CTU Out@Work Network

The CTU Out@Work network was set up in 2000 as the Council of Trade Union's network for lesbian, gay, takataapui, bisexual, intersex, transgender and fa'afafine union members.

Out@Work meets four times a year either by video conference or by a face to face meeting in Wellington, and comprises formal representatives from affiliated unions.  Any interested union members and/or delegates are welcome to attend.  The next Out@Work council meeting is scheduled as a face to face meeting on Friday 19th November at the CTU and will run from 9.30am to 4pm. 

Each affiliated union to the NZCTU can appoint a representative to the Out@Work Council although a number choose not to.  Each union is responsible for its own selection process and they then notify the Council who their person is.  Nominations are for a two-year period and usually occur after the bi-ennial Out@Work Kamp.    This Kamp helps set the workplan for the two-years until the next Kamp.  The picture above is from the Kamp and will be changed on a regular basis, so keep on coming back - if you were at Kamp you could be next ...

The CTU, in conjunction with the Council, has developed a pamphlet.  You can either click here or on the image to download the Out@Work pamphlet (pdf doc 278 kb). 

Upcoming Events 

Fairness at Work Rallies - The National Government has introduced a number of changes in the next few weeks that will have major impacts on workers.  The changes to the 90 day trial period to make it available as an option forall work sites will have a real impact on GLBTI workers as it will allow employers to dismiss without reason any new worker in the first 90 days.  The National Government argues that it has to be by agreement which gives the impression that the hiring of staff is an equal situation between the employer and the perspective employee, but we know that people are being told that a condition of employment will require agreement for a 90 ay trial period.  The GLBTI communities need to get behind these rallies so lets get everyone we know along to the rallies.  After very successful rallies on 21st August (no matter what the media try and say) planning is now underway for the next round which will be held on 20th October.  Watch this space for more information.

Christchurch CTU Monthly Movie Nights - Out@Work in Christchurch is fundraising to help send union members unable to get union funding to the upcoming Asia Pacific Out Games Human Rights Conference.  Come along if you are in town - it is a lot of fun and is open for everybody.  Click here to see when the next night is. 

Carmen to judge the seventh Queen of the Whole Universe pageant - The 7th Queen of the Whole Universe Pageant is to be held at Auckland's ASV Centre on 6th November and creative director, Jonathan Smith, is excited that Carmen has agreed to be a judge for the pageant.  The November show will be followed up with a show in March to coincide with the Outgames.  To read more about it here.

Asia Pacific Out Games Wellington 2011 - This will be the biggest gay and lesbian event the capital city has ever hosted and will involve over 1000 people from throughout New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and beyond.  The proposed dates are Saturday 12 March to Saturday 19 March 2011.  Diary these dates and we will keep you updated as to what is happening as more detail becomes available.  The OutGames home page will also have lots of information so bookmark this page to be kept informed.  The Human Rights Conference is on during the games between 16th and 18th March 2011.    Click here to get information on this.

Click here for Earlier Events

News 

NSW same-sex adoption passes first hurdle - A very close conscience vote of 46-44 has seen the Clover Moore's Private Members Same-Sex Adoption bill pass through the first stage at NSW Legislative Assembly.   A list of amendments will not be debated and voted on before the final version of the bill is put to the vote, which should occur later today (2nd September).  Ms Moore had agreed to amend her to allow church adoption agencies the right to refuse services to gay and lesbian couples without fear of breaching anti-discrimination laws as she felt this would increase the chances of the bill passing its final reading.  To read more about this and to keep an eey on events, click here.

Gay oral history projects win funding - Gareth Watkins has been given just under $10,000 to record seven oral histories on the creation of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and Alison Laurie has been given just over $10,000 to record ten oral histories about the Australian influence on the development of lesbian and gay communities in New Zealand.  Click here to read more about this.

Tasmania to recognise same-sex unions - Tasmania's Lower House of Parliament have voted by a significant majority to amend the Relationships Act to recognise same-sex marriages and civil unions registered in other states or countries.  This bill will now go before the Legislative Council for approval.  To read more about this, just click here.

Film nights to launch with NY comedy - Number 8 Films is hosting a monthly film night of gay movies at the Galatos starting on Thursday 16th September.  Number 8 Films is a local filmmaking trust and is raising funds for its next short film.  The organiser, Christopher Banks, believes it is great to have a gay film festival but that only happens once a year and GLBT people should have more opportunities than that to see films with relevant themes and characters.  The first film wil called Violet Tendencies and is set in Manhattan's gay scene.  Read more about this by clicking here.

Abuse and threats send Goulter into U-turn - Jevan Goulter now has a better understanding of what his gay mates have been telling him for a while - homophobia is alive and well in New Zealand.  Jewvan has been critical in the past of those who have talked about being victims of homophobia and has always believed that they have been overacting.  But since putting his name in for the mayoralty of Whanganui, he has received death threats and homophobic abuse, including waking up to the words Your Dead Homo sprayed on his garage.  Click here for more about these incidents and Jevan's thinking now.  If you want to read about an earlier altercation between Michael Laws and Jevan, then click here.

Christian Group denied charitable status - The Exodus Ministries Trust Board (that claims it can cure homosexuality) has been denied charitable status because the Charities Commission does not believes it performs any public benefit.  The Commission stated that being gay is not a mental disorder and does not need curing.  Exodus has been in New Zealand for over a decade and, until now, has had charitable status but this has been removed for the reasons stated.  To read more just click here.

For older news just click here.

Unions LGBTI Pages and Other Useful Links

NZCTU Letter to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda condemning the anti homosexuality bill before their parliament.

NZCTU Letter to the President of Malawi congratulating him on pardoning the gay couple and asking for a change to their laws that enabled them to be arrested in the first place.

Just click here to find out which unions have Out@Work pages and to access a lot of interesting links. 

Contacts

For more information about Out@Work contact convenors -  Ian Gordon and Karena Brown