Support grows for CPSU plebiscite

CANBERRA — Opposition continues to grow in the lead-up to the Community and Public Sector Union's national council meeting on March 18-20 over plans by the current leadership to rush through a restructure of the union that would concentrate even more decision-making power in the hands of the CPSU national officials.

Some 160 delegates and rank-and-file members across the country have initially endorsed the call circulated by the rank-and-file union activist network Members First for more discussion and a national plebiscite of the membership before the changes are made.

On March 11, CPSU national secretary Adrian O'Connell circulated an email to members of the national council in which he motivated the proposed changes without really answering any of the concerns being raised. In response, national council member and Members First activist Terry Costello circulated a series of questions to take the discussion further.

Among other questions, Costello asked: "Under what circumstances will the CPSU authorise industrial action when it may contravene provisions of the Workplace Relations Act. Does the CPSU have a line in the sand when it comes to resisting activities of employers that will or attempt to worsen conditions of CPSU members?"

Andrew Hall

[For more information about Members First, email <membersfirst@bigpond.com> or visit <http://www.users.bigpond.com/membersfirst>].

From Green Left Weekly, March 16, 2005.

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From GLW issue 619