Troubling issues in PSA payments
News that the Government is paying inducements to PSA members raises three troubling issues, says Business NZ Executive
Director Anne Knowles.
“First, it’s discriminatory. Non-union members are effectively being discriminated against.
“Second, it’s a subsidy for unions. Taxpayer funds should not be used in this way.
“The third issue relates to a proposed change to the Employment Relations Act to, among other things, enable
ratification of ILO Convention 98.
“The convention calls for collective bargaining to be promoted over individual bargaining. Changing the ERA to ratify
this convention could mean discrimination against non-union members becoming accepted practice.
“The Government’s payments to PSA members obviously come under this category of ‘promoting collective bargaining’. This
case shows the dangers in ratifying this convention, and should be remembered when the Government starts its review of
the ERA,” Ms Knowles said.