The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) has strongly rejected comments made by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, saying it will not apologise for advocating on behalf of working people after the Deputy Prime Minister described trade unions as prostitutes for the Labour Party during an interview on Radio Waatea.
The exchange marks the latest flashpoint in the lead-up to the 2026 General Election, with industrial relations becoming an increasingly prominent campaign issue as political parties seek to define their relationships with organised labour.
Responding to questions from Waatea News, NZCTU President Sandra Grey said Peters’ remarks were an attack not on union leaders, but on the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who choose to belong to a union.
Grey said union members represent every corner of the workforce, including nurses, bus drivers, supermarket workers, teachers, firefighters and cleaners, and argued the comments reflected more about the state of Peters’ election campaign than the union movement itself.
She also challenged the language used by the New Zealand First leader, saying all workers, including sex workers, deserve respect rather than becoming the subject of political attacks.
The CTU rejected Peters’ suggestion that unions owe New Zealand First an apology, saying its responsibility is to advocate for working people regardless of which party holds power.
Grey said the organisation has consistently criticised governments of all political persuasions when policies have undermined workers’ rights, adding that independence from political parties remains a core principle of the union movement.
She argued the CTU’s record demonstrates it has challenged successive governments whenever workplace protections have been weakened, and said the organisation would not apologise to a party it believes has supported measures reducing collective bargaining rights, personal grievance protections, workplace health and safety provisions, holiday entitlements and pay equity while wages have struggled to keep pace with inflation.
The comments directly rebut claims made by Peters during his Radio Waatea interview, where he accused unions of acting as political extensions of the Labour Party and demanded they apologise for what he described as repeated politically motivated attacks against New Zealand First.
Grey also rejected the suggestion that the relationship between the Government and the union movement had fundamentally changed because of the rhetoric.
She said the CTU has a long history of working constructively with governments of different political stripes in the interests of working people and expects that approach to continue regardless of the outcome of the November election.
The organisation says its focus remains on representing its members and engaging with whichever parties New Zealanders elect to Parliament.
Looking ahead to the election campaign, Grey said unions have an important role in ensuring workers’ concerns remain central to public debate.
She said election outcomes have a direct impact on wages, workplace conditions, employment rights and the cost of living, making it essential that unions continue advocating for the interests of working people throughout the campaign.
Grey also emphasised that the NZCTU is not affiliated with any political party, saying its role is to represent workers rather than campaign for political organisations.
The exchange between Peters and the CTU highlights the increasingly sharp rhetoric emerging as parties prepare for the November General Election, with employment law, workers’ rights, public sector reform and industrial relations expected to feature prominently alongside debates over the economy, constitutional reform and the cost of living.
For many voters, the debate reflects broader questions about the role of organised labour in modern New Zealand, with unions arguing they remain an essential voice for workers while critics contend some have become increasingly active in wider political debates.
As the campaign gathers pace, the relationship between government, employers and organised labour is likely to remain a key area of political contest.
Here are the questions and responses in full:
1. What is your reaction to Mr Peters describing trade unions as “prostitutes for the Labour Party”?
Union members include nurses, bus drivers, supermarket workers, teachers, firefighters, and cleaners. It says more about the state of Mr Peters’ campaign than it does about the union movement. All workers – including sex workers – deserve respect rather than attacks on radio.
2. Do you believe those comments are appropriate from a Deputy Prime Minister and leader of a governing party?
Of course not. This is a senior member of the Government talking about hundreds of thousands of working New Zealanders who are members of unions. This is another example of Winston Peters trying to divide Kiwis for his own political gain, when unions are all about bringing people together.
3. Mr Peters says unions owe New Zealand First an apology. How do you respond to that claim?
The NZCTU will not be apologising for representing working people. Our record shows we critique all political parties that won’t stand up for working people. That is our job, and we have done it under every government. We feel disinclined to apologise to a party that has voted for taking away working people’s bargaining rights, grievance remedies, health and safety, holidays, and pay equity for women while wages slide backwards against inflation.
4. Does this type of rhetoric affect the relationship between the Government and the union movement?
The CTU has a long history of working with governments in the interests of working people and we don’t expect that to change. We will continue to work with whoever New Zealanders elect, because our members need us to.
5. More broadly, what role do you believe unions should play during an election campaign?
Workers need us to ensure their issues are front and centre during election periods, as the results of election shape their working lives. The NZCTU has no affiliation with any political party.
#NZCTU #SandraGrey #TradeUnions #WinstonPeters #NZFirst #WorkersRights #IndustrialRelations #Election2026 #CostOfLiving #PublicSector #CollectiveBargaining #PayEquity #HealthAndSafety #WorkingPeople #LabourMarket #NZPolitics #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #Aotearoa
