New Zealand Council of Trade Unions | |
 | |
| Founded | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Education House, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Location | New Zealand |
| Members | 360,000 |
Key people | Sandra Grey, President Melissa Ansell-Bridges, Secretary |
| Affiliations | ITUC, TUAC |
| Website | www.union.org.nz |
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU or CTU; Māori: Te Kauae Kaimahi) is a national trade union centre in New Zealand. The NZCTU represents 360,000 workers, and is the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand.
The NZCTU was formed in 1987 by the merger of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (NZFL or FOL) and the Combined State Unions (CSU).
As part of the merger process, a constitutional and policy conference was held in March 1987. This voted by a very small margin (265,463 to 265,187) to have separate committees for women and Māori, with voting rights at all levels of the organisation, including on the national executive.
The Maritime and Transport Workers’ Federation led a protest of dozens of blue-collar unions against the merger with the predominantly white-collar unions in the state sector.
The Labour Relations Act 1987 ended compulsory arbitration but kept compulsory unionism, blanket award coverage and the unions’ exclusive right to represent workers. The NZCTU tried to reach agreement with the Labour government on a future role for the unions, but failed until just before the 1990 general election, which Labour lost heavily.
The Employment Contracts Act 1991, introduced by the National government, ended compulsory unionism, abolished national awards and removed unions' exclusive right to represent workers, leading to significant decline in union membership and influence during the 1990s.
Following the election of the Labour government in 1999, the Employment Relations Act 2000 restored legal recognition of unions and introduced good-faith bargaining requirements, allowing unions to rebuild their membership. However, union membership remained substantially below its earlier levels.
The NZCTU's constitution describes its role as uniting democratic trade unions, and promoting the economic, social, industrial, political, education interests and civil rights of working people in New Zealand, and promoting economic policies that lead to growth, high employment and a stable economy.
The NZCTU is an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Political commentator Bryce Edwards has described the NZCTU as being closely associated with the Labour Party. There is no formal affiliation, but individual unions can formally affiliate to the Labour Party. In 2023 there were 11 such unions.
During the 2023 election campaign, National Party campaign chair Chris Bishop described NZCTU as "intimately" connected to the Labour Party. This was in response to the NZCTU launching an advertising campaign attacking National Party leader Christopher Luxon. Bishop accused the NZCTU and Labour Party of promoting negative campaigning. NZCTU's president Richard Wagstaff defended the union's 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 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.
New Zealand Federation of Labour
| Union Name | Membership (1 March 2025) |
|---|---|
| Aotearoa Legal Workers' Union (ALWU) | 1,296 |
| Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) | 6,081 |
| Aviation and Marine Engineers Association (AMEA) | 3,439 |
| Dairy Workers Union (NZDWU) | 8,500 |
| Directors & Editors Guild of NZ | 363 |
| Equity New Zealand (formerly the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance) | 1,014 |
| E tū | 47,794 |
| Furniture, Manufacturing & Associated Workers Union | 648 |
| Independent Schools Education Association (ISEA) | 969 |
| Maritime Union of NZ (MUNZ) | 2,840 |
| Midwifery Representation & Advisory Services (MERAS) | 2,167 |
| National Union of Public Employees | 1,998 |
| NZEI Te Riu Roa: NZ Educational Institute (NZEI) | 48,992 |
| NZ Meat Workers & Related Trades Union (NZMWU) | 12,886 |
| NZ Merchant Service Guild Industrial Union of Workers Inc (NZMSG) | 654 |
| NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO) | 62,754 |
| NZ Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua (PPTA) | 20,593 |
| NZ Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) | 2,058 |
| NZ Professional Footballers Association | 121 |
| NZ Tramways & Public Transport Employees Union | 1,250 (Wellington Branch: 450) |
| NZ Writers Guild (NZWG) | 367 |
| Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa (Northern & Southern) | 951 |
| Pulp & Paper Workers Union – Kawerau | 390 |
| Public Service Association (PSA) | 83,894 |
| Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) | 6,121 |
| Specialty Trainees of NZ (STONZ) | 2,029 |
| Taxpro | 700 |
| Tertiary Education Union – Te Hautu Kahurangi o Aotearoa (NZTEU) | 10,300 |
| Tertiary Institutes Allied Staff Association (TIASA) | 1,781 |
| Tuia Union | 297 |
| Unite | 5,604 |
| Workers First Union | 33,412 |
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Alloy Yachts Employees Federation | Dissolved 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 Education | Amalgamated in 2009 with the Association of University Staff of New Zealand. |
| Association of University Staff | Amalgamated 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 Union | Dissolved following the June 2016 closure of the Cape Foulwind cement works. |
| Clothing, Laundry and Allied Workers Union of Aotearoa | Merged into the National Distribution Union in 2007. |
| Corrections Association of New Zealand | Disaffiliated. |
| Customs Officers' Association of New Zealand | Disaffiliated 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 Union | Voted 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. |
| Name | Membership (31 March 1989) |
|---|---|
| Actors Equity | 721 |
| Airline Stewards and Hostesses Union | 1653 |
| Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions | 2755 |
| Bank Officers Union New Zealand | 19329 |
| Biscuit and Confectionary Union Nelson | 100 |
| Chemical Workers Union Northern | 1364 |
| Clerical Workers Union New Zealand | 35287 |
| Dairy Workers Union (NZDWU) | 5490 |
| Dental Assistants Union Auckland | 300 |
| Dental Assistants Union Northern | Not provided |
| Dietetic Association New Zealand | 201 |
| Distribution Workers Union Central | 8506 |
| Distribution Workers Union Northern | 23234 |
| Distribution Workers Union Southern | 6363 |
| Drivers Union Blenheim | 225 |
| Drivers Union Nelson | 516 |
| Drivers Union Canterbury | 2255 |
| Drivers Union Hawkes Bay | 1026 |
| Drivers Union Southland | 884 |
| Drivers Union Taranaki | 690 |
| Early Childhood NZ | 997 |
| Educational Institute New Zealand | 17250 |
| Engine Drivers Union New Zealand | 1136 |
| Engineers Union | 40000 |
| Fire Brigadesmen Central | 748 |
| Fire Brigadesmen North | 865 |
| Fire Brigadesmen South Island | 591 |
| Food and Chemical Workers Union New Zealand | 10000 |
| Footwear Workers Union | 2081 |
| Freezing Workers Union Auckland and Tomoana | 5418 |
| Furniture Workers Union Northern | 2800 |
| Furniture Workers Union Southland and Otago | 302 |
| Harbour Workers Union New Zealand | 2554 |
| Hospital Engineers Association New Zealand | 150 |
| Ice Cream Workers Union New Zealand | 200 |
| Journalists Union Northern | 1060 |
| Journalists Union New Zealand | 1275 |
| Kindergarten Teachers Association New Zealand | 949 |
| Labourers Local Bodies Auckland | 1650 |
| Labourers New Zealand | 15089 |
| Local Bodies Officers Southern | 1842 |
| Local Bodies Officers Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Taranaki and West Coast | 7060 |
| Local Government Officers Union | 10444 |
| Locomotive Engineers Association New Zealand | 1699 |
| Meat Processors and Related Trades Union New Zealand | 21306 |
| Mine Workers Union New Zealand | 741 |
| Moulders Union Otago and Southland | 112 |
| Nurses Association New Zealand | 18500 |
| Nurses Union New Zealand | 9592 |
| Photo Lithographers Union New Zealand | 1050 |
| Post Office Union | 38000 |
| Post Primary Teachers Association | 11700 |
| Projectionists Union North Island | 170 |
| Public Service Association | 70021 |
| Pulp and Paper Workers Union New Zealand | 1731 |
| Railway Officers Institute New Zealand | 3372 |
| Railway Traders Union New Zealand | 1700 |
| Service Workers Union New Zealand | 69054 |
| Shop Employees Union Blenheim | 315 |
| Shop Employees Union Otago, Southland and Invercargill | 3100 |
| Sugar Workers Union Auckland | 140 |
| Teachers College Association New Zealand | 358 |
| Technical Institutions Allied Staff Association | 751 |
| Theatrical Union Northern | 554 |
| Timber Workers Union Nelson | 621 |
| Timber Workers Union Westland | 455 |
| Tramways Union New Zealand | 1800 |
| University Library Staff Union | 268 |
| University Technicians Union | 1267 |
| Woollen Mills Union New Zealand | 5489 |
| Workers Union New Zealand | 12501 |
| Writers Guild New Zealand | 155 |
