TRADE unionists warned yesterday of the deleterious effect on workers’ rights and health from the Pacific trade pact set to be signed in New Zealand today.

Leaders of the 12 Pacific nations negotiating the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) will meet in the capital Auckland to sign the 5,000-page document — negotiated in secret over the past seven years.

Protests by trade unionists, environmentalists and consumer groups against the pact are planned worldwide.

Tory New Zealand Prime Minister John Key plans to travel up from Auckland to speak at a marae — a traditional Maori meeting ground — in Waitangi tomorrow and protesters are expected to follow him.

Maori leader Kingi Taurua said the protesters were welcome, but Waitangi Marae trustee Emma Gibbs warned him against a political speech that would incite “more blimmin’ riot.”

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (CTU) policy director and economist Bill Rosenberg warned that TPP would reduce workers’ say in the decisions that affect them.

“History tells us that when corporations are given more power this impacts badly on working people,” he said.
“More power for big business means less power for those doing the work.

“This agreement ensures that those that have power and money will have more power and money and those who don’t will have even less.”

The CTU LGBT section warned that a rise in medicine costs predicted by doctors would restrict access to HIV drugs.

Doctors warned that the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clause of the agreement could see challenges to national drug-buying agency Pharmac, which saved 1.2 billion New Zealander dollars (£500 million) in health spending last year.

“Signing the TPP will erode human rights and stop access to life-saving drugs for people living with HIV-Aids,” said convener Karena Brown.

Ms Brown also pointed out that a 2014 study into the impact of the TPP in Vietnam found that 45,000 HIV-positive people would no longer be able to afford the drugs they need.

The Public Services International — whose affiliates’ members will be on the receiving end of ISDS decisions — urged workers to join the protests.

The union federation warned that the pact undermined democracy, health legislation and safety and environmental regulation.