Campbell: Fair pay not to be feared

out minimum pay and conditions across an entire sector.

The changes stem from a report that came out of a working group led by Jim Bolger, a former National Party prime minister whose law changes in the early 1990s decimated union membership and collective bargaining.

‘‘Good on him for recognising what has not worked,’’ Campbell said. ‘‘It turned out that all the employers who promised that a new era of flexible work and pay arrangements without union involvement would boost productivity and living standards were either lying or fooling themselves and others. It has not happened.

‘‘And while low pay, precarious contracts, and work stress cannot be entirely laid at the feet of limited unionisation and collective bargaining, the ‘freedom’ has worked one way.’’

Campbell said some business organisations had been scaremongering about the return of the bad old days of union domination.

‘‘I will be telling the companies with which I am involved that the real issues we face are not fear of worker unions unless we deserve to be fearful,’’ Campbell said.

‘‘We should continue to focus on working conditions and pay which realistically reflect the markets in which we work, which are internally fair, and which encourage people to enjoy and grow in their work. We have plenty to do, and if there are unions . . . on that journey, they are welcome participants.’’