PSA payments unlawful

Payments to workers for being PSA members are potentially unlawful, says Business NZ.

Executive Director Anne Knowles says the payments would appear to breach the Employment Relations Act.

“Section 9 clearly says you can’t give preference to an employee because of their union status. This cuts both ways - you can’t give preference because someone belongs to a union and neither can you give preference if they don’t.

“Further, such an arrangement arguably amounts to undue influence being exerted on non-union members to join the union – a breach of section 11 of the Act.

“If you turn this issue around, it becomes obvious. What, for example, would be the outcome if a company started giving extra payments specifically for non-union membership to every worker who wasn’t a part of a union? There would be an outcry.

“It is not surprising that non-union members are calling foul. The PSA payments must be reversed.” Ms Knowles said.

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