has since sent Stuff a statement from a spokesperson:
"Last term an ACT minister restored balance to employment law, finally fixed the Holidays Act mess that successive governments failed to resolve, and saved more taxpayer money than any other minister.
“That’s the sort of change that gives businesses more confidence to hire and create opportunities for workers, and their savings have led directly to an earlier predicted surplus. Exactly what you’d want from the finance portfolio as well," the statement said.