Max Bradford
Opposition Labour Spokesperson

Friday 28 April 2000

CTU supports non-union collective bargaining

The CTU has opened the door for non-union agents to negotiate collective contracts, potentially putting it on a crash course with Labour Minister Margaret Wilson over the purpose of the ERB, says Opposition Labour spokesperson Max Bradford.

"Today I have written to Ms Wilson seeking the Government's co-operation to introduce a Supplementary Order Paper that recognises the right for individual employees to negotiate collectively without having to join a union, as supported by the CTU.

"The question is whether this exposes a major clash between the Government's interpretation of the Bill and the CTU's. It needs to be clarified," says Mr Bradford.

At the first Select Committee meeting to hear submissions on the Employment Relations Bill yesterday, the Council of Trade Unions openly supported the right of non-union employees to benefit from collective bargaining for individual contracts.

"This will be welcome news to employees who do not wish to be part of a union, in order to benefit from collective bargaining. It would restore a right that employees now have under the Employment Contracts Act, but is being ripped away by the Government's industrial legislation.

"National, and now the CTU also, believes that people should have the option to bargain collectively through their own bargaining agent, without having to join a union.

"If the CTU is relaxed about the option, the Government should have no problem with the SOP," says Mr Bradford.

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