Peters signals labour law deal

NZ First leader Winston Peters has signalled some kind of agreement has been reached on a proposed industrial relations law, after declining to guarantee his party’s support earlier this week.

Yesterday, Peters told media the bill would pass in a form amenable to all three parties in the coalition Government.

It’s believed that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Peters have talked and decided to thrash out any changes to the bill behind closed doors, rather than let it continue to be seen as a public spat.

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill is Labour’s flagship labour law reform. It has drawn sustained criticism from business groups.

The bill would end the 90-day trial for all large businesses, bring back legislated rest and meal breaks, allow greater union access to workplaces, and prohibits employers from opting out of multi-employer collective agreements (MECAs) without good cause.

It passed its first reading with NZ First support and returned from select committee with only minor changes suggested.

Peters did not wholeheartedly support the bill on Tuesday, telling media it was still a ‘‘work-inprogress’’ and refusing to guarantee his support.

Politik reported NZ First was considering pushing back on the bill.

But just as National put up a series of amendments to the bill seemingly designed to get support from NZ First, yesterday afternoon Peters subtly changed his line on the proposed law.

‘‘It’ll come to Parliament and you’ll see it pass,’’ Peters said.

‘‘It will be supported because it can get the support of Parliament and the pre-arranged support of that, despite the select committee submissions, and it will pass.’’

Peters declined to say whether the bill would be changed before returning to Parliament, however.

‘‘It will pass through in a form that the coalition parties – Labour, Greens, and NZ First – will support.’’

It’s understood the coalition process requires any amendments to Government legislation brought by NZ First must pass through Cabinet first.

Peters said he had met with unions yesterday morning, but the bill had not been what they had discussed.

The Council of Trade Unions put out a press release on Wednesday night urging Peters to back the bill, saying the party had to honour its commitment to back workers.

When asked if he or the prime minister had met with NZ First to hammer out a deal, Workplace Relations Minister Iain LeesGalloway said Labour and NZ First were in ‘‘constant’’ discussions.

National’s proposed amendments to the bill were split into smaller parts but would essentially gut the bill, if passed.

One would allow businesses to opt out of collective contracts while another would keep 90-day employment trials for all businesses.

‘‘The Government has shown complete contempt for businesses both large and small by ignoring all of their submissions on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill,’’ National leader Simon Bridges said.

‘‘It’ll [the Employment Relations Amendment Bill] come to Parliament and you’ll see it pass.’’ NZ First leader Winston Peters