What are trade unions? Why should I join?

Unions exist for workers to support each other so that they don’t have to face a problem, or negotiate improvements to their working conditions on their own. When workers act together they have strength and safety in numbers and have a better chance of getting what they need at work and beyond.

Unions are democratically run by their members. Union members elect union representatives (delegates) from workplaces, and make decisions on things like how the union is run, and what to focus on when negotiating with the employer.

Through the NZ Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, unions work co-operatively with other unions to improve the position of all New Zealand workers. The benefits most workers receive today are largely the result of what unions have gained in improvements to their members' wages, benefits and working conditions over the last 100 years.

To find out which union can represent you in your workplace, go to the contacts page.