Issues critical to indigenous workers were on the agenda of the 2024 ACTU Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander union forum held in Adelaide in June, which was attended by members of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina.
The forum, which is the equivalent of the PSA’s Hui Taumata, was held the day before the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Congress on 5 and 6 June.
The PSA delegation consisted of Te Rūnanga Tuakana and Teina, Lesley Dixon and Virgil Iraia, Te Kaihautū Māori Janice Panoho and Te Kaitohutohu Haupapa Here | Māori Policy Advisor Mike Tana. They were joined by New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) Rūnanga chairs, Grant Williams and Laures Park, along with NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff they made up the New Zealand delegation to the ACTU forum and congress.
The forum at the Adelaide Convention Centre started with a Welcome to Country from Kaurna Meyunna, the indigenous people of Adelaide in South Australia and surrounding country.
The welcoming ceremony acknowledged the Torres Strait Islander and Māori visitors. Virgil as Teina and PSA Vice President responded with a speech in te reo Māori, which was followed by a waiata tautoko sung by the delegation.
The forum provided a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander unionists to engage and discuss issues critical to indigenous workers.
The PSA Rūnanga members spoke about the challenges for Māori workers in the Public and community sectors and how the PSA supports and champions Māori members.
Te Kaihautū Māori Janice Panoho's korero spoke to the enduring impact on future generations of the advocacy by three influential wāhine Māori leaders: te reo Māori campaigner Hana Te Hemara; Māori land rights campaigner Dame Whina Cooper; and women’s suffrage campaigner Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia.
Janice told the hui that despite recent government actions aimed at rewriting the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and removing te reo Māori names from public service agencies, the legacy of these leaders remained powerful.
Other members of the PSA delegation spoke about their journeys into leadership roles within the PSA, and how te ao Māori principles and practices were woven into the structures and workings of the PSA. They also shared the value of the unique structure of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina that gives Māori members the foundation for a strong voice.
The ACTU Indigenous union representatives found that hearing our current fight against New Zealand’s coalition government’s divisive actions as critically important for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander members to learn from, Mike said.
“We have a common challenge with our respective governments, with their “Voice to Nation” campaign and our campaign against this government’s anti-Māori policies and directives,” Mike said.
The main topics discussed at the forum were:
- First Nations Voices: Emphasised the importance of including First Nations’ perspectives in various areas, including treaties, intellectual property, and workplace safety.
- Anti-Racism is Union Business: Addressed the role of unions in combating racism, highlighting the psychosocial hazards and workplace health and safety concerns related to racism.
- Bargaining and Cultural Clauses: Focused on setting aspirations, and winning cultural clauses and terminology in bargaining processes.
- First Nations Leadership: Discussed the development of collaborative First Nations union movements and leadership priorities.
At the end of the forum, the NZCTU’s Grant Williams taught the participants a waiata, which ended the forum on a positive and energising note.
“The forum was an incredible time of building relationships and support between countries. It was an uplifting experience to share stories, challenges and struggles with our Indigenous brothers and sisters from Australia’s unions,” Mike said.
The New Zealand delegation also attended the ACTU Congress as observers.
