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Union News

Struggling to keep up with the latest news that matters? We’ve got you covered. Our daily news roundup* is your go-to source for updates that impact the progressive movement in Aotearoa New Zealand. Every morning, we bring you the key stories that impact workers, communities, and our shared future. From union victories to employment challenges, political shifts, Māori rights, and economic trends—stay informed and empowered, five days a week.
*based on availability.

July 2025

  • Tuesday 15 July
    The TEU is calling the government’s disestablishment of Te Pūkenga a “disaster for regional New Zealand”. ASMS and NZNO have accused Nelson Hospital of booking patients for appointments that didn’t… Read More »Tuesday 15 July
  • Monday 14 July
    More than 36,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora have voted to strike for 24 hours of what they say is a failure by Health… Read More »Monday 14 July
  • Friday 11 July
    NZ Post is being told to start over on its consultation process for a proposed business reorganisation after the ERA found it failed to meet its obligations to union members.… Read More »Friday 11 July
  • Thursday 10 July
    Foodstuffs has confirmed 180 roles at Victoria Park’s New World supermarket will be disestablished after a fire three weeks ago – Workers First have negotiated an extended redundancy period in… Read More »Thursday 10 July
  • Wednesday 9 July
    CTU president Richard Wagstaff warned the “light touch” approach in the Government’s new AI strategy would do nothing to protect workers from the serious risks from AI. Lawyers representing unions… Read More »Wednesday 9 July
  • Tuesday 8 July
    The Supreme Court has begun hearing arguments on whether it should uphold or overturn previous court rulings that four Uber drivers were entitled to be treated as employees of the… Read More »Tuesday 8 July
  • Monday 7 July
    The PSA are saying that months after commissioning a report into sexual harassment, Corrections has not moved fast enough to address its “old boys club” culture that has impacted a… Read More »Monday 7 July
  • Friday 4 July
    NZNO says Health New Zealand’s latest pay offer is a “massive backward step” for the health system and patients, and there are “very strong indications” members will want to strike.… Read More »Friday 4 July
  • Wednesday 2 July
    The PSA says potential plans to privatise New Zealand’s meat inspection service could put food quality and safety at risk. Industrial action at Napier Port has concluded after one week,… Read More »Wednesday 2 July

June 2025

  • Monday 30 June
    E tū mill union delegate Ian Farall has spoken about the disappointment felt by workers that Kinleith pulp and paper mill in Tokoroa has closed. The government wants to electronically… Read More »Monday 30 June
  • Thursday 26 June
    The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died at the age of 50, following a diagnosis of kidney disease. A bill that reintroduces the right of employers to… Read More »Thursday 26 June
  • Wednesday 25 June
    RMTU members have started industrial action at Napier Port amid negotiations for better pay for about 185 workers. The draft National Infrastructure Plan is challenging the government to “lift its… Read More »Wednesday 25 June
  • Tuesday 24 June
    About 50 theatre nurses and healthcare assistants at Whangārei Hospital are striking over their ongoing pay dispute with Health New Zealand. Delays in replacing a fire station in Tauranga at… Read More »Tuesday 24 June
  • Monday 23 June
    The TEU estimate that about 300 jobs are under threat at eight of the 16 polytechs, with restructuring plans expected shortly from two more. Three bus drivers in Tauranga have… Read More »Monday 23 June
  • Tuesday 17 June
    The Government is considering cutting sick leave entitlements for part-time workers. Brooke van Velden has introduced a new bill which legislate changes to personal grievances, the 30-day rule and the… Read More »Tuesday 17 June
  • Thursday 12 June
    Council of Trade Unions Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges has taken New Zealand’s pay equity fight to the International Labour Organisation conference in Geneva. Opposition parties say the government should be going… Read More »Thursday 12 June
  • Tuesday 10 June
    290 library workers across Christchurch will get a pay rise to reflect the “true value” of their work, despite the abrupt cancellation of their pay equity claim, due to a… Read More »Tuesday 10 June
  • Monday 9 June
    Parents of New Zealand citizens and residents will be able to access visas, with the government announcing a programme it says will bring families together. Simeon Brown has announced more… Read More »Monday 9 June
  • Friday 6 June
    Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi have been suspended from Parliament for 21 days for the Treaty Principles haka. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke has been suspended for seven days.… Read More »Friday 6 June
  • Thursday 5 June
    NZNO members are holding stop work meetings to consider industrial action for better pay and higher staff-to-patient ratios. More than 1000 former international rugby players are taking legal action against… Read More »Thursday 5 June
  • Tuesday 3 June
    The Government is shifting WorkSafe’s priorities from enforcement to advice, saying this will help address concerns about underfunding and a “culture of fear”. A new report from the ITUC shows… Read More »Tuesday 3 June

May 2025

  • Thursday 29 May
    More than 370 theatre nurses at Auckland hospitals have begun a month-long on-call strike, in response to under-staffing concerns. The PSA are calling for stronger whistleblowing laws and more emphasis… Read More »Thursday 29 May
  • Wednesday 28 May
    Some of the country’s leading pay equity specialists may be at risk of losing their jobs following the Government’s overhaul of the system, with one ministry confirming it is examining… Read More »Wednesday 28 May
  • Tuesday 27 May
    Dame Marilyn Waring has worked with a group of former women MPs to form the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity, which will gather evidence on the recent pay equity… Read More »Tuesday 27 May
  • Thursday 22 May
    The Government is set to unveil their Budget, which is expected to lead to further public service cuts and confirm the end of funding for pay equity claims. The RMTU… Read More »Thursday 22 May
  • Tuesday 20 May
    Unions are pointing out that changes to the pay equity system have made it “virtually impossible” for new claims to succeed. The government will spend more than $600 million to… Read More »Tuesday 20 May
  • Monday 19 May
    The PSA says mediation has failed to resolve its conflict with the government over working from home, with the case now heading to the ERA. Food prices have risen at… Read More »Monday 19 May
  • Friday 16 May
    The Council of Trade Unions met with Brooke van Velden and demanded that she reversed the recent pay equity changes. Remaining staff members at polytech UCOL may be expected to… Read More »Friday 16 May
  • Monday 12 May
    Opposition to the Government’s attacks on pay equity are gathering steam, with protests around the country and more than 65,000 people already signed on to a petition calling on the… Read More »Monday 12 May
  • Tuesday 6 May
    New analysis found the clean slate law has no relevant impact on the likelihood of eligible individuals finding work. The New Zealand film sector is keeping calm and carrying on in… Read More »Tuesday 6 May
  • Monday 5 May
    Unions joined forces on May Day to fight back against the ongoing attack on workers’ rights under the current Government. The senior doctors’ union is not ruling out further industrial… Read More »Monday 5 May

April 2025

  • Tuesday 29 April
    The CTU has launched a campaign to ban the import, supply and use of engineered stone in an effort to save workers’ lives. Last-ditch mediation between Health NZ and the senior… Read More »Tuesday 29 April
  • Monday 28 April
    Fewer than 50 families are likely to receive National’s full $252 fortnightly tax break, based on the FamilyBoost scheme’s lower than expected uptake. A rare ‘mayday’ call was issued by… Read More »Monday 28 April
  • Thursday 24 April
    The PSA says a settlement with Health New Zealand over the agency’s proposed restructure of its Data and Digital and Pacific Health teams has saved around 200 roles from being… Read More »Thursday 24 April
  • Wednesday 23 April
    370 perioperative nurses working at Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre will strike for two hours on 1 May – the same day senior doctors are striking.… Read More »Wednesday 23 April
  • Thursday 17 April
    Thousands of senior medical doctors have voted to go on strike for 24 hours overpay at the beginning of next month. Callaghan Innovation has confirmed dozens more jobs are on… Read More »Thursday 17 April
  • Tuesday 15 April
    NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff has published an opinion piece which makes the case for a different approach to economic development, as proposed in the CTU’s Aotearoa Reimagined programme. The number… Read More »Tuesday 15 April
  • Monday 14 April
    The PSA surveyed more than 900 of its members, with 55 percent of respondents saying AI is used at their place of work, despite most workers not being in trained… Read More »Monday 14 April
  • Friday 11 April
    The Treaty Principles Bill has been defeated in Parliament with 112 votes in opposition and 11 in favour, but the debate about Te Tiriti and Māori rights looks set to… Read More »Friday 11 April
  • Thursday 10 April
    Te Whatu Ora is proposing to slash jobs from a department that brings in millions of dollars a year and ensures safety in hospitals, rest homes and other community health… Read More »Thursday 10 April
  • Wednesday 9 April
    The NZCTU have launched a new policy programme and are calling on political parties to adopt bold policies in the lead up to the next election. The Government is scrapping… Read More »Wednesday 9 April
  • Tuesday 8 April
    Three billion dollars has been wiped off the value of New Zealand’s share market as the rout of global financial markets caught up with the local market. A Sāmoan national… Read More »Tuesday 8 April
  • Monday 7 April
    Staff at Kāinga Ora are expecting details of another round of job cuts, with the Green Party claiming more than 500 jobs are set to go. The New Zealand Defence… Read More »Monday 7 April
  • Wednesday 2 April
    Aged care workers rallying against potential roster changes say Bupa, which runs retirement homes across the country, needs to focus on care instead of money. More than half of New… Read More »Wednesday 2 April
  • Tuesday 1 April
    Small businesses will be exempt from complying with some of the requirements of health and safety legislation under new reforms proposed by the Government. The living wage will be increased… Read More »Tuesday 1 April

March 2025


February 2025


January 2025