Last week CANZ and the Department of Corrections agreed to use the mediation service of the ERS in an effort to break the stalemate that was reached during the last bargaining meeting. This is normal procedure, as the use of mediation is one of the options available to the parties under the provisions of the “Bargaining Protocol”.

The mediation is scheduled to take place on 24 June and, in accordance with the “good faith” provisions of the Employment Relations Act, CANZ has asked Intervention Services to delay the deadline for signing letters of appointment until after mediation. However, given the current propensity for DoC managers to adopt the “schoolteacher” approach, (do as you’re told, or you’ll go to detention); I don’t harbour a great deal of confidence that the request will be complied with. Having said that, I can assure you of the following:

1. The current offer of settlement that’s being proposed for CANZ is superior to the Individual Employment Agreements that are currently on offer.

2. Eve McMahon’s letter ensuring that “those who have authorized CANZ will have the option of being covered by the CEA finally agreed to by CANZ members” is legally binding.

3. Accordingly, although an extension is desirable, if you authorise CANZ you have nothing to lose once negotiations are completed, because you can either retain what you have on an IEA or join the new collective.

4. However, you must be an authorised CANZ member before settlement is reached in order to pick up on these options.

I am waiting to hear back from IS advocate Tony Teesdale on the “extension” issue and I should be in a better position to indicate the true nature of IS’s intentions in respect of “good faith” by the end of the day. As always, we are ready to return to the bargaining table at any time in an effort to bring this matter to a conclusion. If there are any matters that you wish to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact either Brian Phillips (brian.phillips@corrections.govt.nz) or myself (beady1@xtra.co.nz) and we will get back to you.

We will keep you informed of progress.

Regards,

Brian Davies
National Organiser
CANZ