E tu assistant national secretary Rachel Mackintosh says that the announcement is a strong start and will help some workers deal with the stress that COVID-19 is causing in their work lives and beyond.
"We have now been assured that the Government is taking an appropriate leadership role in protecting New Zealand workers, businesses and communities," Rachel says.
"We particularly welcome the aspects of the package that support all working people, whether they are employees, contractors, or casual workers.
"It’s very important to get this right, as the gig economy sees more and more workers without the protections that they need."
However, Rachel acknowledges that many E tu members will need further assurance that they will be looked after.
"The $100 million allocated for assisting with redeployment will be crucial for our members who are already facing redundancies. Redeployment needs to happen effectively, which means consolation with workers, unions, iwi, and the wider community.
"We eagerly anticipate the details of the package that will relate to certain E tu members, such as the more than 5000 E tu members at Air New Zealand. We urge Air New Zealand and other aviation employers to come to the party, as the Government has done," she says.
"The Finance Minister has described the response as ‘swift, decisive, and compassionate’ which is exactly the right direction to be heading in.
"We will stay together in union and engage with the Government and employers to end up in the best possible position. This is the start of a very rocky road, and the voice of working people will be vital at every twist and turn."
