US EditionOver 100K New Zealand Public Workers Strike in Largest Labor Action Since 1979
More than 100,000 public sector workers staged New Zealand's largest strike in decades, demanding better pay and staffing amid government spending cuts and rising cost of living.
- On Thursday, October 23, more than 100,000 public sector workers walked off the job nationwide, disrupting schools and hospitals and staging rallies in Auckland and Hamilton.
- Unions say stalled collective bargaining and complaints about pay, staffing levels and working conditions prompted the walkout after primary teachers rejected a 2.7% pay offer last month.
- One major cohort, 36,000 New Zealand Nurses Organisation nurses staged a full withdrawal from 11am-3pm at Te Whatu Ora sites, while NZEI Te Riu Roa expected 40,000 members including 27,000 teachers and more than 1,200 ACC employees to strike.
- Most schools held no-class days, affecting NCEA-level students facing crucial exams, while hospitals and Te Whatu Ora urged urgent care only and rescheduled more than 6,000 patient appointments.
- Amid cuts to new public spending since 2023, the centre-right government called the strike politically motivated but said it was ready to negotiate amid a record net migration loss of 47,900.
38 Articles
38 Articles
100,000 on strike in New Zealand for better pay
More than 100,000 New Zealand teachers, nurses, doctors, firefighters and support staff walked off the job on Thursday demanding more money and resources for the public sector in a sign of growing discontent with the country's centre-right government. Public servants marched with placards and banners in towns across New Zealand, chanting and listening to speeches. However, protests in capital Wellington as well as Christchurch had to be cancelle…
Massive strike in New Zealand as 100,000 demand better pay and conditions
More than 100,000 New Zealand teachers, nurses, doctors, firefighters and support staff walked off the job on Thursday demanding more money and resources for the public sector in a sign of growing discontent with the country's centre-right government.
In New Zealand, more than 100,000 employees in the public service have resigned in protest against the government.
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