A placard from every year since the Equal Pay Act 1972, and a clear message from care and support workers and their unions in Wellington. We’re keeping up the fight for pay equity no matter what!
With the National-led Government reintroducing 90-day ‘fire at will’ trials for all workplaces in Aotearoa, it’s no surprise that workers in McCullum Industries had to fight against the introduction of the exploitative law in their latest bargaining. Despite the law change, E tū members made it clear we wouldn’t be accepting the introduction of 90-day trials. They were successful, and managed to win a 5% pay rise as well!
Public hospital delegates from across the country are bargaining for our next collective agreement for cleaners, security, orderlies, and kitchen workers. These are some of the unsung heroes of our health system, who ensure people are safe, healthy, and supported while they get medical care. It’s the first bargaining since all of the DHBs merged to become Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ), and delegates have appreciated the chance to unite under a new national structure to strengthen pay and conditions for everyone.
Women workers from across Aotearoa met in Rotorua for the E tū Women’s Hui, involving two days of learning, planning, and democracy. A key theme throughout the hui was making sure that women in E tū are supporting each other across our industries, for example by supporting care and support workers in their fight for pay equity.
Save Our Stories: TVNZ members ran an impressive campaign to highlight the problems with the company cancelling important shows like Sunday and Fair Go. The shows are now of the air, but the Employment Relations Authority ruled that the company didn’t follow the proper consultation process outlined in their collective agreement. This story isn’t over yet!
E tū is proud to actively participate in Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga Tāmaki Makaurau (Te Ohu Tāmaki), an alliance of unions, faith groups, and community organisations campaigning together for meaningful social change. The first big campaign is to secure more public housing and a strategy for decent work is just getting underway.
NZ Post national delegates met at the newly opened Auckland Processing Centre in May – delegates continue to push a Just Transition pathway that gives our members certainty and options for the future in an ever-changing work environment. We have recently negotiated a Just Transition agreement with NZ Post, setting a new benchmark for engagement with businesses that are undergoing long term transformation.
Members from Community Living Ltd turned up to work in their PJs, protesting their unsafe sleepover facilities. Although we’ve had some improvements, there is still much more to win.
Salvation Army Director Ian Hutson, with E tū member organisers Winnie Maamaloa and Cush Rahman, at an Auckland Council meeting to push for better social housing. Winnie says: “It was amazing, it was powerful, it gives me hope for our tamariki getting warm, safe housing.”
Our Aviation Industry Council celebrating the mahi of their outgoing Convenor, Clive Don, who has been a committed union leader in the industry for 18 years.
E tū and NZNO members at BUPA St Kilda aged care facility in Cambridge held a picket, protesting their reduced hours. One signal that it was effective was that a manager was spotted hiding behind a skip bin!
Delegates Hamish Van Koeverden and Gary Merrin are leading Main Power members as they negotiate for a new collective agreement. Hamish says it’s needed because “currently we don’t think we are being treated fairly. We want to be able to access our terms and conditions in one place, so it’s more ‘black and white’, minimising the grey that we have been experiencing.”
