Andrew Little (trade unionist)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Little is the national secretary of New Zealand
’s largest trade union
, the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
(EPMU) and former president of the New Zealand Labour Party
.
and studied law
, philosophy
and public policy
at Victoria University of Wellington
in the 1980s, where he became active in the campaign against New Zealand's student loan
scheme. He was elected president of the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association and later served as NZUSA president in 1988 and 1989. After graduating he took a job as a lawyer with the Engineers’ Union (a forerunner of the EPMU). In 1997 he was appointed the union’s general counsel (chief lawyer). Two years later, he was appointed assistant national secretary, and was elected national secretary when Rex Jones stood down from the position in 2000.
In 2007 Little was number 40 on the New Zealand Listener Power List
.
On the 2 March 2009, it was announced that Andrew was the new New Zealand Labour Party
President. He stood for Parliament in the 2011 general election
in the New Plymouth
electorate; despite losing the election in the constituency to the National Party incumbent Jonathan Young, he won a seat on the Labour Party list (at position 15).
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
’s largest trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union is the largest private sector trade union in New Zealand. It was formed in 1996 by the merger of the Engineers' Union , the Printing, Packaging and Manufacturing Union , and the Communications and Energy Workers' Union .The EPMU represents workers...
(EPMU) and former president of the New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
.
Career
Little was educated at New Plymouth Boys' High SchoolNew Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth Boys' High School is a single-sex boys' state secondary school in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. It was founded in 1882 and celebrated its 125th Jubilee in 2007....
and studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and public policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
in the 1980s, where he became active in the campaign against New Zealand's student loan
Student loan
A student loan is designed to help students pay for university tuition, books, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in education...
scheme. He was elected president of the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association and later served as NZUSA president in 1988 and 1989. After graduating he took a job as a lawyer with the Engineers’ Union (a forerunner of the EPMU). In 1997 he was appointed the union’s general counsel (chief lawyer). Two years later, he was appointed assistant national secretary, and was elected national secretary when Rex Jones stood down from the position in 2000.
In 2007 Little was number 40 on the New Zealand Listener Power List
New Zealand Listener Power List
The New Zealand Listener Power List is a list of the most powerful people in New Zealand, compiled annually by the New Zealand Listener from 2004 to 2009. From 2004 to 2007, the list covered the 50 most powerful people without separating them by field...
.
On the 2 March 2009, it was announced that Andrew was the new New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
President. He stood for Parliament in the 2011 general election
New Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
in the New Plymouth
New Plymouth (New Zealand electorate)
New Plymouth is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It was first created for the 1st New Zealand Parliament in 1853 and has existed since, with one 22-year interruption...
electorate; despite losing the election in the constituency to the National Party incumbent Jonathan Young, he won a seat on the Labour Party list (at position 15).