The election of a new TEU Tumu Whakarae-National President will take place following a ballot opening Tuesday 1 September 2020. This week’s Tertiary Update profiles the two candidates.

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Introducing Michael Gilchrist

Michael Gilchrist has been TEU Tumu Whakarae-National President since January 2019 and is running for re-election. Dr Gilchrist has worked in a range of capacities at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) and for the Tertiary Education Union, and recently graduated with a PhD in philosophy at VUW where he continues to do some academic work. You can read Michael Gilchrist’s candidate profile here.

Gilchrist has been a trade unionist since 1985, serving as Treasurer and Vice-President for the Wellington Hotel Workers Union. While working as a postie, he was the founding chairperson of the Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa. He went on to become national secretary of the Trade Union Federation, an organiser in AUS and then the TEU and later TEU Tumu Whakarae-National President in 2019.

Gilchrist says he believes fervently in the ideals of collective organisation and collective action,

“With TEU we are lucky to be able to understand those ideals, which I have held for a long time through the lens of Te Koeke Tiriti, and the values of a Tiriti-led organisation. Working in TEU, and more recently in my role as National President, has enriched my understanding of my life’s work as a trade unionist, and I find it immensely challenging, rewarding, and a huge privilege, to be able to play a role amongst the many leaders that comprise our union”.

He continued, “It’s an incredible feeling to be a part of something much larger than yourself, especially when that something has such rich and amazing input from members”.

Gilchrist says the current moment provides some exciting opportunities, and he has nothing but admiration for the TEU leaders and membership who persevered under the previous Government, adding,

“Now is a really exciting time, but there is a tremendous amount of work to do. I’m always conscious of trying to make every post a winning post, and to make the most of every opportunity that we’re presented with. Of course the more we do that, the more we create further opportunities”.

He cites TEU’s development of networks as an example of taking and creating opportunity,

“We have recently advanced our networking within the union through our reference groups that came about through the Covid crisis. This has developed our ability to communicate more frequently and more effectively with a wider group of members. That’s giving us more horsepower in our work, and more opportunities, but the level of work at our union is also increasing, and its quality is improving all the time”.

For Gilchrist, building financial stability and improving density of TEU membership are keys to our continued success,

“I’ve provided sound leadership on improving our financial stability, and improving our focus on membership growth. We are starting to see that growth, but it takes a huge effort to see sustained growth, and that is the key, I think, to making us stronger”.

He continued, “We have tremendous resources in terms of the intellectual capabilities, knowledge and expertise of our members, together with a tremendous work ethic which is so strong in the sector and amongst our members. But improving our density of membership will give us more influence and more ability to make use of the resources we have. So I do see that as a vital development moving forward”.

An essential component of this union growth is growing and strengthening our Te Tiriti o Waitangi relationship,

“Our Tiriti relationship in the union must continue to grow and further structure and guide our work. Moving toward greater power sharing between Māori and Pākehā is also something I want to progress. We continue to see how this relationship supports and nourishes our work as a union”.

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Introducing Tina Smith

Tina Smith is senior lecturer of nursing at Te Pae Mātauranga Ki te Ao Universal College of Learning (UCOL) in Palmerston North and is a candidate for TEU Tumu Whakarae-National President. You can read Tina Smith’s candidate profile here.

Smith has spent over 30 years working in the ITP sector. She has been a member of the TEU branch committee for the last 14 years, served as branch president for six years, TEU Industrial and Professional Committee for four years and has been the ITP sector academic representative on TEU’s National Council for the last four years. Smith was also the editor of an academic journal for 16 years, and has presented and reviewed internationally.

Smith says she is standing for the role of TEU Tumu Whakarae-National President as she believes she will be a strong voice for TEU in the tertiary education sector,

“I’m standing because I know we face many challenges and I am a proven strong voice in tertiary education. TEU has been a fantastic voice in our sector, and we need to continue speaking on and advocating for issues that matter to our members”.

As an academic and educator, Smith says she understands how managerialism has constrained academics, particularly in the university sector and says this must be addressed,

“Our university sector has to be both critic and conscious of society, but it also has to provide academic leadership. When Covid-19 hit, we needed good knowledge and evidence from robust research and our universities provide that. Decisions around which courses should run and what research could be undertaken should be academic decisions and not constrained because managers decide whether they are worthy or not. Universities need to be funded to maintain quality and internationally high reputations”.

Smith believes her strengths lie in her experience, her role as an academic, her background in nursing, and her knowledge of the issues facing the sector.

“I am very experienced in the tertiary sector and promote accessible, inclusive education so over the last 8 years I have been a champion of the regions at a national level. One of the biggest opportunities and challenges we as a sector now face is the move from multiple polytechnics and ITOs into one entity as NZIST. I really want to make sure there is a just transition for all staff affected by the consolidation. I am grounded in the sector, and I know the angst amongst some of the staff around NZIST”.

Smith continued, “When I talk about a just transition for the ITP sector its about caring for our members and their whānau who are going to be personally affected by some of the changes. We need to ensure they are supported appropriately, and that we care for future staff by ensuring that we don’t lose any of the terms and conditions that have been long fought for in the sector. A new collective agreement or MECA will need to be negotiated for NZIST and conditions won will have implications for the university sector as well”.

For Smith, the key strengths she will bring to the role of TEU Tumu Whakarae-National President stem from her academic and regional focus, along with the skills and values she brings from her background in nursing,

“My nursing values are around being kind and caring. Part of my role in the union over many years has been caring for our colleagues. I am supported and encouraged by many people who feel I am a voice who will stand up for members. Those who support me know I care about our members, I care about our union, I care about the future - our future - and the future of New Zealand. For me, education is the key to creating a better future for our students and for the whole of New Zealand, and TEU is the key to making sure we have the best staff leading the sector, with the best conditions to make that happen”.