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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).

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:

• Serah Allison - EAS;
• Stephen Pask - PTS;
• Alan Jenner - PTS;
• Alesha Hazlewood - EAS;
• Deepak Nair - Comms;

Feel free to contact any of the delegates in person or via email ( union.wfa@gmail.com ) if you require any further information or support.

The fee for union membership is 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

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.

When you first receive your contract from Human Resources, it should contain a Payroll deduction form for AWUNZ membership, and another for the Trauma Insurance. If you did not receive these forms with your contract, or if you are already a WFA employee and wish to join the Union, then you can obtain a 'sign-up pack' which contains these forms from:

• the whiteboard in the Newtown Ambulance Station lounge;
• the noticeboard in the CECL kitchen that adjoins the COMMS room;
• the cork notice board in the Lower Hutt Ambulance Station office;
• the Payroll office at Headquarters.

Fill in the membership deduction form, optionally also complete the Trauma Insurance form, then put it in the pre-paid envelope which is in the pack and mail it. This will be received by the AWUNZ office, who will subsequently be in touch with Payroll. It may be several weeks before deductions begin appearing on your payslip.

Once you've sent the paperwork, email the Union delegates:   union.wfa@gmail.com so that we can add you to our contact lists.

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