Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Plain Language Law homepage
50A: Purpose of facilitating collective bargaining
or “Helping groups solve big problems when they're trying to make a deal about work”

You could also call this:

“It explains how you can ask for help from a special group when you're having trouble making a work agreement.”

You can ask the Employment Relations Authority for help if you’re having trouble making a collective agreement. This is called facilitation. You or the other people involved in the bargaining can ask for this help. You might ask on your own, or you might ask together with others. However, you can’t just ask for any reason. You need to have a good reason that’s listed in section 50C(1). The Authority’s job is to help solve problems so you can finish making the collective agreement.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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


Next up: 50C: Grounds on which Authority may accept reference

or “The Authority can step in to help with bargaining if there are serious problems like unfair behaviour, long delays, strikes, or threats that could harm the public.”

Part 5 Collective bargaining
Facilitating bargaining

50BReference to Authority

  1. One or more matters relating to bargaining for a collective agreement may be referred to the Authority for facilitation to assist in resolving difficulties in concluding the collective agreement.

  2. A reference for facilitation—

  3. may be made by any party to the bargaining or 2 or more parties jointly; and
    1. must be made on 1 or more of the grounds specified in section 50C(1).
      Notes
      • Section 50B: inserted, on , by section 14 of the Employment Relations Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 (2004 No 86).