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6:00 pm, July 16th, 2026 - 26 comments
Categories: election 2026, greens, Unions -
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Press release from the Green Party
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The Green Party is backing unions through the Automatic Union Membership Members’ Bill, which would make union membership the default setting for new employees.
“Workers are the backbone of our economy and this country. Unions give workers a voice in their workplace and help fight for their rights and best interests,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.
“This will also be a policy we will be taking into the election, but we want to act now if the current government will come to the table to back workers.”
This Bill would amend the Employment Relations Act and make union membership the default setting for new employees, taking us back closer to settings before the Employments Contract Act in 1991 decimated unions and worker rights.
“Unions are the reason we have the workplace rights New Zealanders now see as a given, like the 8-hour working day, paid leave, child labour laws, and workplace health and safety protections.”
“Over the last four decades, the governments working in the interests of big businesses have again and again undermined worker solidarity and union power, and Luxon’s government is one of the worst examples of this, with their attacks on health and safety, leave provisions, not to mention pay equity.”
Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Teanau Tuiono says, “This Member’s Bill would strengthen workers’ collective voice and ensure more people have access to the representation and support that unions provide. It would help workers secure fair wages and conditions while maintaining every individual’s right to choose whether union membership is right for them.”
“Individuals will still have the right to opt out if they choose to. The only difference is that workers would be opting out rather than opting in. The default should be that workers are represented and backed, not the other way around.”
“At a time when workers are facing increasing pressure from the rising cost of living, unions continue to fight for fair pay, safe workplaces and decent conditions.”
Marama Davidson says “Being in a union was once the norm in New Zealand’s employment system. Right now, we should be strengthening collective bargaining and ensuring working people have the tools they need to secure fair pay, safe workplaces and decent conditions.”
“Unions are one of the key solutions to the cost of living crisis – meaning workers can get better pay and companies don’t simply get to ship vast profits to offshore shareholders. Strengthening worker power is cost of living relief.
“Workers deserve the right to safe, fair and decent work, and being automatically a part of a collective is one of the best ways to ensure their rights will be fought for.”
They say this Bill would amend the Employment Relations Act and make union membership the default setting for new employees.
I say don't stop there, make it the default setting for all employees
Since National are going to compulsorily enrol every New Zealander from birth into Kiwisaver, this Green Party proposal is nowhere near as coercive as what Luxon is putting up.
Good on the Greens for flying this kite.
Unions are the cornerstone of fairness.
We are a low wage country, as workers do not own their labour and have no voice.
The teachers have have high union membership in NZEI and PPTA, but few other groups have understood the strength when bargaining.
Employers have their groups and publish their views widely.
Andrew Little tried, but this wreck of a Government removed worker protections, and wish to remove even more.
This Green Policy idea could be a framework for a legacy policy.
The Greens are playing it bold – we want and admire that, right?
Making it the default setting for all employees would be bold. Nonetheless, it is a small step in the right direction.
The next question is, will Labour support it? Perhaps the Greens taking this smaller step is to appease them?
Smaller than what / who? I know which NZ political parties are offering (much) less than the Greens for a fair future. Which parties are offering more, in your opinion?
Smaller than making it the default setting for all employees.
The Alliance plan to revitalise the trade union movement, ensuring the pay and conditions of all workers (especially those in low paid and insecure jobs) are improved.
That’s perfect plagiarism, but what specifically are they going to do? Does it go further than the specific Green’s policy? Are you implying that the Alliance Party will “[make] it the default setting for all employees” or did you just make that up?
As highlighted above. The Alliance plan to revitalise the trade union movement for all workers.
As for making it the default setting for all employees, that is what I said they should do.
Like Marama said: “Workers deserve the right to safe, fair and decent work, and being automatically a part of a collective is one of the best ways to ensure their rights will be fought for.”
So why not do this for all workers?
Do you think the Greens are taking this smaller step to appease Labour?
As highlighted above. The Alliance plan to revitalise the trade union movement for all workers.
I don’t/didn’t see anything highlighted!? So, they/you have nothing specific (yet) and you’re simply repeating yourself without adding new or useful (aka droning on) and repeating the same questions over and again!?
If you cannot or don’t want to think this through, then ask your AI-app. Usually, you’re very good at finding fault in progressive ideas of the Left, either they go too far and/or might have unintended consequences and/or costs, or they don’t go far enough.
No
Again, does any NZ political party have a policy that takes a bigger pro-union step than the Greens?
Look, I get it – Labour isn't offering enough (agree; too timid/pragmatic), the Greens aren't offering enough (disagree). So, why not start your own "more left than most" party (plenty of room on the left) and float a policy that retrospectively signs all current employees up to a workplace union.
Maybe everyday Kiwis face more immediate workplace challenges?
Yes, they’re trying hard, and they’re sly – dirty even.
https://www.politicalcompass.org/nz2023
principlesideology.https://thestandard.nz/the-government-wants-to-make-workers-more-unsafe/
What union do Green Party staff belong to?
Most likely E tū or the PSA – don't know what the current coverage is.
https://www3.parliament.nz/media/5739/independent-external-review-into-bullying-and-harassment-in-the-new-zealand-parliamentary-workplace-final-report.pdf
Most Parliamentary staff serve at the pleasure of the MPs or Ministers they serve, and if you don't get on with them, Parliamentary Services will just rotate you out for another one. A few go from one kind of Minister to the next, but you have to be pretty special.
Kayla Kingdon-Bebb is one of the few who worked both for a National and a Green Minister. Kayla is now standing for Opportunities Party.
That's just Parliamentary life.
Interesting experiment. To conform or not, that is the question. To what, is another. Could get down to the natural rights of freedom of expression real fast, given half a chance. I'd like to think the GP has sussed this, but hoping for the best sometimes seems beside the point. Intelligent design is more to the point.
Solidarity with majority opinion hasn't worked all that well for the political left & right. Inertia just locks you in, restricting your options. Survival requires adaptive responses, sometimes instantly, to shit happening suddenly. Not saying political solidarity stances cannot be apt and timely, just that simulating robotic behaviour doesn't work.
Thing to watch for: union entrapment syndrome emerging amongst employees. So policy implementation would be crucial. Gotta use the right incentives in the mix.
Forgot to mention that Teanau is right to signal the opt-out option. That is indeed a crucial design incentive, so well done on a key issue.
Dennis, why do we have working poor who lack food security?
Why does it take a political movement to advance ideas of change?
Employers have a "robotic trapped view" that low wages is a right of being an employer.
The few firms who have tried to support workers are quickly attacked in case they threaten the advantages of a low wage, dismissal at will, high unemployment regime coupled with interest rate rises to control money supply which triggers more unemployment.
Workers are more trapped by those attitudes and conditions than by union membership.imo
Yes. Surprising how many employers are prepared to admit they don't actually have a business.
Just an employee and tax payer supported, hobby!
Whatever happened to “Capitalism” and “rugged self reliance”?
Hi Patricia, sorry I was in an out-of town emergency yesterday.
why do we have working poor who lack food security?
Normalcy induced by neoliberalism as per Nat/Lab sheeple majorities for way too long. A supplementary causal explanation likely to be deployed by perceptive intellectuals is evolutionary thought used in governance (oft called social darwinism).
Nudge theory has been trendy in governance the past couple of decades. Applied to insecure poor folk, this is supposed to mean an incentive structure that motivates people to pull themselves out of any hole. Could work with some folk, but evidence of more than that has long seemed thin on the ground.
Why does it take a political movement to advance ideas of change?
Because change theory is not taught in schools (as far as I know). Folks are encultured to respond as individuals instead of collaborating. Political movements can advance via change-thinking: game-changing as operating stance has caught on.
Folk with initiative are amenable to that option whereas those without drift with sheeple instead of becoming proactive. I agree with your point about attitudinal conditioning operating as self-imposed handicap. One must liberate oneself via a change of stance then adapt via upskilling to get more resilient…
Great iniative.
Come on in, the water’s fine.
I would add that anyone employed on a government supported scheme, apprentices, migrant worker, temporary/seasonal worker should be in a union and their fees paid by their employer.
The abuse of migrant workers is hidden but rampant, with only a handful of cases seeing the light of day.
35 years as a worker in nz, never once have a met a union rep, forestry and farming
But surely you reaped the benefits of being in one?
Unions have been weaken over the years. What era are you speaking of?
Bill Birch ( died today) mover of the Contracts Act 1991 finished the demolition of Unions. Explains your 35 years?
I was able to describe 12 reasons why this law change would be a game changer for workers, their families and our economy:
https://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2026/07/worker-rights-restored-under-greens.html