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Autumn 2006

State of the Union

Chris Brown, State Secretary, and Tim Jacobson, Assistant Secretary, elaborate on the future of HACSU in the light of recent IR changes.

HACSU has spent many years establishing Worksite Committees, revitalising delegate structures and employing new campaigning methods. Our aim is to ensure that members have a real voice and are able to meet the challenges that the new workplace laws present.

HACSU continues to expand, despite the new workplace laws that threaten all unions. HACSU membership rose to over 7,800 for the first time last year.

We have also seen huge rallies of union members across the State to collectively campaign against the Howard Government's 'Work Choices' laws.

Despite the substantial changes already made within the union, and a greater focus on committed campaigning staff, this is no time for complacency.

HACSU has placed greater emphasis on streamlining grievance handling within the union office, but there remain many changes to be implemented.

The most significant innovation for the union is the development of a new call centre. Our move to new offices in Hobart has allowed for the expansion of the current Helpline into a fully functioning call centre.

This new centre will provide better support to both delegates and members by resolving issues where face-to-face meetings may not be required, as well as responding to enquiries in a more efficient way.

The call centre will also have the capacity for "outbound" calls to members, enabling the union to contact members directly to discuss campaigns or events, rather than relying on traditional bulletins and flyers to deliver information to members.

Unfortunately, the Howard Government's workplace legislation forces more disputes into being contested in the courts rather than in the Industrial Commission. In response, HACSU is building on our capacity to conduct legal challenges on behalf of members.

Our success over the past few years is largely the result of member activity and excellent preparation. Over the next year, the union will be renegotiating the next Public Sector Unions Wages Agreement (PSUWA). It is vital that we continue to hold the State government to its promises regarding the public sector workforce.

The recent gains across the public sector have been substantial, but we can't take these gains for granted. The common factor in all of those outcomes has been high membership density.

None of these campaigns have been easy, and the involvement of members has been vital. HACSU is currently planning the PSUWA and we urge all of our members to get involved.

Undoubtedly, the current period presents many difficulties in the areas of Aged Care and Disability Services. Although it is not uncommon for the union and employers to disagree on issues, there is one issue of broad agreement: the lack of funding for these areas. It is an indictment that both the State and Federal Government continue to undervalue the most vulnerable in our society.

Overall, the preparation undertaken by HACSU stands us in good stead to face the new challenges of the Howard Government's anti-worker legislation and attacks on unions.