Kōrero: Unions and employee organisations

By 1913 New Zealand was one of the world's most highly unionised societies. In 1936 the first Labour government made union membership compulsory. Unions have played an important role in improving working conditions – but their power has waxed and waned over time, in response to political and economic influences.

He kōrero nā Erik Olssen
Te āhua nui: Westport miners’ union banner

He korero whakarapopoto

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Workers can join together in trade unions to bargain with their bosses for better pay or work conditions.

Early unions

New Zealand’s earliest unions were mostly formed by English and Scottish settlers who had belonged to unions in Britain. Many workers set up or joined unions because they wanted an eight-hour work day and a 48-hour working week.

Ups and downs

In the 1880s unions won big victories, which encouraged many more workers to join. The Maritime Council – the first national labour organisation – was formed in 1889 by maritime workers and coal miners.

The number of union members fell after the failure of a big strike by port workers and miners in 1890.

Revival

After 1894 employers had to bargain with registered unions. If they could not agree, an arbitration court made the decision. Wages and working conditions improved, and more people joined unions. By 1913 New Zealand was one of the most unionised countries in the world.

Depression

In the economic depression of the 1930s, many people lost their jobs. The unions lost members, and there were almost no strikes.

First Labour government

A Labour government was elected in 1935, and worked closely with the union movement’s national body, the Federation of Labour (FoL). It became compulsory for workers to join the union that covered them. The government brought in a pension for all retired people, and two weeks’ paid holidays for workers.

Post-war unionism

After the Second World War some unions were strongly influenced by communism. They left the FoL because they thought it worked too closely with the government. But these radical unions failed after the huge waterfront dispute of 1951.

Dissatisfaction with unions

In the 1970s there were many strikes and disputes. Some people became annoyed with unions for inconveniencing the public.

Women and Māori

From the 1970s, women and Māori worked for better representation from unions. Sonja Davies became the first woman on the FoL executive, in 1981. Unions began taking a stand on issues such as apartheid in South Africa and the Vietnam War.

End of compulsory unionism

From 1991 workers no longer had to belong to a union, and could make their own individual contract with their employer. Union membership fell to fewer than one worker in six by 2018.

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārangi:

Erik Olssen, 'Unions and employee organisations', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/unions-and-employee-organisations (accessed 29 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Erik Olssen, i tāngia i te 11 o Māehe 2010