The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU or CTU; ) is a national trade union centre in New Zealand. The NZCTU represents 360,000 workers, and is the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand.

History

It was formed in 1987 by the merger of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (NZFL or FOL) and the Combined State Unions (CSU).

The NZCTU is closely associated with the Labour Party. While there is no formal link between the two, some unions are formally affiliated to the Labour Party, and the President of the NZCTU speaks at the party's annual conference.

The NZCTU is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.

During the 2023 New Zealand general election campaign, the NZCTU launched an advertisement campaign in September 2023 attacking National Party leader Christopher Luxon. In response, National's campaign chair Chris Bishop accused the NZCTU and Labour Party of promoting negative campaigning. The NZCTU's president Richard Wagstaff defended the union's advertisement campaign, claiming that it was targeting National's policies including the proposed elimination of fair pay agreements, the restoration of 90-day work trials, and public sector cuts. Labour leader and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins defended the NZCTU's advertisements, stating that the union had published advertisements in previous elections.

In May 2024, the NZCTU launched a long-term socio-economic project called "Reimagining Aotearoa Together" with the stated goal to "set out an alternative vision for Aotearoa that looks beyond the narrow confines of the policy straight jacket adopted by successive governments." In a press release, the union invited workers, Māori people, community allies, non-governmental organisations and other interested New Zealanders to participate in policy development for the project.

Presidents

2024–current: Sandra Grey, former TEU national secretary 2015–2024: Richard Wagstaff, former PSA national secretary 2007–2015: Helen Kelly, former TEU national secretary 1999–2007: Ross Wilson CNZM 1987–1999: Ken Douglas, ONZ New Zealand Federation of Labour 1979–1987: Jim Knox, ONZ 1963–1979: Sir Tom Skinner, KBE 1953–1963: Fintan Patrick Walsh

Secretaries

2019–Present: Melissa Ansell-Bridges, former equity director 2015–2019: Sam Huggard, former NDU and FIRST Union campaigns officer 2008–2015: Peter Conway, former NZCTU economist 1999–2007: Paul Goulter, former general secretary of the financial sector union Finsec 1987–1999: Angela Foulkes, ONZM

Affiliated unions Name Membership (1 March 2021)Aotearoa Legal Workers' Union (ALWU)1,026Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS)5,141Aviation and Marine Engineers Association Inc.(AMEA)2,425Dairy Workers Union (NZDWU)8,211Directors & Editors Guild of NZ213Equity New Zealand (formerly the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance)1,032E tū48,624FIRST Union30,554Furniture, Manufacturing & Associated Workers Union571Independent Schools Education Association (ISEA)849Maritime Union of N.Z (MUNZ)2,630Midwifery Representation & Advisory Services (MERAS)1,576National Union of Public Employees1,219NZEI Te Riu Roa: NZ Educational Institute (NZEI)50,259NZ Meat Workers & Related Trades Union (NZMWU)12,312NZ Merchant Service Guild Industrial Union of Workers Inc (NZMSG)Not providedNZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO)50,658NZ Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua (PPTA)19,300NZ Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU)1,963NZ Professional Footballers Association181NZ Tramways & Public Transport Employees UnionNot provided (Wellington Branch 400)NZ Writers Guild (NZWG)369Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa770Public Service Association75,419Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU)5,004Specialty Trainees of NZ (STONZ)1,758Taxpro663Tertiary Education Union – Te Hautu Kahurangi o Aotearoa (NZTEU)9,921Tertiary Institutes Allied Staff Association (TIASA)1,336Tuia Union297Unite5,316

Formerly affiliated unions Name Details Alloy Yachts Employees FederationDissolved in 2016, following Alloy Yachts ceasing operations in April 2016.Amalgamated Workers Union (Central)Disaffiliated.Amalgamated Workers Union (Northern)Disaffiliated.Association of Staff in Tertiary EducationAmalgamated in 2009 with the Association of University Staff of New Zealand.Association of University StaffAmalgamated in 2009 with the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education.Bakers & Pastrycooks Union Merged into First Union in 2018.Bridgestone Rubber Workers Union, Previously known as the Firestone Employees Society. Dissolved in 2010 following the late 2009 closure of the Christchurch Bridgestone-Firestone factory.Cape Foulwind Drivers, Operators and General Workers UnionDissolved following the June 2016 closure of the Cape Foulwind cement works.Clothing, Laundry and Allied Workers Union of AotearoaMerged into the National Distribution Union in 2007.Corrections Association of New ZealandDisaffiliated.Customs Officers' Association of New ZealandDisaffiliated mid 2016.Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) Amalgamated with Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota Inc. (SFWU) in October 2015 to form E tū.Flight Attendants & Related Services Association (FARSA)Merged with E Tū in 2016.Finance and Information Workers Union (finsec)Amalgamated with National Distribution Union (NDU) in 2011 to form FIRST Union).National Distribution Union (NDU)Amalgamated with Finsec in 2011 to form FIRST Union).NZ Building Trades Union (NZBTU) Amalgamated into EPMU in 2011, deregistered in 2013, deregistration revoked in 2014, deregistered again in 2018.Northern Chemical Workers UnionVoted in October 1992 to disaffiliate from the CTU citing a failure of the CTU to lead resistance against government policies.Service & Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota Inc. (SFWU) Amalgamated with EPMU in October 2015 to form E Tū.Southern Local Government Officers Union (SLGOU)Merged into the PSA on 1 April 2015.

Founding members Name Membership (31 March 1989)Actors Equity721Airline Stewards and Hostesses Union1653Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions 2755Bank Officers Union New Zealand19329Biscuit and Confectionary Union Nelson100Chemical Workers Union Northern1364Clerical Workers Union New Zealand35287Dairy Workers Union (NZDWU)5490Dental Assistants Union Auckland300Dental Assistants Union NorthernNot providedDietetic Association New Zealand201Distribution Workers Union Central8506Distribution Workers Union Northern23234Distribution Workers Union Southern6363Drivers Union Blenheim225Drivers Union Nelson516Drivers Union Canterbury2255Drivers Union Hawkes Bay1026Drivers Union Southland884Drivers Union Taranaki690Early Childhood NZ997Educational Institute New Zealand17250Engine Drivers Union New Zealand1136Engineers Union40000Fire Brigadesmen Central748Fire Brigadesmen North865Fire Brigadesmen South Island591Food and Chemical Workers Union New Zealand10000Footwear Workers Union2081Freezing Workers Union Auckland and Tomoana5418Furniture Workers Union Northern2800Furniture Workers Union Southland and Otago302Harbour Workers Union New Zealand2554Hospital Engineers Association New Zealand150Ice Cream Workers Union New Zealand200Journalists Union Northern1060Journalists Union New Zealand1275Kindergarten Teachers Association New Zealand949Labourers Local Bodies Auckland1650Labourers New Zealand15089Local Bodies Officers Southern1842Local Bodies Officers Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Taranaki and West Coast7060Local Government Officers Union10444Locomotive Engineers Association New Zealand1699Meat Processors and Related Trades Union New Zealand21306Mine Workers Union New Zealand741Moulders Union Otago and Southland112Nurses Association New Zealand18500Nurses Union New Zealand9592Photo Lithographers Union New Zealand1050Post Office Union38000Post Primary Teachers Association11700Projectionists Union North Island170Public Service Association70021Pulp and Paper Workers Union New Zealand1731Railway Officers Institute New Zealand3372Railway Traders Union New Zealand1700Service Workers Union New Zealand69054Shop Employees Union Blenheim315Shop Employees Union Otago, Southland and Invercargill3100Sugar Workers Union Auckland140Teachers College Association New Zealand358Technical Institutions Allied Staff Association751Theatrical Union Northern554Timber Workers Union Nelson621Timber Workers Union Westland455Tramways Union New Zealand1800University Library Staff Union268University Technicians Union1267Woollen Mills Union New Zealand5489Workers Union New Zealand12501Writers Guild New Zealand155

References

External links NZCTU official site.