10. KATE WILKINSON (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Labour
Is the Department of Labour investigating a report that “District Health Boards are increasing funding for contracted rest homes but want them to get it only if they sign collective agreements with their staff.”; if not, why not?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister of Labour) Link to this
I have read the press release to which the member refers. It is not correct. The fact is that district health boards are being asked to ensure that providers of residential care and home-based support services have in place access to collective agreements for their employees. Unlike the situation under the Employment Contracts Act, the return of which the National Party is promoting, we say workers should have a genuine choice about being on an individual agreement or a collective contract. I am surprised that even that member is so opposed to genuine choice. Even the ACT party supports it.
How can a contract that forces employers to promote collective bargaining and makes them report to the district health board if they have not concluded a collective agreement be consistent with the Employment Relations Act’s stipulation that employers must not express a preference when it comes to collective versus individual bargaining?
If I may give the member some advice, it is, firstly, to listen to the answer to the primary question and ensure that the facts of the situation are put on the table rather than using her imagination; and, secondly, to stop undermining her leader by continually promoting a return to the Employment Contracts Act, which he is denying.
Darien FentonCan the Minister explain how collective agreements in the aged-care sector will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services for older people in care?
Yes, I can. In order to improve the quality of aged-care services, it is crucial that we reduce the high turnover of the workforce so that we can train caregivers better and have a better-skilled staff looking after older New Zealanders and supporting disabled people. Collective agreements play an important part in reducing staff turnover by enabling better relationships between employers and employees, promoting better conditions for workers, promoting consistent quality standards, and reducing the possibility that newly hired workers are employed on lower wages and conditions than others who do the same job. Lower turnover, of course, also benefits employers by reducing the huge cost of recruitment and training.
Barbara StewartDoes she agree that it is inappropriate for a State agency to attempt to impose compulsory unionism on private companies by threatening to withhold funding increases, and can she confirm that collective agreements were never part of the increase in funding negotiated by New Zealand First?
There is no compulsion, there is no threat, and I am sure that New Zealand First always envisaged that as part of the significant increases in both residential and home-based support services funding, a fair share of that money would flow on to the hard-working caregivers.
How is it possible for an employer to promote a collective agreement to his or her employees without promoting union membership to those very same employees?
The district health boards are asking providers to have in place access to collective agreements. In fact, there is no compulsion either to be a party to the collective agreement or to be a union member. There is no such requirement.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that the money we are talking about, over $400 million, is part and parcel of the confidence and supply agreement with New Zealand First, and can I also ask the member who asked that question on behalf of the National Party whether she remembers the famous line in a Rolling Stones song that goes: “Hey! You! Get off of my cloud.”?
I can certainly confirm the considerable support that New Zealand First has given our Government to ensure that funding goes into residential care and home-based support services. I can also confirm the fact that, according to my mother, that is a valid Rolling Stones quote.
Jo GoodhewHas the Minister heard statements made by her colleague the Minister of Health to the Health Committee that “I’m trying to promote collectivity.” and that providers “won’t get the funding unless they make available collective agreements”, and will she be advising him that employers cannot express a preference between collective and individual bargaining; if not, why not?