CTU-Government Forum
Around 80 trade union leaders have been joined by the Prime Minister and senior Government Ministers this morning for
the CTU-Government forum.
In his opening address Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said the forum reflects a maturing in the
relationship between government and the union movement.
Those themes were reflected in addresses from the Prime Minister, and Margaret Wilson and Michael Cullen.
“Today is a coming together in the spirit of partnership to foreshadow the challenges ahead, to identify processes to
address any issues between us, and to maximise our joint objective of continuing to build, or perhaps rebuild, a centre
left social democratic agenda appropriate to our times,” said Ross Wilson.
“As the representatives of labour and as the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand we do strongly assert our
right to social partnership status and to a real influence in the broad agenda of government.”
The forum is now working through labour market, social development and state sector capacity issues and discussing
processes to jointly address those issues.
Ctu-Government Media Conference
1pm, November 7 The McKenzie Room, St John’s Conference Centre, cnr. Dixon and Willis Streets.