Social Partnership - 2003 Conference Paper

Paper presented to the CTU Biennial Conference 2003.

One of the key policy tensions between the 1990's neo-liberal model and the current social democratic model is whether business has any "social responsibility" or whether its sole consideration is increasing "shareholder value".

This tension is also reflected internationally between the United States "shareholder value" model and the European Union "social partnership" model. The Labour-led Governments in New Zealand over the past four years have tended towards the "social partnership" model and this paper outlines a strategy for further development of a "New Zealand social partnership model" as one strategy option for unions.

One of the goals set by the CTU is to for unions to become 'natural partners'. By this we mean recognition of the participation in the governance of NZ of unions as organisations which democratically represent workers. This should apply in our industries and sectors, our enterprises and our workplaces. It also means that, as unions, we are seen as being just as much a part of industry as employers, and have a recognisable and legitimate civil society role.

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