As New Zealanders grapple with high interest rates, stubborn inflation and general economic downturn, job losses have begun and more Kiwis than ever are leaving for good.
Its not just more jobs for more money over in Aus; working conditions are much much better over there thanks to their union movements maintaining influence while ours were deliberately undermined by the 80s “Labour” government, then the 90s National governments.
The fair pay act which Nactional Fist are scrapping would have finally started to bring the balance back into employment negotiations - and while some of it would have been to cause pay to go up, a lot of the focus would have been on ensuring consistent work conditions across industries.
Alas that’s gone now and the gap between us & Aus will just continue to grow.
Unions effectively lost all legal status and recognition in 1991 with the employment contracts act and they have never fully recovered.
Since then it’s come back a little with the Employment Relations Act 2000, which is in place today, but there is no sector level bargaining (the new govt immediately repealed the fair pay agreement legislation the last govt passed), it’s incredibly easy for employers to pass on collective agreement conditions and sympathy strikes are unlawful (I think this might be the case now in Aus too?). In fact all strikes are unlawful except in bargaining for a collective and for health and safety.
Unions are mostly confined to public sector roles these days, although there are a few in other sectors.
Its not just more jobs for more money over in Aus; working conditions are much much better over there thanks to their union movements maintaining influence while ours were deliberately undermined by the 80s “Labour” government, then the 90s National governments.
The fair pay act which Nactional Fist are scrapping would have finally started to bring the balance back into employment negotiations - and while some of it would have been to cause pay to go up, a lot of the focus would have been on ensuring consistent work conditions across industries.
Alas that’s gone now and the gap between us & Aus will just continue to grow.
If our unions are considered better, how bad is it over there?
Unions effectively lost all legal status and recognition in 1991 with the employment contracts act and they have never fully recovered.
Since then it’s come back a little with the Employment Relations Act 2000, which is in place today, but there is no sector level bargaining (the new govt immediately repealed the fair pay agreement legislation the last govt passed), it’s incredibly easy for employers to pass on collective agreement conditions and sympathy strikes are unlawful (I think this might be the case now in Aus too?). In fact all strikes are unlawful except in bargaining for a collective and for health and safety.
Unions are mostly confined to public sector roles these days, although there are a few in other sectors.