YMN is a network of young, new and student members of NZEI, the union for early childhood and primary teachers and school support staff.
All young or new members can participate in the network.
Groups, such as young and new members may have issues or concerns that aren’t shared or understood by the wider membership of the union.
Unions need to ensure all members have the opportunity to have a voice.
Young and new members have strength and can make a real difference.
The network works fairly informally, the focus is on issues rather than rules and structure.
An annual network hui, a get-together before the AGM of the union and a couple of elected convenors ensure there is an opportunity for young and new members to address issues they are concerned about.
Young and new members have strength and can make a real difference.
Those that got together quickly identified that there were issues that particularly affected young and new members that weren’t understood, (or sometimes supported) by the wider membership.
The network linked up with existing union structures set up for student teachers and was soon able to organize a national get-together with other like minded members. This has continued on an annual basis.
YMN has succeeded in addressing the issues of young and new members. YMN has become influential within NZEI ensuring issues faced by young and new members are understood and addressed.
In 2004 and 2005 YMN developed a comprehensive campaign on the negative effects of student loans on NZEI members.
Young and new members have strength and can make a real difference.
In 2006 the focus was on fixed term employment. The network succeeded in getting a union campaign on this issue put in place.
Young and new members continue to be vulnerable to a number of employment, registration and economic issues.
Young and new members have strength and can make a real difference.
