Workplace access – looking for a reason for policy change

The Government has failed to come up with any real justification for limiting the right of employees to see a union representative in their worksite, Labour’s Associate Labour spokesperson Carol Beaumont said.

“Last month Steven Joyce, answering on behalf of the Minister of Labour, referred to a ‘subsequent policy paper’ to defend the Government’s restriction on union access in workplaces. This ‘subsequent policy paper’ is in fact the same paper he was being asked about, which stated that there does not appear to be any widespread use of unions using their right to access worksites inappropriately.

“Why has Steven Joyce misrepresented the contents of this Department of Labour policy paper, dated 15 May 2009, which lists only one benefit of restricting union access amongst the many risks of altering the current right of employees to meet with their union representative?

"In the last ten years there have been nine complaints relating to worksite access under the Employment Relations Act and none of them relate to union behaviour despite the wild assertions of the then Acting Minister Hon Wayne Mapp last week. Dr Mapp also noted that there are existing reasonableness provisions regarding union access in the Employment Relations Act currently.

“Despite the absence of a problem the Government’s proposed changes run a number of significant risks. Having a union representative in their workplace means workers can obtain expert assistance with workplace problems; ensure that their workplace is safe and healthy and complies with relevant employment standards. Furthermore these representatives can facilitate a more engaged workforce where workers can contribute their ideas and they can assist in organising for collective bargaining to improve wages and conditions.

“The 1990s, when the access of union representatives was last at the whim of the employer, was a time when wages and conditions were significantly reduced.

“Since the current legislation already provides for some reasonable limitations on union access and because of the lack of evidence supporting the need for change I can only assume this is based on an anti-worker and anti-union ideology within the National and ACT Parties.

“This will further contribute to the widening gap in wages between Australia and New Zealand that has already become evident despite the Governments ham fisted attempts to hide the truth," Carol Beaumont said.

ENDS

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