The Council of Trade Unions has signalled support in principle for Tau Henare's private member's bill, the Employment Relations (Workers' Secret Ballot for Strikes) Amendment Bill, on secret ballots by workers prior to strike action.

Peter Conway, CTU Secretary, said that at a national union meeting yesterday, there was a brief discussion on secret ballots for strikes. Unions decided to support the Bill as it largely reflects current practice.

"However", said Conway, "unions are critical of the lack of balance in the bill and believe it must be changed to also require employers to follow democratic procedures including a secret ballot of shareholders prior to a lockout".

Peter Conway said that with 276,000 people jobless and 115,000 people seeking additional hours of work (Statistics NZ), there are more important priorities for Parliament than a debate on this Bill. However the CTU would appear at the Select Committee in due course.