Managerial Unionism and the Law in New Zealand

This paper examines the issue of trade unionism amongst the fastest growing occupational group in New Zealand, which is also the least unionised, managers and administrators. Despite facing similar threats to employment security and changes to working conditions as other wage and salary earners, most managers and administrators do not have the benefits of a protective organisation to bargain on their behalf. The paper examines forms of collective representation for managers, but particularly incorporation and registration as a trade union. Problems associated with attempts to register managerial unions are discussed, and the particular case of APEX is examined. The paper concludes with some suggestions for changes to the law to ease the plight of those managers who wish to unionise, and summarises the current avenues available for collective representation.