Our Stories
Every day our courageous union partners are working hard to create real change. By building unions, forming cooperatives and fighting for their rights, tens of thousands of working men and women have achieved long lasting improvements to their incomes and working conditions.
Their stories show the power of collective action and solidarity to change lives and make a better world.
Stories from Our Union Partners
Join the global living wage movement: give just 1 hour’s living wage
On 1 September 2023, the living wage rate in Aotearoa increased to $26 per hour. Thanks to grassroots movements like The Living Wage Campaign, thousands of workers will receive a pay
Flavours of Solidarity – new UnionAID cookbook out now
Food, like the spirit of solidarity, knows no boundaries. It speaks a universal language, binding us all in its rich tapestry of flavours, textures, and memories. This unique recipe book
Bangladesh garment workers push for wage hike
The National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) in Bangladesh, representing over 111,000 members across 108 registered factory unions, launched an ambitious campaign, with support from UnionAID, advocating for a significant increase
UnionAID backs Philippines call centre workers in fight for living wages
UnionAID supports the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) and their vital campaign to ensure call centre workers in the Philippines receive a living wage. Their ongoing campaign aims to secure
Bridging Educational Gaps: Empowering Dalit and Tribal Children in Tamil Nadu
Workers from Dalit and Tribal communities, who are part of unions and cooperatives established with the assistance of UnionAID and NZEI Te Riu Roa, hold great aspirations for their children’s
Myanmar military carries out deadly airstrikes – NUG statement
The Myanmar military carried out a string of deady air strikes on civilians on 11 April 2023. Dr Tun-Aung Shwe from the National Unity Government of Union of Myanmar (NUG)
UnionAID Project in Thailand Cultivates New Generation of Union Leaders
A new generation of young union leaders for some of the 20 unions of the Rangsit Labour Union Group (RLUG) has emerged from a UnionAID project in Thailand. At age
Myanmar Crisis Symposium – March 2023
Two years on from the 1st February 2021 coup d’etat Myanmar is on a trajectory to a failed rogue state. The military junta continues to wage a brutal war against
Migrant workers’ rights championed in Thailand
Our partners in Thailand, the Rangsit and Area Labour Union Group (RLUG), have been championing the rights of migrant and informal workers, like food delivery bike riders and home workers.
Stories from our Young LEaders
News from our young leader programmes
Mindanao and Indonesia After the Indonesian and Mindanao Young Leader Programmes wound up recently in Auckland and Wellington respectively and everyone said their final farewells, preparations were already underway for
INSPIRASI 2023
UnionAID, with partners the Auckland University of Technology, BaKTI and the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta, is delighted to welcome the fifth cohort of East Indonesia Young Leaders to the
Small business project in Myanmar fosters pride
While the world’s eyes are on the war in Ukraine, the murderous military in Myanmar continues to kill, execute, and displace citizens across the country. February 1st will mark two years since the brutal coup which saw the illegitimate demise of a democratically elected parliament.
3 strategies for surviving a military regime
While the world’s eyes are on the war in Ukraine, the murderous military in Myanmar continues to kill, execute, and displace citizens across the country. February 1st will mark two years since the brutal coup which saw the illegitimate demise of a democratically elected parliament.
Early voting for young learners in Myanmar – a MYLP project update
New ways of teaching have been introduced into Karon school by one MYLP alumni.
Seeking Host Families – INSPIRASI
Are you interested in hosting a young leader from the East Indonesia? UnionAID is seeking Auckland-based host families for its INSPIRASI Young Leaders Programme from mid-April until late June 2023.
