Communications

E tū covers a wide range of people working in communications, representing more than 7,000 members.

This includes workers in sectors such as:

  • Post and logistics
  • Telecommunications (e.g. call centres, electrical lines maintenance, ISPs)
  • Journalism
  • Media
  • Printing

Sector snapshot

Postal and logistics

There are E tū members right across the postal and logistics sector. The sector faces many challenges as mail volumes decrease while courier and parcel delivery services are expanded. More than 2,500 E tū members at NZ Post, along with those in TNL and EziBuy, bear the brunt of these changes. Other factors such as automation in mail sorting mean uncertain times for postal and logistics workers.

Despite this, these workers win pay rises that stay ahead of inflation and the cost of living. Together, we campaign hard against moves to contract out the kind of work that should be done by permanent employees with good, secure jobs.

Telecommunications

We represent workers in telecommunications including call centres, electrical lines maintenance, and internet service providers. E tū members work at Transfield, Northpower, Downer EDI Engineering, Tenix, the New Zealand Transport Agency, Contact Energy, and Sitel.

A key focus for E tū in the telecommunications sector is the re-investment in the copper network which impacts on jobs as Chorus transitions to ultra-fast broadband.

Print and media

E tū represents commercial printers, journalists and broadcasters.

Our journalism and media members work for media organisations like Stuff, Radio New Zealand, TVNZ, the Otago Daily Times, and NZME. We have members at many print companies across New Zealand. We also support and represent the interests of freelance journalists.

We fight for fair pay and conditions across the industry, especially in these times of great change for both print and media. The value of the news media as a public good underpins our organising in the media sector, and E tū is proud to lead campaigns to keep a diversity of independent voices in New Zealand media.

We provide press cards, and a universal code of ethics for journalists is included in E tū’s rules.

Our campaigns

Communications Industry Council

E tū has six Industry Councils, including Communications, each of which serves a two-year term.

The councils are made up of E tū delegates who are appointed by the E tū National Executive following expressions of interest from delegates nationwide.

The council’s members represent their given industry on their specific Industry Council.
Industry Councils elect a convenor, who sits on the National Executive.

Two representatives from the Industry Council (including the convenor) attend the E tū Biennial Conference – the highest decision-making body in the union.

 

Communications Industry Council, 2021