Media Release

29 May 2007

Aged Care Funding Must Not Become Trojan Horse for Compulsory Unionism

New Zealand First has rejected the notion of DHBNZ making collective agreements, effectively enforcing compulsory unionism, a condition of the large boost in elder care funding, being passed on to providers.

"While New Zealand First has always supported a significant portion of the increased funding going into better wages, compulsory unionism is not the mechanism which should be employed to achieve this," said New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters.

"The increased funding over four years allows for planned wage growth in a sector that had previously been dramatically under-funded.

"While there is an expectation that the majority of this year's funding will go to increasing wages, we have no intention of now seeing this money being used as a Trojan horse for compulsory unionism.

"Industry providers should not be compelled to promote collective bargaining. They should pay fair wages and provide quality care.

"DHBNZ needs to tidy up its act and negotiate on the basis of a fair increase in wages, not blindly promoting unionism. That way everybody can win: workers, providers and most importantly, those receiving the care they need," concluded Mr Peters.

ENDS

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