At Governing Council last Thursday, after 17 years with the CPSU, I resigned from my current position as National Secretary.
A new Executive Committee team led by Nadine Flood (National Secretary), Louise Persse (Assistant National Secretary), Michael Tull (National President) will now take up the reins.
My best wishes to the new team. I have every confidence that Nadine and the rest of the Executive will continue to lead our union with passion and commitment.
As some of you would know, I have been preselected as the Labor candidate at the next federal election for the seat of Throsby (NSW), the area where I grew up and received my education.
Although the federal election is likely to be held some time in the second part of the year, leaving now will ensure the new leadership team can focus on the task of representing members’ interests.
This is a big decision for me personally as I love the union and the members we work for.
I am proud of the things our union has achieved in my years as a member, organiser and official.
In my time with the union we faced many vital challenges:
keeping the CPSU alive and focused on supporting members when it was under attack from the Howard Government’s privatisations, contracting out and massive job cuts
running fantastic campaigns including Telstra, One-Tel, Centrelink and of course the Your Rights at Work campaign.
I’m also proud of the way the CPSU members have embraced a new positive and progressive Agenda for Change which is our vision for the future.
But this is not pride in any personal achievement; everything that’s been done during my time as National Secretary is due to the collective actions of members, delegates, organisers and officials who make up our great organisation.
If I am successful in my new endeavor, I will continue to be a strong voice for the public sector and the industries where CPSU members work.
It was my great honour to accept a life membership award from Governing Council, which means I will remain a member of the CPSU family forever.
I hope to stay in touch with many of you over the coming months as I start this new journey in life.
My sincere thanks for all of your interest and support over the past 17 years.
Stephen Jones
Comments(2)
Posted by:steve - 18 Aug 2011, 11:27am "I will continue to be a strong voice for the public sector and the industries where CPSU members work."
http://cpsu.org.au/blog/16977.html
With these words Stephen Jones bid farewell to the CPSU (Life Membership in hand courtesy of the Governing Council) and into the safe seat of Throsby.
The time has come for Stephen Jones door to be knocked on by the members he left behind. The first person at his front door needs to be Nadine Flood.
He needs to explain to CPSU members how he can be a silent bystander to a party that is cutting staffs 'real' wage values, he needs to explain how he can be a silent bystander to a party that is cutting its staffs conditions.
He needs to explain to Medicare staff how they are supposed to accept working an extra 4.7 days per year, is Fair or reasonable.
He needs to explain to Centrelink staff why their Christmas leave, bargained for, fairly, is now gone.
He needs to explain to CSA staff why there gauranteed Xmas shutdown, bargained for, fairly, is now gone.
But most of all he needs to justify how our affiliation with this Political Party, to the tune of over $500,000 per year helps us.
Is it being used to aid ex union officials fight court cases defending their use of sex workers?
Is it to be used in the relection campaign for Gary Gray, the mastermind of these offensive conditions and offers being made to APS staff.
Nadine, lead the chorus.......ask the hard questions......NOW.
Posted by:Vanessa Ferguson - 23 Mar 2010, 12:57am Good luck Stephen for all the future. I've appreciated all your assistance. I look forward to working with Nadine who I know will do a fantastic job.
"I will continue to be a strong voice for the public sector and the industries where CPSU members work." http://cpsu.org.au/blog/16977.html With these words Stephen Jones bid farewell to the CPSU (Life Membership in hand courtesy of the Governing Council) and into the safe seat of Throsby. The time has come for Stephen Jones door to be knocked on by the members he left behind. The first person at his front door needs to be Nadine Flood. He needs to explain to CPSU members how he can be a silent bystander to a party that is cutting staffs 'real' wage values, he needs to explain how he can be a silent bystander to a party that is cutting its staffs conditions. He needs to explain to Medicare staff how they are supposed to accept working an extra 4.7 days per year, is Fair or reasonable. He needs to explain to Centrelink staff why their Christmas leave, bargained for, fairly, is now gone. He needs to explain to CSA staff why there gauranteed Xmas shutdown, bargained for, fairly, is now gone. But most of all he needs to justify how our affiliation with this Political Party, to the tune of over $500,000 per year helps us. Is it being used to aid ex union officials fight court cases defending their use of sex workers? Is it to be used in the relection campaign for Gary Gray, the mastermind of these offensive conditions and offers being made to APS staff. Nadine, lead the chorus.......ask the hard questions......NOW.
Good luck Stephen for all the future. I've appreciated all your assistance. I look forward to working with Nadine who I know will do a fantastic job.