#151; The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) is on the verge of formal affiliation to the ALP despite many members expressing their opposition. The proposed affiliation was endorsed in March by the union's governing council, reversing a decision two years ago not to affiliate to the ALP.
In an interview on ABC Radio National's August 3 Breakfast program, CPSU national secretary Stephen Jones indicated that the union intended to press on with affiliation.
Affiliation will cost $200,000 of members' money each year. Many members are concerned that affiliation will compromise the union's independence, particularly given the ALP's backtracking on its promise to repeal Work Choices and other anti-worker laws of the Howard government.
At the request of 5% of the union membership, the governing council must put the affiliation proposition to a vote of all members. CPSU member Sam Byrne has put together an online petition to collect the required signatures. It can be found at <http://www.petitiononline.com/cpsu/petition.html>.