UnionAID

THAI RIDERS CONFRONT ‘ALGORITHMS OF EXPLOITATION’

Recently twelve food delivery riders learnt at study groups run by our partner the Rangsit and Area Labour Union Group (RLUG) how the algorithms behind their labour platforms compound the everyday problems they face at work. As Human Rights Watch says the “companies behind these apps often organize and control this work by using algorithms to assign tasks, set pay, evaluate performance and even fire workers.”

The RLUG sessions are highlighting these issues and provide an informal environment where the riders feel comfortable to ask questions. They understand that collective action would lead to collective power and collective bargaining power. They also realise that a nationwide network would significantly boost this bargaining power.

The UnionAID project is supporting the Rangsit Riders Union to extend its organising and union building to Lop Buri province. It is also organising with a few food delivery riders in Bangkok. Watch this space!

Congratulations to Solidarity donor Tricia Cutforth (below), winner of the draw for a gift box of Good Fortune coffee kindly donated by Matt from the House of Good Fortune. Trisha says:

"So great to win this lovely gift from Union Aid which I've supported for a while now because of the work they do to build worker capability in countries that really need it. I especially like the support given to people in the Pacific - and Myanmar, a country close to my heart because of family history and where its people continues to fight for justice against a repressive regime and in the face of widespread international inaction."

You can also enjoy Good Fortune coffee. For each 500gm bag of Solidarity blend sold, $10 goes to UnionAID. Donate the easy way:
https://goodfortunecoffee.co.nz/products/solidarity-roast?variant=39688233779294

GET TICKETS NOW FOR OUR LATEST UNIONAID FILM FUNDRAISER "WORDS OF WAR" about the courageous Russian journalist Anna Politskaya.

23rd JUNE CUBA LIGHTHOUSE 6pm

Details and tickets on this link:

UnionAID Film fundraiser - Words of War UnionAID is showing 'Words of War' to raise funds for projects supporting workers to organise in the Asia/Pacific region.

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR KIWI SOLIDARITY DONORS WHO COMPLETED OUR UNIONAID SURVEY RECENTLY -
Your information will help us improve our communications.

We did the draw for the prize of a gift box of Good Fortune coffee yesterday and the winner is Trish Cutforth who has been a regular donor for over six years.

Photo: Maya Roche from the NZEI office doing the draw.

SECONDARY TEACHERS BRING MODERN METHODS TO RURAL MYANMAR

In a remote area of Myanmar, secondary students from 28 small villages now have access to well trained teachers, thanks to the generosity of the PPTA Te Wehengarua - New Zealand Post Primary Teachers' Association.

When the military launched a coup against the democratically elected government in Myanmar in 2021, thousands of teachers went on strike rather than work under a brutal and illegitimate regime. However, to ensure children had access to education, they took up jobs as volunteer teachers in rural villages, often in ethnic self-administered areas.

However many had only experienced a top-down traditional approach, and some had little or no training at all. But now this UnionAID project has developed the skills and confidence of 38 female and five male teachers to teach secondary pupils maths, social studies and other core subjects using a Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking (RWCT) model. Teachers were also supported to develop lesson plans and curricula in preparation for their classroom teaching.

Mali’ Siparappe, Tallang Sipahua: “A problem shared is a problem halved”.

Every year, thousands of migrant workers from South Sulawesi are deported from Malaysia, showing that undocumented migration is not merely an individual issue, but a structural phenomenon requiring serious responses from governments at all levels.

On her return home after the Indonesian Young Leaders Programme in Tāmaki Makaurau, Nur Ismi Ramadani (Riris) was determined to empower these migrant workers. For her action project Riris used feminist participatory action research to work with these undocumented Indonesian migrants and learn about their lives. By bringing these women together for discussions, storytelling, cooking sessions and journalling activities, she was able to develop ways to address the challenges they faced.

This resulted in the establishment of Balla’ta, a Safe Learning Space where women could share their experiences, get emotional support and start grassroots organising. Her project also highlighted the lack of reliable data on these undocumented workers in Malaysia, information which is essential if they are to have access to social and economic services, and legal assistance and protection.

NEWS FROM Indonesia Young Leaders Programme-INSPIRASI

Young Leader alumni from across Indonesia gathered in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, for the Alumni Hui 2026 from 30 May to 1 June this year. The Hui was attended by seven cohorts with the newest 2026 group welcomed into the network. The Hui created a space for alumni to reconnect, share experiences, and strengthen the relationships that continue to drive positive change in communities across the country.

Over three inspiring days, participants engaged in leadership development sessions, alumni sharing, networking opportunities, and community visits. Together, they explored new ideas, reflected on their leadership journeys, and celebrated the diverse ways Young Leaders are making an impact long after completing the programme.

Grab a ticket today for the recently released film Words of War.This film tells the story of Anna Politskaya, a Russian journalist who was assassinated for her reporting on Russian war crimes and atrocities in Chechnya. An easy way to contribute to UnionAID's work building unions in our Asia Pacific region.

Cuba Lighthouse, 23rd June at 6pm

Tickets available here: https://events.humanitix.com/unionaid-film-fundraiser-words-of-war $25 plus booking fee.

294 NEW MEMBERS JOIN CTUM AFTER TRAINING PROJECT

Since January 2026, the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (Ctum Myanmar) has welcomed nearly 300 new members in response to their popular sessions, which include trade union organising, ILO Conventions, health and safety, women’s rights social democracy and migration. 150 of these are teachers from the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and 144 are from the public service sector, including doctors, nurses, midwives, hospital staff, and municipal workers.

Their training target of 500 aspiring union activists under the UnionAID funded project was exceeded with participants joining from various sectors including construction (see photo below), education and health, students, and youth. The majority were women, and almost half of all trainees were under thirty.

FAREWELL to our Cambodia Laos Young Leaders Programme students.

Last week saw the conclusion of the Cambodia Laos Young Leaders Programme for the second cohort in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Eighty guests joined a farewell event at AUT, including all programme mentors and host families, as well as diverse academic and civil society contributors.

The next step for the young leaders is getting their community action projects underway. These address a range of development challenges from period poverty and peacebuilding in Cambodia to building employment opportunities for people with disabilities and creating safe spaces for rainbow youth in Laos. We look forward to seeing how communities in both countries benefit from these new initiatives.