The Green Party has unveiled legislation that would make union membership the default option for new employees, arguing stronger unions are essential to improving wages, workplace conditions and workers’ rights.
The Automatic Union Membership Members’ Bill, introduced by Green Party workplace relations spokesperson Teanau Tuiono, would amend the Employment Relations Act so that new workers are automatically enrolled in a union where one is available. Employees would retain the right to opt out if they choose.
The Greens say the proposal would restore New Zealand closer to employment settings that existed before the Employment Contracts Act 1991, legislation that significantly reduced union membership and collective bargaining across the country.
The party argues unions have played a central role in securing many of the workplace protections New Zealanders now take for granted, including the eight-hour working day, paid leave, child labour protections and improved workplace health and safety standards.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says strengthening unions is also a key part of addressing the cost-of-living pressures facing many working households. The party believes greater collective bargaining can help workers negotiate better wages and conditions while giving employees a stronger voice in the workplace.
The Greens have confirmed the proposal will also form part of the party’s policy platform for the 2026 General Election but say they are introducing the legislation now in the hope of gaining parliamentary support.
Under the proposed changes, workers would still be free to decide whether union membership is right for them. The key difference would be that employees would actively choose to leave a union rather than needing to opt in when starting a new job.
The party says automatic membership would improve access to representation, advice and collective bargaining, particularly for workers entering industries where union participation has declined over recent decades.
The proposal comes amid continuing debate over workplace relations, pay equity, employment rights and the role of unions in addressing wage growth and workplace conditions.
If passed, the bill would represent one of the most significant changes to New Zealand’s union framework in more than three decades, with supporters arguing it would strengthen worker protections while critics are likely to question whether automatic enrolment strikes the right balance between collective representation and individual choice.
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