Fighting for a more democratic CPSU

Simon Butler, Newcastle

After weeks of campaigning to prevent their national officials from abruptly closing the Newcastle office of the Community and Public Sector Union, rank-and-file members of the CPSU in the Hunter have succeeded in forcing a vote on the issue in the union's national council.

The voting process will conclude by July 2. However, CPSU activists in the Hunter Alliance — the cross-factional grouping formed to defend the Newcastle office — are determined to push for a plebiscite of the entire membership to make the final decision.

Although this kind of plebiscite is provided for under the CPSU rules, national CPSU secretary Adrian O'Connell and the national leadership of the union have so far resisted such a widespread consultation of the membership.

The Hunter Alliance has begun to circulate a petition among CPSU members nationally, calling on the union officials to allow the membership to democratically control the affairs of their own union.

The petition calls for a plebiscite of all union members that states that: "There be a full-time CPSU organiser living in the Hunter area", and that "regional organiser positions not be abolished without consultation with members in the affected region".

The petition continues: "We think that CPSU members should have the final say on such an important issue. Greater consultation with rank-and-file members of the union and a real commitment to regional areas will help our union grow and encourage a greater commitment to the union among our members."

[To get a copy of the Hunter Alliance petition, or to send messages of support for the campaign, email <hunteralliance2004@yahoo.com.au>.]

From Green Left Weekly, June 30, 2004.

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From GLW issue 587