Presidential Elections – Vice President

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

Louise Ryan – Western Springs College

Throughout my over 20 years in the education sector, I have witnessed first-hand the significant improvements won by the union to benefit teachers. While obvious examples of this include the ongoing gains won as a part of our collective agreements, in fact it is the ongoing support and advocacy across the public education system that reminds me how important PPTA Te Wehengarua is.

The role of PPTA is crucial in advocating for, and protecting the public education system. Through my time as part of the PPTA Executive I have seen and been involved with so many aspects within the education space: the NCEA Change Package, Curriculum Refresh and RoVE – three bodies of work which will have a significant impact on teacher workload and wellbeing over the next few years. I have had the opportunity to hear from middle leaders about the significant workload issues facing pastoral and curriculum leaders. I have seen the work on ending streaming; the PLD fund and the opportunities it has opened for teachers, the list could go on… important valuable work to ensure that we have an equitable and fair education system for all.

The past four years have been so challenging on teachers, students and the wider community. From lockdowns, significant weather events, industrial action – we have experienced challenging times. And there is further uncertainty ahead.

However, what it has reinforced for me is the importance of our public education system and the role that teachers have to play. I have felt so proud to be a PPTA member and an executive member seeing the way in which teachers are prepared to fight for quality education, for their colleagues and for their students.

PPTA has the opportunity to be a powerful voice for teachers at this time. I would see it as a privilege to be able to contribute to the teaching community as your PPTA Junior Vice President.

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Kieran Gainsford – One Tree Hill College

Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Te Wehengarua. We have been through a lot, together, over the last 14 months. We know all too well the challenges in our schools, and we all experienced the resistance our government showed towards investing in a sustainable teaching profession. As a member of your negotiating team, I felt this resistance first-hand. Throughout the campaign, nothing made me prouder than our commitment to fighting for a fair deal. We knew that better salaries and conditions were needed for our profession to have a future, so we stuck to our actions despite the difficulties these posed. What we achieved through bargaining was a direct result of our members’ power – and we should be proud of it.

However, I know that there is more to do. While we now have a settled collective agreement, I know that the next bargaining round will not be easy. Teacher shortages will not be resolved overnight, and we need to be strategic in how we approach the next negotiations round if we want to make headway on this. The NCEA Review and Curriculum Refresh rollouts leave plenty to be desired and are imposing significant workloads on teachers. On top of this, we face an uncertain political environment, where education issues have become a hot topic. In short, there is plenty to do!

I am up for this challenge. Representing members on the Executive has been a privilege, and I have the experience to help to lead the Association’s responses to the complex issues we are facing. I also know that the strength of PPTA Te Wehengarua comes from our democracy. I intend to listen and to ensure that the diverse voices of our 21,000 members are heard at all levels of decision-making. I know both the joys and challenges of secondary teaching. It can be the best job in the world, but there is more to do to secure its future. Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa!

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Graeme Bridge – Waiopehu College

We want to see education moving forward. We want to make that point of difference in Aotearoa. We want to be motivated to strive for the greater good.

With so much change just around the corner, will it  really make the difference that we are hoping for or are we just like a ship sailing in the dark in uncharted territory?

Tēnā koutou, my name is Graeme Bridge, and I am standing for Junior Vice President.

When moving forward I like to have clarity and a purpose and I do not make empty promises. I will do whatever it takes to represent your interests.

I will always strive to protect the values that we as teachers live by. I believe that we need open dialogue with no hidden agendas. I am someone who perseveres and follows through to completion.

In the last 16 years I have spent 8 of them as an executive member and twice been a member of the Secondary Teachers Collective Agreement negotiating team.

I have always worked to protect and preserve your interests, representing PPTA in various forums, and will continue to do so.

I look forward to being your representative and the next Junior Vice President.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa.

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Substantial progress for transport under the Labour-led Government

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union says substantial progress in the ports and shipping sector in the last term needs to be continued under a Labour-led Government.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says three key successes of the current Government have been in building coastal shipping capability, improving health and safety through the Ports Health and Safety Leadership Group, and laying the foundations for improved conditions in the industry through Fair Pay Agreements.

He says the interests of the transport industry are wider than shareholder profit, and the needs of workers and the environment need to be prioritized.

Mr Harrison says the $30 million coastal shipping fund has seen new New Zealand flagged vessels come onto the coast after years of decline.

He says following the pandemic disruption, the transport industry now acknowledges the need for a vibrant coastal shipping sector.

“Coastal shipping is a low emission mode and provides resilience in the face of the extreme weather events that are already disrupting land transport links.”

He says the development of the Port Health and Safety Leadership Group led by Maritime New Zealand and implemented by the Government has been a game changer.

“The maritime industry has had a terrible rate of deaths and injuries in recent years, and this is now changing as the industry works together under the new system.”

Mr Harrison says Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs) are a great step forward for undervalued workers.

“Even employers now acknowledge the low wage casualization model has been a failure and we have to provide decent wages and conditions for all workers.”

He says workers make up the majority of voters and need to focus on real issues and the facts of what was in the interests of working-class people.

“Past promises of tax cuts have always benefited the wealthy section of the population – they do not benefit the majority of workers who need better wages and conditions and public services.”

Mr Harrison says Labour and the Greens have demonstrated a clear commitment in Government to the interests of workers and a sustainable and resilient transport industry.

Te Whatu Ora must stop unjustly delaying pay equity for 65,000 care and support workers – E tū

Source: Etu Union

E tū, The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA), and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) are calling on Te Whatu Ora to stop interfering in the Care and Support Workers’ pay equity claim that has left 65,000 underpaid health workers waiting.

“For more than a year we have undergone a rigorous pay equity process. We have systematically proven and measured the undervaluation of care and support workers based on their gender,” says PSA Assistant Secretary Melissa Woolley.

The three unions filed the claim on 1 July 2022 with 15 employers that are representative of the wider care and support sector, employing around 30 percent of the workforce.

“We are disappointed that as we near the end of the process, Te Whatu Ora has interfered and overstepped its role by trying to initiate a review of work on the claim that has already been completed and received the necessary sign off,” says E tū Assistant National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh.

Pay equity claims follow a prescribed process overseen by the Public Service Commission. Each milestone during the process is awarded appropriate signoff before advancing to the next stage and Rachel says the proposed review seeks to re-open elements of the work that have already been signed off.

“We are on the edge of a decision that would make sure care and support workers are paid fairly for what they do and that would strengthen our community-based health services. This unwarranted and damaging proposed review has significantly delayed reaching a settlement,” says caregiver and NZNO delegate Trish McKillop.

Unions have issued a legal challenge to the review.

An open letter has been launched calling on funders to provide sufficient resources to settle the claim as soon as possible and stop the interference. The letter is supported by community organisations including Grey Power, the National Council of Women, and the Council of Trade Unions.

The situation is now urgent as the Care and Support Workers Pay Equity Settlement Act is due to expire on December 31 st with no assurance of how its protections will be maintained.

“We are committed to working with the next government to ensure care and support workers receive a pay equity offer by the end of the year,” Melissa Woolley says.

Further information:

  • The Care and Support Workers’ pay equity claim covers home support workers, aged care workers, disability support workers, and mental health and addictions workers.
  • Aotearoa celebrated proudly in 2017 when unions won an historic pay increase for care and support workers following landmark legal wins championed by aged care worker Kristine Bartlett. But since then, their wages have regressed back to minimum wage while the cost of living has skyrocketed.

Packaging workers continue week-long strike for decent pay – E tū

Source: Etu Union

E tū members at Graphic Packaging in Auckland are doing a rolling strike until next week to win a decent pay increase for its lowest-paid members.

Up to 60 members from the packaging production plant will be participating in the strike with daily pickets during weekdays for the duration of the industrial action.

The company’s current pay offer still falls short of what members are hoping for.

Delegate Stephen Meredith says members are feeling really disappointed at the company’s most recent offer.

“It feels disrespectful to receive a low-ball offer. Right now, almost half our membership earns under $24 an hour, which is more than $2 less than the Living Wage.

“For us, that’s the crux of the matter and that’s why we are fighting, because our lowest-paid members are struggling and deserve better, as well as trying to get others a fair and decent increase,” he says.

E tū organiser Alvy Tata says the reason for the strike is simple: winning an acceptable increase for the lowest paid members.

“This is about recognising workers’ contributions, giving them the pay increase they deserve, and lifting up those who earn the least,” she says.

“The company needs to come to the table and give these workers a proper, fair pay rise now.”

Picket details

E tū members from Graphic Packaging International NZ are striking from Wednesday 4 October to Tuesday 10 October, with a picket outside Downers at 1061–645 Great South Road, Penrose, Auckland, 7am–2pm.

Note: The picket will be held on weekdays only.

NZCTU agrees with National Party; it’s important to stand up for workers

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Nicola Willis has today agreed with NZCTU analysis that shows less than 0.2% of New Zealand households will receive the advertised $252 a fortnight rate claimed by National.

NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff also agreed with Willis, in her belief that the NZCTU must stand for working people.

“That is exactly why we won’t back anyone who wants to strip away Fair Pay Agreements from hundreds of thousands of New Zealand’s lowest paid workers.

“We won’t support anyone who wants to reintroduce 90-day trials – something the Treasury has shown doesn’t work and leads to insecurity and exploitation. We won’t support people who don’t support increases in the Minimum Wage”.

“We won’t support a tax plan that is balanced by taking $2 billion from 350,000 low-income New Zealanders on benefits. We won’t back a plan that relies on making thousands of public servants redundant and cutting essential public services. We won’t back a plan that takes $2 billion out of climate change action and puts it in the pockets of landlords.”

Wagstaff said he would love to see the National Party deliver policies and programmes that would genuinely support working people across New Zealand. “But their proposed policies for the government would instead make life harder for working people right across Aotearoa.”

Greater support needed for aspiring secondary school wāhine Māori leaders

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

The report, Me aro ki te hā o Hine-ahu-one | Wāhine Māori in Leadership, is based on research carried out by Te Wāhanga – the NZ Council for Educational Research,  for PPTA Te Wehengarua.*

Te Aomihia Taua-Glassie, PPTA Te Wehengarua Māori vice president and leader of learning -Te Reo Māori at a Northland high school, says PPTA Te Wehengarua identified support for wāhine Māori leaders and aspiring leaders as a key priority. “We commissioned this research to help us get an accurate and comprehensive picture of the experiences of current and aspiring wāhine Maori leaders in our secondary schools and how they could be better supported.

“As a wāhine Māori in a formal leadership position, the research findings resonate so strongly with me on various levels. While on one hand it’s reassuring to know that I am not alone in terms of what I experience as a wāhine Māori leader, on the other hand the findings show that our rangatahi are being deprived of many wonderful potential wāhine Māori leaders because the support is lacking.”

Lack of support was one of several barriers to leadership for wāhine Māori identified in the report. ‘The barriers were multi-layered and extensive’, the report states. Most commonly perceived barriers were concerns about work-life balance, feeling overworked and lack of confidence. Other barriers wāhine Māori experienced were not being able to see people like themselves in leadership, and having to battle an education system that was not set up to benefit or value Māori.

Te Aomihia Taua-Glassie says the report provides clear evidence of what the issues are and and sets a clear direction for supporting wāhine Māori to become leaders in secondary schools. Initiatives it recommends include strong, bespoke mentoring programmes and support networks, apprenticeships for aspiring leaders, and professional development wānanga, courses and hui.

“I really hope schools, principals, and organisations such as the Ministry of Education and  will join us and ensure we all do better by our wāhine Māori leaders and aspiring leaders. More amazing wāhine Māori leaders in our secondary schools are the role models our rangatahi need. I urge people to join us in making this happen.”

*For the research, more than 340 wāhine Māori completed a survey and 24 participants were interviewed.  More than 90 percent of participants work in English-medium secondary schools and just under 10 percent work in kaupapa Māori secondary schools.

National’s fiscal plan continues attack on low income households

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

National has finally released its fiscal plan after much delay and it reveals a plan to cut the incomes and essential public services the poorest New Zealanders rely on, just so they can pay for tax cuts for landlords and the well-off, says NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Cutting $2 billion from benefits during a cost-of-living crisis is cruel. These are the New Zealanders who can least afford a cut and who get $2 a week if they’re lucky from National’s tax cuts, and they would lose $40 a week in benefit cuts. On top of that, National would be putting up the price of public transport and prescription drugs.

“This doesn’t just affect workers who are out of a job, it also targets disabled New Zealanders and people with chronic illnesses. Why is National attacking these Kiwis who have the least?

“Additionally, National has confirmed that it plans to strip billions out of public services that are already under huge strain with current resources. The scale of the cuts that will be required to fund National’s fiscal plan will be felt deeply whether it’s at our borders, in our justice system, protecting our environment, or in numerous other areas of public sector activity.

“National’s claims that they can save billions by firing a few comms staff (who do vital working informing and consulting with the public) is pure fiction,” said Wagstaff.

‘Show us the numbers’ on port privatisation

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union says the Mayor of Auckland should “show us the numbers” about Auckland’s finances before pushing port privatisation as the easy answer to its problems.

The Maritime Union was responding to claims by the Mayor reported in the media last week about the need for service cuts and asset sales as a solution to rising rates. 

Maritime Union Auckland Branch Local 13 Secretary Russell Mayn says Auckland ratepayers are aware of pressures on City finances, but want to see some hard evidence as to how privatisation is a solution.

“At the moment it seems largely to be doom and gloom tactics to try and generate a panic and justify an existing agenda.”

He says that selling profitable strategic assets comes with substantial costs of its own.

Mr Mayn says a report commissioned by the Union showed how port privatisation in Australia had led to major increases in port charges as private owners sought to recoup their investment.

These charges would be passed onto businesses and consumers, he says.

Mr Mayn says the Port of Auckland is making good returns and has a very positive future with its current ownership model.

“Privatisation of assets would lead to Aucklanders losing the family silver, and then facing increased costs through profit gouging at a private port.”

Mr Mayn says it makes no sense to be talking about major waterfront beautification projects on port land while at the same time claiming that the City was broke.

“The Maritime Union understands the pressures on Auckland’s finances, but selling off the prime assets of the City for a one-off sugar hit does not address the long term issues and would lead to all sorts of consequences.”

He says one immediate cost saving would be cancelling overseas consultants being paid hefty fees to build the privatisation case.

National strategy required for future of New Zealand ports and shipping

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union says there needs to be national level planning around ports and coastal shipping, otherwise New Zealand is going to find itself in a bad position.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says there needs to be a stronger response to building resilience into the supply chain.

The Productivity Commission has noted disruptions to global supply chain trends are likely to become more frequent with causes including pandemics, war and climate change.

Mr Harrison says the Union is calling for political solutions including a port strategy and investment in coastal shipping.

He says one problem is how New Zealand ports are primarily seen as income streams for owners, as opposed to national infrastructure that underpins the successful functioning of the economy.

An example of lack of co-ordination is the multiple conflicts around the future of the Port of Auckland, he says.

“In the case of Port of Auckland, we have major roading and rail projects being proposed at the same time as a privatization agenda and plans to shrink the port despite no clear alternative capacity – in other words, total confusion.”

He says claims there can be a straightforward relocation of port activities to Northport (Whangarei) or Tauranga are unrealistic.

“Northport does not even have a rail link at this stage, and Tauranga is operating close to capacity. This situation is not going to be resolved by highway mega-projects that simply move congestion around.”

He says with ongoing climate-driven weather events becoming more severe, proposals to sink more and more resources into roading projects shows a refusal to face facts. 

Mr Harrison says there needs to be a strategic shift to build the role of coastal shipping.

He says New Zealand coastal shipping provided resilience that was demonstrated during COVID and during natural disasters such as earthquakes or flooding, when regional land links were out of action.

“For a fraction of the enormous price tag of monster motorways, New Zealand could become a leader with investment into low emission coastal shipping, and create safer, less congested roads.”

“The recent Government investment and resulting growth in coastal shipping shows the potential but there needs to be an integrated shipping and ports policy to build on this.”

He says that the Maritime Union is campaigning for changes to the Maritime Transport Act to promote New Zealand shipping and maritime jobs.

Maritime Union backs calls for corporate manslaughter law

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union is backing the call from Pike River family members Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse for the introduction of criminal corporate manslaughter laws.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says the Maritime Union has supported corporate manslaughter laws in principle for a number of years.

Mr Harrison says it is unacceptable workers are dying and being injured on the job due to failure to provide safe working conditions.

“The terrible tragedy of Pike River is an indictment on how the interests of senior managers, directors and shareholders were put before the lives of workers.”

He says investigations of any corporate manslaughter cases must rest with the New Zealand Police and prosecution with Crown Prosecutors.

Mr Harrison says there have been eighteen deaths in New Zealand ports over the last ten years, as well as a substantial number of sometimes serious injuries.

He says progress has been made in health and safety in the Ports sector, including the development of an industry backed Approved Code of Practice for port operations, with the involvement of the Union.

“It is now necessary to ensure that strong laws are in place to provide an incentive for employers to ensure safe workplaces, and to send a strong message to those employers who choose to put workers in danger.”

The call for new laws comes as charges against three individuals by Worksafe resulting from the Whakaari/White Island disaster were dismissed in the Auckland District Court earlier this month.