IDEA update: ERA responds

The Employment Relations Authority has rejected IDEA’s attempt to force flexibility onto staff and a lock workers into a three year term.

In a recommendation released Friday 23 August, the Authority says the flexibility change should not go ahead and any new collective agreement should expire in July 2020. IDEA had wanted an agreement that didn’t expire until some time in 2021 and the right to force staff to change workplaces.   The bargaining team sees this as a major step forward.

However, the Authority recommendation does not support the union’s call for weekend pay and higher rates for all SSWs and RIDSAS workers. The decision is not binding and with targeted strike notice going in this week, we expect to return to the Authority in the next two weeks to try and settle this long running dispute.  

For more information contact E tū Union Support on 0800 1 UNION (0800 186 466).