National Party reiterates plans to repeal Fair Pay Agreement law

Just weeks out from the new Fair Pay Agreement law coming into effect, a roadshow explaining the legislation is touring the country.

But the National Party plans to repeal it if elected next year.

Last month National Party leader Christopher Luxon did a shift at a Christchurch McDonald's store he worked at three decades ago. A highly-paid worker having a go at a much lower-paid job.

"It's hilarious because he's completely missed the point," current McDonald's worker Adam Stephenson said.

The point is working at McDonald's these days is different to when Luxon did it.

"There was a lot of policy around working and wages and that all got scrapped in the 90s and now we're left with the conditions we've got now and it's not satisfactory," Stephenson said.

But that's about to change. The new Fair Pay Agreement law comes into effect next month and with it is a roadshow touring the country to inform people.

"We know our lowest-paid workers don't get a fair deal. We want to give them an opportunity to essentially negotiate a Fair Pay Agreement so that it's not a race to the bottom," the Labour Party's MP for Christchurch Central Duncan Webb said.

But the National Party doesn't agree with the new Fair Pay law - even though it's similar to the National Certificate which was in place when Luxon worked at McDonald's.

"We've said right along we're going to repeal the Fair Pay legislation, we don't think it's the best thing. Actually it'll add inflexibility and cost at a time when businesses need to be flexible," National Party workplace relations spokesperson Paul Goldsmith said.

But for now - the plan is firmly in place.

"It's going to make a real difference, it's going to give workers a voice, it's going to improve things for everybody," Unite national secretary John Crocker said.

A new collective bargaining tool for employees.