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30: Offence to mislead Registrar
or “It's against the law to trick or lie to the person who keeps track of unions.”

You could also call this:

“Unions can ask employers to share information about what the union does with people who might get a job there.”

If you’re part of a union that has an agreement with an employer, you can ask the employer to give new workers information about what the union does. You need to tell the employer exactly what information you want them to share and how you want it shared. You also need to give the employer this information in the way you want it shared.

The employer can say no to your request if the information is private or if it’s about the employer and might trick the new worker or make it hard for the employer to talk with the new worker about their job.

If the employer agrees to your request, they have to give the information to new workers in the way you asked. If the employer doesn’t answer your request within 15 working days, it means they’ve agreed to do it.

If you want the employer to give out paper copies of the information, you need to give these copies to the employer. The employer should let you know when they need more copies.

You can find more details about how employers should share this information in section 63B(3)(b).

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Next up: 31: Object of this Part

or “This part explains the rules for fair teamwork when workers and bosses make agreements together.”

Part 4 Recognition and operation of unions
Employer’s information sharing obligations

30AUnion may provide employer with information about role and functions of union to pass on to prospective employees

  1. A union that is a party to a collective agreement may, at any time, request an employer that is a party to the agreement to provide certain specified information about the role and functions of the union to prospective employees under section 63B(3)(b).

  2. The union must—

  3. specify the information that the union requests the employer to provide to prospective employees; and
    1. specify the form in which the union requests the employer to provide the information to prospective employees; and
      1. provide the information to the employer in the specified form.
        1. The employer or a representative of the employer may refuse to comply with the request only if—

        2. the information is confidential; or
          1. the information—
            1. is about the employer; and
              1. would, or is likely to, mislead or deceive the prospective employee; and
                1. would significantly undermine bargaining between the employer and the prospective employee.
                2. An employer who agrees to comply with the request must provide the information to prospective employees under section 63B(3)(b) in the specified form.

                3. An employer must be treated as having agreed to comply with the request if the employer or a representative of the employer does not respond to the request within 15 working days.

                4. If the union requests under subsection (2)(b) that the employer provide hard copies of the information to prospective employees,—

                5. the union must supply to the employer any hard copies of the information that the employer is requested to provide to prospective employees; and
                  1. the employer must notify the union in writing when the employer requires further hard copies of the information to comply with the request.
                    Notes
                    • Section 30A: inserted, on , by section 11 of the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018 (2018 No 53).