Government moves to balance collective bargaining rights.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says changes to collective bargaining will rebalance the rights and consequences of industrial action, following a bill introduced today to allow pay deductions in response to partial strikes.
Partial strikes involve workers turning up but refusing to perform key parts of their job, often disrupting public services. Employers' options to respond are currently limited, with pay deductions only allowed if an employee is suspended or locked out.
The proposed changes will give employers the ability to deduct a proportionate amount from an employee's wages based on the work not performed due to the strike, or 10 percent of their wages. If a union disagrees with the calculation, they can apply to the Employment Relations Authority for determination.
Minister van Velden says the reintroduction of pay deductions will incentivize both parties to return to the bargaining table and reach agreement sooner, while minimizing community impacts. The move aims to rebalance collective bargaining rights, which were changed in 2018 under a previous government.
Examples of partial strike action include MRI technologists limiting scans in August 2024, teachers refusing to teach certain year groups in 2023, and Defence Force personnel taking coordinated breaks from September.