CPSU NSW branch elections

CPSU NSW branch elections

By Chris Pickering

WOLLONGONG—Elections for the NSW branch of the CPSU (a federation, on paper only, of the national CPSU and state public service unions included in the State Public Services Federation) were conducted recently, concurrent with the election of its federal secretary.

Only 20% of NSW Public Service Association members voted, and the incumbent leadership (led by Janet Good and Maurie O'Sullivan) won all positions contested.

NSW PSA assistant general secretary Brian Jardine won the national vote for federal secretary of the CPSU (State Public Services Federation Group). Defeated federal secretary and CPSU functionary David Bunn unsuccessfully attempted to exclude Queensland votes via court action on the grounds that these members were unfinancial. Bunn's team is also trying to exclude NSW voters on the same grounds.

There is an underlying dispute between the Bunn group and the NSW PSA over how the federal office is paid. The NSW branch of the CPSU (SPSF Group) is the biggest contributor to its federal budget. The federal office increased last year's federal fee from $15 per member to $185;$165 would then be handed back to the state union on the proviso that it sign a deed of agreement to accept this arrangement.

In effect, the federal union would become owner and controller of this money, denying the state unions their autonomy.

The NSW PSA leadership believes that the votes cast for the federal secretary position of the CPSU (SPSF Group) indicate that members around the country want strong, autonomous state unions.

From GLW issue 247