A trade union perspective on the New Zealand health and safety system

Abstract

Trade unions at their core are a democratic collective of workers seeking to use their joint strength to enact positive improvements to their work and workplaces. Workers recognise that safe and healthy work is a fundamental aspect of good work and that it is workers who bear the brunt of poor health and safety practices. Ensuring that work is safe, and workers come home healthy is a critical component of union work. So too is ensuring that workers have agency in the design and operation of their work.

Key to the operation of any union is the concept that it represents workers collectively, it reflects the diversity of its membership and provides members with a voice. This enables many workers to speak up, knowing they can do so without fear of reprisal. health