On Saturday 20th September the AWC team marched at the Woman's Day of Action, March for Pay Equity. The reason for this march was simple: pay equity is NOT optional. Women-dominated work professions such as support workers, nurses and teachers are continuously undervalued and underpaid

You cannot be disciplined for, or stopped from, talking about your pay rate. Not only that, your employer also can't refuse to offer you a promotion or disadvantage you in any way on the basis of you talking about your pay. Thanks to Camilla Belich’s 2025 Employment Relations Amendment Bill.

The @nzctu.bsky.social’s @melansellbridges.bsky.social at the Women’s Day of Action yesterday. The New Zealand government has cancelled $12.8 billion worth of pay equity claims for low paid women to fund tax cuts for landlords and tobacco companies.

#nzpol Me aro koe ki te hā o Hine-ahu-one. Respect us. Value us. Pay us. This was the message that came from thousands of New Zealanders today, as we gathered across the motu to celebrate wāhine and fight back against the Government’s horrendous attacks on pay equity.

#nzpol “[CTU Secretary Mellissa] Ansell-Bridges said this was "more than a protest — it is a celebration of the women who nurture, lead, and resist". "It honours the suffrage legacy and amplifies our collective power to shape the future." www.1news.co.nz/2025/09/20/p...

#nzpol “I think this government needs to stop and really take a look at the people, and work for the people that they're representing, because they're working for their big buddies with big money, they're not working for society.” www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

#nzpol Big turnout for the Women’s Day of Action for pay equity. Billions of dollars have been stolen from low-paid female dominated workforces. This government can find huge tax cuts for tobacco companies, landlords, and big businesses - but not fair pay. That must change.

In a historic first, iwi leaders and unions have united to call for mass mobilisations against the Government on the 28th of October. Rā Whakamana will affirm tino rangatiratanga and workers' rights and mark He Whakaputanga and the first Labour Day in Aotearoa.

#nzpol NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to help the Tokoroa community after Carter Holt Harvey confirmed the likely closure of the plywood plant in the town. union.org.nz/tokoroa-cant...

#nzpol The minimum wage increased 1.5% this year. Data from Stats NZ shows: - Food prices up 5% - Fruit & Veg up 8.9% - Meat up 9.4% - Bread up 9.5% (white sliced up 41.7%) - Cheese up 14.3% - Milk up 15% - Electricity up 11.4% Laser focused on the cost of living www.stats.govt.nz/information-...

Podcast rec: Locked Out with @clrenney.bsky.social In ep 21 Craig sits down with RMTU Organiser Mark Wilson and Workers First Delegate Harry Robson to discuss the potential sale of Lyttelton Port - about the transfer of wealth from public to finance sector. Wherever you listen to pods. #nzpol #bhn

#BREAKING We are calling on political parties to adopt our new policy to establish a Workplace Education Agency. The agency would provide support for unions to build their capacity and better engage with employers. 1/6

#BREAKING: We are calling on the Prime Minister to show leadership by removing Brooke van Velden as Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, following her recent comments that politicise the Employment Relations Authority and breach the Cabinet Manual. 1/6

The buck stops where? Pay equity and the coalition government. My Stuff #cartoon today. #NZpol #PayEquity #PeoplesSelectCommittee

#nzpol NZCTU Legal Advisor Gayaal Iddamalgoda spoke to @clrenney.bsky.social last month about the dangers of Brooke van Velden's Employment Relations Amendment Bill. There's still time to stop this Bill in its tracks—submissions close at 2pm TODAY. Make yours here: www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...

#nzpol Yesterday we made our submission to the People's Select Committee on Pay Equity, giving the testimony that the Govt didn't want to hear before gutting pay equity under urgency. The PSC will keep holding oral submissions over the next few months—stay in the loop at payequity.org.nz

“It just seems absurd that my daughters and granddaughters are still fighting for the same thing that my great grandmother and her sisters fought for.” www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

🚨🚨🚨SUBMISSIONS CLOSE 2PM TOMORROW Th Employment Relations Amendment Bill threatens every working person in the country—join us in fighting back against this dangerous piece of legislation. #nzpol

#nzpol Last week we wrote again to the Minister of Foreign Affairs asking him to take action on Gaza. "All efforts must be made to put diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel to end its murderous campaign against the people of Palestine. History will judge us harshly if we fail to do so."

Make a submission to Protect Worker Rights. Everyone who works in Aotearoa New Zealand deserves a fair and clear process for personal grievances, secure employment conditions and access to their union. action.greens.org.nz/era_subsguid...

#nzpol 1/2 The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi stands with the International Trade Union Confederation on Gaza. The ITUC has released an open letter saying, “Political inaction on Gaza and Palestine is criminal negligence…

1/6 We're delighted to announce that Sandra Grey has been elected as new NZCTU President. She will take on the role from 30th October, following the resignation of Richard Wagstaff at the NZCTU’s biennial conference on the 29th of October 2025. #nzpol

#nzpol It won't stop unless we can try and stop it—so submit against Brooke van Velden's latest attack on workers while you still can. Submissions on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill close NEXT WEDNESDAY. Make your submission here: www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...

🚨MEDIA RELEASE: Workers paying the price in weak economy. 🚨 1/8 New data released by Stats NZ shows that unemployment has increased to 5.2%, meaning that there are 158,000 people unemployed in NZ, and that wages aren’t keeping up with rising costs says CTU economist @clrenney.bsky.social #nzpol

#nzpol 1/8 Brooke van Velden’s Employment Relations Amendment Bill is an attack on the fundamental rights of working people. The Bill has passed its first reading—here’s how it’ll threaten your rights at work. A 🧵

#nzpol 1/5 Newly released Government documents reveal the lengths to which ministers went to avoid scrutiny and ignore official advice on their decision to gut the Equal Pay Act and cancel pay equity claims.

#nzpol NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff spoke to NZNO members in Te Whanganui-a-tara Wellington this morning, as nurses strike across Aotearoa for safe staffing and safer care.

#nzpol Tomorrow nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants are striking across the country for safe staffing and safer care. 🕘9am Wed 30 July – 9am Thurs 31 July Support NZNO members by joining a rally near you—times and locations here: maranga-mai.nzno.org.nz/strike_day_a...

#nzpol 1/7 Today’s release of labour market data shows the continued economic pain that is being felt by workers. A 🧵

#nzpol 1/4 NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has said the union movement is appalled by the Govt’s proposed electoral law changes, including the removal of same-day enrolments.

#nzpol 132 years after women secured the right to vote in Aotearoa, we'll be gathering again in strength and solidarity. There will be a range of actions across the country—sign up and stay in the loop at www.together.org.nz/women_s_day_...

#nzpol Opposition MPs accepted our 93,000+ strong petition at Parliament yesterday, and spoke to the shocking attacks on pay equity made by this Government back in May. Thank you to Jan Tinetti, @whaeadeb.bsky.social and Kahurangi Carter for your korero and support.

#nzpol Hundreds of workers gathered at Parliament today as we handed over our Protect Pay Equity petition to opposition MPs. With over 93,000 signatures, the message is clear: New Zealanders will NOT accept the Government's gutting of pay equity.

#nzpol Standing with workers affected by the theft of pay equity, handing over a petition of more than 93,000 signatures. It’s been 53 years since the Equal Pay Act and this government is taking us backwards not forwards. Join your union and make this a one-term government.

The petition closes at 8AM TOMORROW. We’ll be delivering it at Parliament at 1PM TOMORROW. We’re almost at 90,000—sign and share while you still can!

#nzpol While the Government was gutting pay equity, we did what they wouldn’t—we listened to workers. Their voices show the real cost of the Government’s cruel decision. These are their stories.

#nzpol Read our release here: union.org.nz/cost-of-livi...

Awesome to see a win for workers 🎉🎉🥳

#nzpol PSA and NZEI TE Riu Roa members from the Ministry of Education will strike for two hours TOMORROW from 10-12pm. The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi stands with these workers as they fight for better conditions so that they can give tamariki the professional support they need.

#nzpol In our Budget Day Hui this May, we asked workers why they were fighting to protect pay equity. Their words are a powerful reminder of the people left behind by the Government's Budget.

"Ending the chilling effect of pay secrecy will allow employees to discuss their pay more freely, and allow any unfairness or discrimination in pay to be remedied." #nzpol www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

#nzpol 1/5 The People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity was formed by 10 former MPs from across the political spectrum to examine the changes made to pay equity—and they want to hear from you. Read through our submission guide to learn how you can make your voice heard on pay equity.

We're almost ready to take our petition to Parliament. Let's get it to 100,000—tell your friends, tell your whānau, and spread the word. Join us as we fight back together for working women. #nzpol

Join us at Parliament NEXT WEDNESDAY to Protect Pay Equity. Tell your friends, tell your whānau, and spread the word—let’s fight back together for working women. #nzpol www.facebook.com/events/71162...

Join the 77,000! ❤️ www.together.org.nz/fbt_for_pay_equity #nzpol

🚨The Protect Pay Equity Petition will be delivered to Parliament in 2 WEEKS🚨 Sign and share while you still can! #nzpol www.together.org.nz/fbt_for_pay_...

Many thanks to all paying subscribers for shunting this one well over 100 likes. I've now opened it up fully for the public to read, listen to and share. Chocks away! Ngā mihi Nui. Bernard. #nzpol

On Tuesday NZCTU Economist Craig Renney spoke with Gina and Andy from Unions Manawatu about the choices that the Government made in their Budget, and the working people that were left behind. #nzpol

NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff and Policy Analyst Jack Foster submitted against the Regulatory Standards Bill yesterday. Enough time and money has been wasted on this pet project of the ACT Party—the Bill does not represent the values of New Zealanders, and should be thrown out.

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is deeply concerned that the artificial intelligence (AI) “strategy” document released today by the Government ignores impacts on working people. union.org.nz/workers-abse...