Best and brightest: CPSU delegates break union growth records

For months, hundreds of CPSU workplace delegates have been representing colleagues at APS bargaining tables around the nation and scores more have been working hard in workplaces such as Telstra, the ABC and Northern Territory and ACT public service.

The result, in a tough workplace environment, has been record growth in union membership with 8208 new members signing up this financial year - a massive 4835 of these joined since 1 January 2011.

Better still, the growth in membership is the result of many grassroot campaigns. Almost one in two new members are joining after being asked by a workplace delegate or co-worker. Central to this fantastic achievement are the 1,345 members who stepped up to become delegates this year.

Strong growth in membership

One member who has been thrilled by the reaction from her colleagues is Juanita Van Dam, a long-time CPSU delegate who works at the Centrelink Call Centre in Cairns.

“It’s been terrific to have more people getting involved and thinking about what matters to them at work,” Ms Van Dam said. Almost 84 per cent of her team’s 100 permanent staff and many of the 50 casual staff have joined the union.

“Since the floods and cyclone earlier this year when so many people called on Centrelink for help through the crisis, more casuals were employed,” she explained.

“It’s a concern because their pay and conditions are lower. Many people have joined the union in the past few months because they are worried about their pay and conditions and the future for their jobs.”

The CPSU National Secretary Nadine Flood congratulated delegates for helping build a union presence in workplaces around the nation.

“This is powerful stuff to be building a union led from the workplace,” Ms Flood said.

“The CPSU has experienced its most significant membership growth in eight years and dozens of workplaces have been meeting to discuss what really matters at work.

“People care about their work. More and more are joining the CPSU to make sure they and their colleagues get a fair deal on pay, conditions and jobs.

“It’s a difficult environment in many agencies with bargaining underway and serious issues – big and small – are being thrashed out.”

There has been positive news from right across the union but areas of significant membership growth over the previous 12 months include the Department of Human Services, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the Australian Taxation Office, Customs, Telstra and Sensis.

Ms Flood said the union’s membership growth was evidence that the hard work of delegates and union organisers was paying off.

“So much of the growth is the result of delegates in workplaces, talking to members about the issues that matter and finding out how to improve jobs and services,” she said.

“Two years ago the union’s Governing Council put in place strategies to ensure delegates receive the training and support they need to grow the union in their workplaces.

“It’s satisfying to see that this is paying off. All delegates receive free training and support from the CPSU’s expert team and we take this very seriously so delegates are well prepared to offer members advice and individual support. Delegates need resources so they can be credible in the complex job they do for members” said Ms Flood. 

Join and benefit

CPSU membership also gives members access to fantastic benefits and services that can bring savings of hundreds of dollars.

For more information on how to join the CPSU, call the Member Service Centre on 1300 137 636 or click here

Want to become a delegate?

Be part of something that matters and receive free training and skills to help your work and your colleagues.

What new members are saying 

Here are some comments from new members on why they recently joined the CPSU.

• It’s time to show a united front against unjust cut to conditions that were hard-fought and won by loss of other condition and benefits. We must not lose current conditions.
• My workplace delegate explained the benefits of being a member and the reasons why it is important to support the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement negotiations. I was impressed by her passion and dedication to protect workers' rights.
• With current changes in service-delivery and savings this will give the Government I believe the current pay offer increases are an insult. They can give us as many pats on the back as they want about extra work put in for flood victims, but not rewarding this work with appropriate pay increases is an insult.
• I just wish I had joined earlier as I have become very disheartened with my Department over the past years.
• I was swayed by the Journey Insurance coverage and the fact that the CPSU is trying to have that re-introduced as part of our usual conditions of service.
• Rejoining is a measure of my desperation for staff at my agency to achieve an equitable pay outcome. I have seen many staff leave my agency and immediately achieve an increase in pay. Our skills (which support the core business of my agency) are valuable and I shouldn't have to leave my agency to realise that value.
• After talking to my fellow workmates I became aware for the need to negotiate for better pay and benefits especially with our new enterprise agreement being put in place.
• Union membership is the only way that a collective bargaining process can be achieved fairly and helps balance the individual rights in the work place.