Jacinda Ardern Won’t Save New Zealand’s Working Class
Days after announcing a public-sector pay freeze, Jacinda Ardern’s government unveiled pro-union legislation. But salvation won't come from above: unions in New Zealand will have to rebuild their power with class-conscious organizing.
Primary health nurses and administration staff rally at Parliament during a one-day strike on September 3, 2020, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Lynn Grieveson – Newsroom via Getty Images)
On May 5, Jacinda Ardern’s government announced a wage freeze for public employees. Just three days later, her government reported that it would introduce industry-wide industrial agreements — potentially the most far-reaching extension of union rights in New Zealand since the 1930s.
Public-sector wage freezes are a mainstay of neoliberal politics. But the second announcement — as well as Ardern’s latest budget — indicates a departure from neoliberalism, even if the direction of travel isn’t entirely clear.
Understandably, these conflicting developments have led to debates about whether Ardern’s Labour government is a friend or an enemy to workers. But what really matters is the fact that workers and the Left now have an opportunity to push for more. No matter what label we attach to Ardern, the path forward is the same: we must build union power so we can strike and win.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.