Melissa Ansell-Bridges NZCTU

05/07/2026

Belated Geneva photo dump 🇺🇳🌎

The International Labour Conference at the start of June was a whirlwind. The ILC is often described as the Global Parliament of the world of work. It’s huge, bringing together approx 5000 worker, employer and government reps from around the world. It’s always so great to spend time with other unionists and feel that sense of solidarity when we’re working together.

There were many long long committee days working on the new ILO Convention 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy (we generally didn’t finish before 9.30pm but our record was a 5.45am finish time), I was also proud to be in the drafting committee (even later nights adding commas).

I also spoke in the plenary about all the ways this government has betrayed workers and the values of the ILO. Despite that, being at the ILO is a great reminder of what can be achieved through discourse and the importance of international cooperation for small countries like New Zealand.

26/06/2026

Seoul photo dump 🇰🇷

Had the most wonderful time in South Korea this week. I was invited to speak at the KCTU’s International Symposium on Bargaining for Gender Equity and to tell NZ’s pay equity story. I also had the pleasure of meeting with leaders of women’s committees, feminist organisations and the Koreans Women’s Development Institute. Three wonderful days in discussion about how we ensure women are paid fairly through pay equity, pay transparency and above all, building working women’s collective power. Head full of ideas, heart full of friendship, tummy full of BBQ.

Gamsahamnida 민주노총 대구지역본부 and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

🌸💜🌱

19/06/2026

I spoke to Checkpoint last night about the new ILO Convention that protect Digital Platform Workers (like uber drivers) and how embarrassing it is that Brooke Van Velden and our Government voted against it.

The United States was the only other country to vote against a suite of safety assurances, minimum wage standards and protections against being unfairly kicked off online platforms.

18/06/2026

17/06/2026

I spoke at the International Labour Conference in Geneva last week about how our government is betraying New Zealand workers and the very values the ILO is built on.

22/05/2026

At a time when the Government is stripping back workers’ rights through the Employment Relations Amendment Act, the gutting of pay equity, and other measures, the world’s top court has just reminded everyone that the right to strike is fundamental – not optional, not negotiable, and not something governments can chip away at without consequence.

Whoever the Government is after the election, we must ratify ILO87.

21/05/2026

Finding it hard to fathom the cruelty of the latest attacks from this government on some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders.

13/05/2026

We need to know we can trust our news media and the information they give us. Scrapping the Broadcast Standards Authority is not the answer.

12/05/2026

Platform companies are reshaping the global economy at the expense of our communities. It's time that our international law protects platform workers.

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi will be heading to the ILC in June to stand up for the rights of platform workers in New Zealand and internationally.

Platform workers like Uber drivers have been under attack all over the world. In New Zealand, we saw this with ACT's anti-worker Employment Relations Amendment Bill, which let Uber set the agenda for our employment law. Wealthy multinationals should never have a say in the laws that protect our people – it’s time to deliver rights for ALL platform workers.

06/05/2026

For the last 12 months, we've been fighting back for pay equity. Today, the most important thing you can do is enrol to vote - and this November, vote for pay equity.