Collectively.Thinking – October 2022

Oct 31, 2022

Public sector unions are having a field day at the moment seeking cost of living and pay parity across a variety of sectors.  Two other key activities happened in October too – the Fair Pay Act was passed into law and Uber drivers won employment rights.  It will very much be ‘watch this space’ on both of those fronts!

Summarised here with links included for your light reading.

1.  Unions’ highlight best pay deals for 2022

Stuff asked some of the highest-profile unions for their most noteworthy settlements to date for 2022.  NZEI flagged two pay equity settlements, the CTU is happy with the settlement in Kawerau with Essity and the Screen Industry Workers’ Bill, FIRST Union has highlighted their settlement at Countdown, and E tū has indicated the settlement at Southpine in Nelson.

2. Fair Pay Act passed into law

This could be one of the biggest changes to employment legislation in recent history.  All the lawyers are champing at the bit to sink their teeth into this one.  I’ve scoured the commentary to find the best, clearest and most comprehensive summaries around, and have landed on this article from Russell McVeagh.  Reach out to me if you’d like to have a chat about how this could work in practice. 

3. Uber drivers win employment rights

The case was first filed in July 2021 and heard in the Employment Court this year.  FIRST Union and E tū were representing four drivers seeking a declaration that they are actually employees, and not contractors.  This decision will have far-reaching ramifications into a variety of different industries and roles.

4. Public Sector Bargaining

    5. Private Sector Bargaining

    • FIRST Union members at SGS in Ruakaka, New Plymouth, Napier and Tauranga took a full withdrawal of labour seeking cost of living increases.
    • NZNO Nurses at Evolution Healthcare in Wellington and Hawkes Bay have been bargaining for 15 months and took a 24 hour strike seeking inflation based increases and parity with Te Whatu Ora nurses.

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