CTU MEDIA RELEASE
05 December 2006
Union Volunteering Recognised Today
“Union delegates are the lifeblood of our movement, and as 200 delegates gather in Wellington today we will be honouring
the contribution they make to workplaces and society,” said CTU secretary Carol Beaumont on International Volunteer Day
today.
The CTU is holding its 14th CTU-Government forum in Wellington this afternoon, where union delegates meet with the Prime
Minister and key ministers to discuss joint work areas and policy.
“Union delegates and activists have important voluntary roles within unions,” Carol Beaumont said. “Delegates take on
the role on top of their paid work commitments, and we know that union members are also active in many other aspects of
community and civic life.”
“On International Volunteer Day, it is also timely to remember that for many workers it is a constant juggling exercise
to manage their paid work with their commitments to their families, whanau and communities.”
“Unions will continue to advocate for work-life balance and for the introduction of flexible working hours, including a
legislative right to request them, to help establish a culture that recognises workers' responsibilities outside of the
workplace and to support quality of family life."
“Union delegates are union and community leaders, and we will be honouring their contribution to working people and
social change at our forum this afternoon,” Carol Beaumont said.
ENDS