Labour’s de facto compulsory unionism

The Herald reports:

The government’s proposed labour law reforms re-establish a kind of “compulsory unionism”, and many provisions of the Employment Relations Reform Bill conflict with its objective of promoting “a high performing, high wage economy,” says peak business lobby group Business New Zealand.

This is at the heart of what Labour wants. They want to force all workers in an industry to pay dues to a union, and then the union will help fund Labour’s re-election campaign in return.

Already publishing their submissions are Business NZ and Horticulture New Zealand, the latter representing some 5,000 small to medium-scale seasonal employers. Both are warning about an increased likelihood of industrial action, in conflict with another the bill’s aims: “to build productive workplace relationships founded on good faith”.

We’ve already seen a significant increase in strikes and stoppages.