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workersfirstunion.bsky.social
Workers First Union
@workersfirstunion.bsky.social
200 followers 25 following 250 posts
32,000 strong! ✊ The trade union for retail, finance, logistics, transport, manufacturing, ambulance and bus workers in Aotearoa New Zealand
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workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(4/4) #takethepowerback Part 5: The takeaway

Recognising platform workers as employees and introducing AI protection agreements together ensure that emerging technologies and gig work operate under clear employment rights and safeguards.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
stylized red title reading "the takeaway" text reading "Recognising platform workers as employees and introducing AI protection agreements together ensure that emerging technologies and gig work operate under clear employment rights and safeguards. Collectively, these measures protect jobs, privacy, and worker autonomy in an increasingly tech-driven economy."
January 13, 2026 at 4:10 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(3/4) #takethepowerback Part 5b: Workplace AI protection agreements

Mandatory agreements between employers introducing AI tech and their employees - supporting data protection, privacy, job security, skills dev, quality requirements and more.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "b. Workplace AI protection agreements" subtitle reading "As AI proliferates in workplaces, the risks to worker autonomy, privacy and job security escalate without protections in place. Twice as many jobs were lost to workplace AI in 2025 than in 2024. Employers have begun using it to spy on workers, measure their productivity, and trigger disciplinary processes. While AI can be useful in the hands of workers, it’s demonstrably harmful when used to control people." title reading "Workplace AI protection agreements" text reading "The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has developed a strong set of principled considerations for workers and businesses regarding the introduction of AI. We call for mandatory agreements that employers seeking to introduce AI technologies must pursue with their employees. These agreements would support data protection and privacy, job security, skills development, work quality requirements, and more."
January 13, 2026 at 4:09 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(2/4) #takethepowerback Part 5a: Recognise platform workers as employees

Platform workers have no employment rights in NZ: apps are bypassing employment protections and leaving workers in a semantic gap between ‘contractor’ and ‘employee’.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "a. Recognise platform workers as employees" subtitle reading "Platform workers have no employment rights in Aotearoa: no minimum wage, no sick leave, no annual leave and no right to join a union. They also have no right to recourse if their employer mistreats them. New forms of work via apps are bypassing employment protections and leaving workers in a semantic gap between ‘contractor’ and ‘employee’." title reading "Recognise platform workers as employees" text reading "New Zealand’s Employment Court and Court of Appeal have found that certain platform workers meet all the tests that define an employee. When an Uber driver is working, they’re subordinated to their employer, controlled by their employer, and integrated into the business. For instance, the conditions under which drivers perform trips are non-negotiable. Drivers are prevented from setting their own fares and barred from basic information that would inform whether or not they undertake a trip. We now need to catch up with the growing number of countries who have passed clear laws stating that platform workers are employees with rights. As in the EU, employee status for gig workers must be the ‘default legal presumption’; and if companies wish to challenge a worker’s status, they can pursue a test to prove that a given worker is a contractor instead. We can refer to this as a ‘negative test’ for employment: companies using predatory labour arrangements must bear the burden of proof in demonstrating non-employment status, making workers’ rights the starting point rather than the exception."
January 13, 2026 at 4:04 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(5/5) #takethepowerback Part 4: The takeaway

Banning goods produced by forced labour, enforcing transparent reporting, and mandating due diligence create a robust framework to eliminate exploitation from New Zealand supply chains.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
stylized red title reading "the takeaway" text reading "Banning goods produced by forced labour, enforcing transparent reporting, and mandating due diligence create a robust framework to eliminate exploitation from New Zealand supply chains. The combined effect is ethical, accountable trade practices that protect workers domestically and contribute to crucial global attempts to end modern slavery."
January 13, 2026 at 3:58 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(4/5) #takethepowerback Part 4c: Due diligence

Firms must act when they discover slavery – not delay or impose superficial fixes.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "c. Due diligence" subtitle reading "Firms must act when they discover slavery – not delay or impose superficial fixes." title reading "Due diligence" text reading "If a reporting entity like a retailer discovers that forced labour may be occurring in its operations or supply chain, the entity must act immediately to mitigate this risk and demonstrate that it has done so."
January 13, 2026 at 3:57 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(3/5) #takethepowerback Part 4b: Transparent supply chains

Without visibility of how goods are made and where the risks lie, slavery and forced‑labour practices can hide in plain sight.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "b. Transparent supply chains" subtitle reading "Without visibility of how goods are made and where the risks lie, slavery and forced‑labour practices can hide in plain sight." title reading "Transparent supply chains" text reading "To maintain and deepen the improvement of supply chains in Aotearoa, large businesses and government bodies must annually disclose the modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains, and what they are doing to mitigate these risks. These reports will be publicly available."
January 13, 2026 at 3:55 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(2/5) #takethepowerback Part 4a: No sale of goods that use forced labour

Too many goods entering our market are tainted by forced labour, and New Zealand consumers are unwittingly financing exploitation.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "a. No sale of goods that use forced labour " subtitle reading "Too many goods entering our market are tainted by forced labour, and New Zealand consumers are unwittingly financing exploitation." title reading "No sale of goods that use forced labour" text reading "New Zealand should follow the recent example of the EU in banning the sale, import and export of goods made using forced labour. These items simply have no place in our society, and Kiwis should no longer have to finance modern slavery in the supply chains created by private capital. Banned goods currently on the market must be withdrawn, and the future importing of slavery-produced goods prohibited. Significant financial penalties would apply for non-compliance and escalate in severity for repeated breaches of supply chain standards."
January 13, 2026 at 3:54 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(5/5) #takethepowerback Part 3: The Takeaway

Strengthening strike rights for breaches and health and safety, with paid civic participation, empowers workers to challenge unsafe or unfair practices while also participating in democratic life.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
stylized red title reading "the takeaway" text reading "Strengthening strike rights for breaches and health and safety, alongside paid civic participation, empowers workers to challenge unsafe or unfair practices while also participating in democratic life. Together, these policies reinforce workers’ agency and safety on the job."
January 13, 2026 at 3:32 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(4/5) #takethepowerback Part 3c: Paid time for workers’ civic participation

New Zealanders work about 100 hours more per year than their OECD peers. This presents a real barrier to participating in community and democratic processes.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "c. Paid time for workers’ civic participation" subtitle reading "New Zealanders work about 100 hours more per year than their OECD peers. This presents a real barrier to participating in community and democratic processes. We want all workers to be able to engage meaningfully in civic life, whether that means attending rallies, local council meetings, or cultural events." title reading "Paid time for workers’ civic participation" text reading "Let’s expand section 26 of the ERA to deepen democracy in Aotearoa and ensure workers have a voice in society despite the demands of full-time employment. Similarly to paid union meetings, if an employee must leave their workday to participate in a community or political event, their employer would pay their usual wages for up to 4 hours each year."
January 13, 2026 at 3:30 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(3/5) #takethepowerback Part 3b: Strengthen the right to strike on health and safety grounds

73 Kiwis die at work every year, twice the rate of Australia. This is completely unacceptable.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "b. Strengthen the right to strike on health and safety grounds" subtitle reading "New Zealand’s workplace injury rate is 25% higher than Australia’s, and over 40% higher than Britain’s. 73 Kiwis die at work every year, twice the rate of Australia. This is completely unacceptable." title reading "Strengthen the right to strike on health and safety grounds" text reading "The current ERA includes a right to strike on health and safety grounds, but workers often feel pressured only to strike in the most extreme circumstances, sometimes after considerable harm or death has been caused. We want workers to be more empowered to say ‘no’ when an irresponsible employer puts them in danger, because the cost can be the loss of life at work. Section 84 of the ERA should be amended to specify that justifiable health and safety grounds for industrial action may include physical risks and psychosocial risks, such as staffing levels, workload and pace, bullying, and management behaviour."
January 13, 2026 at 3:28 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(2/5) #takethepowerback Part 3a: Right to strike against collective agreement breaches

If an employer makes a serious or sustained breach of their collective agreement or sectoral agreement, employees should be able to strike in protest.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "a. Right to strike against collective agreement breaches" subtitle reading "Too often, employers get away with breaching employment agreements. One of the benefits of union membership is to have an agreement that’s backed up by a collective of union members and staff who will challenge poor or negligent employers. Nevertheless, bad employers can waste workers’ time and resources by refusing to correct their breaches until legal action looms." title reading "Right to strike against collective agreement breaches" text reading "Simply put: if an employer makes a serious or sustained breach of their collective agreement or sectoral agreement, employees should be able to strike in protest until the breach has been rectified."
January 13, 2026 at 3:26 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(5/5) #takethepowerback 2 The takeaway

Opt-out union enrolment, worker representation on boards, and sectoral worker assemblies give workers a structured voice at all levels, embedding transparency and decision-making power.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
stylized red title reading "the takeaway" text reading "Opt-out union enrolment, worker representation on boards, and sectoral worker assemblies collectively give workers a structured voice at all levels, from individual workplaces to industry-wide decisions. Together, these measures embed transparency and true decision-making power for workers across Aotearoa."
January 13, 2026 at 1:14 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(4/5) #takethepowerback 2c. Establish worker assemblies

The ability of employers to prevent workers from discussing issues and collaborating on solutions stems from an imbalance of power – an imbalance the ERA should address, but doesn’t.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "c. Establish worker assemblies" subtitle reading "Union members know all too well how bad employers run roughshod over our rights when workers are separated and silenced. The ability of employers to prevent workers from discussing issues and collaborating on solutions stems from the inherent imbalance of power between these groups – an imbalance the ERA is supposed to address, but doesn’t." title reading "Establish worker assemblies" text reading "To build transparency into Kiwis’ working lives, we need a new kind of democratic institution in Aotearoa: worker assemblies. Union members across each sector or industry would have the right to elect delegates to meet regularly and discuss the issues in that sector. These assemblies would be publicly funded and have a particular focus on health and safety issues. They would be resourced with research support and required to produce an annual report to government on the working conditions in that sector, ranging from wage levels to physical and psychosocial safety risks. Government would be required to consider and respond publicly to recommendations. Through tripartite negotiations with unions and businesses, government would also be required to introduce appropriate safety regulations based on the assemblies’ recommendations."
January 13, 2026 at 1:11 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(3/5) #takethepowerback 2b. Worker representation on company boards

Company boards and executive officers are beholden to shareholders, not workers. Too often, the value made by employees gets sucked out of businesses to pay rich shareholders.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "b. Worker representation on company boards" subtitle reading "The basic point of democracy is that we should all have a say in decisions that affect us. But that isn’t how workplaces usually operate. Company boards and executive officers are beholden to shareholders, not the workers who make up each company. Too often, the value made by employees gets sucked out of businesses to pay rich shareholders." title reading "Worker representation on company boards" text reading "New Zealand should join the many countries in which workers have the right to be represented on company boards, meaning they participate in important investment decisions. This has been shown internationally to improve the reinvestment of resources and disincentivise harmful subcontracting while increasing the diversity of boards. Companies employing a specified threshold of workers – outlined in the Employment Relations Act – should have boards comprised of a representative split between workers and corporates."
January 13, 2026 at 12:58 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(2/5) #takethepowerback 2a - Opt-out union enrolment

We must address the fact that by default, workers are too often kept in the dark about unions, or face pressure from their boss not to join.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "a. Opt-out union enrolment" subtitle reading "We must address the fact that by default, workers are too often kept in the dark about unions, or face pressure from their boss not to join." title reading "Opt-out union enrolment"" text reading "Opt-out union enrolment – rather than the current opt-in framework – would make it easier for workers to join unions and access support and solidarity at work. Stronger unions are crucial in raising the standards of pay and conditions in Aotearoa. In workplaces with an existing collective agreement, employees would be enrolled in their union by default after 30 days unless they actively chose not to join. This would make it harder for bad employers to intimidate their employees, and more workers would start their jobs with the protections of union membership."
January 13, 2026 at 12:55 AM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(5/5) #takethepowerback Part 1: The takeaway

End surface bargaining and free-riding, and introduce sectoral bargaining, for faster more equitable agreements that lift worker wages, conditions and protections nationwide and cross-industry.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
stylized red title reading"the takeaway" text reading "Taken together, ending surface bargaining, tackling free-riding, and introducing sectoral bargaining ensure that collective negotiations are meaningful, fair, and extend benefits across entire industries. The overall effect is faster, more equitable agreements that lift wages, conditions, and worker protections nationwide."
January 12, 2026 at 11:50 PM
workersfirstunion.bsky.social
(4/5) #takethepowerback Part 1c: End the race to the bottom

Important sectors of NZ’s economy run on low wages and poor conditions. This harms ordinary people’s living standards and encourages record-breaking numbers of Kiwis to move overseas.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol
title reading "c. End the race to the bottom" subtitle reading "Important sectors of New Zealand’s economy run on low wages and poor working conditions. This harms ordinary people’s living standards and currently encourages record-breaking numbers of Kiwis to move overseas. " text reading "End the race to the bottom" text reading "Our country is unusual among its peers for restricting collective bargaining to the enterprise level, meaning negotiations happen between single businesses and their workers. To raise living standards, we urgently need sectoral bargaining, where union-negotiated terms of employment apply to all workers in a sector. We propose what is known internationally as an ‘extension mechanism’ to provide sectoral-level outcomes efficiently. If there are collective agreements in a given sector, the relevant unions will elect an ‘industry standard’ CA which the government must use to set a statutory floor for terms of employment in that sector. Two-thirds of OECD countries use extension mechanisms or their equivalents, which improve workers’ quality of life and spread best practices throughout a sector."
January 12, 2026 at 11:47 PM