Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Union backs removal of Brethren's special status

September 26, 2006

Union backs removal of special treatment for Brethren employers

Withdrawal of special treatment for Exclusive Brethren employers is justified, regardless of issues surrounding their political conduct, says the union which two years ago challenged the practice.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that he was pleased that the Green Party – which in 2000 was instrumental in securing the Brethren’s special treatment under the Employment Relations Act – has today announced that it wants it removed. Labour Minister Ruth Dyson has said she will review the clause the next time employment law goes before the Parliament.

Mr Little said that allowing an employer to use his or her religious beliefs to deny workers their right to receive information in the workplace could never be justified.

“In 2004, we became aware that an employer in South Auckland, Fort Richard Laboratories, was threatening to sack immigrant workers for speaking in their own language in the tea room,” he said.

“When our officials went to talk to these workers, the employer used his exemption status to bar the union from the site. He even escorted the workers to their cars so that they couldn’t be approached after work.”

Mr Little said that the special status was a hang-over from the old days of compulsory unionism and conscious objection, and was designed to protect the rights of workers, not employers.

“It allowed workers who were Exclusive Brethren to get an exemption from being forced to join a union,” he said.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“That is quite a different thing from allowing employers who are Exclusive Brethren to deny non-Brethren workers the right to be visited by unions.”

Documents supplied by members of the Exclusive Brethren church stated that their belief in the “divine principles governing the master-servant relationship” meant that the employing of unionised labour is in conflict with their consciences.

Mr Little said that it was a pity that it had taken a political scandal over Exclusive Brethren funding of anonymous political activities, including hiring private detectives to gather information on politicians, to bring the issue into the open.

“In 2004 we lodged a formal complaint about the validity of the Fort Richard Laboratories exemption with the Department of Labour, but the complaint was rejected,” Mr Little said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.