9 whimsical emojis showing union-related actions and figures, linked to a Discord logo
Our Discord has been levelled up with union emoji.
Join and spam your favourite: discord.gg/wqFkQK86wh
P.S. What's the crossover between Bluesky and Discord users? I suspect it's a venn diagram of two colours - nonetheless, now you know! -s
The People's Select Committee report released today illustrated clearly what the National-led Government refuses to admit - New Zealanders care about paying working women what they're owed. #nzpol
a line through the top of the screen, and a dot with the text "Jul 2025 - Feb 2026" text underneath reads "NZ First seeks input from unions on amendments to the ERA Bill. The Workers First president, secretaries, solicitors and other unions meet NZ First MP's on three occasions to discuss opposition and legal issues with the Bill."
a line through the top of the screen, and a dot with the text "Feb 2026" text underneath reads "The ERA Bill passes. Winston Peters and NZ First take no position, make no critique, and vote down every Opposition attempt to amend the Bill."
a line through the top of the screen, and a dot with the text "Feb 2026". The line goes curvy after this dot text underneath reads "Winston Peters lies to the media about his subservience to the ACT Party: "Peters said on Thursday he had "no doubt" he would have been able to stop the law if unions had approached him earlier"*" small print reads "*rnz.co.nz/news/political/587347/winston-peters-has-no-doubt-he-could-ve-stopped-contractors-law-if-unions-went-to-him-earlier"
a very quiggly line through the top of the screen, ending with a dot. text underneath reads "Now, workers know where they stand with NZ First, who lack the backbone or the ability to stand up to their far-right coalition colleagues. Workers will not forget this at the voting booths in November."
2/2 The timeline that led to Winston Peters and NZ First bending the knee to ACT, letting down New Zealand workers, and lying to the media. #nzpol
A title reading "Winston Peters' embarrassing backdown." A subtitle reading "The timeline that led to Winston Peters and NZ First bending the knee to ACT, letting down New Zealand workers, and lying to the media." A dot and a line are at the top, leading into the next panel.
a line through the top of the screen, and a dot with the text "Oct 2024" text underneath reads "Dennis Maga, Workers First General Secretary, speaks at NZ First’s 2024 Convention. He discusses the union’s Uber Court case in detail, warning that Uber was effectively writing ACT Party Minister Brooke van Velden’s upcoming legislation."
a line through the top of the screen, and a dot with the text "Nov 2024" text underneath reads "Uber drivers and Workers First representatives meet with NZ First MP Andy Foster. They raise their concerns about the Employment Relations Amendment (ERA) Bill and discuss their Court case against Uber. They meet another three times after this date."
a line through the top of the screen, and a dot with the text "Jul 2025" text underneath reads "Various media outlets report* that Brooke van Velden and ACT "adopts Uber’s wish-list when drafting employment law changes, rejects official advice". The Government looks set to sell out New Zealand workers to a multi-billion dollar corporation." small print reads "*lawnews.nz/employment/minister-adopts-ubers-wish-list-when-drafting-employment-law-changes-rejects-official-advice/"
1/2 The timeline that led to Winston Peters and NZ First bending the knee to ACT, letting down New Zealand workers, and lying to the media. #nzpol
Last night I did some research on debt during Ardern Labour years and the top google results all returned with Christchurch Matthew Horncastle raving on about how Ardern ruined the country
Not great
That big lie is what National hope will secure them a second term with ACT/NZ First #nzpol #kiwi
You can contact us, in confidence, to see if we are your union: www.workersfirst.nz/contact-us
If your site does not have a union we recommend talking to the Citizens Advice Bureau, for free guidance: www.cab.org.nz
A good website to check your employee rights is: www.workersfirst.nz/contact-us -s
Kia ora, we are so sorry to hear that. Do you know if your workplace has a union?
This @nzctu.bsky.social tool can help if you are unsure: union.org.nz/find-your-un... -s
text reading "Today the Employment Relations Amendment Bill passed, one of the darkest days for NZ workers. Every person, employee or contractor, should be concerned for their future job security. This legislation creates conditions for employers to pursue mass redundancies, to ‘re-hire’ under the new category of a ‘specified contractor’, lacking protections like minimum wage, holiday pay, sick and annual leave, and the right to join a union."
![text reading "“[The ERA Bill] will worsen the cost-of-living crisis, exacerbate the exodus of New Zealand workers to Australia, and encourage more predation on the working class by big business without redress.” - Dennis Maga, Workers First General Secretary"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:znrmzrovbbulmo2huuzapvm3/bafkreiam5yqf4o6z5avhsh6imrdn2hpd3zto7fo6edfp44qgtlwx5byunm)
text reading "“[The ERA Bill] will worsen the cost-of-living crisis, exacerbate the exodus of New Zealand workers to Australia, and encourage more predation on the working class by big business without redress.” - Dennis Maga, Workers First General Secretary"
text reading "Brooke van Velden adopted Uber's wish-list when drafting this Bill, selling out Kiwi workers in favour of global multi-billion dollar companies.* However, the passage of the Bill does not rule out the pursuit of backpay for Uber drivers. Over 1,500 financial claims for Uber drivers have already been lodged by Workers First Union, and we will proceed with more." small text reading "*lawnews.nz/employment/minister-adopts-ubers-wish-list-when-drafting-employment-law-changes-rejects-official-advice/"
text reading "Shame on NZ First, who sold out workers despite meeting with several unions over the last few months and claiming their intention to amend the Bill during its Committee Stages. Instead, NZ First offered no amendments and rejected every Opposition attempt to limit the Bill’s catastrophic scope. Aotearoa workers will not forget."
Today the ERA Bill passed, marking a dark day for NZ workers.
This Govt has weakened YOUR job security.
For instance, the door is now open for employers to ‘re-hire’ anyone as a ‘specified contractor’, lacking protections like min wage, holiday pay, sick leave and the right to join a union. #nzpol
Genius!! 🙌 to all our teachers, aides and all the team! -a
Running the government is a lot like playing recorder – it doesn’t work if you suck.
#makeitstop by letting those in power know just how many people care about primary education in NZ. Share this film, sign our petition, or just make some noise for teachers & educators at makeitstop.co.nz
#nzpol The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed. This is a dark day for working New Zealanders.
Our Government has let Uber and the ACT Party set the agenda for employment law in this country. They need to grow a backbone and stand up for the interests of New Zealand workers.
This Sunday - join us for another flash protest against the ACT Party's 'Fire-at-Will' Bill outside David Seymour's 'State of the Nation' speech in Christchurch!
WHERE: Latimer Square, opposite Rydges Hotel
WHEN: Sunday 15 February, from 9:45am
[via Unions Canterbury]
There is a better idea to pursue following this taskforce disbanding. The Government could start listening to experienced retail workers!
Workers First has already proposed this solution in our Take the Power Back paper: Establish worker assemblies.
Full paper: www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th...
a screenshot of a news story from RNZ by Jimmy Ellingham, Louisa Cleave and Giles Dexter with the headline 'retail crime advisory group disbands four months early'. Below is a photo of Sunny Kaushal holding a 'shoplifting' notice in front of media microphones. nz bank notes float around the image, ending in a rubbish bin
text reading "After spending hundreds of thousands on their salaries, fancy catering and policies that make workers less safe, the retail crime advisory group has been disbanded. What should have happened? As outlined in Workers First's Take the Power Back* policy paper, the path to worker safety requires worker input..." small text reads "*www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-the-power-back"
An image of a take the power back section called 'establish worker assemblies' with a blurb explaining the issue being tackled. small text reads "www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-the-power-back"
text reading "The next government needs to invest in better workplace democracy, not line the pockets of suits."
The Govt's retail crime advisory group is disbanding four months early - after spending hundreds of thousands on their salaries, catering their meetings and cooking up policies that make workers LESS safe.
RNZ: www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/586... #nzpol
a photo of a workers first union flag among a sea of māori and united tribes flags
Te tiriti will live forever.
#tetiriti #toitutetiriti #waitangi #waitangiday
a photo of an excellent person in a "piss off tories - pay equity!" shirt holding a "brooke backs bad bosses (again)" sign, in front of a group of excellent people, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.
a photo of an excellent person in front of a group of excellent people, doing an A+ smile at the camera, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.
A photo of a passer by in their car giving a thumbs up, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.
a photo of a happy and determined man swinging a union flag, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.
2/2 First the Treaty Principles Bill, to allow the exploitation of our land and resources. Now the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, to allow the exploitation of our people.
This is the ACT Party's mission to put profits before people in action. Tell your friends, family and MP: Ditch the bill!
a photo of a group of excellent people holding union flags and signs saying "end the E.R.A." bill and a banner saying "ditch the fire at will bill" looking animated, at a flash protest in from of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office. You can also see a sign for 'Alex the Cobbler' in the background but please be assured that we are not protesting Alex. I do not know him so I cannot vouch for him, but as far as I know he has not made any bills that would bulldoze Kiwi's worker rights to please global multibillion dollar companies, so that's a thumbs up for Alex in this case
a photo of an excellent person in a hi viz best in front of a group of excellent people, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.
a photo of a group of excellent people holding union flags and signs saying "end the E.R.A." bill and a banner saying "ditch the fire at will bill" looking animated, at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office.
a photo of a group of excellent people holding union flags and signs saying "end the E.R.A." bill and "kill the bill", at a flash protest in front of Brooke van Velden's Auckland office. They all have an outstanding fit
1/2 Ngā mihi nui to thosee who made it to the flash protest today against van Velden’s “Fire-at-Will” Bill!
This weekend we acknowledge the document and the signees that made this a place for all of us. We acknowledge the time off, earned by workers who came before. We will NOT let these be taken.
an image of a RNZ article by Susan Edmunds with the headline "ikea hikes staff pay to minimum $29 as other retailers told to 'step up'" A partial photo of an Ikea store is below the headline.
Ikea has landed and is already setting the bar, with an entry rate of $29.
Workers First is the union for Ikea workers. Collective bargaining begins this year.
It's time for 'our' brands like WW, Foodstuffs, Briscoes, and The Warehouse to step up for their workers.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...
text reading "Flash protest at Brooke van Velden's office. 11 a.m. this Thursday 5 February 2026 35 Saint Johns Road, St Johns, Auckland Ditch the "Fire-at-Will" Bill."
Auckland whānau!
See you at the flash protest this Thursday, at Brooke van Velden's office. It's time to kill the "Fire-at-Will" Bill!
11am - 12pm, 5 February
35 Saint Johns Road, Auckland
Please share, attend (bring a sign if you like), and ask your MP to oppose the bill. #nzpol #auckland
a graphic in the style of a supermarket sale flyer text reading "This Government presents: The Q4 2025 Inflation REVERSE SALE! Electricity:" an image of a lightbulb with a sticker on top reading "up by 12.2 percent" 'hype' text around it saying "wow!" and "*the highest increase since the late '80s!!" small text reads "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"
a graphic in the style of a supermarket sale flyer text reading "This Government presents: The Q4 2025 Inflation REVERSE SALE! Rent:" an image of a dog in a dirty looking little dog house with a sticker on top reading "up by 1.9 percent" 'hype' text under it says "BOW-WOW!" small text reads "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"
a graphic in the style of a supermarket sale flyer text reading "This Government presents: The Q4 2025 Inflation REVERSE SALE! Meat & poultry:" an image of a sausage and a wet piece of steak with a sticker on top reading "up by 8.2 percent" small faces of Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis are next to it, saying "we gave ourselves a 10% raise!" small text reads "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"
a graphic in the style of a supermarket sale flyer text reading "This Government presents: The Q4 2025 Inflation REVERSE SALE! Telecommunications services:" an image of some ethernet cables with a sticker on top reading "up by 7.0 percent" 'hype' text under it says "PRICES SLASHED UP!" An arm holding a knife is coming up behind the sticker, and red dots are splatted over some of the graphics. small text reads "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"
You won't believe the prices in this Govt's Q4 2025 INFLATION REVERSE SALE!!
Electricity UP 12.2%!
Rent UP 1.9%!
Meat & poultry UP 8.2%!
Milk, cheese & eggs UP 9.8%!
Telecomm services UP 7%!
PRICES YOU CAN'T AFFORD, THAT'S THEIR GUARANTEE!
It's not ok. Enrol to vote. Join your union. #nzpol
Great to see bipartisan cooperation to get this important Bill passed, which is one of the pillars of our 'Take the Power Back' paper 💪
www.workersfirst.nz/news/take-th...
Everything you need to know about our "Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety" and the ACT Party in one headline.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
#nzpol All workers have a right to be kept safe, healthy, and secure after a natural disaster. Make sure you know your rights at work after a disaster or emergency:
text reading "We're concerned that the included business owners (like the Dairy Owners Association, Retail NZ and Foodstuffs*) have an ultimate vested interest in minimising their bottom lines above giving workplace security investment the consideration it deserves. The retail crime taskforce is already listening to the wrong people and should be disbanded." small print reads "*two of which have since resigned"
text reading "“We would be much better off listening to experienced retail workers, who are sick of being ignored and made to feel unsafe. Ask any retail worker and they will tell you that better workplace security is crucial to deter violent crime and respond when necessary." Rudd Hughes, Workers First Deputy Secretary”
text reading "Workers First has already proposed a solution in our Take the Power Back policy paper: Workers across target industries elect delegates and form assemblies to meet regularly and discuss critical issues. These assemblies have a particular focus on health and safety issues, and report to government on conditions and risks in their sector. workersfirst.nz/news/take-the-power-back”
“We would be much better off listening to experienced retail workers, who are sick of being ignored and made to feel unsafe.
Ask any retail worker and they will tell you that better workplace security is crucial to deter violent crime..."
- Rudd Hughes, Workers First Deputy Secretary
text reading "The "retail crime taskforce" fiasco. Kiwi workers are being attacked. This Government's solution? 1. Pay taskforce chair Sunny Kaushal $230,000 for a years 'work'..." small text reading "www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/582341/ministerial-advisory-group-defends-catering-bill-for-public-meetings-around-new-zealand" NZ 20$ bill graphics are floating around the text.
text reading "Kiwi workers are being attacked. This Government's solution? 2. Put businesses and lobbyists in meetings to waste money on expensive catering for calamari and goat's cheese*..." small text reading "*www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/582341/ministerial-advisory-group-defends-catering-bill-for-public-meetings-around-new-zealand" NZ 20$ bill graphics are floating around the text, as well as a calamari with "!??" next to it.
text reading "Kiwi workers are being attacked. This Government's solution? 3. Put workers and the public in harm’s way by turning them into security..." small text reading "*www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/legal-expert-says-citizens-arrest-restraining-powers-very-problematic/BJ5UXJFXWFGSNOS7EOVLRTDX7Q/" NZ 20$ bill graphics are on the left edge, coming over from the previous post, but have been cut off in a jagged line.
text reading "Kiwi workers are being attacked. This Government's solution? 4. Not involving or consulting the impacted: Workers."
Kiwi workers are being attacked - this Government's solution? The "retail crime taskforce" fiasco.
The included business owners and lobbyists (notable absent: workers) have a vested interest in minimising their bottom lines, above giving workplace security investment the consideration it deserves.
If you're in a union, you're much more likely to have avoided the pay cut! Unions fight for wage increases above the rate of inflation - workers have the POWER to make it happen when they stand together.
Stat nerd extra: We usually bargain for wage increases against HLPI instead of CPI.
text reading "Are your wages keeping up with inflation? The cost of living rose by 3.1% this quarter." small text reading "www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-inflation-at-3-1-percent-in-december-2025/"
Has your pay rise in the last year been at or above 3.1%? If not, you have taken an effective PAY CUT.
@nzctu.bsky.social has announced that, based on these figures, 68% of Kiwi workers are facing effective pay cuts under this Government this year.
www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-...
the logo of 'The Press, Te Matatika' Below is a screenshot of a The Press article titled 'The unpaid shift: how customers are doing the work of staff', by Blayne Slabbert on January 17 2026, which includes a photo of a person using a self-checkout machine
Should the profit generated by NZ workers be invested in technology that cuts their jobs?
Rudd Hughes, Workers First deputy secretary, talks to Blayne Slabbert about how job-cutting technology is impacting staff as well as consumers.
www.thepress.co.nz/business/360...
Text reading '82.2% of workers surveyed feel their income has not kept up with cost of living (vs 74.8% last year)' Am illustration shows these same statistics in pie chart form. small print reads 'union.org.nz/mood-of-the-workforce-2026/'
Text reading '67.4% feel they are not paid fairly for their work (vs 62% last year)' Am illustration shows these same statistics in pie chart form. small print reads 'union.org.nz/mood-of-the-workforce-2026/'
Text reading '61.3% feel their quality of work-life has worsened in terms of workload (vs 56.4% last year)' Am illustration shows these same statistics in pie chart form. small print reads 'union.org.nz/mood-of-the-workforce-2026/'
Text reading '91% rate the performance of the Government as bad or very bad (vs 86.8% last year)' Am illustration shows these same statistics in pie chart form. small print reads 'union.org.nz/mood-of-the-workforce-2026/'
The @nzctu.bsky.social Mood of the Workplace 2026 results are in.
The stats were already dire and this Govt has continued to make them worse. Time for worker representation - make sure you and your community are enrolled to vote at www.vote.nz!
union.org.nz/mood-of-the-... #nzpol
