Category Archives: Uncategorized

Reflections on the 2021 Labour History Project Symposium by Paul Maunder and Grant Brookes. Paul Maunder, LHP Bulletin Editor, reflects The seminar left me with the feeling of having experienced a contradiction at a deep level, but one which is not easy to articulate. Having started off on a high (the victory at Kinleith), theContinue reading “Reflections on the LHP Symposium: ‘From Kinleith to the dole queue: workers’ struggles of the 1980s’”

As top public sector union leaders went in to bat for their members and for public services over the last fortnight, one group was conspicuously missing in action. With DHB nurses facing the prospect of a four year pay freeze and voting for historic strike action, where were the NZNO President, Kaiwhakahaere and Chief Executive?Continue reading “‘Questions for the NZNO Board and CEO’ – Unpublished letter to Kai Tiaki”

The letter of support for the NZNO members of the DHB Sector below was sent to their Industrial Advisor David Wait on 4 May 2021, for the attention of the members and their bargaining team. Tēnā koutou David me ngā mema o tō koutou uniana, We write to you as a group of PSA union delegates atContinue reading “PSA Mental Health delegates support NZNO members”

Tēnā koe te Kaiwhakahaere ko Tom. E te whānau kākāriki, tēnā tātou. Ko Grant Brookes tōku ingoa. He mema o te uniana ahau.  Greetings everyone. Thanks to Rongotai Branch Co-Convenor Tom, for inviting me to speak. My name is Grant Brookes. I’m a trade unionist. As mentioned in Tom’s introduction, I am also the NationalContinue reading “Trade unionists & environmentalism – Notes from a talk to the Green Party Rongotai Branch”

A year ago this month, I reluctantly stepped away from the role of NZNO president. After persevering for years, I could no longer work with a Board dominated by individuals who were taking the organisation down the wrong path.  Nothing can change the fact that from 2015-2020, I held the office for the longest continuousContinue reading “Moving on from NZNO and the past”