CTU, Peters cross swords

3.00pm

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters today crossed swords with Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson after the organisation yesterday attacked Mr Peters as not to be trusted.

He also accused Prime Minister Helen Clark and the CTU of colluding in attacking him on the same day.

Mr Wilson yesterday said the organisation's support for a Labour-led government would not extend to one that included Mr Peters.

He joined a chorus against Mr Peters as Miss Clark accused the NZ First leader of practising the "politics of division" and Progressive Coalition leader Jim Anderton said he found it difficult to believe either Labour or he would ever trust Mr Peters. Mr Anderton also accused Mr Peters of running a "racist campaign".

Miss Clark today ruled Mr Peters out of any potential coalition, saying her preference was to run a majority or minority Government that would include Mr Anderton.

She appears concerned over Mr Peters' recent poll ratings of around 8 per cent that could see NZ First double its number of MPs to about 10.

Mr Peters said the attacks were coming because his party was shaping up to be a major player in the July 27 election.

At a union conference yesterday, Mr Wilson suggested workers could not trust Mr Peters because he was lined up with National on crucial issues including employment relations.

Like Miss Clark, he also reminded voters of the 1996 election when voters were "betrayed" by Mr Peters.

In 1996, NZ First had promised to get rid of National, get rid of the Employment Contracts Act, make changes to the Holidays Act but had then gone into coalition with National, Mr Wilson said.

Mr Peters claimed "collusion" over the attacks and said this related to the secondary teachers' dispute.

There was "no way" the CTU would allow the teachers' union to face an injunction from the School Trustees Association and an angry Mr Wilson had spoken to Miss Clark about this, Mr Peters claimed.

"Miss Clark said 'okay, well we'll stop this action providing you get the dogs out and you start hounding Winston Peters."

Mr Wilson said it was "entirely a coincidence" that his attacks on Mr Peters came on the same day as Miss Clark's attacks.

"I wasn't aware of any statement that Helen Clark was making and I hadn't spoken to her about it and she wasn't aware of my statement," he said on National Radio.

He had not made a personal attack against Mr Peters but had stated the record.

"If New Zealand First had been in coalition with the Labour Government during the past three years, on the voting record of New Zealand First we would still have the Employment Contracts Act, we would still have a privatised accident compensation scheme with premiums going through the roof as they are in Australia.

"We would not have many of the gains like paid parental leave that have been achieved."

Mr Wilson said the CTU would put its trust in Labour but disagreed the organisation had a "cosy" relationship with the party.

"I've been careful to ensure that any statements I make relate to policy or relate to voting records of parties."

- NZPA

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