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Autumn 2005

Role Plays for the Real Thing

It’s not what you’d expect. A senior official of UnionsTas, Darren Matheson, thinking up strategies to trick the workers. He tells the workers his time is precious and he has got a plane to catch. When he hears the complaints, he changes the subject. When he’s cornered, he thumps the desk and tries good old intimidation. And all the time the workers are cracking up.

It's all part of the roleplaying for the real thing, and more and more union members are getting into it. It's union training.

HACSU members are getting a tremendous amount out of the training as they learn more and more about the rules and laws that govern their workplace. But it's not just this.

HACSU members are gaining personally and professionally as they learn to stand up for themselves and their workmates.

Winsome Eeles, from the North-West Regional Hospital (Mersey Campus), who has done the training said the courses are great.

"It has helped me personally and professionally, knowing the proper procedures, gaining the confidence to negotiate with management and learning about how to deal with grievances at my work."

"I know where I stand, what my rights are and ways to deal with things early so they get sorted out and don't become big issues."

"And it's not just about dealing with management, it's about consulting with other work colleagues, being accountable, and bringing the workplace together."

"If there is a strong union presence in the workplace and people know and understand the rules, there is usually a respect and processes for sorting out disputes."

"What you end up with is a workplace that is more cohesive and productive, instead of a workplace that is demoralised, always involved in protracted disputes, workplaces where people are intimidated and too frightened to say anything."

HACSU is combining the implementation of HACSU Worksite Committees - where instead of a workplace having only one delegate, there is a Worksite Committee with delegate from each service area in a workplace - with better training of delegates and Worksite Committee members.

The initiative has been extremely successful, with unionisation levels increasing and workplaces becoming more proactive in tackling problems.

So, get into it. Role-playing for the real thing - it sounds like a Coke commercial. But, definitely, things go better with the union and union training.