By Greg Adamson
CANBERRA — A fake Public Service Union (PSU) campaign over job security has focussed attention on dubious dealings in the ACT branch of the Labor Party.
The PSU executive cried foul in the employment of former Trades and Labor Council president John Wilson as a temporary public servant. Wilson started a 12-week job with a branch of ACT local government in late July. PSU officials claimed this was a payback from the ALP right. Wilson had opposed a new system of candidate selection at the June ALP annual conference.
A concerted campaign of opposition surrounded Wilson's employment. In addition to a PSU executive resolution condemning the appointment, the TLC expressed its opposition, and the PSU took the case to the Industrial Relations Commission. The PSU claim looked simple: With excess staff looking for work, ACT local government shouldn't be giving jobs to contractors, consultants or temporaries.
However, the only simple thing about the claim was its dishonesty.
The initial PSU executive resolution, for example, was an "electronic" vote. Executive members were faxed a resolution which failed to either mention Wilson by name or accurately describe the circumstances of his employment. At least one executive member who requested further information was not provided with it.
On August 2 the Industrial Relations Commission failed to even find a dispute in response to the PSU claims.
Wilson received a temporary public service placement through the Commonwealth Employment Service's Templine. This is the main way in which staff are currently recruited. The traditional method of permanent recruitment through a Public Service exam has all but disappeared. A growing pool of second class employees, temporaries, has developed in the federal Public Service in recent years. Unfortunately, the PSU has done little to defend these workers, accepting their dismissal as unavoidable.
Union members found the concern for ACT local government staff an odd contrast to the PSU's record of accepting cuts, "downsizing", "outsourcing", closures and sackings right across the public service. It was universally interpreted as an ALP factional manoeuvre.
With federal and territory budgets approaching, and rumors of thousands of job cuts, the ALP branch in Canberra is understandably nervous about its future. The fact that this is a "left" branch has made no difference to the style of management in the local government, which it controls.
The Public Service Union is not an ALP affiliate. Nevertheless, internal ALP affairs dominate the life of the branch executive. According to one estimate, more than two-thirds of the ACT PSU officials are active ALP members. Many of these were present at the which put the new preselection procedure in place.
Under ACT ALP regulations, union delegates to the conference must be ALP members authorised by the secretary of that union. There is no election of delegates, or requirement that they be members of the union they are representing. PSU secretary Winsome Hall, assistant secretary Ross Campbell and others attended as delegates of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).
The CFMEU delegation was subject of media scrutiny, due to claims of a "stack." The union affiliated with around 6000 members, more than twice its 2500 members registered with the IRC.
The major decision of the conference was to adopt a new system of candidate preselection. Under the existing system selection of candidates is done by local branch members. The new system introduces a 40 member Public Office Selection Panel elected by annual conference, having equal say with local branch members. The purpose of the change is to allow factions with the allegiance of large affiliated unions to dominate the selection process.
The system has nothing in common with providing workplace input into candidate selection, as the conference delegate selection process indicates. John Wilson told Green Left Weekly that "the Labor Party and the labour movement have become one, and the Labor Party interests are coming first."
The issue has prompted a shuffling of allegiances within the ALP. Traditionally a Pragmatic Left and a Hard Left coalition dominated over the Centre Coalition right and a Centre Left centre (These names are used for identification purposes only and have no relevance to the politics of the groups involved).
The selection panel issue caused a realignment of the Left when raised in 1992. On one side stood those with a position to defend. On the other side were the rest. The proposal was defeated at that time within the Left.
The next 12 months saw a diligent effort by one CFMEU official, who appeared to have been assigned to full time ALP branch organising. Local migrant communities and others were enticed to join branches to support the reorganisation. The result was a 1993 majority within the Left in favor of the selection panel proposal.
The new system has not come into place without dissent.
Within the ALP, there are signs of growing unrest. Of 14 sub- branches, five have passed resolutions calling for repeal of the new selection system. And around 40 people attended the first of a series of open forums on issues hurting ACT workers, including enterprise bargaining.