New Zealand Council of Trade Unions explained

NZCTU
Location Country:New Zealand
Affiliation:ITUC, TUAC
Members:360,000
Full Name:New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Founded:1987
Headquarters:Education House, Wellington, New Zealand
Key People:Richard Wagstaff, President
Melissa Ansell-Bridges, Secretary
Website:www.union.org.nz

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU or CTU; Maori: Te Kauae Kaimahi) is a national trade union centre in New Zealand. The NZCTU represents 360,000 workers, and is the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand.

History

See also: New Zealand Federation of Labour (1909). It was formed in 1987 by the merger of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (NZFL or FOL) and the Combined State Unions (CSU).

The NZCTU is closely associated with the Labour Party. While there is no formal link between the two, some unions are formally affiliated to the Labour Party, and the President of the NZCTU speaks at the party's annual conference.

The NZCTU is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.

During the 2023 New Zealand general election campaign, the NZCTU launched an advertisement campaign in September 2023 attacking National Party leader Christopher Luxon. In response, National's campaign chair Chris Bishop accused the NZCTU and Labour Party of promoting negative campaigning. The NZCTU's president Richard Wagstaff defended the union's advertisement campaign, claiming that it was targeting National's policies including the proposed elimination of fair pay agreements, the restoration of 90-day work trials, and public sector cuts. Labour leader and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins defended the NZCTU's advertisements, stating that the union had published advertisements in previous elections.[1]

In May 2024, the NZCTU launched a long-term socio-economic project called "Reimagining Aotearoa Together" with the stated goal to "set out an alternative vision for Aotearoa that looks beyond the narrow confines of the policy straight jacket adopted by successive governments." In a press release, the union invited workers, Māori people, community allies, non-governmental organisations and other interested New Zealanders to participate in policy development for the project.[2] [3]

Presidents

New Zealand Federation of Labour

Secretaries

Affiliated unions

Name [4] Membership (1 March 2021) [5]
Aotearoa Legal Workers' Union (ALWU)1,026
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS)5,141
Aviation and Marine Engineers Association Inc.(AMEA)2,425
Dairy Workers Union (NZDWU)8,211
Directors & Editors Guild of NZ213
Equity New Zealand (formerly the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance)1,032
E tū48,624
FIRST Union30,554
Furniture, Manufacturing & Associated Workers Union571
Independent Schools Education Association (ISEA)849
Maritime Union of N.Z (MUNZ)2,630
Midwifery Representation & Advisory Services (MERAS)1,576
National Union of Public Employees1,219
NZEI Te Riu Roa: NZ Educational Institute (NZEI)50,259
NZ Meat Workers & Related Trades Union (NZMWU)12,312
NZ Merchant Service Guild Industrial Union of Workers Inc (NZMSG)Not provided
NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO)50,658
NZ Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua (PPTA)19,300
NZ Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU)1,963
NZ Professional Footballers Association181
NZ Tramways & Public Transport Employees UnionNot provided (Wellington Branch 400)
NZ Writers Guild (NZWG)369
Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa770
Public Service Association75,419
Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU)5,004
Specialty Trainees of NZ (STONZ)1,758
Taxpro663
Tertiary Education Union – Te Hautu Kahurangi o Aotearoa (NZTEU)9,921
Tertiary Institutes Allied Staff Association (TIASA)1,336
Tuia Union297
Unite5,316

Formerly affiliated unions

Name [6] Details
Alloy Yachts Employees FederationDissolved in 2016, following Alloy Yachts ceasing operations in April 2016.[7]
Amalgamated Workers Union (Central)Disaffiliated.
Amalgamated Workers Union (Northern)Disaffiliated.
Association of Staff in Tertiary EducationAmalgamated in 2009 with the Association of University Staff of New Zealand.[8]
Association of University StaffAmalgamated in 2009 with the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education.[9]
Bakers & Pastrycooks Union Merged into First Union in 2018.[10]
Bridgestone Rubber Workers Union, Previously known as the Firestone Employees Society. Dissolved in 2010 following the late 2009 closure of the Christchurch Bridgestone-Firestone factory.[11]
Cape Foulwind Drivers, Operators and General Workers UnionDissolved following the June 2016 closure of the Cape Foulwind cement works.[12]
Clothing, Laundry and Allied Workers Union of AotearoaMerged into the National Distribution Union in 2007.
Corrections Association of New ZealandDisaffiliated.
Customs Officers' Association of New ZealandDisaffiliated mid 2016.
Amalgamated with Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota Inc. (SFWU) in October 2015 to form E tū.
Flight Attendants & Related Services Association (FARSA)Merged with E Tū in 2016.
Finance and Information Workers Union (finsec)Amalgamated with National Distribution Union (NDU) in 2011 to form FIRST Union).
National Distribution Union (NDU)Amalgamated with Finsec in 2011 to form FIRST Union).
Amalgamated into EPMU in 2011, deregistered in 2013, deregistration revoked in 2014, deregistered again in 2018.
Northern Chemical Workers UnionVoted in October 1992 to disaffiliate from the CTU citing a failure of the CTU to lead resistance against government policies.[13]
Amalgamated with EPMU in October 2015 to form E Tū.[14]
Southern Local Government Officers Union (SLGOU)Merged into the PSA on the 1st of April 2015.[15]

Founding members

Name [16] Membership (31 March 1989)
Actors Equity721
Airline Stewards and Hostesses Union1653
2755
Bank Officers Union New Zealand19329
Biscuit and Confectionary Union Nelson100
Chemical Workers Union Northern1364
Clerical Workers Union New Zealand35287
Dairy Workers Union (NZDWU)5490
Dental Assistants Union Auckland300
Dental Assistants Union NorthernNot provided
Dietetic Association New Zealand201
Distribution Workers Union Central8506
Distribution Workers Union Northern23234
Distribution Workers Union Southern6363
Drivers Union Blenheim225
Drivers Union Nelson516
Drivers Union Canterbury2255
Drivers Union Hawkes Bay1026
Drivers Union Southland884
Drivers Union Taranaki690
Early Childhood NZ997
Educational Institute New Zealand17250
Engine Drivers Union New Zealand1136
Engineers Union40000
Fire Brigadesmen Central748
Fire Brigadesmen North865
Fire Brigadesmen South Island591
Food and Chemical Workers Union New Zealand10000
Footwear Workers Union2081
Freezing Workers Union Auckland and Tomoana5418
Furniture Workers Union Northern2800
Furniture Workers Union Southland and Otago302
Harbour Workers Union New Zealand2554
Hospital Engineers Association New Zealand150
Ice Cream Workers Union New Zealand200
Journalists Union Northern1060
Journalists Union New Zealand1275
Kindergarten Teachers Association New Zealand949
Labourers Local Bodies Auckland1650
Labourers New Zealand15089
Local Bodies Officers Southern1842
Local Bodies Officers Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Taranaki and West Coast7060
Local Government Officers Union10444
Locomotive Engineers Association New Zealand1699
Meat Processors and Related Trades Union New Zealand21306
Mine Workers Union New Zealand741
Moulders Union Otago and Southland112
Nurses Association New Zealand18500
Nurses Union New Zealand9592
Photo Lithographers Union New Zealand1050
Post Office Union38000
Post Primary Teachers Association11700
Projectionists Union North Island170
Public Service Association70021
Pulp and Paper Workers Union New Zealand1731
Railway Officers Institute New Zealand3372
Railway Traders Union New Zealand1700
Service Workers Union New Zealand69054
Shop Employees Union Blenheim315
Shop Employees Union Otago, Southland and Invercargill3100
Sugar Workers Union Auckland140
Teachers College Association New Zealand358
Technical Institutions Allied Staff Association751
Theatrical Union Northern554
Timber Workers Union Nelson621
Timber Workers Union Westland455
Tramways Union New Zealand1800
University Library Staff Union268
University Technicians Union1267
Woollen Mills Union New Zealand5489
Workers Union New Zealand12501
Writers Guild New Zealand155

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: National decries CTU attack ads targeting Christopher Luxon . 5 September 2023 . . 4 September 2023 . live . 4 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230904212633/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/497258/national-decries-ctu-attack-ads-targeting-christopher-luxon .
  2. Web site: NZCTU Launch Project To Set Out Alternative Vision For Aotearoa . The Daily Blog . 13 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240512051307/https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2024/05/10/nzctu-launch-project-to-set-out-alternative-vision-for-aotearoa/ . 12 May 2024 . 10 May 2024 . live.
  3. Web site: Mo matou: About . Reimagine Aotearoa Together . NZCTU . 13 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509021455/https://www.reimagineaotearoa.nz/about . 9 May 2024 . live.
  4. Web site: CTU AFFILIATES . New Zealand Council of Trade Unions . NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi . August 17, 2022.
  5. Union Membership Return Report 2021 . The Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE). 2021.
  6. New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Directory 2008 . New Zealand Council of Trade Unions . 2008.
  7. Web site: History . Alloy Support . Allot Support . August 17, 2022.
  8. Web site: Our History . Tertiary Education Union . Tertiary Education Union . August 17, 2022.
  9. Web site: Staff veto tertiary super union . Stuff.co.nz . 2007-10-06 . 2022-08-17.
  10. First Union Incorporated Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 March 2019 . First Union Incorporated . 20 November 2019.
  11. Web site: Christchurch factory to close, 275 to lose jobs . Wood . Alan . Todd . Rebecca . Williams . David . The Press . 24 October 2009 . Stuff NZ . August 17, 2022.
  12. Web site: End of an era: Cement works in Westport closes after 58 years. Scanlon. Lee. New Zealand Herald . 29 June 2016 . NZ Herald . August 17, 2022.
  13. Roth . Herbert . 1992-04-29 . Chronical . New Zealand Journal of Industrial Relations . 17 . 3 . 387–393 . 10.26686/nzjir.v17i3.3337. free .
  14. Web site: History . E Tū Union . E Tū . August 17, 2022.
  15. Union Membership Return Report 2015 . The Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE). 2015.
  16. Book: . 1989 . Minutes and Report of the Proceedings of the First Biennial Conference held in the Town Hall, Wellington . New Zealand Council of Trade Unions . XII-XIII.