EPMU says Budget is reasonable

The EPMU says last week's Budget should be a start to provide help for working New Zealanders by aiming its tax cuts at low to moderate income earners, but says higher wages are the real answer to rising cost pressures.

The union was also pleased to see the Budget providing further investment in training, infrastructure and research which will help ensure economic growth and prosperity.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says the budget is reasonable.

"In terms of the country as a whole we want to make sure we have the means to pay for good schools and high quality healthcare as well as putting enough aside for the future cost of superannuation and spending on things like training for work skills and more research and development.

"It's good to see a budget which allows for these things and which also means people pay less income tax. 

"But there's no question. Reducing taxes is no substitute for real pay rises which is the only way we are going to close the gap with Australian wage levels, and we aren't going to lift wages if we don't have decent rights and protections at work such as protection from arbitrary and unfair dismissal and rights to decent leave."

The EPMU will launch a major election-year campaign later this year focusing on improving work rights and lifting wages for all Kiwi workers.