Launch of New Zealand’s largest private sector trade union

Written By: - Date published: 11:08 am, October 6th, 2015 - 18 comments
Categories: Unions, workers' rights - Tags:

Launch - Scoop promo image

From the EPMU

Next week marks an historic moment for the union movement in New Zealand, with the launch of the new union formed from the merger of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and the Service and Food Workers’ Union.

The new union’s name and logo will be revealed in Wellington attended by workers, unionists, politicians and community members.

The details of the launch are:

  • Wednesday 7 October, 10am – 12 noon

A livestream of the launch will be available (link is here) and syndication links will be sent to major networks. Media packs will be available with information about the new union, its key contact people, name and industries.

The co-presidents and national secretary of the new union will be available for interviews after the launch.

The new union will cover over 50,000 members in eight industry groups:

  • Aviation: including engineers, flight attendants and ground crew
  • Communications: including telecommunications, postal services, and media
  • Community Support: including aged care and social services
  • Energy and Mining: including coal mining, oil and gas exploration and refining
  • Engineering and Infrastructure: including fabrication, timber and construction workers
  • Food: including preparation, processing and production, for large retailers, small businesses and public hospitals.
  • Manufacturing: including metals and plastics manufacturing
  • Public and Commercial: including hospitals, tourism, local government and cleaners

 SFWU members voted on the merger in mass meetings, with 95.8% in favour. EPMU members voted through a postal ballot, with 84% in favour.

18 comments on “Launch of New Zealand’s largest private sector trade union ”

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  1. Tracey 1
    6 October 2015 at 11:30 am

    Great news. Numbers count.

  2. millsy 2
    6 October 2015 at 11:46 am

    Given the huge costs that TPPA will impose on working people this can only be a good thing.

  3. northshoredoc 3
    6 October 2015 at 1:59 pm

    Good luck – hopefully it will be vastly more successful than the merger of Auckland councils.

  4. Smilin 4
    6 October 2015 at 3:55 pm

    Great the combined effort is beginning to take shape and hopefully by 2017 will be able to rid this country of this treasonous govt and restore what this country was when it was great before. Long live the lessons of the thirties

  5. The Pink Postman 5
    6 October 2015 at 3:55 pm

    Lets hope that lots of Labour MP’s and LP official and grass root LP members are there.If I was younger I would certainly be there .My wife and I certainly be there in spirit.
    POWER TO THE WORKERS.!!

    • Tracey 5.1
      6 October 2015 at 5:06 pm

      and if Little isn’t there… I guess we can assume that the top of the party continues to be embarrassed with union association… except when going for their vote for leadership campaigns.

      Go Andrew, Go. Be proud of standing up for people.

      • Stephanie Rodgers 5.1.1
        7 October 2015 at 1:46 pm

        Unfortunately Andrew wasn’t able to make it as he’s taking a well-deserved break with his family, but he sent a strong message of support and Annette King spoke on his behalf. Iain Lees-Galloway also attended from Labour, and James Shaw and Denise Roche represented the Greens (Metiria Turei was invited but is overseas.) 🙂

        • Tracey 5.1.1.1
          8 October 2015 at 10:46 am

          Thanks Stephanie

          I have a lot of time for Denise Roche was very nervous when Greens looked like they might not make it to her place on the List.

  6. John Paul 6
    6 October 2015 at 4:04 pm

    Let’s face it the unions are in a massive decline and have been for a while, this merger shouldn’t be celebrated, all it shows is that each individual union is to small to stand on their own.

  7. Dorothy Bulling 7
    6 October 2015 at 4:29 pm

    Go hard out for new members, especially the young who are in their first fulltime job. They need unions badly. All employers should be required to give information to new employees about which unions operate in their workplace, so that those who want to know about this can have the information about contacts.

  8. Ron 8
    7 October 2015 at 11:32 am

    I gave up on the live stream after the first 20 minutes of Te Reo. If they intend to have a major event that the large majority of its members cannot understand then they have succeeded. Could have at least provided subtitles.

  9. Dale Cross 9
    7 October 2015 at 11:50 pm

    Realy hope you can make a difference. After two years working in Perth I could never see myself working in NZ again. A 38 hour week and real overtime rates , 10 sick days a year . Labour did nothing to improve conditions after the employment contract act of the 90s. Wanna win the next election? Make that top priority. Forget all the fluffy shit and focus on the workers. That’s your missing million.

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