The Green Party is backing unions through the Automatic Union Membership Members' Bill, which would make union membership the default setting for new employees.
"Workers are the backbone of our economy and this country. Unions give workers a voice in their workplace and help fight for their rights and best interests," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.
“This will also be a policy we will be taking into the election, but we want to act now if the current government will come to the table to back workers.”
This Bill would amend the Employment Relations Act and make union membership the default setting for new employees, taking us back closer to settings before the Employments Contract Act in 1991 decimated unions and worker rights.
"Unions are the reason we have the workplace rights New Zealanders now see as a given, like the 8-hour working day, paid leave, child labour laws, and workplace health and safety protections.”
"Over the last four decades, the governments working in the interests of big businesses have again and again undermined worker solidarity and union power, and Luxon’s government is one of the worst examples of this, with their attacks on health and safety, leave provisions, not to mention pay equity.”
Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Teanau Tuiono says, "This Member’s Bill would strengthen workers' collective voice and ensure more people have access to the representation and support that unions provide. It would help workers secure fair wages and conditions while maintaining every individual's right to choose whether union membership is right for them.”
"Individuals will still have the right to opt out if they choose to. The only difference is that workers would be opting out rather than opting in. The default should be that workers are represented and backed, not the other way around.”
"At a time when workers are facing increasing pressure from the rising cost of living, unions continue to fight for fair pay, safe workplaces and decent conditions.”
Marama Davidson says “Being in a union was once the norm in New Zealand's employment system. Right now, we should be strengthening collective bargaining and ensuring working people have the tools they need to secure fair pay, safe workplaces and decent conditions.”
"Unions are one of the key solutions to the cost of living crisis – meaning workers can get better pay and companies don’t simply get to ship vast profits to offshore shareholders. Strengthening worker power is cost of living relief.
“Workers deserve the right to safe, fair and decent work, and being automatically a part of a collective is one of the best ways to ensure their rights will be fought for.”
