Working life just threatened to get harder this week

On Friday the government introduced a bill that is a direct attack on the pay and conditions of those who go to work each day.

The new Employment Relations Amendment Bill deliberately weakens collective bargaining, and allows employers to exclude new workers from the collective agreement at their workplace.

TEU, will be campaigning against this bill. We believe it is unfair and dangerous. If you want to be part of that campaign, register your support now by sending a petition to the minister of labour, Simon Bridges, saying that you oppose these changes.

Please also take the time to 'like' the CTU’s Fairness at Work Facebook page. We are preparing draft submission for you to use at your branch, which we will share soon.

Many of the changes, such as removing the duty to conclude bargaining and removing new employees’ right to be on the terms of collective agreement for their first 30 days, appear technical, but they make it easier for employers to drive down pay and working conditions. The Government’s own Cabinet paper admits these changes will make it easier for employers to pay workers less.

For TEU members working in tertiary education institutions these changes can remove our right to choose. These changes could result in thousands of workers going from collective agreements to individual agreements against their will because their employer has decided that negotiations are finished and the collective agreement has expired. TEU members choose to belong to a union and belong to a collective agreement.

SIGN THE PETITION NOW

For more information
• Minister of Labour media release - Faster decisions on employment disputes
• Department of Labour - Employment Relations Amendment Bill papers
• CTU media release - Employment Relations Bill will cut workers’ pay
• Earlier CTU opinion piece on the changes - True blue worker hate

ENDS

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