In New Zealand, workers have a right to join a union, which negotiates collective employment agreements and advocates on behalf of its members. Employment law in New Zealand provides workers with a number of minimum rights, though most employers go beyond this.
Minimum rights vs negotiable terms and conditions
The Employment.govt.nz website provides some examples of minimum entitlements, and also provides some examples of where employers and employees have negotiated better terms and conditions in their employment agreements:
Minimum rights |
Examples of negotiated rights |
| Four weeks’ paid annual holiday per year | Extra annual holidays above four weeks eg five weeks |
| Eleven public holidays per year | Extra holidays eg company holidays, Dominion day |
| Payment of time and a half for working on public holidays | Higher rates for working on public holidays eg double time |
| Five days’ paid sick leave per annum after first 6 months, and 15 days can be carried over to a maximum of 20 days | More than five days’ paid sick leave, no need to wait for six months, more than 15 days’ carry over |
| Three days’ paid bereavement leave for certain family members, one day for other people | More than three days’ paid bereavement leave |
| Up to 52 weeks’ parental leave | Comprehensive parental leave entitlements which are more generous |
| Rest and meal breaks must be provided – Rest break must be paid | More frequent or longer rest breaks, meal break is also paid |
| Relevant minimum wage must be paid | Wages and salary rates above the minimum wage |
| Overtime paid at minimum wage per hour | Overtime at more than minimum wage |
| Payment of wages to be made in cash | Frequency of paydays and how payment is made |
| Unpaid leave for jury service | Normal pay while on jury service |
Unions
The very impressive Unite Union has collective employment agreements at three private NZ schools. The mainly public sector union, TEU (Tertiary Education Union), covers one private training establishment.
Unite
You can join the Unite union by following the link below:
http://www.unite.org.nz/online_membership_application
Tertiary Education Union
Join the TEU at http://teu.ac.nz/#join
