WFA AWUNZ homepage

The Amalgamated Workers Union of New Zealand (AWUNZ) is a union representing workers from a number of different workplaces in New Zealand. This allows AWUNZ to draw on experience gained in interactions with those various organisations. The WFA branch of AWUNZ (WFA AWUNZ, which we sometimes refer to simply as the Union) represents the concerns of its WFA-employed members. We have a number of appointed delegates who are WFA employees and colleagues. We work with professional AWUNZ staff to achieve the Union's goals.

It is important to note that those goals are generally in line with the organisational goals of WFA - ensuring staff welfare while providing high-quality patient care. The Union aims to work with WFA whenever possible to achieve these goals.

The majority of non-management WFA staff are AWUNZ members.

Note that we were previously known as the Central Amalgamated Workers Union (CAWU), and you may sometimes see that older name around (such as in, for the time being, the web address of this information page).

For more information, click here to go to the official AWUNZ website.

To sign up, do the following:

• Download, print, and complete the Authority for Membership form by clicking on the icon below.
• Scan or phtograph the completed form and email to   info@awunz.nz and cc union.wfa@gmail.com into that email so that we can add you to our contact lists.

Authority for Membership

A union (aka a workers' union or a labour union) is an organisation of workers who join together to achieve and maintain working conditions that are acceptable to its members. Historically, unions have worked to improve conditions for members with specific employers as well as ensuring that governments enact laws to enforce:

• The "40 hour working week";
• Paid annual leave;
• Equal pay for men and women;
• Breaks during the work day, including lunch breaks.

Unions continue to ensure that these and many other conditions are maintained, and support their members to address new issues as needed.

A 'Union delegate' is a person who is delegated to be the "face" of the Union in interacting with WFA management in issues such as contract negotiations. These are the people who attend CEA meetings, conduct surveys, provide updates to the Union membership and manage this website. The delegates themselves are supported in these activities by professional AWUNZ organisers. The WFA delegates' work in supporting Union members is voluntary, and is not remunerated. Your AWUNZ delegates are:

Alesha Hazlewood	HS/EAS	027 444 7883
Stephen Pask	PTS	021 057 3122
Alan Jenner	PTS	027 552 6722
Deepak Nair	Comms	021 026 29427
Mark McKnight	HS/EAS	027 489 5868

Feel free to contact any of the delegates in person via txt to the numbers above. If using work email to contact the delegates, be aware that companies are able to monitor information entered on work systems. Alternately, email the shared delegate email account ( union.wfa@gmail.com ) for further information or support.

The dues for union membership ars based on how many hours worked in any given week, and will be calculated each week. Those fees are:

• 10 hours or less: $3.90
• 11 to 20 hours: $5.25
• 21 to 30 hours: $6.65
• 31 hours or more: $8.00

If a casual employee does not work any hours in a given week, there is no fee for membership that week.

Fees are calculated and deducted by WFA Payroll. This money is used by the AWUNZ office to provide support such as legal advocacy and a full-time, experienced, staff member to assist in CEA negotiations. AWUNZ's fees are amongst the lowest in the country.

AWUNZ delegates negotiate a Collective Employment Agreement (CEA), under which the majority of members are employed. This process aims to achieve a CEA which fairly considers issues such as remuneration, allowances, meal and rest breaks, safety and so forth. The CEA covers staff who are employed as:

• Emergency Ambulance Service (EAS);
• Urgent Community Care (UCC);
• Flight Paramedics;
• Patient Transfer Service (PTS);
• Communications Centre staff;
• Educators (both Headquarters- and Whitireia-based).

It is possible to be a Union member and have an Individual Employment Agreement (IEA). This primarily applies to employees (e.g. Field Operations Managers) who are not covered by the CEA. These employees will not gain the benefits of the CEA, but will still retain the other benefits discussed below.

The delegates regularly survey the Union members to ensure that all voices are represented, and meetings are held approximately annually as needed for face-to-face discussions. Members have access to an anonymous discussion forum, where they may raise and debate issues. Membership in the Union gives you a say in the CEA negotiation and ratification process, as well as in other proposed changes and in monitoring ongoing conditions of employment.

The Union will provide appropriate representation and support in the event of a workplace dispute.

The strength of a Union is in its membership, and therefore your membership in the Union gives greater support to all of your colleagues.

This is a lump sum cash payment policy, only available to AWUNZ members, for listed injuries. It is paid over and above payment from ACC or any other benefits. It isn't a comprehensive health insurance, but will provide a one-off payout in case of specified events occurring.

The specific injuries covered are listed in the brochure, which can be accessed by clicking on the icon below:

TMF Life Interruption Insurance brochure

For more information, click here to read about TMFNZ on the official AWUNZ website.

The 'Trauma Insurance' is a basic insurance that is available to regular part time and full time AWUNZ members via an external insurer (AMP), in case of certain severe accident or medical events. It isn't a comprehensive health insurance, but it will provide a one-off $15,000 payout in case of specific serious trauma or medical events occurring. Being insured under this policy is optional. If you already have another form of life or health insurance then it's up to you whether you additionally wish to have the coverage provided by this policy. Note in the near future we intend to phase out this insurance and transition members to the better TMF Life Interruption Insurance.

Opting into this scheme will cost you $1.40 per week, and your weekly payslip will show the following:

• Trauma EE (your contribution) $1.40
• Trauma ER (WFA contribution) $3.20

The Indemnity Insurance is for members who are registered under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003: i.e. Healthcare Services staff.

Further information, including a link to sign up to the insurance, is provided on the poster which can be accessed by clicking on the icon below:

TMF Indemnity Insurance poster

The Union also operates a Welfare Fund, for the provision of financial assistance to the family of a Union member in the event of their death, or in case of the death of certain other family members.

Most members of AWUNZ are employed under a Collective Employment Agreement (CEA). This is a contract which is regularly negotiated and re-negotiated between the Union and WFA, to ensure the maintenance of acceptable working conditions. Negotiations in 2020/2021 resulted in a CEA which covers the majority of working issues, and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which provides WFA reassurance AWUNZ will engage in a Shift Pattern Review Committee which they wished to establish.

The MOA and CEA documents can be accessed by clicking on the icons below:

Memorandum of Agreement 2021

Collective Employment Agreement 2021-2023

The following calendar shows significant upcoming events such as member meetings.
Assume events shown here are for Union members only, unless explicitly stated otherwise.