Some of our Gisborne delegates
Standing up and fighting back at the 2024 Delegate Forums
E tū delegates have just completed an awesome round of our Delegate Forums. Held across Aotearoa every year, the Delegate Forums are an opportunity for our workplace leaders to connect with each other, learn valuable skills, and help shape the future of our union.
This year’s theme was E tū, ururoatia! (Stand up, fight back!). The Forums focussed on the challenges facing workers in NZ, especially under an anti-worker National-led coalition Government.
Given that context, delegates discussed what we can do together to overcome these pressures. Delegates identified the importance of growing our union power by recruiting new members and ensuring delegates and members step forward, get active, and use their voice to tell their own stories. Whether it’s presenting to the public, lobbying politicians, or just talking with workmates, being active and visible at work and in our community is vital for facing our challenges.
Our first 2024 Delegate Forum, Central Auckland
The Delegate Forums are also an important pillar of E tū’s internal democracy. As a member-led union, E tū works best when delegates are engaged in decision-making and setting our direction. Elections were held for Forum Convenors, and for Forum Representatives who will take the issues of local delegates to our Biennial Conference in July. Delegates also had the opportunity to propose remits which will be taken to the conference, which is the highest decision-making body in E tū.
Another highlight for many delegates was the Decent Work workshop, exploring E tū’s framework and four pou of Decent Work: a decent income, secure work, a quality work environment, and workers’ voice. Delegates related these pou to their own work and experience.
The new and improved Delegate Handbook was launched at the Forums and all delegates can access a copy on their Delegate Portal if they didn’t get one at the Forums.
The delegate team in Christchurch
Full house in Wellington
The Timaru Delegate Forum
