By Patrick Gower
Union protesters clashed with police at the National Party conference today as they repeatedly tried to force their way into Sky City – and the protest had some old faces with new motivation.
The unions told John Key they were going to come after him – and they did.
They wanted to fight back against his workplace changes and ended up fighting their way past Sky City security.
But they had gone into the wrong part of the hotel and instead of fighting back they were turned back.
It was the police who were standing up at the conference door and they were facing off against a familiar face – Sue Bradford.
“This attack is as bad as what happened in the early 1990s when I was on the streets of Auckland – I’m back here,” she said.
On the street the call was one step forward and while it was often two steps backwards – the union message was clear.
“There's going to be a fight, he's declared it, this is the start and this will go on and on and on until John Key sees sense and backs off because these workers aren't going to take it anymore,” said Matt McCarten of Unite Union.
But it wasn't workers out today – it was mainly hardcore protesters; the unions say they are not overreacting, but have genuine fears.
“They just drive the employment relationship to the low road; the employer dominant – no good faith, no trust and we just think they are totally unnecessary,” says Council of Trade Unions rep Helen Kelly.
“They will not have the ability to get a better pay rate; they will not have the ability to defend themselves from an unfair dismissal,” says Maxine Gay of the National Distribution Union.
The protesters never got through to Mr Key but the arguments will go on, and one thing is certain: the war between the unions and National is back on again.
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