Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
Name	Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
Founded	1996
Dissolved	2018
Location country	New Zealand
Headquarters	Auckland
Key people	Helen Kelly (trade unionist), Andrew Little (politician), Bill Andersen, Ken Douglas
Affiliation	New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, International Trade Union Confederation
Members	40,000 (peak)
Merged into	E tū (union)

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union was a New Zealand trade union representing workers in manufacturing, printing, engineering, textile and related industries. The union operated nationally across regions including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and engaged with employers such as Fletcher Building, Air New Zealand, Fonterra, and New Zealand Post through collective bargaining, industrial action and political lobbying. It maintained links with international bodies including the International Labour Organization, Australian Council of Trade Unions, and unions in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.

History

The union was formed in 1996 from the amalgamation of predecessor bodies that traced back to craft unions active during the Industrial Revolution influences on New Zealand industry and the early 20th century labour movement. Its antecedents included unions involved in notable disputes like the 1949 New Zealand coal miners' strike and campaigns associated with figures tied to the Labour Party (New Zealand). Throughout the late 20th century the union confronted restructurings linked to Rogernomics policies and privatizations affecting employers such as New Zealand Railways and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. High-profile episodes involved engagement during the 1998 Auckland waterfront dispute era and responses to changes after the Employment Contracts Act 1991 and subsequent Employment Relations Act 2000.

Organization and Structure

The union operated through regional branches in cities including Hamilton, New Zealand, Palmerston North, Nelson, New Zealand and Invercargill, with control exercised by a national executive and annual conferences drawing delegates from workplaces such as Steel & Tube Holdings and Whakatane Mill. Its governance featured an elected national council, district committees, workplace delegates, and professional staff trained in negotiation and industrial law, interacting with institutions like the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court of New Zealand. The union maintained training links with bodies such as Unitec Institute of Technology and engaged research produced by institutes like the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.

Membership and Demographics

Members included tradespeople from sectors tied to Fisher & Paykel, Weta Workshop subcontractors, print workers serving clients involved with publications like The New Zealand Herald, and manufacturing staff for exporters dealing with markets including Australia and United States. Demographic shifts reflected aging workforces in places such as Timaru and diversification with migrant labour from Pacific Islands and China affecting membership patterns. The union represented both full-time and casual employees across industries influenced by corporations such as ANZ Bank for payroll matters and supply chains involving Port of Tauranga.

Industrial Actions and Campaigns

The union organised disputes, strikes and campaigns over wages, safety and redundancy terms at employers including New Zealand Steel, Fletcher Challenge affiliates, and printing firms serving media like TVNZ and Fairfax New Zealand. Notable actions included negotiated stoppages connected to collective bargaining rounds and solidarity support in campaigns alongside unions such as Maritime Union of New Zealand and Public Service Association (PSA). Campaigns often targeted legislative change through advocacy involving parliamentary committees and high-profile engagement around issues similar to those raised during the 1991 Springbok Tour protests era of industrial activism.

Political Activities and Affiliations

Politically the union maintained formal and informal ties with the New Zealand Labour Party, supporting candidates in electorates such as Mt Roskill and engaging with leaders like Helen Clark and Jacinda Ardern on workplace policy. It participated in the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions political strategy, lodged submissions to select committees, and coordinated with civic organisations including Greenpeace New Zealand on environmental and worker safety issues. The union intersected with parliamentary debates concerning the Employment Relations Act 2000 and policy discussions during administrations led by Jim Bolger and Bill English.

Mergers, Splits and Successor Bodies

Across its existence the union experienced mergers and realignments, culminating in a merger that created E tū (union) in 2015 through an amalgamation with union counterparts representing service and clerical workers. Earlier realignments involved splits and reconfigurations among craft unions and nationalist groupings influenced by leaders such as Ken Douglas and Bill Andersen. Regional branch reorganisations paralleled consolidations in other unions including Unite Union and FIRST Union as part of broader consolidation in the Australasian labour movement, affecting affiliations with international federations like the International Transport Workers' Federation.

Legacy and Impact on Labor Movement

The union left a legacy in collective bargaining precedents, occupational health and safety campaigns and training initiatives that influenced standards at firms like Fonterra and Air New Zealand. Its involvement in industrial tribunals and advocacy contributed to jurisprudence considered by the Employment Court of New Zealand and shaped employer-union relations examined by commentators at the New Zealand Herald and research by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. Its successor organisations continue to draw on its structures, records and campaigns in ongoing labour disputes and policy advocacy, building on alliances with organisations such as Auckland Council and international partners including the International Trade Union Confederation.

Category:Trade unions in New Zealand Category:Defunct trade unions Category:Trade unions established in 1996 Category:Trade unions disestablished in 2018