Chris Dekker Championing Workers’ Rights for Doctors, Nurses & Teachers

We extend our gratitude to NZ Unions, the platinum sponsor of the NZDSOS Conference 2024. For more information on how to join and stay informed about the union’s progress, visit NZ Unions today.

Last month, Chris Dekker stood at the podium of the NZDSOS Conference, a room full of eager faces watching him. As the General Manager of NZ Unions, a relatively new force in New Zealand’s labour movement, Chris was here to share a vision that went beyond typical unionism. He wasn’t just another advocate bound by tradition; he represented an alternative, one that refused to bow to the government and corporate interests.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” Chris began, his voice steady and filled with conviction. “It’s truly a pleasure to be here, sponsoring this incredible conference.”

As Chris introduced himself, he touched upon his roots in Australia, where he had spent years fighting for nurses, teachers, and doctors with Red Union. What moved him to stand before the crowd today wasn’t just professional dedication; it was a calling. For years, workers had paid into their unions, expecting protection and representation. But when mandates, particularly vaccine mandates, were imposed, those same unions turned their backs on the people they were supposed to protect.

“I’ve worked 60-hour, grey-hair-inducing weeks,” Chris said, recounting the thousands of frontline workers he had assisted in filing claims with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. His frustration was palpable. “I’ve heard sad stories—sickening stories—of how workers were let down by the unions they’d trusted for decades.”

The room buzzed with quiet murmurs of agreement. Many attendees, particularly the doctors, nurses, and teachers in the audience, had similar tales of betrayal. Their unions had aligned with the government, leaving those opposed to mandates without support. But Chris wasn’t here to dwell on the past; he was offering a way forward.

“We are done with unions that don’t stand up for their members,” Chris declared. “NZ Unions is here to provide an alternative—a union for those who want protection without politics. We fight for pay, conditions, and nothing else.”

Chris explained that NZ Unions, like Red Union in Australia, wasn’t just about empty promises. They offered real services: indemnity insurance, collective bargaining, and legal representation. “We’re not a grift. We have the credentials to back up what we say,” Chris assured them, detailing how they had already grown to 400 members in just a year.

He described the freedom-aligned unions NZ Unions had established in New Zealand: TPNZ for teachers, UPNZ for nurses, and NZ MPS for doctors. Each group was run by the very people they represented, ensuring that the union’s priorities were aligned with its members’ needs, not external political agendas. In fact, the leadership of NZ MPS consisted entirely of members of NZDSOS, further strengthening the bond between the two organisations.

“Look, we know there’s a lot of opposition out there,” Chris said, acknowledging the resistance his organisation had faced in both Australia and New Zealand. “The government, the media, even the courts—they’re all stacked against us. But that only proves one thing: we’re rattling their cages.”

Chris’s voice grew more intense as he recounted the efforts to silence unions like his. In Australia, labour unions aligned with the government had pushed for legislation that made it nearly impossible for Red Union to represent workers in certain legal forums. Despite these roadblocks, they found ways to fight back, ensuring that workers could still seek justice even when the system seemed stacked against them.

“We don’t exist to destroy the existing unions,” Chris clarified. “We’re here to offer a competitive alternative that actually represents members.” He explained how competition had forced legacy unions in Australia to step up their game, and he hoped to see the same in New Zealand.

Towards the end of his speech, Chris pointed to ongoing campaigns within NZ Unions. On the teaching front, they were fighting against what he called “woke curriculum” in schools. For nurses, they were pushing for accountability in the underpayment scandal that had affected many former DHB workers. And for doctors, they were challenging the Medical Council on cases where they believed disciplinary actions were inappropriate.

“We’re getting some integrity back into the system,” Chris said, closing his speech. The audience erupted into applause as he stepped away from the podium, knowing he had struck a chord with those who were sick of being ignored.