PPTA

National Women's Network

The PPTA Women's Network is made up of Regional Women Co-ordinators (RWCs) elected in each PPTA region, together with representative members from both Te Huarahi and Komiti Pasifika.The new women’s network structure was developed over the last few years between the Women’s Advisory Council and RWCs, who since their inclusion in Regional Officer training days for the last four years, have been eager to adopt a larger role. The benefits of a larger and more representative group with better access to women members in branches and regions became apparent to all and the new structure was recommended to the Executive who endorsed its implementation this year.

The role of a Women's Network member includes;

• advocacy of equality for women
• representing women’s views to the National Executive of PPTA and to Te Huarahi and Komiti Pasifika
• liaison with your local Executive members and regional officers
• liaison with branches, wherever possible through branch women contacts
• assisting in the political and union education of women members
• explaining PPTA policies to women members
• keeping a calendar and diary of PPTA events and a directory of contacts
• in the case of Te Huarahi and Komiti Pasifika building networks of supportive women from your structures and working with the Women’s Officer or Regional Women Coordinators to run joint events in regions
• supporting women’s networks in your areas
• preparing and encouraging other women to take on PPTA branch and regional positions and to stand for election to other PPTA offices including positions on National Executive, Te Huarahi and Komiti Pasifika
• communicating locally and nationally about women’s concerns and achievements
• developing strengths in public speaking and management of meetings
• educating women about the collective agreement
• participating in Employment Relations Education programmes
• working with the Women’s Officer and Field Officers to strengthen unionism in secondary schools