1.Research Topic:
To identify possible effects of and response to moves to reduce union officials’ access to non-unionised worksites.
2.Executive Summary:
Intention:
The intent of this project is to determine whether reductions in access rights are likely to harm unions or workers, and if so, what ought to be done to remedy this problem.
The Changes:
The National Government intends to change the right to access worksites by giving employers a right to refuse entry to a worksite, although entry must not be withheld unreasonably.
Research approach:
Public comments and submissions by interested parties, as well as secondary material published by the Department of Labour, the Minister of Labour, and other interested parties have been used.
The research has been informed by the concepts of information asymmetry, and of class power inequality.
Findings:
That the changes to union officials’ access rights were not strongly sought by peak employer groups, and were strongly opposed by peak union groups.
That the changes to union access may be used to deny, delay or restrict union officials’ access to worksites.
That the changes to union access rights will have a strong negative impact on the ability of workers in non-unionised sites to have access to union officials, and to join unions.
Recommendations:
Specific recommendations as to next steps are to be found at the end of the report.
Referencing:
Please note that this website has used a number of sources. Please refer to the Biliography, and to theFull Report.