By Melanie Sjoberg
The national officials of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), threatened by a rank and file ticket in the union's elections, have resorted to rumour-mongering in an effort to protect their cosy bureaucratic niche.
The ballot for branch and section positions within the CPSU opened on October 29, and runs until November 22. Where positions are being contested, the challenge to the officials comes mainly from Members First, a group of rank and file unionists.
Members First is challenging the national CPSU officials' do-nothing approach by standing on a platform of democracy, members' control and fighting the federal Coalition government's attacks on jobs and unions.
Members First candidates are standing in the ACT, Victorian and Queensland branch elections, as well as for positions on the Centrelink, Telstra, Department of Workplace Relations and Small Business, and ACT government section councils.
Last month, Members First in the ACT challenged the national officials' "Progressive Caucus" candidates, led by Graham Rodda, to a debate before the CPSU membership. Rodda refused.
Since then, the Progressive Caucus has begun a whispering campaign about Members First and resorted to sending e-mails attacking the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) for having members active in the CPSU. At no time have "Progressive Caucus" members indicated that they are members of the ALP.
In response, Democratic Socialist Party members in the CPSU issued the following statement on October 30:
"Elections are under way within the CPSU for both branch and section council positions. The outcome will impact on the direction of the union for the next three years.
"Some national officers of the CPSU are circulating rumours in an attempt to undermine the role of DSP members in the CPSU during these elections.
"CPSU members seeking information from officials have been told that the DSP is an 'entrist' organisation and is seeking to influence the CPSU from outside. CPSU members have also been told that the DSP has a 'hidden agenda'.
"DSP members are long-term public servants and active CPSU delegates and section councillors. Members of the DSP have been at the forefront of active campaigns within the agencies and sections where they work.
"In Centrelink, for example, we have pushed for a campaign against the 5000 job cuts, and in the ACT government, we were part of achieving enterprise agreements without trade-offs. It is surely the democratic right of any union member to express their views, involve themselves in the union and stand for election.
"What is the DSP 'agenda' that the CPSU officials are afraid of?
"Members of the DSP are part of a rank and file grouping called Members First, which is contesting the CPSU elections. Members First is composed of CPSU members from a wide range of agencies and with various political affiliations. The common bond is the aim of rebuilding the CPSU as a democratic union that fights political and industrial campaigns to defend jobs, conditions and the public sector.
"Members of the DSP do not hide their political affiliations and views under a bushel. Rather than having a 'hidden agenda', we proudly advocate greater participation, democracy and accountability within the CPSU. We are prepared to be critical where officials are not leading campaigns, and we are prepared to provide open information to CPSU members. We do not stand on the sidelines but throw ourselves into building campaigns, with a seriousness about winning them.
"The DSP believes that workers' organisations, under attack from Peter Reith's 'second wave' and the ideology of economic rationalism, need strong leadership and vibrant united struggles to defend the gains of the past. We need absolute clarity on the political framework and how to fight.
"Is this the 'agenda' that tugs at the quivering hearts of the national officials? Is this some form of poison permeating the minds of otherwise good unionists? Do the national officials think that CPSU members are incapable of thinking for themselves? Or is it simply that we are not committed to the ALP's agenda, like the current CPSU national leadership is?
"The DSP condemns this miserable form of undermining as a violation of the right of all union members to maintain their political views. We need to maintain a strong union by encouraging the involvement of anyone who is willing to act for a better community and public sector.
"Philippa Stanford, Mark Cronin — Centrelink section councillors; Jim McIlroy, Dave Wright, Sarah Harris, Nick Everett — Centrelink delegates; Ana Kailis, Ray Fulcher — Centrelink; Stan Thompson, Chris Slee — Tax Office delegates; Tim Stewart — Telstra delegate; Mike Byrne — Telstra; Rob Graham — CRS delegate; Rebecca Meckleburg — NT Health; Jen Crothers — ABS; Tim Gooden — ACT government section secretary; Sean Moysey — ACT government; Stuart Martin — Screensound delegate; Adrian Gibbs — Screensound; Anthony Kreig — AusAid; Kim Bullimore — Old Parliament House; Sue Bull — CPSU industrial officer; John Gauci — CPSU organiser; Melanie Sjoberg — former CPSU/SPSF industrial officer, DSP national industrial director."