52% of public servants were covered by collective bargaining as at 30 June 2002, a similar level to last year. This included staff on either current or expired employment agreements. 54% of public servants were union members as at 30 June 2002, which is also about the same level as last year. Staff on collective agreements were slightly more likely to be union members than last year, while staff on individual agreements were slightly less likely to belong to unions. Some employment agreements (including one very large agreement) were settled just after the survey date. Growth in union membership and collective agreement coverage followed in the wake of these settlements. Accordingly, both union membership and collective agreement coverage levels are likely to be higher than those indicated above.
