New Zealand Council of Trade Unions: ‘A zero-tolerance approach to misinformation spread’

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (CTU) is encouraging its members to get vaccinated against COVID-19, stressing that employers should also do their part in supporting their staff.

"The union movement is proudly encouraging everyone, who can, to get vaccinated. Vaccinations are a collective action; they work best when we all get them," said Richard Wagstaff, president of the CTU. Wagstaff added that employers should do "the right thing" and support their employees while they get fully vaccinated. This includes offering them some practical help.

"Employers need to be doing everything they can to support people and make it as easy as possible for employees to get vaccinated. In practical terms this means being able to get vaccinated in paid work time," said Wagstaff.

Another practical means of supporting their staff is by giving them clear and accurate information on the jabs, according to the CTU president.

"This includes having a zero-tolerance approach to misinformation spread with intent to scare and anger people," he said, adding: "The goal is that people want to get vaccinated because they understand the benefits to themselves and the people they love."

Read more: Mandatory vaccination policies in New Zealand: Employer duty vs individual rights

Meanwhile, for those who made the choice to not get the jabs, Wagstaff said employers should not force them to take it. The union suggested that those who do not want to get vaccinated to be redeployed.

"But if people don’t want to get vaccinated then their employer must not be able to force them. If someone is in a role which does require them to be fully vaccinated, then it is our recommendation that the worker be redeployed into a different role within the organisation as negotiated with the individual and their union," Wagstaff recommended.

"Working people on our frontlines have lead the way in getting vaccinated – now it's time for everyone else to get vaccinated, together we’re strongest," Wagstaff said.

Demand for vaccines have seen a decline after initial concerns for supplies, according to a report from Stuff. It said that only about 50,000 people received their vaccines last week, with the country now facing a challenge to inoculate the "much harder to reach population."

Data from the Health Ministry showed that over one million or 44% of the eligible population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 78% or more than three million have received their first dose. Companies, such as Air New Zealand have been implementing internal policies to hike up vaccinations by mandating it to their staff or incentivising the jabs.