The New Zealand Tertiary Education Union () is the main trade union in the New Zealand tertiary education sector, with over 10,000 members employed within the sector across New Zealand. Its membership includes academics, researchers, teachers and workers employed in all occupations in universities, polytechnics, institutes of technology, wānanga, other tertiary education providers and allied organisations.

History

Founded in 2009, the TEU was established a result of the amalgamation of the Association of University Staff of New Zealand (AUS) and the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education (ASTE).Education staff to vote on tertiary union The Press Sep 10, 2007. A postal ballot has been sent to members of the Association of University Staff (AUS), the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education (ASTE) and the Tertiary Institutions Allied Staff Association (TIASA) to decide whether or not to amalgamate. The Tertiary Institutions Allied Staff Association (TIASA) voted not to amalgamate and remain independent.

TEU is a registered trade union in accordance with the Employment Relations Act 2000. The TEU is a democratic union with strong membership participation and is governed by an elected council. Policy is determined by an annual conference and implemented by a number of committees.

Campaigns

As well as negotiating typical labour rights and employment issues with employers (salary levels, hours of work, etc.) the TEU has been involved in a number of national campaigns.

Paid parental leave The Union have actively supported longer statutory paid parental leave, including the recent Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave and Work Contact Hours) Amendment Bill which provides six months paid parental leave and guaranteed right to return to work afterwards.Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave) Amendment Bill The bill is currently stalled in parliament.

Academic Freedom

The Union have campaigned for academic freedom, running an essay competition in cooperation with Academic Freedom Aotearoa. and giving out awards, including to Mike Joy, an academic at Massey University who had a high-profile clash with Prime Minister John Key.

Living Wage

Under the Employment Relations Act 2000 there are limits on what actions a union can take in support of employment relations involving employees other than union members, but the TEU supports the Living Wage Movement Aotearoa NZ which campaigns to raise the legal minimum wage. A number of the TEU's members are paid the current legal minimum wage.

The Tertiary Education Union has engaged in strike action on multiple occasions to advocate pay increases. These have included a strike in New Zealand's eight universities in October 2022, and another in Lincoln University, Massey University, the University of Canterbury, and the University of Auckland during September 2024.

Membership

The Union is present in most tertiary education institutions representing academic, purely teaching, purely research and general staff.2014 Annual report, https://issuu.com/nzteu/docs/teu_annual_report_2014

The Union is the members' official representative in employment matters when dealing with their employers (directly or indirectly), many union members (particularly academics and researchers) are also members of the Royal Society of New Zealand (commonly via constituent bodies) as it is the peak professional body in the humanities and the sciences and has legislated roles in science and research funding.

+ Membership by institution Institution Type MembershipTotal StaffGeneral MembersAcademic Members Notable office-holders and life members Aoraki Polytechnic ITP 97479097 Bay of Plenty Polytechnic ITP 25177025 Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology ITP 14310570143 Eastern Institute of Technology ITP 1333520133 Manukau Institute of Technology ITP No Available Data Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology ITP 73222073 NorthTec ITP 1262300126 Otago Polytechnic ITP 2826160282 Southern Institute of Technology ITP No Available Data Tai Poutini Polytechnic ITP 5095050 The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand ITP 80119080 Unitec New Zealand ITP 2385430238 Universal College of Learning ITP 2044630204 Waiariki Institute of Technology ITP 1312390131 Waikato Institute of Technology ITP 1283380128 Wellington Institute of Technology ITP 1392470139 Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki ITP 88116088 Whitireia NZ ITP 1182570118 University of Auckland University 12973688473824 Auckland University of Technology University 744264262682 University of Canterbury University 8341644435577 Jack Heinemann, Garrick Cooper Lincoln University University 281574136145 Malcolm Burns, George Hill Massey University University No Available Data University of Otago University 50815640508 Craig Marshall Victoria University of Wellington University 7751701281494 Mere Broughton, Stephen Blumenfeld, David Weatherburn, Dougal McNeill University of Waikato University 5211383169352 Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, Cat Pausé Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Wānanga No Available Data Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Wānanga No Available DataAll data from the 2014 TEU Annual Report

International

Through membership of Education International, TEU is linked to international education groups worldwide, and a wide range of education unions and through membership of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, TEU works with other unions to improve the position of all New Zealand workers.

References

External links