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.
Ends