Unite delegates discuss proposed merger

Wed 21 May 08

Unite delegates met in several centres around New Zealand from 12 to 14 May to discuss the proposed union merger.

Joint meetings were held in Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North, Rotorua and Auckland with delegates from the Service and Food Workers Union and the National Distribution Union.

The meetings discussed the strengths that each would bring to the new union. Unite delegates talked about our successes in recruiting in very difficult industries, our fresh approach, our flat organisational structure and our political independence.

Unite brings a fresh, campaigning approach to union organising with some high profile successes such as the SuperSizeMyPay.Com campaign.

Unite–NDU–SFWU Merge To Form 50,000-Strong Union

Fri 11 Apr 08

Thursday, 10 April 2008, 5:14 pm
Article: Jamie Melbourne-Hayward

New Zealand’s most active unions have announced they are intending to merge in order to create the country’s largest private sector union. AUT's Jamie Melbourne-Hayward speaks to Unite's Mike Treen, NDU's Laila Harre, and the BNZ economist, John Pask, about what the merger means to workers, businesses, and the Government.

The National Distribution Union (NDU), the Unite Union and the Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) have stated the merger is intended to represent the lowest paid sectors in the country and increase their lobbying power.

Building the new union

Wed 9 Apr 08

Since our last Update there has been a lot going on. This will give you a bit of a summary - most importantly it lets you now how you can be involved in building our new union

Joint Delegate Forums

May 2008
Joint forums of NDU, SFWU and Unite delegates to meet and talk amalgamation issues are happening in May. This is your chance to meet each other, and hear and discuss the opportunities for building greater power through a new union. There will be other opportunities through the year to also be involved in joint meetings so if you miss out on these ones don't be worried.
The dates and locations of the joint delegates meetings are:

12 May Wellington
12 May Rotorua
13 May Palmerston North
13 May Christchurch
14 May Auckland
14 May Dunedin

Should Unite join in a union merger?

Mon 12 Nov 07

Unite Union has been approached by the National Distribution Union to discuss a union merger which would include Unite Union.
The proposed merger would also involve the Service and Food Workers Union who approached the NDU earlier to discuss amalgamating. The Unite executive have discussed the approach and have agreed to enter talks on the proposal.
The proposed new union would be the largest private sector union in New Zealand – currently the EPMU (Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union) is the largest.