Three day EPMU hui sparks activism

Nearly thirty EPMU delegates and members turned up to Orongomai marae in Upper-Hutt for a three day EPMU hui last week.

The aim of the hui was to generate greater onsite activism amongst members and one of its main focuses was the role union members play in organising and managing their worksite.

EPMU education officer Whanau White says he a particular highlight was Dr Te Ahukaramu Charles Royal’s workshop on the creative potential of Maori workers. “His seminar was designed to link in with the CTU’s productivity goals by getting people to think about their skills in a uniquely Maori way.”

“He basically got people thinking about their skills in a really simple way,” says White, “in that he asked the question ‘what are you good at and why?’ and that got people thinking about the talents they have and use in their jobs every day but take for granted and how they can build on those skills to improve their working lives.”

White says the hui was extremely successful. “It wasn’t only the Maori members there who grew from this event – we had Pacific Islanders, Pakeha and Asian members who came away feeling empowered and ready to take a more active part in their union. The best part about it was the sense people got that they are the EPMU.”

“This is one of the few union educational events that are open to all members and it offers them the chance to get a sense of the big picture of unionism and their role in it,” says White, “and that can mean people getting more active on their site and making sure their delegates are supported or it can mean more people wanting to be delegates themselves, and this hui did lead to three new delegate nominations”