By | 3 min
The coming year promises to be a ground breaking one for the union movement in New Zealand, not least because of the launch of Together, a new union concept which will offer basic union membership to workers who currently do not or cannot belong to an existing union.
We all know that people who belong to a union enjoy higher wages and better than average terms and conditions. It begs the question, “Why wouldn’t you belong to a union?” The simple answer is that we know many more people would like to but find themselves in workplaces which are beyond the reach of present union organising resources. It’s just not possible in some cases for union organisers to get out into smaller workplaces, especially in more remote parts of the country.
Together is a new organisation established and run by the unions affiliated to the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions that aims to connect workers in un-unionised work places with the union movement and the union experience for a membership fee of just $1.00 per week.
“Together is perfect for people working in industries like IT, tourism or in small shops, driving taxis or on casual contacts who don’t currently have any support. Together will also provide coverage for people who work in remote areas and smaller towns who don’t currently have access to a union,” said Helen Kelly President of the CTU.
Together was launched in May this year and will be focusing for the next 12 months on the Family/Whanau membership. This is a unique feature of Together which offers existing union members the opportunity to join Together and sponsor as many of their family or whanau as they want for the standard membership cost of $1.00 per week. Family/whanau membership makes their family part of the union family and gives them the values and benefits union members share.
Members of Together will have access to:
call centre and internet services to inform about employment rights, educate about union campaigns and activities, and increase worker association with the union movement.
opportunities to participate in union activities, for example: campaigns; attending affiliate-run events in the regions; organising opportunities for affiliates that lead to collective bargaining for organised groups of new workers.
“These people face many of the same workplace issues as people who work in bigger, unionised industries, but don’t have the same support available to them. Together will provide support and advice when they need help with issues like workplace bullying, sick leave, holiday pay, employment agreements and sexual harassment. Together will give them that support and join them to the wider union movement” said Helen Kelly.
Bronwynn Maxwell is the Director Organising Centre
NZ Council of Trade Unions - Te Kauae Kaimahi
