Aviation, Forestry and Maritime Union (New Zealand)

Aviation, Forestry and Maritime Union (New Zealand)
Name	Aviation, Forestry and Maritime Union
Location country	New Zealand
Founded	1999
Headquarters	Auckland
Members	12,000 (approx.)
Key people	Ian McKenzie, Mike Sandle
Affiliations	Council of Trade Unions, International Transport Workers' Federation

Aviation, Forestry and Maritime Union (New Zealand)

The Aviation, Forestry and Maritime Union is a New Zealand trade union representing workers across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and regional centres, with coverage in industries including aviation, forestry, and maritime. The union was formed by merger and has engaged with institutions such as the New Zealand Labour Party, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, International Transport Workers' Federation, and employers like Air New Zealand, Fonterra, and port companies. It has participated in major disputes, negotiations, and campaigns involving statutory frameworks such as the Employment Relations Act 2000 and interactions with bodies including the Employment Court of New Zealand, Human Rights Commission (New Zealand), and local councils.

History

The union was established in 1999 through amalgamation, joining traditions from organisations linked to the Amalgamated Workers' Union, Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union, and sector unions with roots connected to events like the 1971 Overseas Shipwreck Relief and industrial responses similar to the 1978 Maritime Union actions. During the 2000s it engaged with national episodes such as the 2008 New Zealand general election debates and the post-2010 recovery period after incidents that affected Auckland Airport operations and regional forestry supply chains tied to exporters like Eastland Group and processors akin to Pan Pac Forest Products. The union has been active in disputes that referenced precedents from the Employment Court of New Zealand and interacted with unions such as the Maritime Union of New Zealand, Rail and Maritime Transport Union, Public Service Association (PSA), and First Union New Zealand.

Organization and Structure

Governance follows structures comparable to other New Zealand unions like Auckland Nurses Association and aligns with standards in bodies such as the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions; elected officials include a national secretary and regional organisers who liaise with committees representing sectors similar to Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand stakeholders and port employer boards connected to companies like Port of Tauranga. Internal organs mirror models used by the Maritime Union of New Zealand and Rail and Maritime Transport Union with delegates, executive councils, and workplace representatives who coordinate with agencies such as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and legal counsel appearing before the Employment Relations Authority.

Membership and Coverage

Members work in sectors linked to airlines like Air New Zealand, airports such as Wellington Airport and Christchurch International Airport, forestry firms akin to Weyerhaeuser operations, sawmills connected to the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, and maritime employers including companies comparable to Lyttelton Port Company and Port of Auckland. Membership categories include flight crew, ground staff, forestry harvesters, mill workers, seafarers, and dockworkers, mirroring occupational groups seen in unions such as E Tū and First Union New Zealand. The union negotiates for employees across regions from Northland to Southland and with migrant worker cohorts similar to those from Philippines and Vanuatu communities employed in maritime and forestry roles.

Industrial Actions and Campaigns

The union has undertaken disputes and campaigns reminiscent of actions by the Maritime Union of New Zealand and strikes seen during debates over the Employment Relations Act 2000 reforms; examples include stoppages at ports like Port of Auckland and coordinated industrial actions with unions such as the Public Service Association (PSA) and New Zealand Educational Institute. Campaigns targeted workplace safety standards paralleling regulations overseen by WorkSafe New Zealand and occupational incidents that invoked comparisons to cases before the Employment Court of New Zealand. The union has also run public advocacy campaigns touching on issues raised during national events like the 2011 Christchurch earthquake recovery and national transport policy discussions involving agencies such as the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.

Political Activities and Affiliations

The union maintains affiliations with political actors including the New Zealand Labour Party and interacts with parliamentary processes involving the New Zealand Parliament and select committees that scrutinise legislation such as the Employment Relations Act 2000. It collaborates with peak organisations like the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and international federations including the International Transport Workers' Federation and sometimes aligns campaigns with civic groups like Community Law Centres and advocacy organisations similar to the Human Rights Commission (New Zealand). At election times the union has engaged with candidates from electorates such as Auckland Central, Hutt South, and Christchurch East on workplace policy.

Collective Agreements and Bargaining

Collective bargaining has produced agreements with major employers including airline operators like Air New Zealand subsidiaries, port operators akin to TALley’s logistics, and forestry processors similar to Pan Pac Forest Products. Agreements address pay scales, rostering, health and safety standards enforced by WorkSafe New Zealand, and redundancy processes reflecting precedents set in cases before the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court of New Zealand. The union has negotiated multi-employer collective agreements in sectors comparable to those represented by E Tū and has used mediation services provided by agencies such as the Mediation Services of New Zealand.

Notable People and Leadership

Prominent figures associated with the union include national secretaries and organisers whose counterparts have been visible in unions like the Maritime Union of New Zealand and New Zealand Nurses Organisation; leaders have engaged publicly alongside politicians such as Helen Clark, Jacinda Ardern, and Andrew Little in sectoral debates. Senior officials have appeared before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies including the Employment Court of New Zealand and have coordinated campaigns with union leaders from organisations such as E Tū, First Union New Zealand, and the Public Service Association (PSA).

Category:Trade unions in New Zealand