The Members Coalition (MC) team in the NSW Public Service Association (PSA) won more leadership positions on the union’s federal body, the Community Public Sector Union (CPSU) in the recent election.
This follows on from the MC team winning a third of the vote in the PSA general elections in March.
The underdog MC team campaigned mainly in their workplaces, whereas the ruling Rank and File ticket had the funds to mail out a How-To-Vote to all members.
Rachel Smoothy and Steve O’Brien from the MC team received the highest votes of any candidate in their election, winning two of the three Vice President positions.
Four of the 10 MC candidates were elected as branch councillors.
Kylie McKelvie topped the councillor poll, with the most first preference votes, and Anabel Morales scored the highest vote after preferences were distributed.
The elected officers will represent the PSA/CPSU NSW on the State Public Services Federation, the national federation of state public sector unions.
Given the low 7% turnout, the result showed that a layer of public sector workers are loyal MC supporters.
Since the March election, the MC team has continued to campaign for democracy, accountability, to hold the leadership to their promises and for the general secretary and assistant general secretary to declare their salaries.
At the recent state conference, the officials admitted that their annual pay is up to a $268,000 a year, which is based on the NSW government's senior executive service Levels 1 and 2.