A diverse group of union activists is running under the banner of Members Coalition (MC) for the 39 Central Council delegates and six executive positions in the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA) elections.
The elections were called just before the Christmas shutdown. The Central Council is the governing body of the union.
New rules approved by the union’s Central Council in 2022, but only sent to the NSW industrial registrar late last year for approval, make it very difficult for an individual or group to win any position unless they are part of a “full ticket” of 39 people.
MC Central Councillors opposed them. But it has surmounted this obstacle, as well as other onerous nomination requirements, to mount a full challenge.
MC comprises union activists from a variety of political, geographic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. They come from across the public service and NSW agencies working under federal awards.
They are united around a commitment to democracy and to work for all members, regardless of allegiance to the ruling Rank and File group and its push for a 5% union fee rise.
Steve O’Brien, an outgoing Central Councillor, told Green Left that the fee rise was not necessary, especially in a cost-of-living crisis. “The General Secretary’s salary, as mentioned in the 2022 PSA Conference Report, is more than $270,000.
“That, plus the excessive salaries of other top managers, is not democratic. They should be more in line with the salaries of most public servants. The PSA leadership has not taken full advantage of the membership growth.
“By appearing to favour prison officers, other areas, such as TAFE, have lost members, because it has been under resourced. They are still waiting for last year’s pay rise. Hundreds of members can be won back.
“The union’s entertainment budget is paid out on expensive dinners and bars rather than for workplace barbeques which would help reach out to new members. We need a leadership that is focused on working for and mobilising members.”
MC is campaigning to: address the epidemic of psycho-social workplace injuries in the public sector (often related to overwork issues); challenge NSW Labor’s push to force people back to work from the office every day; and for a leadership that reflects the union’s diverse membership.
Opposition tickets are also preparing to contest public sector union elections in Victoria and South Australia, later in the year.
[The NSW Electoral Commission posted out ballots for the NSW Public Service Association in early March. They must be posted back and received by noon on April 2. Visit Members Coalition on Instagram.]