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Peters blames previous Government for strike action

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 26 Jun 2018, 3:14PM
The Acting Prime Minister also threw a few insults at Simon Bridges. (Photo / Getty)
The Acting Prime Minister also threw a few insults at Simon Bridges. (Photo / Getty)

Peters blames previous Government for strike action

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 26 Jun 2018, 3:14PM

A clash in Parliament this afternoon between Winston Peters and Simon Bridges over pending strike action.

The Opposition leader says there are more people threatening to strike at the moment than there were in the nine years of a National Government.

"Will the impending strike action, including 27,000 nurse and mid wives and 4,000 IRD and MBIE staff, have an impact on business confidence?"

In response, the Acting Prime Minister accused Bridges of being pessimistic before saying: "I am sick and tired of having a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent."

Peters says there's pressure on this Government from workers for better wages because they knew there was no hope with National and are now looking for a fairer deal.

He told Parliament that's understandable but has told them to be patient.

"You will get a fair deal, but we can't turn around nine years of neglect in the space of one budget. But my colleagues and the Minister of Finance's message to them is; hang on, helps on its way."

However, Bridges says the Government only has itself to blame for looming strike action.

Speaking with reporters, he says that Peters has acknowledged unions are taking advantage of the Government's a sympathetic ear.

"They know that prior to the election, they were really raising the expectations, and now look, the unions paid the piper, they want to play the tune. They want to see their pay back."

Bridges says while people deserve pay rises, they need to be sustainable.

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