New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

3/3 Once again, this Government has chosen a pathway that disproportionately impacts already-marginalised communities, compromising their safety, wellbeing, and dignity. It is a disgrace.

2/2 Tens of thousands of New Zealanders, including more than 26,000 transgender adults and over 20,000 non-binary and gender diverse people, are left vulnerable because the law remains unclear.

White text against a background with a trans flag. The text reads: The NZCTU stands firmly with our trans and non-binary whānau. We urge the Government to reconsider its decision and commit to upholding the human rights of all workers in Aotearoa. Sandra Grey, President, NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi.

#nzpol The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi stands firmly with our trans and non-binary whānau. The Government has refused to protect trans, non-binary, and intersex New Zealanders under the Human Rights Act. (1/3)

2/2 That means that they are going without the absolute basics including food, clothing, and heating. Working to reduce inequality for families should be the top priority for politicians. This Govt was elected to reduce costs, but their policies are leading to increased poverty and hardship.

Government policies are increasing child poverty - NZCTU NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi president Sandra Grey is blaming the Government for new data released by Stats NZ today that shows child poverty continuing to be a stain on New Zealand.

#nzpol New data released by Stats NZ today shows that child poverty continues to be a stain on New Zealand. One in seven children are living in material poverty. 23,700 more children are living in material poverty since 2023. (1/2)

Is it fair that prices rise as power companies bank profits? Meridian Energy, Mercury and Genesis have reported multi-million-dollar half-year profits. At the same time, customers have been receiving emails telling them the cost of their power is set to rise.

No, it's not fair, and there's an easy solution. We need to bring Aotearoa's electricity back into public ownership. We must treat the electricity market as a public utility, not a source of profit. #nzpol

The People's Select Committee report released today illustrated clearly what the National-led Government refuses to admit - New Zealanders care about paying working women what they're owed. #nzpol

Pay equity ‘select committee’ finds ‘flagrant and significant abuse of power’ A group of female former MPs subjected the pay equity overhaul to the scrutiny it should have received before passing into law. Their newly released report is damning.

When National, ACT, and NZ First gutted pay equity last year, they didn’t listen to the voices of women, workers, or experts. The People’s Select Committee was formed so that the voices of Aotearoa could be heard on pay equity - and their findings are damning for the National-led Govt. #nzpol

Pay equity law changes 'flagrant and significant abuse of power', former MPs say But the workplace relations minister is backing the new system, saying it's made the law simpler and more robust.

#nzpol

A title reading "Winston Peters' embarrassing backdown." A subtitle reading "The timeline that led to Winston Peters and NZ First bending the knee to ACT, letting down New Zealand workers, and lying to the media." A dot and a line are at the top, leading into the next panel.

a line through the top of the screen, and a dot with the text "Oct 2024" text underneath reads "Dennis Maga, Workers First General Secretary, speaks at NZ First’s 2024 Convention. He discusses the union’s Uber Court case in detail, warning that Uber was effectively writing ACT Party Minister Brooke van Velden’s upcoming legislation."

a line through the top of the screen, and a dot with the text "Nov 2024" text underneath reads "Uber drivers and Workers First representatives meet with NZ First MP Andy Foster. They raise their concerns about the Employment Relations Amendment (ERA) Bill and discuss their Court case against Uber. They meet another three times after this date."

a line through the top of the screen, and a dot with the text "Jul 2025" text underneath reads "Various media outlets report* that Brooke van Velden and ACT "adopts Uber’s wish-list when drafting employment law changes, rejects official advice". The Government looks set to sell out New Zealand workers to a multi-billion dollar corporation." small print reads "*lawnews.nz/employment/minister-adopts-ubers-wish-list-when-drafting-employment-law-changes-rejects-official-advice/"

1/2 The timeline that led to Winston Peters and NZ First bending the knee to ACT, letting down New Zealand workers, and lying to the media. #nzpol

Publicly Owned Electricity Reimagining Aotearoa Together

Read our plan for publicly owned electricity:

Genesis Energy announces $400m capital raise, government to buy up to $200m of new shares It posted a strong lift in half year profit and announced a capital raise, as the government confirmed a $200m investment to maintain its stake.

Our electricity market should be lowering energy costs and protecting jobs, not helping the rich get richer. We need to fundamentally change our approach to delivering electricity. Publicly owned electricity remains the solution. #nzpol

Pay equity change a 'real slap in the face' to women

Comment: Ahead of a new report, People's Select Committee member Steve Chadwick describes her shock at discovering the minister responsible for policy impacting thousands of women and their families had agreed to make the pay equity process even harder.

Winston Peters' behaviour following the passing of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is a disgrace. He has falsely claimed that unions didn't raise their concerns with NZ First early enough. That is simply not true.

Union hits back at NZ First over Employment Relations Amendment Bill The PSA said NZ First leader Winston Peters was wrong to blame unions for being too slow to convince New Zealand First to block the bill.

"It's sad but true to say, but Winston Peters and NZ First simply cowered behind the ACT Party during this process and should not be taken seriously as representing any workers' interests whatsoever." #nzpol

4/4 We’re doing our bit to stand up for workers and their unions in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s our hope that our political leaders start to do the same.

3/4 We will always fight to ensure that ALL political parties hear what matters to working people. We reached out to NZ First multiple times on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill and will reach out to them and other political parties any time a Bill threatens the livelihood of working NZers..

2/4 Like similar political figures across the world, Winston Peters is cosplaying as a defender of working people. The reality is that he had a chance to stop this anti-worker Bill, and didn’t take it.

Winston Peters has 'no doubt' he could've stopped contractors law if unions went to him earlier The Green's Teanau Tuiono says New Zealand First doesn't "give a damn" about workers.

1/4 In September last year we sought a meeting with Winston Peters and New Zealand First to talk about the Employment Relations Amendment Bill and what could be done to protect workers in New Zealand. We met with them in October and again shortly before the Bill was passed. #nzpol

2/4 Like similar political figures across the world, Winston Peters is cosplaying as a defender of working people. The reality is that he had a chance to stop this anti-worker Bill, and didn't take it.

#nzpol When the Govt gutted pay equity last year, they threw out all our democratic norms - including holding a select committee. A group of ex-MPs took matters into their own hands and have actually listened to the voices of NZers. Their report comes out Tuesday - more info/link to livestream here:

Once again we're seeing this Government rush through dangerous legislation. The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill was written without real engagement from workers and without real engagement from experts. Brooke van Velden is putting working people's lives on the line. #nzpol

Support Resene Workers to Win a Living Wage Support Resene workers in winning a living wage. All funds go directly to supporting the workers.

Support the workers at Resene by donating to their strike fund:

Resene factory workers walked off the job yesterday for a Living Wage. E tū members at Resene have been fighting for a Living Wage since September. They're struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. Resene needs to do the right thing and pays its staff enough to live a decent life. #nzpol

Cartoon. Five frames. Title “Taxonomy” First frame a duck is reading a newspaper headline “Levy to Fund Dirty LNG Energy” The duck says, “Tax? Quack” 2nd frame the duck is walking and says, “Tax! Quack”, as it does in the 3rd and fourth frame. In the last frame the duck is on PM Christopher Luxon’s head, saying, “Tax! Quack” and has done a poo. And Christopher Luxon says, “This … is not a duck”

Quick, dirty and expensive. The govt is going to build a $1 billion liquid natural gas (LNG) import terminal, instead of investing in clean energy. And as for the levy…if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…
My #cartoon today #NZpol #FossilFuels #Climate

text reading "Today the Employment Relations Amendment Bill passed, one of the darkest days for NZ workers. Every person, employee or contractor, should be concerned for their future job security. This legislation creates conditions for employers to pursue mass redundancies, to ‘re-hire’ under the new category of a ‘specified contractor’, lacking protections like minimum wage, holiday pay, sick and annual leave, and the right to join a union."

text reading "“[The ERA Bill] will worsen the cost-of-living crisis, exacerbate the exodus of New Zealand workers to Australia, and encourage more predation on the working class by big business without redress.” - Dennis Maga, Workers First General Secretary"

text reading "Brooke van Velden adopted Uber's wish-list when drafting this Bill, selling out Kiwi workers in favour of global multi-billion dollar companies.* However, the passage of the Bill does not rule out the pursuit of backpay for Uber drivers. Over 1,500 financial claims for Uber drivers have already been lodged by Workers First Union, and we will proceed with more." small text reading "*lawnews.nz/employment/minister-adopts-ubers-wish-list-when-drafting-employment-law-changes-rejects-official-advice/"

text reading "Shame on NZ First, who sold out workers despite meeting with several unions over the last few months and claiming their intention to amend the Bill during its Committee Stages. Instead, NZ First offered no amendments and rejected every Opposition attempt to limit the Bill’s catastrophic scope. Aotearoa workers will not forget."

Today the ERA Bill passed, marking a dark day for NZ workers.

This Govt has weakened YOUR job security.

For instance, the door is now open for employers to ‘re-hire’ anyone as a ‘specified contractor’, lacking protections like min wage, holiday pay, sick leave and the right to join a union. #nzpol

3/3 The Government is telling New Zealand businesses that it’s okay to harm workers for financial gain. The Bill was written without real engagement from workers and health and safety experts – and it shows. Putting workers in harm’s way when our systems are already failing them is unacceptable.

2/3 The Government claims its Health and Safety Amendment Bill will cut ‘red tape’ and ‘compliance costs’ for businesses. But health and safety laws aren’t unnecessary bureaucracy. They’re the difference between workers coming home safe or not coming home at all.

1/3 Every New Zealander deserves to come home healthy and safe. Workers’ lives should never be put on the line in the name of profit. #nzpol

Running the government is a lot like playing recorder – it doesn’t work if you suck.

#makeitstop by letting those in power know just how many people care about primary education in NZ. Share this film, sign our petition, or just make some noise for teachers & educators at makeitstop.co.nz