CTU Out@Work Network

The CTU Out@Work network was set up in 2000 as the Council of Trade Union's network for lesbian, gay, takataapui, bisexual, intersex, transgender and fa'afafine union members.

Out @ Work meets three times a year in Wellington and one meeting a year by video conference, and comprises formal representatives from affiliated unions.  Any interested union members and/or delegates are welcome to attend.  The next Out @ Work council meeting is scheduled as a video conference on Friday, 13th February 2009.

The CTU, in conjunction with the Council, has developed a pampahlet.  You can either click here or on the image to download the Out at Work pamphlet (PDF doc 378 kb).

Upcoming events

Out @ Work Kamp 2009 - ‘Supporting Diversity in the Workplace’ is the theme for the upcoming Kamp.   It will be held on the 14th and 15th May 2008 at Raumati, just out of Wellington.  Your union will get more information closer to the time but if you want to register your interest, just let Eileen at the CTU know.

Copenhagen 2009 World Outgames – World Outgames is an international event for the body, the mind, and the spirit.  It is a celebration of the talents and contributions of homosexual, bi-sexual and transgender men and women from every corner of the globe.  It is being held in Copenhagen from 25th July to 2nd August 2009.  Find out more.

Copenhagen 2009 Conference on Human Rights – This conference is being held from the 27th to the 29th July and has the theme:  “Love of Freedom – Freedom of Love”.  The overall goal of the conference is to reaffirm and defend the human right of every LGBT person in the world to participate fully, equally and openly in every part of live.  Read more about this conference.

News

About Us:  Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and the Law in New Zealand – the Ministry of Social Development in conjunction with the Whitireia Community Law Centre have produced an online legal resource for our communities and it covers a broad range of legislation and drills down into some of the areas more specific to a target audience, such as legal parenting and guardianship issues, and legal identity documents.  You can get your own copy of this resource by clicking here (2 mb PDF file). 

Pre-employment guidelines (EEO) – the Out @ Work council was invited by the Human Rights Commission to review the pre-employment guidelines.  Feedback from a GLBTI perspective was provided to the HRC.   If you are interested in these guidelines click here (630 kb PDF file).

Rainbow Room – One of Parliament’s select committee rooms has been dedicated the Rainbow Room to recognise gay, lesbian and trans-gender New Zealanders and their contribution to society and Parliament as from 22nd September.  This designation was supported by members of all parties represented in the Parliament and was seen as an appropriate way to recognise all members of society and the paths they have taken to full citizenship with equal rights.

Earlier Events

Out @ Work Kamp 2007 - The 3rd Out @ Work camp was held on the 19th and 20th April at the Wainuiomata Outdoor Education Centre in Wellington.  About 40 participants came to the event, including Tim Barnett, MP for Christchurch Central and Senior Whip for the Labour Party.  Out of this very successful kamp a set of goals were developed as a workplan for the Out @ Work Council as well as a recommendation to the NZCTU Conference for the Montreal Declaration to be endorsed.  You can read this declaration here.

Speech to TUC Stamping out Conference  - Carol Beaumont (CTU Secretary at the time) was a keynote speaker to the UK TUC Stamping Out Homophobia conference on 6 Feb 2006. You can read Carol's speech here.

Out @ Work Kamp 2005 - The second Out @ Work Kamp was held at Raumati Beach, Kapiti Coast on the 17th and 18th March 2005.  Attendance improved over the 2003 Kamp and there were a number of successful speakers.  Plans were put into place to enable the first Out @ Work Council meeting to be held in August 2005 with representatives selected from affiliated unions.  A remit was passed at the 2005 Biennial Conference to ensure education on homophobia and discrimination takes place in all CTU structures and that educational material be produced for delegates.

Out @ Work Kamp 2003 - On Friday 20 and Saturday 21 June 2003 the NZCTU held its first ever   Out @ Work Kamp for Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Intersex and Bisexual workers.  Click here to read more

Workers Out! Sydney, 2002 - A delegation from the CTU Out @ Work network went to the Sydney conference. Click here to read more.

Contacts

For more information about Out@Work contact convenors -  Ian Gordon and Jo Belgrave