A bill requiring a secret ballot before strike action is taken by union members passed into law today despite strong opposition.
TheEmployment Relations (Secret Ballot for Strikes) Amendment Bill in the name of National MP Tau Henare passed by 61 to 60 with National, ACT and United Future supporting.
Other parties opposed the bill saying it was unnecessary as unions already held secret ballots and to place legal obligations on unions and not others was unfair.
Some MPs said they fear the bill will allow employers to interfere with the operations of unions and their volunteer membership this could include mounting legal challenges.
The bill’s sponsor Tau Henare said it was about the freedom of workers not to be intimidated into strike action.
Henare’s former leader Winston Peters also pointed to Henare’s change of political colours as a form of hypocrisy.
Video from In The House
MPs began debating the committee stage of the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill.
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