All Black Bonus Deal a Tribute to ERA

"The All Black bonus deal is a tribute to the Employment Relations Act and the union-based collective bargaining processes it provides," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.The Players Association and the NZRFU yesterday reached a settlement over bonuses for the Rugby World Cup, in mediated collective bargaining.

"The Players Association is to be congratulated for negotiating an excellent deal for the members of its union," Ross Wilson said. "There is no doubt that they would not have achieved it without the legal right to bargain collectively as a players' union".

The deal is also a high-profile example of the success of the mediation processes put in place by the Employment Relations Act three years ago, Ross Wilson said.

"From the CTU perspective a mediated collective settlement by the All Blacks' union is an excellent model and message for other workers," Ross Wilson said.

"The message is that union-based collective bargaining is the way to get better pay deals".