The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi President, Sandra Grey, is calling on the Prime Minister to uphold democratic values and ensure his MPs refrain from making false and inflammatory accusations about unions. Claims of bullying tactics from Sam Uffindell on social media yesterday are not only untrue, they undermine the integrity of the thousands of parents who serve on school boards across the country.
“The Prime Minister must stop his MPs from making false and inflammatory accusations about unions employing bullying tactics. This rhetoric is an insult to the democratically elected school boards, composed of parents, who are independently choosing to take a stand,” Grey said.
“These parents are independently choosing to stand up for what they believe is right for their tamariki. To dismiss their decisions as the result of union pressure is both disrespectful and out of step with the values of fairness, participation, and community leadership that New Zealanders expect.”
More than 1,300 school communities have expressed clear support for honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations in law. Their voices reflect a deep commitment to partnership, respect, and the wellbeing of all learners.
“We urge the Prime Minister to listen to these communities and acknowledge the strength of their mandate. The Government has misread public sentiment on this issue. Rather than compounding that error with anti-union misinformation, it should change course and engage constructively with the people it serves,” Grey said.