United magazine Winter 2016

We’re ready to fight
WHERE DO I START? IT HAS BEEN
QUITE A YEAR FOR USU MEMBERS
BUT IF I NEED TO START ANYWHERE
I COULD USE THE OLD SAYING
“A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND
WORDS”.
On 12 May I was flanked by
Christian Democrat Leader Rev
Fred Nile and the Leader of the
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
Robert Brown – united in opposition to
forced amalgamations and not happy
with the way the government appeared
to have “cherry picked” the mergers,
leaving out councils in tight coalition
seats until after the federal election.
Robert Brown laid down a challenge
to Premier Baird: “You have put,
shoulder to shoulder, the Christian
Democratic Party and the Shooters,
Fishers and Farmers Party – you can’t
run your government without us Mike!”
5 YEAR JOB PROTECTIONS
Mr Brown and Rev Nile made it clear
that they want to protect communities
and jobs and services in local
government. We have made it clear
that we want to talk about how they
can help protect jobs – by supporting
our five year job protection campaign.
Mike Baird says amalgamating
councils is not about attacking jobs. I
say to the Premier: “If amalgamation
isn’t about attacking jobs, then let’s
see the NSW government put up 5 year
employment protections”.
Our priority now is to protect jobs
at merged councils and to protect
wages and conditions by protecting
the Local Government State Award. As
Stephen Hughes outlines on pages 4-5
we have been focussed on that from
the beginning – making sure we were
part of the process so our members’
interests were not overlooked.
We are continuing that work, holding
talks with opposition parties that
control the Upper House – and with the
Local Government Minister Paul Toole.
However the attack on jobs does not
stop in the local government sector.
PROTECTING ENERGY SECTOR JOBS
Our members at Essential Energy
and Ausgrid are under pressure to
vote for agreements that override
their legislated 5 year job protections
negotiated for them as part of the
energy sell off.
Our organisers and delegates have
been working together to make sure
members get the best deal possible.
THANK YOU!
In the meantime we have again seen
NSW swamped by storms and excessive
weather conditions causing damage
right across the state. Our members in
local government, energy and utilities
are at the forefront of the clean up
at this time and I thank them, as well
as our members in the emergency
control centres for their hard work and
commitment at such a stressful time.
On a personal note I wish to
“IF AMALGAMATION
ISN’T ABOUT
ATTACKING JOBS, THEN
LET’S SEE THE NSW
GOVERNMENT PUT UP
5 YEAR EMPLOYMENT
PROTECTIONS.”
Listen to Graeme Kelly discuss job
protection: http://bit.ly/1XtaFBi
congratulate Jim Montegue who is
retiring after 51 years a USU member and
32 years General Manager at Canterbury
Council. Jim has been a great friend
and mentor to me since I started at
Canterbury Council many years ago.
WINTER SLEEPOUT
I also wish to let members know that
this year, in addition to joining the
metro organisers and delegates in
the Mission Australia Winter sleepout
in August I am also taking part in the
Vinnies CEO sleepout on 23 June.
The plight of the homeless in our
society is getting worse with more than
105,000 Australians experiencing
homelessness on any given night of the
year. I would like to see politicians from
all parties at all levels commit more to
this increasing problem. If you can give
a bit – or take part, I urge you to do so.
FACEBOOK
Finally – the union is stepping up our
activity in the social media world –
help us spread the word. Visit us at
facebook.com/UnitedServicesUnion
Graeme Kelly, USU General Secretary
United Winter 2016 • 3