Thousands of workers in both the public and private sectors have gathered across the country to protest what they call the government’s anti-worker agenda and cuts to the public services sector.

The nationwide Hui – Let’s Stand Together – action was organized by unions in response to recent policy reforms such as the repeal of fair pay agreements and the reintroduction of 90-day trials. About 4500 people attended in Wellington, while about 1000 attended the Auckland event, with the rest taking place elsewhere.

Council of Trade Unions (CTU) president Richard Wagstaff said the coalition government’s first year had been a relentless attack on workers’ rights and conditions.

Workers were not going to accept the changes, Wagstaff said, speaking on the parliament grounds.

Richard Wagstaff addresses the crowd at the Fight Back Together protest in Wellington
Photo: RNZ/Bill Hickman

“We need the government to understand that what they’re doing is actually hurting people and people aren’t going to accept it as if that’s the way it should be. We know there is an alternative, and we will actively push for it. for this alternative,” he said.

More than 2,000 public service jobs were cut in the six months between December and June. Meanwhile, around 7,000 jobs were cut in the public sector.

Public Service Association (PSA) assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the government’s “devastating axing of public service jobs is damaging families and the country.”

According to her, the large number of participants in protests across the country indicates growing opposition to government policies.

Victoria University fellow Tee Lamousse, who joined the protest in Parliament today, said the government needed to pay attention to the opposition.

As education funding has been cut, his colleagues’ salaries have not kept up with inflation, he said.

“I have a lot of colleagues who don’t even make a living wage, so the fact that our minimum wage is subpar isn’t good enough.

“This government really needs to get a clear message from us working people that it’s not good enough, which is why thousands of us today said we’re actually going to stand up for our rights.”

Lamusse said it was “amazing” to be among so many people determined to stand up for workers’ rights.

In response to the Fight Back Together protest, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden said government reforms would help, rather than hinder, workers and access to employment opportunities.

She said the government wanted to provide more efficient and effective public services and made no apologies for it.

A protester on Parliament grounds today says the government needs to address the large number of people who oppose its policies.

Protesters gather at Aotea Square in Auckland.
Photo: RNZ/Eloise Gibson

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