The union protesters and police staff clashed repeatedly outside SkyCity yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell
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Unions will hold a war council this week to decide how to fight sweeping changes to employment laws.
The move comes after protesters stormed security and police cordons outside the National Party's annual conference at the SkyCity Grand Hotel in Auckland yesterday.
They entered the hotel shouting slogans against the
Government's changes, which include making it easier to fire workers, extending the 90-day trial for new staff and tightening union access to workplaces.
Despite protesters repeatedly charging the police line, shift commander Wayne Kitcher said there were no arrests or injuries to officers.
Politicians including Prime Minister John Key were actually next door at the convention centre but Unite union general secretary Matt McCarten said he was pleased with the 300-strong turnout.
"I think today was a declaration of war by John Key - a lot of workers voted for him because they thought he was moderate and would do what was best for the country. Well, the mask has come off."
He claimed the 90-day bill would usher in a sea-change in Kiwis' working culture where the newly employed would be taught to "kiss butt" so as not to upset bosses and risk getting sacked.
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, the National Distribution Union and others would meet on Thursday and Friday to decide on a fuller strategy to oppose the changes, Mr McCarten said.
"It will be direct action. You saw a bit of it today that people will push and shove to get their message through but that's just day one. The warning shot's been fired."
He would not say if that meant rolling strikes throughout sectors that unions represented.
"It's wrong for me to say what the unions' strategy is [before the meeting]. I think you'll find there'll be a united response and it will be direct."
Former Green MP Sue Bradford was one who broke through security with about 40 protesters. She said she had been "belted in the face" by police.
"I'm sure I will end up with a few bruises."
Ms Bradford said the changes were an attack on working people and compared them to those Sir William Birch was responsible for introducing during the 1990s Bolger Government.
"There was a large number who wanted to get into the conference, but obviously the police stopped us getting in," she said.
The mid-morning protest was over by lunchtime.
