Workers First Union

a photo of a workers first union flag among a sea of māori and united tribes flags

Te tiriti will live forever.

#tetiriti #toitutetiriti #waitangi #waitangiday

a photo of an excellent person in a "piss off tories - pay equity!" shirt holding a "brooke backs bad bosses (again)" sign, in front of a group of excellent people, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.

a photo of an excellent person in front of a group of excellent people, doing an A+ smile at the camera, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.

A photo of a passer by in their car giving a thumbs up, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.

a photo of a happy and determined man swinging a union flag, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.

2/2 First the Treaty Principles Bill, to allow the exploitation of our land and resources. Now the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, to allow the exploitation of our people.

This is the ACT Party's mission to put profits before people in action. Tell your friends, family and MP: Ditch the bill!

a photo of a group of excellent people holding union flags and signs saying "end the E.R.A." bill and a banner saying "ditch the fire at will bill" looking animated, at a flash protest in from of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office. You can also see a sign for 'Alex the Cobbler' in the background but please be assured that we are not protesting Alex. I do not know him so I cannot vouch for him, but as far as I know he has not made any bills that would bulldoze Kiwi's worker rights to please global multibillion dollar companies, so that's a thumbs up for Alex in this case

a photo of an excellent person in a hi viz best in front of a group of excellent people, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.

a photo of a group of excellent people holding union flags and signs saying "end the E.R.A." bill and a banner saying "ditch the fire at will bill" looking animated, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.

a photo of a group of excellent people holding union flags and signs saying "end the E.R.A." bill and "kill the bill", at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office. They all have an outstanding fit

1/2 Ngā mihi nui to thosee who made it to the flash protest today against van Velden’s “Fire-at-Will” Bill!

This weekend we acknowledge the document and the signees that made this a place for all of us. We acknowledge the time off, earned by workers who came before. We will NOT let these be taken.

an image of a RNZ article by Susan Edmunds with the headline "ikea hikes staff pay to minimum $29 as other retailers told to 'step up'" A partial photo of an Ikea store is below the headline.

Ikea has landed and is already setting the bar, with an entry rate of $29.

Workers First is the union for Ikea workers. Collective bargaining begins this year.

It's time for 'our' brands like WW, Foodstuffs, Briscoes, and The Warehouse to step up for their workers.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...

text reading "Flash protest at Brooke van Velden's office. 11 a.m. this Thursday 5 February 2026 35 Saint Johns Road, St Johns, Auckland Ditch the "Fire-at-Will" Bill."

Auckland whānau!

See you at the flash protest this Thursday, at Brooke van Velden's office. It's time to kill the "Fire-at-Will" Bill!

11am - 12pm, 5 February
35 Saint Johns Road, Auckland

Please share, attend (bring a sign if you like), and ask your MP to oppose the bill. #nzpol #auckland

a graphic in the style of a supermarket sale flyer text reading "This Government presents: The Q4 2025 Inflation REVERSE SALE! Electricity:" an image of a lightbulb with a sticker on top reading "up by 12.2 percent" 'hype' text around it saying "wow!" and "*the highest increase since the late '80s!!" small text reads "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"

a graphic in the style of a supermarket sale flyer text reading "This Government presents: The Q4 2025 Inflation REVERSE SALE! Rent:" an image of a dog in a dirty looking little dog house with a sticker on top reading "up by 1.9 percent" 'hype' text under it says "BOW-WOW!" small text reads "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"

a graphic in the style of a supermarket sale flyer text reading "This Government presents: The Q4 2025 Inflation REVERSE SALE! Meat & poultry:" an image of a sausage and a wet piece of steak with a sticker on top reading "up by 8.2 percent" small faces of Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis are next to it, saying "we gave ourselves a 10% raise!" small text reads "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"

a graphic in the style of a supermarket sale flyer text reading "This Government presents: The Q4 2025 Inflation REVERSE SALE! Telecommunications services:" an image of some ethernet cables with a sticker on top reading "up by 7.0 percent" 'hype' text under it says "PRICES SLASHED UP!" An arm holding a knife is coming up behind the sticker, and red dots are splatted over some of the graphics. small text reads "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"

You won't believe the prices in this Govt's Q4 2025 INFLATION REVERSE SALE!!

Electricity UP 12.2%!
Rent UP 1.9%!
Meat & poultry UP 8.2%!
Milk, cheese & eggs UP 9.8%!
Telecomm services UP 7%!

PRICES YOU CAN'T AFFORD, THAT'S THEIR GUARANTEE!
It's not ok. Enrol to vote. Join your union. #nzpol

Great to see bipartisan cooperation to get this important Bill passed, which is one of the pillars of our 'Take the Power Back' paper 💪

www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th...

Watch: National and Labour MPs team up to get slavery bill heard after ACT objects A new process to skip the 'biscuit tin' lottery is being used for the first time - because ACT refused to support a government bill.

Everything you need to know about our "Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety" and the ACT Party in one headline.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Employment advice for workers following natural disasters - NZCTU Advice for employees after disasters: Employment agreements cannot be changed without your consent and good faith negotiations. Temporary changes require written confirmation and permanent changes sho...

#nzpol All workers have a right to be kept safe, healthy, and secure after a natural disaster. Make sure you know your rights at work after a disaster or emergency:

text reading "We're concerned that the included business owners (like the Dairy Owners Association, Retail NZ and Foodstuffs*) have an ultimate vested interest in minimising their bottom lines above giving workplace security investment the consideration it deserves. The retail crime taskforce is already listening to the wrong people and should be disbanded." small print reads "*two of which have since resigned"

text reading "“We would be much better off listening to experienced retail workers, who are sick of being ignored and made to feel unsafe. Ask any retail worker and they will tell you that better workplace security is crucial to deter violent crime and respond when necessary." Rudd Hughes, Workers First Deputy Secretary”

text reading "Workers First has already proposed a solution in our Take the Power Back policy paper: Workers across target industries elect delegates and form assemblies to meet regularly and discuss critical issues. These assemblies have a particular focus on health and safety issues, and report to government on conditions and risks in their sector. workersfirst.nz/news/take-the-power-back”

“We would be much better off listening to experienced retail workers, who are sick of being ignored and made to feel unsafe.

Ask any retail worker and they will tell you that better workplace security is crucial to deter violent crime..."

- Rudd Hughes, Workers First Deputy Secretary

text reading "The "retail crime taskforce" fiasco. Kiwi workers are being attacked. This Government's solution? 1. Pay taskforce chair Sunny Kaushal $230,000 for a years 'work'..." small text reading "www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/582341/ministerial-advisory-group-defends-catering-bill-for-public-meetings-around-new-zealand" NZ 20$ bill graphics are floating around the text.

text reading "Kiwi workers are being attacked. This Government's solution? 2. Put businesses and lobbyists in meetings to waste money on expensive catering for calamari and goat's cheese*..." small text reading "*www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/582341/ministerial-advisory-group-defends-catering-bill-for-public-meetings-around-new-zealand" NZ 20$ bill graphics are floating around the text, as well as a calamari with "!??" next to it.

text reading "Kiwi workers are being attacked. This Government's solution? 3. Put workers and the public in harm’s way by turning them into security..." small text reading "*www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/legal-expert-says-citizens-arrest-restraining-powers-very-problematic/BJ5UXJFXWFGSNOS7EOVLRTDX7Q/" NZ 20$ bill graphics are on the left edge, coming over from the previous post, but have been cut off in a jagged line.

text reading "Kiwi workers are being attacked. This Government's solution? 4. Not involving or consulting the impacted: Workers."

Kiwi workers are being attacked - this Government's solution? The "retail crime taskforce" fiasco.

The included business owners and lobbyists (notable absent: workers) have a vested interest in minimising their bottom lines, above giving workplace security investment the consideration it deserves.

If you're in a union, you're much more likely to have avoided the pay cut! Unions fight for wage increases above the rate of inflation - workers have the POWER to make it happen when they stand together.

Stat nerd extra: We usually bargain for wage increases against HLPI instead of CPI.

text reading "Are your wages keeping up with inflation? The cost of living rose by 3.1% this quarter." small text reading "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"

Has your pay rise in the last year been at or above 3.1%? If not, you have taken an effective PAY CUT.

@nzctu.bsky.social has announced that, based on these figures, 68% of Kiwi workers are facing effective pay cuts under this Government this year.

www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-...

the logo of 'The Press, Te Matatika' Below is a screenshot of a The Press article titled 'The unpaid shift: how customers are doing the work of staff', by Blayne Slabbert on January 17 2026, which includes a photo of a person using a self-checkout machine

Should the profit generated by NZ workers be invested in technology that cuts their jobs?

Rudd Hughes, Workers First deputy secretary, talks to Blayne Slabbert about how job-cutting technology is impacting staff as well as consumers.

www.thepress.co.nz/business/360...

Text reading '82.2% of workers surveyed feel their income has not kept up with cost of living (vs 74.8% last year)' Am illustration shows these same statistics in pie chart form. small print reads 'union.org.nz/mood-of-the-workforce-2026/'

Text reading '67.4% feel they are not paid fairly for their work (vs 62% last year)' Am illustration shows these same statistics in pie chart form. small print reads 'union.org.nz/mood-of-the-workforce-2026/'

Text reading '61.3% feel their quality of work-life has worsened in terms of workload (vs 56.4% last year)' Am illustration shows these same statistics in pie chart form. small print reads 'union.org.nz/mood-of-the-workforce-2026/'

Text reading '91% rate the performance of the Government as bad or very bad (vs 86.8% last year)' Am illustration shows these same statistics in pie chart form. small print reads 'union.org.nz/mood-of-the-workforce-2026/'

The @nzctu.bsky.social Mood of the Workplace 2026 results are in.

The stats were already dire and this Govt has continued to make them worse. Time for worker representation - make sure you and your community are enrolled to vote at www.vote.nz!

union.org.nz/mood-of-the-... #nzpol

Enrol or update online Enrol to vote or check and update your enrolment details. Get ready to have your say in New Zealand’s elections and referendums.

Make sure you're enrolled to vote: vote.nz/enrolling/en...

On the 7th of November the country will go to the polls. Let’s come together to get rid of this anti-worker Government and elect a new progressive government that is committed to delivering bold change for working people.

Ka rāwe NZEI members!!! -s

Mood of the Workforce: ‘Virtually no praises for Luxon’s performance’ Move over boardroom executives, it’s time to hear what the blue collar workers think of the government, its leaders, and opposition MPs.

#nzpol Our Mood of the Workforce 2026 results are out. More than 3700 working people filled out the survey, and the message was clear: workers are struggling under the National-led Government. We need elected leaders that care about working New Zealanders, not just the wealthy and powerful.

Luxon speech devoid of policy or vision - NZCTU NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi president Sandra Grey is calling out the National Party leader for failing to address the concerns of working people at a time when a positive vision for the country is desperat...

#nzpol NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi president Sandra Grey is calling out the National Party leader for failing to address the concerns of working people at a time when a positive vision for the country is desperately needed:

Thanks to @nzeiteriuroa.bsky.social for this #nzpol story:

OIA docs reveal the Dept of Internal Affairs flagged PSC social media ads about the 23 Oct strike, warning they likely breach the PSC’s own neutrality guidelines of “impartial and politically neutral content”: tinyurl.com/publicservic...

#nzpol Today the government announced that the minimum wage will rise by 2% in April 2026. On current forecasts this will represent the 3rd successive year in which minimum wage workers will face a real terms cut in pay. Over 3 years full time workers are $4,184 worse off. A 🧵

A Legislative Right to Switch-Off Reimagining Aotearoa Together

#nzpol Workers in this country are constantly on the job. It's time for a right to switch off law in New Zealand.

an image of a large imposing figure behind a desk, wearing a tie. they are casting a dark shadow across a lone small figure in the foreground, standing in front of the desk.

an image of a very small figure and desk, with a dark shadow around them. in the foreground is a large group of people, facing the desk. text reads "you won't face 2026 alone"

You're not alone!

30,000+ Workers First union colleagues stand with you, and behind us again stand 350,000+ members from the wider @nzctu.bsky.social Aotearoa union movement.

Those in power fear us and it's because we KICK ASS when we stand together 💪

stylized red title reading "the takeaway" text reading "Recognising platform workers as employees and introducing AI protection agreements together ensure that emerging technologies and gig work operate under clear employment rights and safeguards. Collectively, these measures protect jobs, privacy, and worker autonomy in an increasingly tech-driven economy."

(4/4) #takethepowerback Part 5: The takeaway

Recognising platform workers as employees and introducing AI protection agreements together ensure that emerging technologies and gig work operate under clear employment rights and safeguards.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol

title reading "b. Workplace AI protection agreements" subtitle reading "As AI proliferates in workplaces, the risks to worker autonomy, privacy and job security escalate without protections in place. Twice as many jobs were lost to workplace AI in 2025 than in 2024. Employers have begun using it to spy on workers, measure their productivity, and trigger disciplinary processes. While AI can be useful in the hands of workers, it’s demonstrably harmful when used to control people."

title reading "Workplace AI protection agreements" text reading "The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has developed a strong set of principled considerations for workers and businesses regarding the introduction of AI. We call for mandatory agreements that employers seeking to introduce AI technologies must pursue with their employees. These agreements would support data protection and privacy, job security, skills development, work quality requirements, and more."

(3/4) #takethepowerback Part 5b: Workplace AI protection agreements

Mandatory agreements between employers introducing AI tech and their employees - supporting data protection, privacy, job security, skills dev, quality requirements and more.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol

title reading "a. Recognise platform workers as employees" subtitle reading "Platform workers have no employment rights in Aotearoa: no minimum wage, no sick leave, no annual leave and no right to join a union. They also have no right to recourse if their employer mistreats them. New forms of work via apps are bypassing employment protections and leaving workers in a semantic gap between ‘contractor’ and ‘employee’."

title reading "Recognise platform workers as employees" text reading "New Zealand’s Employment Court and Court of Appeal have found that certain platform workers meet all the tests that define an employee. When an Uber driver is working, they’re subordinated to their employer, controlled by their employer, and integrated into the business. For instance, the conditions under which drivers perform trips are non-negotiable. Drivers are prevented from setting their own fares and barred from basic information that would inform whether or not they undertake a trip. We now need to catch up with the growing number of countries who have passed clear laws stating that platform workers are employees with rights. As in the EU, employee status for gig workers must be the ‘default legal presumption’; and if companies wish to challenge a worker’s status, they can pursue a test to prove that a given worker is a contractor instead. We can refer to this as a ‘negative test’ for employment: companies using predatory labour arrangements must bear the burden of proof in demonstrating non-employment status, making workers’ rights the starting point rather than the exception."

(2/4) #takethepowerback Part 5a: Recognise platform workers as employees

Platform workers have no employment rights in NZ: apps are bypassing employment protections and leaving workers in a semantic gap between ‘contractor’ and ‘employee’.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol

heavily stylised text reading "Addressing tech ‘disruption’", in red. text reading "5. Addressing tech ‘disruption’"

(1/4) #takethepowerback 5 - Addressing tech ‘disruption’

Many new industrial issues are emerging around how technology is used in workplaces, how it can disrupt employment law and regulatory oversight, and how it can undermine workers’ rights.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol

stylized red title reading "the takeaway" text reading "Banning goods produced by forced labour, enforcing transparent reporting, and mandating due diligence create a robust framework to eliminate exploitation from New Zealand supply chains. The combined effect is ethical, accountable trade practices that protect workers domestically and contribute to crucial global attempts to end modern slavery."

(5/5) #takethepowerback Part 4: The takeaway

Banning goods produced by forced labour, enforcing transparent reporting, and mandating due diligence create a robust framework to eliminate exploitation from New Zealand supply chains.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol

title reading "c. Due diligence" subtitle reading "Firms must act when they discover slavery – not delay or impose superficial fixes."

title reading "Due diligence" text reading "If a reporting entity like a retailer discovers that forced labour may be occurring in its operations or supply chain, the entity must act immediately to mitigate this risk and demonstrate that it has done so."

(4/5) #takethepowerback Part 4c: Due diligence

Firms must act when they discover slavery – not delay or impose superficial fixes.

Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th... #nzpol