New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

Peak body for trade unions in New Zealand

NZCTU

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

Founded| 1987
Headquarters| Education House, Wellington, New Zealand
Location|

* New Zealand

Members| 360,000

Key people

| Richard Wagstaff, President
Melissa Ansell-Bridges, Secretary
Affiliations| ITUC, TUAC
Website| www.union.org.nz

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU or CTU; Māori: 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

[edit]

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).[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

The NZCTU is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.[citation needed]

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

[edit]

Richard Wagstaff, NZCTU president 2015–present

* 2015–present: Richard Wagstaff, former PSA national secretary
* 2007–2015: Helen Kelly, former TEU national secretary
* 1999–2007: Ross Wilson
* 1987–1999: Ken Douglas, ONZ

New Zealand Federation of Labour

* 1979–1987: Jim Knox, ONZ
* 1963–1979: Sir Tom Skinner, KBE
* 1953–1963: Fintan Patrick Walsh

## Secretaries

[edit]

Melissa Ansell-Bridges, NZCTU Secretary 2019–present

* 2019–Present: Melissa Ansell-Bridges, former Equity Director
* 2015–2019: Sam Huggard, former NDU and FIRST Union campaigns officer
* 2008–2015: Peter Conway, former NZCTU economist
* 1999–2007: Paul Goulter, former general secretary of the financial sector union Finsec
* 1987–1999: Angela Foulkes, ONZM

## Affiliated unions

[edit]

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 NZ  | 213
Equity New Zealand (formerly the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance)  | 1,032
E tū | 48,624
FIRST Union | 30,554
Furniture, Manufacturing & Associated Workers Union | 571
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 Employees  | 1,219
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 Association  | 181
NZ Tramways & Public Transport Employees Union | Not provided (Wellington Branch 400)
NZ Writers Guild (NZWG) | 369
Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa  | 770
Public Service Association | 75,419
Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) | 5,004
Specialty Trainees of NZ (STONZ)  | 1,758
Taxpro  | 663
Tertiary Education Union – Te Hautu Kahurangi o Aotearoa (NZTEU) | 9,921
Tertiary Institutes Allied Staff Association (TIASA)  | 1,336
Tuia Union  | 297
Unite | 5,316

## Formerly affiliated unions

[edit]

Name [6] | Details

|

Alloy Yachts Employees Federation  | Dissolved 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 Education | Amalgamated in 2009 with the Association of University Staff of New Zealand.[8]
Association of University Staff  | Amalgamated 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 Union  | Dissolved following the June 2016 closure of the Cape Foulwind cement works.[12]
Clothing, Laundry and Allied Workers Union of Aotearoa | Merged into the National Distribution Union in 2007.
Corrections Association of New Zealand | Disaffiliated.
Customs Officers' Association of New Zealand | Disaffiliated mid 2016.
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) | 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).
NZ Building Trades Union (NZBTU) | Amalgamated into EPMU in 2011, deregistered in 2013, deregistration revoked in 2014, deregistered again in 2018.
Northern Chemical Workers Union  | Voted in October 1992 to disaffiliate from the CTU citing a failure of the CTU to lead resistance against government policies.[13]
Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota Inc. (SFWU) | Amalgamated with EPMU in October 2015 to form E Tū.[14]
Southern Local Government Officers Union (SLGOU)  | Merged into the PSA on 1 April 2015.[15]

## Founding members

[edit]

Name [16] | Membership (31 March 1989)

|

Actors Equity  | 721
Airline Stewards and Hostesses Union  | 1653
Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions | 2755
Bank Officers Union New Zealand  | 19329
Biscuit and Confectionary Union Nelson  | 100
Chemical Workers Union Northern  | 1364
Clerical Workers Union New Zealand | 35287
Dairy Workers Union (NZDWU) | 5490
Dental Assistants Union Auckland  | 300
Dental Assistants Union Northern  | Not provided
Dietetic Association New Zealand  | 201
Distribution Workers Union Central  | 8506
Distribution Workers Union Northern  | 23234
Distribution Workers Union Southern  | 6363
Drivers Union Blenheim  | 225
Drivers Union Nelson  | 516
Drivers Union Canterbury  | 2255
Drivers Union Hawkes Bay  | 1026
Drivers Union Southland  | 884
Drivers Union Taranaki  | 690
Early Childhood NZ  | 997
Educational Institute New Zealand | 17250
Engine Drivers Union New Zealand  | 1136
Engineers Union  | 40000
Fire Brigadesmen Central  | 748
Fire Brigadesmen North  | 865
Fire Brigadesmen South Island  | 591
Food and Chemical Workers Union New Zealand  | 10000
Footwear Workers Union  | 2081
Freezing Workers Union Auckland and Tomoana  | 5418
Furniture Workers Union Northern  | 2800
Furniture Workers Union Southland and Otago  | 302
Harbour Workers Union New Zealand  | 2554
Hospital Engineers Association New Zealand  | 150
Ice Cream Workers Union New Zealand  | 200
Journalists Union Northern  | 1060
Journalists Union New Zealand  | 1275
Kindergarten Teachers Association New Zealand  | 949
Labourers Local Bodies Auckland  | 1650
Labourers New Zealand  | 15089
Local Bodies Officers Southern  | 1842
Local Bodies Officers Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Taranaki and West Coast  | 7060
Local Government Officers Union  | 10444
Locomotive Engineers Association New Zealand  | 1699
Meat Processors and Related Trades Union New Zealand | 21306
Mine Workers Union New Zealand  | 741
Moulders Union Otago and Southland  | 112
Nurses Association New Zealand | 18500
Nurses Union New Zealand  | 9592
Photo Lithographers Union New Zealand  | 1050
Post Office Union  | 38000
Post Primary Teachers Association | 11700
Projectionists Union North Island  | 170
Public Service Association | 70021
Pulp and Paper Workers Union New Zealand  | 1731
Railway Officers Institute New Zealand  | 3372
Railway Traders Union New Zealand  | 1700
Service Workers Union New Zealand | 69054
Shop Employees Union Blenheim  | 315
Shop Employees Union Otago, Southland and Invercargill  | 3100
Sugar Workers Union Auckland  | 140
Teachers College Association New Zealand  | 358
Technical Institutions Allied Staff Association  | 751
Theatrical Union Northern  | 554
Timber Workers Union Nelson  | 621
Timber Workers Union Westland  | 455
Tramways Union New Zealand | 1800
University Library Staff Union  | 268
University Technicians Union  | 1267
Woollen Mills Union New Zealand  | 5489
Workers Union New Zealand  | 12501
Writers Guild New Zealand | 155

## References

[edit]

* ICTUR; et al., eds. (2005). Trade Unions of the World (6th ed.). London, UK: John Harper Publishing. ISBN 0-9543811-5-7.

1. ^ "National decries CTU attack ads targeting Christopher Luxon". Radio New Zealand. 4 September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
2. ^ "NZCTU Launch Project To Set Out Alternative Vision For Aotearoa". The Daily Blog. 10 May 2024. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
3. ^ "Mo matou: About". Reimagine Aotearoa Together. NZCTU. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
4. ^ "CTU AFFILIATES". NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi. New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
5. ^ Union Membership Return Report 2021 (Report). The Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE). 2021.
6. ^ New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Directory 2008 (Report). New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. 2008.
7. ^ "History". Allot Support. Alloy Support. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
8. ^ "Our History". Tertiary Education Union. Tertiary Education Union. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
9. ^ "Staff veto tertiary super union". Stuff. 6 October 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
10. ^ First Union Incorporated Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 March 2019 (Report). First Union Incorporated. 20 November 2019.
11. ^ Wood, Alan; Todd, Rebecca; Williams, David (24 October 2009). "Christchurch factory to close, 275 to lose jobs". Stuff NZ. The Press. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
12. ^ Scanlon, Lee (29 June 2016). "End of an era: Cement works in Westport closes after 58 years". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
13. ^ Roth, Herbert (29 April 1992). "Chronicle". New Zealand Journal of Industrial Relations. 17 (3): 387–393\. doi:10.26686/nzjir.v17i3.3337.
14. ^ "History". E Tū. E Tū Union. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
15. ^ Union Membership Return Report 2015 (Report). The Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE). 2015.
16. ^ Minutes and Report of the Proceedings of the First Biennial Conference held in the Town Hall, Wellington. New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. 1989. p. XII-XIII.

## External links

[edit]

* NZCTU official site.

* Organised labour portal