Major unions are mounting a fierce resistance to NZ First's Employment Relations Amendment Bill, warning that the legislation will fundamentally weaken worker protections and shift power dramatically toward employers in what critics are calling the most significant erosion of labour rights in a generation.
The bill, championed by the coalition government's smaller partner, has sparked intense debate about the future of employment law in New Zealand. According to RNZ, union leaders are particularly concerned about provisions that would make it easier to classify workers as contractors, reduce collective bargaining power, and limit union access to workplaces.
The ideological shift in Kiwi politics
This isn't just about tweaking employment law—it's about a fundamental realignment of power between workers and bosses. And it shows how far right the coalition government has swung on economic policy.
NZ First, once known for its populist economic nationalism, has embraced a hard-right labour agenda that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. The party that positioned itself as defender of ordinary Kiwis is now pushing policies that unions say will make it harder for those same Kiwis to organize, bargain, and protect themselves at work.
The bill includes several provisions that have union leaders alarmed. It introduces the so-called "Gateway Test" for determining contractor status, makes it more difficult for workers to take collective action, and reduces penalties for employers who breach employment law.
What unions are saying
Union representatives have been blunt in their assessment. They argue the bill is designed to weaken organized labour systematically, making it harder for workers to negotiate fair wages and conditions while giving employers more tools to resist unionization.
The timing is particularly concerning for unions. New Zealand is facing a cost-of-living crisis, with many workers struggling to make ends meet. Weakening their ability to bargain collectively, unions argue, will only make that worse.
But the government maintains the changes are necessary to increase labour market flexibility, reduce compliance costs for businesses, and make New Zealand more competitive internationally. It's the same argument employers have made for decades whenever labour protections are on the chopping block.
The broader political context
This fight over the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is part of a larger pattern under the coalition government. Since taking office, the government has systematically rolled back environmental protections, fast-tracked resource extraction projects, and now is targeting labour law.
The question for New Zealand is whether this represents a temporary swing of the political pendulum or a more permanent restructuring of the relationship between workers, employers, and the state.
What's clear is that unions aren't giving up without a fight. They're mobilizing members, running public campaigns, and preparing for what they see as a crucial battle over the future of work in New Zealand.
What happens next
The bill is making its way through Parliament, and the government has the numbers to pass it. But the intensity of union opposition suggests this won't be the end of the story. Expect public protests, potential legal challenges, and a campaign to make this a central issue in the next election.
For Kiwi workers, the stakes couldn't be higher. The employment law framework that's protected them for generations is being rewritten, and not in their favor.
