A couple of weeks ago I blogged about how Australia is dealing with the situation next year where Anzac Day coincides with Easter Monday.
This week, our government had the chance to do the right thing by Kiwi workers, but guess what, they failed.
In the Holidays Amendment Bill debate on Wednesday night, I put up an amendment to have Easter Monday treated as falling on on the following day where it coincides with Anzac Day.
The EPMU has managed to negotiate an extra day in 2011 for around 1200 of their members covered by 100 collective agreements and they say they expect more companies to follow suit.
That’s great for those workers, and well done to the EPMU. But the government could have ensured every worker in New Zealand had the same benefit by supporting my amendment . It would have been a relatively painless gesture, but all we got from Kate Wilkinson were platitudes about how Anzac Day should be revered and it was too sacred to move.
The amendment was voted down. And to their shame the Maori Party voted against it as well.
If Kate fells ANZAC day should be revered then why is she allowing the employers to put preshure on employees to transfer the PH to any day of the year in the Amendment Bill.
Anzac Day is a date, to remember. Anzac Day has never been ‘Mondayised’. Legislation specifically forbidding this was passed in 1949.
I find it shameful that you are turning this into just a holiday.
@Chris – who’s turning Anzac Day into “just a holiday”? It’s Easter Monday we want changed.
@Nicholas – good point.
Yet it was good enough for big business to turn half of ANZAC day over to Mammon. So much for its sanctity, Chris
“Anzac Day has never been ‘Mondayised’”
Wow! Quoting Kate Wilkinson to make a political point is going to get you a long way
Darien,
You can’t move Easter Monday to the day after, because there’s significance of it being 3 days after Good Friday.
@Roflcopter – the significant third day after Good Friday is Easter Day, which happens to be Sunday, not Monday.
Easter Monday is a bit like the day after New Year, meaningless other than being a public holiday. So shifting it for ANZAC day is fine.
I know this is off topic but I really hope the miners are ok.
Trev as it is “meaningless other than being a public holiday”
why then do about 120 countries in their wisdom recognise this day as a public holiday?
With about 50% of the countries in the world recognising this it cannot be that meaningless
http://www.answers.com/topic/easter-monday#Official_holiday
p.s. If there was any changes why does that require observing the day off work as a Monday, why not Friday?
For me having Monday off requires catchup for the remaining 4 days, by shortening the week with Friday for some reason does not have the same tired feeling. You are for me Trevor being bound by conventional thinking.
So when Lab regains power (2014?) perhaps some foresight that was missing the last time that Stat holidays were reviewed and there could be provisions put into place to rectify this issue?
How is it when using a direct quote of Trevors , I am moderated ??
Is there permissible language that Labour writers are allowed, yet contributors are censored over for using the same word?
As a serving soldier I am offended that you would try to reduce ANZAC Day to a political football. That fact that you have the freedom to espouse your political views free of oppression and state recrimination is entirely due to the sacrifices of our fathers and grandfathers in arms before us.
Shame on you, show some respect.
As a serving postman/shop worker/bus driver/whatever, I am offended that you, a serving soldier, would try to reduce Anzac day to a political football.
I’m quite sure the well attended dawn services and parades up and down the the country are testament enough to the knowledge of sacrifices made by generations past, that we don’t need to be lectured on the significance and reverence of the day. Thanks.
Em, but they are talking of an extra day for a bloody Royal wedding that is of little interest to many!! Talk about muppets!!!
Jimmy, war IS a political football. Being a member of our military you ought to know that.
“That fact that you have the freedom to espouse your political views free of oppression and state recrimination is entirely due to the sacrifices of our fathers and grandfathers in arms before us”
So are you saying use that freedom of speech which was fought for, but only in ways you approve of?
By the way many women made sacrifices in armed conflicts too.