Union members reject undemocratic restructure

By Paul Oboohov

CANBERRA -- Union delegates here have rejected their leaders' attempt to restructure the Community and Public Sector Union. A special conference of the CPSU's ACT branch on March 9 voted to suspend implementation of the scheme until a full and open discussion can occur nationally.

“Renewal 2000” will transfer some organising functions, such as handling members' grievances, from branch officials and organisers to a Sydney-based national call centre. Membership administration and publications will also be centralised; some staff positions will be lost.

The union's national secretary, Wendy Caird, was unable to persuade conference delegates of the plan, who instead voted for a motion put by the rank-and-file Members First group.

Delegates were incensed that such a wide-ranging restructure could be planned with little or no consultation with the members. They directed branch officials to organise a general meeting of ACT members within four weeks to discuss the changes.

The union's national management committee was also criticised for breaching agreed staffing conditions by not consulting CPSU staff before the restructure was announced.

National management committee member Matthew Reynolds reacted angrily, arguing that union members did not have to right to support staff, who are currently renegotiating their own agreement on pay and working conditions.

One delegate expressed concern that the government would seek to use the union's lack of consultation with staff to justify similar actions of its own.

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