Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Employment Relations Act 2000

Recognition and operation of unions - Registration of unions and related matters

13: Application by society to register as union

You could also call this:

“A group can ask to become an official workers' club if they follow the right steps.”

If you’re part of a society that can become a union, you can ask to be registered as one. You need to send your request to the person in charge of registering unions.

When you send your request, you need to include some important papers. First, you need to show that your society is officially recognised by the government. You do this by including a copy of your society’s certificate of incorporation. This certificate comes from the Incorporated Societies Act 1908.

You also need to include a copy of your society’s rules. These rules should be the same ones that are registered under the Incorporated Societies Act.

Lastly, someone who is an officer in your society needs to write a special statement. This statement should explain why your society should be allowed to become a union. This statement is called a statutory declaration, which means it’s a formal document that’s treated very seriously by the law.

Remember, you have to send your request in the way that the law says you should. This means following any specific instructions about how to apply.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM58634.

Topics:
Work and jobs > Worker rights
Government and voting > Government departments
Previous

12: Object of this Part, or

“This part explains how unions are recognised, registered, and allowed to help workers at their jobs.”

Next

14: When society entitled to be registered as union, or

“A group can become a union if it follows certain rules and aims to help its members at work.”

Part 4 Recognition and operation of unions
Registration of unions and related matters

13Application by society to register as union

  1. A society that is entitled to be registered as a union may apply to the Registrar of Unions to be registered as a union under this Act.

  2. An application must be made in the prescribed manner and must be accompanied by—

  3. a copy of the society's certificate of incorporation under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908; and
    1. a copy of the society's rules as registered under that Act; and
      1. a statutory declaration made by an officer of the society setting out the reasons why the society is entitled to be registered as a union.