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Summer 2006

Member Profile: Hilda Cole

Hilda Cole has been an ECA at Eliza Purton for the past nine years.

Hilda was initially reluctant to join the union. She says, "I haven't always been a union member. Actually,
I was strictly against it to start with." But a major restructure in Hilda's workplace changed her mind.

"It came to a situation where our workplace was being taken over by another company and our jobs were under threat. They wanted to undertake a major restructure and wanted to cut close to 400 hours from our weekly roster. I wanted to do something to work with my colleagues to protect our working conditions."

Hilda joined HACSU and became a delegate straight away. Union members in her workplace fought the planned cuts in the industrial commission and were successful in seeing them off.

Hilda was also involved in the Anna Stewart project in 2004 [see article on page 14] where she learnt a lot about how unions work and as a consequence became more involved as a union activist.

She has been involved in setting up a worksite committee at Eliza Purton, which now includes two members from each area (diversional therapy, the kitchen, laundry and so on). The committee aims to get issues resolved at an area level, and to provide training to delegates to help them deal with workplace issues on the ground.

Hilda says, "we've had a lot a action at our workplace, but it's made us a strong body now that looks after one and other."

"It is really satisfying to see employees be able to communicate with management and see them taking note and really listening to what we are saying. We all have a right to have a good, happy, stable working environment," says Hilda.