Public Services & Infrastructure industry council meets

EPMU delegates met in Wellington this week to re-establish the Public Services & Infrastructure industry council and elect an industry convenor.

The EPMU has now established all eleven of its industry councils, which form a key plank in the union’s democratic structures and provide members with an opportunity to have a say on the union’s policy and strategic direction in each industry.

EPMU senior industrial officer Paul Tolich says the industry council has agreed to focus on the two main areas of local government and DHBs, where the bulk of the union’s membership works.

“Our goals for this year will be to focus on pattern bargaining in local government and to try to establish a national DHB maintenance trades MECA.

“The meeting also had speakers from the PSA and the CTU, and we’ve committed to building closer working relationships with other unions in the sector so we can work together to improve wages and conditions.”

The industry council elected Craig Joblin from Canterbury DHB as its convenor and Dave Woolstencroft from Timaru Hospital as deputy convenor.