Unionists to Gather for Biennial Conference

Around 300 trade unionists from around the country arrive in Wellington next week for the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Biennial Conference.
The CTU's eighth biennial conference takes place at the Michael Fowler Centre on October 22, 23, and 24.

The theme is A Strong Voice for Working People. The CTU's 34 affiliated unions, representing around 300,000 workers, will attend.

The Minister of Labour, Margaret Wilson will open the conference with a speech entitled "The common purpose: the Employment Relations Act and the Health & Safety in Employment Act."

This speech will include a briefing on the Government's review of the Employment Relations Act.

Day one of the conference will focus on workplace health and safety. A keynote speaker will be the national health and safety director of the Canadian Auto Workers Union, Cathy Walker.

Guy Ryder, the general secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and Sharan Burrow, the president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, will take part in a panel discussion on globalisation on the last day of the conference.