The blog tells how in December 2009, a current National Member of Parliament sent a handwritten Christmas card to Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, which said: "Thank you for your letter…urging me to vote against the Easter Trading Bill, which was narrowly defeated in Parliament last night. I share your concerns on this issue and did indeed cast my vote against the measure."

That same member of parliament, along with several other National MPs with long records of voting against extending Easter trading hours, were not present in Parliament last month when the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill was voted on. However, their votes were recorded as proxy votes for the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill because National members agreed to vote along party lines.

In 1997, when Labour proposed to vote on party lines on the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal (Easter) Amendment Bill, National strongly objected in the Parliamentary debate, saying "These sorts of issues should be conscience issues. I am disappointed that the Labour party should exercise the party whip on an issue like this."

The Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill passed its second reading. The vote was 62 in favour 59 against.<

The Government has proposed Changes to the Bill that amends the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act 1990. These changes include:

• Local authorities will have the ability to create local policies (rather than bylaws) to allow shop trading in defined areas on Easter Sunday.
• The changes also clarify that the ability to refuse to work on Easter Sunday is extended to all shop employees. The ‘right to refuse' provision allows employers and employees to negotiate freely, and means that all shop employees will have the ability to refuse to work on Easter Sunday without any repercussions for their employment relationship.

‘New Zealanders are only guaranteed three and a half days off each year. We should protect that, not reduce it,' said FIRST Union Retail and Finance Secretary Maxine Gay.

‘Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse is saying working people can refuse to work on Easter Sunday, but we know from bitter experience that there are consequences to saying no."

"People might find their hours reduced or those on a 90 day trial period might find themselves out of the job on day 89.'"

The Bill now goes into Committee stages.

Source

• caritas.org.nz
• mbie.govt.nz
• scoop.co.nz
• revolutionaryfrontlines.files.wordpress.com

MPs have voted 75 to 45 in favour of the bill, moving it to the Commerce Committee for consideration.

"We are disappointed that the vote in favour of sending the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill to Select Committee means the rights of vulnerable workers and their families to time off at Easter is under threat," said Cardinal John Dew on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand.

"This is about ensuring that vulnerable workers can count on having time off for things that strengthen community and family life," Dew said.

"We are also deeply concerned that a dangerous precedent could be set in turning an issue that has always been a conscience vote, into a government Bill in which MPs are not free to vote according to their conscience."

"Conscience votes are an important protection for MPs and for society as a whole," Cardinal Dew said.

Dew said the NZ Catholic Bishops would be making a submission to the committee to oppose the bill.

Cardinal John Dew is the President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

Currently, laws stipulate most shops must close or restrict what they sell on Easter Sunday — for example, bars can only serve food (no alcohol).

The bill was put forward by Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse, who reasoned current laws were out of date.

"The historical Easter Sunday shop trading exemptions are out of date and create an unfair advantage for certain businesses and regions that can continue trading while others stay shut," he said.

"We know there is a demand from communities across the country to allow for shop trading on Easter Sunday, particularly from those districts who rely on tourism."

Good Friday, ANZAC Day and Christmas Day were not affected.

Woodhouse said the holiday is still significant for many Kiwis which is why workers will still be able to refuse to work on that day.

Source

• Supplied NZCBC
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: bradleystokejournal.co.uk