United magazine Summer 2017

United Services Union 

U•S•U 

U nited 

Official journal of the United Services Union • Summer 2017 

Conference 2017 

Stronger 

Together 

Our new logo 


U•S•U 

Standing with our 

brothers and sisters 

across Australia 

this logo will now 

be used by all 

branches. We are 

stronger together! 

Pledging to support local jobs | Win @ Wellington | Journey Insurance delivers

United is the official journal of the United Services Union 

Editor: USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly. 

Print Post: 100007536 

To contribute to United please contact USU Manager 

Administration Monica Clavijo on (02) 9265 8211. 

EXECUTIVE 

President: Stephen Birney 

Vice President: Glen McAtear 

General Secretary: Graeme Kelly 

Treasurer: Sharon Sewell 

Shane Clapham, Ross Crawford, Tony Dean, Larry 

Freeman, Katie Gillen, Stephen Mulholland, James O’Malley 

Annamaria Saglimbeni, Brendan Scott, Bev Spearpoint, 

Katerina Tahija, Lisa Turner, David Walsh, Jeff Wearing, 

Chris Wellington, Russell Woods 

HEAD OFFICE 

Level 7, 321 Pitt St, Sydney, 2000 

Phone: 1300 136 604 • Fax: (02) 9261 2265 

Support Team: 1300 136 604 

Email: united@usu.org.au • Website: www.usu.org.au 

OFFICIALS 

Manager Energy, Utilities & Private Sector: Peter Campise 

Manager Administration and Finance: Monica Clavijo 

Manager Metropolitan: Steve Donley 

Training Officer: Narelle Rich 

Communications Officer: Felicia McEntire 

Assistant Industrial / Research Officer (Metro): Maria 

Nordenswan (M/L) 

Legal Special Projects Officer (Metro): Sean Szabo 

Legal Special Projects Officer (Metro): Daniel Papps 

Metro Organisers: Jim Carter, Joel Conomos, Colin Drane, 

Sue Kealy, Sandie Morthen, Irene Nair, Shane Pinter 

Energy, Utilities & Private Sector: Troy Dunne, Chris Gill, 

Bill O’Kell, Clare Raffan 

Recruitment Officer (EU&PS): Josh Paterson 

Support Team: Jenny Chen, Thomas Russell, Karen Avery, 

Melissa Coros 

REGIONAL OFFICES 

Northern Branch 

Newcastle Office: 

cnr Lawson & Tudor Streets Hamilton 2303 

Ph: (02) 4962 1444 • Fax: (02) 4962 1758 

Manager North: Stephen Hughes 

Organisers: Brian Cameron, Luke Hutchinson, Paul Sansom 

(EU&PS), Melissa Pond (EU&PS) 

Industrial Officer: Noel Martin 

Port Macquarie Office: 

1/157 Gordon Street 

Port Macquarie 2444 

Ph: (02) 6584 7787 

Fax: (02) 6584 6924 

Organiser: Damien Welsh 

New England Office: 

Shop 3, Girraween Centre 

4-12 Queen Elizabeth Drive 

Armidale 2350 

Ph: (02) 6771 4911 

Fax: (02) 6771 4911 

Organiser: Chris Preston 

Southern Branch 

Wollongong Office: 

Suites 1-3 100 Market Street Wollongong 2500 

Ph: (02) 4226 4784 • Fax: (02) 4227 6951 

Manager South: Gary Vann 

Organisers: Rudi Oppitz (Private Sector) 

Steven Vann, Stuart Geddes 

Industrial Officer: Greg Golledge 

Central West Office: 

Shop 11-12 

142 William Street 

Bathurst 2795 

Ph: (02) 6334 4825 

Fax: (02) 6331 2834 

Organiser: Shane Reece 

Murray Office: 

Unit 7, 54-56 Fitzmaurice St 

Wagga Wagga 2650 

Ph: (02) 69317990 

Fax: (02) 6931 7271 

Organisers: Darren Wait, 

Jed Lawton 

NATIONAL 

Assistant National Secretary: 

Robert Potter 

Northern Office: 

Shop 2, Mid City Arcade 

57 Prince Street 

Grafton 

Ph: (02) 6643 5299 

Fax: (02) 6643 2799 

Organiser: John Hickson (A/g) 

North Western Office: 

PO Box 1811 

2/46 Church Street 

Dubbo 2830 

Ph: (02) 6881 6766 

Fax: (02) 6881 6816 

Organiser: Jamie McKinnon 

Riverina Office: 

Suite 8 

165 Lachlan Street 

Hay 2711 

Ph: (02) 6993 1419 

Fax: (02) 6993 1419 

Organiser: Brian Harrington 


U•S•U 

Banks aren’t super 

I often find myself commenting 

on Superannuation. It is 

certainly not because I am some 

sort of expert, rather that I am 

passionate about ensuring a 

dignified and secure retirement 

for working Australians. 

There is so much uncertainty 

around super that it has become 

difficult for members to understand 

how it works. It all seems so far into 

the future that many workers just 

“set and forget”. 

By USU President Steve Birney 

That is why it is so outrageous that 

Turnbull is attacking your Industry 

Super on two fronts. Firstly he is 

trying to force new laws that will 

hand over your super to the Big 

Banks and now is attacking Industry 

Super via the Royal Commission. 

Mr Turnbull finally caved 

in to pressure to hold a Royal 

Commission into the Finance Sector 

(64% of Australians supported 

a Royal Commission but he 

waited until the Big Banks gave 

him permission!) However in an 

unbelievable move he turned his 

Banking Commission into an attack 

on your Industry Super funds. 

In good news the government’s 

attempts to force new laws through 

this year giving more power to the 

big banks over our superannuation 

have failed ... for now. 

Turnbull and Michaelia Cash 

knew they did not have the numbers 

in the House of Reps so they 

stopped the laws going to a vote. 

So for at least the next few 

months, we’ve survived one of the 

greatest attacks on working people 

in years. But it is far from over. 

Turnbull’s proposed 

Superannuation laws are designed 

INDUSTRY SUPER FUNDS: 

1. Are worth half a trillion dollars; 

2. Regularly outperform private 

sector funds (eg, 10.3 per cent 

over five years compared to 

8.2 per cent for retail funds;) 

3. Charge much smaller 

administration and 

management fees; 

4. Deliver higher returns to their 

5 million members; 

5. Provide one of the few 

counterweights to a banking 

sector dominated by the four 

big banks; 

6. Have not been plagued by 

any major scandals and have 

fought for years against the 

system of commissions paid 

to financial advisers which 

have got banks into so much 

trouble in recent years. 

to make Industry Super funds 

become more like banks. We know 

they will try to put them forward 

again next year, so let’s keep up the 

pressure. 

Will you sign the petition 

to tell Turnbull to keep 

the big banks out of 

our super? Visit www. 

australianunions.org.au/ 

keep_banks_out_of_super 

2 • United Summer 2017

Stronger Together 

As we wind up another year it is 

important to reflect on what we 

are fighting for and how we can 

achieve it. 

Have we, as union members, 

had a successful year? Have we 

gone forward or has 2017 been a year 

where we have gone backwards? 

As I look back over the past twelve 

months I am proud to say that we 

have had a successful year on a 

number of counts. 

We successfully negotiated the 

Local Government State Award with 

98.98% of members voting YES to 

the new Award. 

We played a role in the decisive 

election victory in Western Australia 

where the LNP was stopped from 

privatising power in that state. 

We took the fight directly to 

the ballot box in the September 

local government elections asking 

candidates to support local jobs and 

local services. 

We had our outstanding Organiser 

Sandie Morthen win Innovative 

Organiser of the Year at ACTU 

Congress and our National Qantas 

Negotiating Committee win the 

prestigious Jennie George Award for 

the negotiation of their EA. 

We had another successful 

sleepout and raised $15,775.02 for 

Father Riley’s Youth off the Streets. 

We have finished renovations 

on our resort at Port Macquarie 

providing members and their 

families an even better place to stay 

for great value holidays. 

We have updated our website and 

ramped up our presence on social 

media. 

Add to that a successful 

Conference and Women’s 

Conference, a number of great 

workplace victories for members 

across all industries, nearly a quarter 

of a million dollars paid to members 

for journey to work insurance as 

well as successful training of our 

delegates and we really are looking 

at a successful year. We even 

welcomed members from Norfolk 

Island for the first time, negotiating 

with them for a collective award. 

I could go on however I really 

want to focus on the most important 

achievement for the year and that is 

how we have built workplace power 

by being stronger together. 

As we head into 2018 let’s 

make sure we become even 

stronger. Talk to your 

workmates about joining 

the union. 

- USU General Secretary 

Graeme Kelly 

Members right across our diverse 

membership have stood together 

and shown strength and it is 

working! 

Unions work. 

It’s as simple as that and we work 

best when we work together. Just 

look at two recent examples of the 

union movement working together 

with the community to achieve great 

results. The campaigns by the CUB 

workers and the Streets workers 

prove that the community is ready to 

get behind us. 

So as we head into 2018 let’s make 

sure we become even stronger. Talk 

to your workmates about joining 

the Union ... and make sure you 

are switched on to community 

campaigns by joining our facebook 

community. 

On behalf of the USU Executive 

and staff I wish all members 

and their families a safe and 

happy Christmas and a 

successful 2018. 

United Summer 2017 • 3

PLEDGING TO SUPPORT L 

The Local Government elections held in 

September finally delivered the people 

of NSW their democratic right to elect 

their own representatives. 

Since May 2016 when the (then) 

Premier Mike Baird sacked all 

Councils across NSW and installed 

administrators, the Councils 

earmarked for amalgamation under 

the Government’s flawed “Fit for the 

Future” strategy had to wait until 

September 2017 before they could 

hold elections. 

The amalgamation process 

has been a mess with many 

communities up in arms, councils 

challenging the process in the courts 

and the Berejiklian government 

finally abandoning a series of 

amalgamations, predominately in 

Sydney’s blue ribboned Liberal seats 

on the North Shore and Eastern 

suburbs. 

In the lead up to the September 

elections the USU asked every 

candidate to pledge to: 

Keep local Council jobs local 

Maintain core Council services 

using Council labour 

Reject the use of labour hire 

contractors 

Oppose outsourcing and 

privatising of Council services 

Support increased employment 

protections 

Ensure the provision of ongoing 

training to Council workforce 

Support procurement of 

Australian products 

We congratulate those candidates 

who signed the Pledge and thank 

them for their ongoing commitment 

to local jobs and services. 

A full list of candidates who 

committed to local jobs and 

services can be seen on our website 

www.usu.org.au/pledge2017/ 


OCAL JOBS & SERVICES 

A Community Response to Privatisation 

The reaction to the recent council amalgamations 

is echoed loud and clear in the message from the 

community during the deliberations of the People’s 

Inquiry into Privatisation – take back control of 

public services! The Inquiry held public hearings all 

over Australia last year, taking written submissions 

from individuals as well as affected organisations, and 

commissioning research, the People’s Inquiry released 

its report: “Taking Back Control: A Community Response 

to Privatisation”. The USU joins our national union, the 

ASU, in promoting the community’s view with the back 

up of this report, because we agree that privatisation has 

not delivered on the promises made to Australians and it is 

well past time to address the problems. 

Australians have been questioning the wisdom 

and legitimacy of privatisation for many years. USU 

“The anger in so many communities who have 

faced privatisation on a large scale, in our 

regions and rural areas, is so strong.” 

- Robert Potter 

members in local government fought it tooth and 

nail during the CCT years (compulsory competitive 

tendering) in the 1990s when it was burgeoning as a 

management tactic to drive down costs. We were able 

to keep some services in-house through the dreadful 

process of having to tender for members’ own jobs 

and prove their worth as local workers and people 

committed to their councils. 

During the energy privatisation wars with Jeff Kennett 

in Victoria, ASU members fought for their jobs, but 

were cajoled into accepting redundancies with promises 

of jobs and community support to ensure their towns 

did not atrophy, with their kids needing to leave in 

search of a future. The bitterness in Gippsland and 

other energy centres as a result of privatisation not 

delivering is well known. 

“The anger in so many communities who have faced 

privatisation on a large scale, in our regions and rural 

areas, is so strong,” said Rob Potter, ASU Assistant 

National Secretary, “but they are also keenly concerned 

about changing the situation for future generations 

– they want us to have learned from the failed 

privatisation experiment.” 

There is a growing body of evidence from 

international experiences that not only is privatisation 

reversible, it is a very successful tactic and results in the 

quality services that Australians deserve, including in 

local government and water sectors. The full report can 

be read on our website www.usu.org.au/changing-rulestaking-back-control-community-reaction-privatisation/ 

United Summer 2016 • 5

Recently the USU commenced 

a campaign on the important 

matter of Domestic and Family 

Violence Leave Policy. 

The USU has been at the 

forefront of this campaign 

negotiating one of the first DVL 

Clauses in an EA. 

Across Australia the Union 

movement, with support from the 

Labor Party, is calling for DVL 

Clauses to be included in all Awards 

and Agreements. 

Changes made in the Local 

Government (State) Award 2017 

negotiated by the USU specifically 

allow a Council to provide paid 

leave to employees who are victims 

of family and domestic violence (cl 

21L(i)(a)). The USU has developed 

a Policy designed to clarify and 

expand on this Award provision. 

The USU is campaigning at all 

workplaces across NSW and the 

ACT to ensure a DVL Clause is 

included in EAs and that Councils 

adopt the USU Policy for paid 

Domestic Violence Leave. 

We Won’t Wait, because women can’t wait. At the NSW ALP 

Conference held earlier this year NSW Labor voted unanimously 

to support 10 days’ paid domestic violence leave. USU General 

Secretary Graeme Kelly spoke in support of the motion. 

Some facts about domestic violence: 

 

While anyone can be 

a victim of domestic 

violence, overwhelmingly 

people who experience 

violence in the home are 

women 

 

Domestic violence is 

the principle cause of 

homelessness for women 

and their children 

One in three women have 

experienced physical 

and/or sexual violence 

perpetrated by someone 

known to them 

 

In Australia a woman dies 

every week because of 

domestic violence 


double wins for JROs 

Northern Manager Stephen 

Hughes reports on the ongoing 

“Fit for the Future” strategy 

which is in the news again with 

the NSW Government finally 

acting on the matter of Joint 

Regional Organisations (JRO’s). 

At the beginning of 2017 draft 

legislation had been prepared 

by the Government to amend the 

Local Government Act to recognise 

and legitimise ROCs (Regional 

Organisation of Councils). Their 

aim was to continue their agenda in 

regionalising NSW Councils on top 

of the forced amalgamations which 

had already occurred and for those 

being proposed at the time, which as 

we know, are now not proceeding. 

The Government had encountered 

some criticism regarding some of 

the proposed boundaries of the 

JRO's, but had seemed determined 

to ignore the Councils’ concerns and 

negative feedback and to stick with 

their original proposed regional 

boundaries. 

The Industry parties, including 

the USU, have been consistently 

asking if and when will the JRO’s 

legislation proceed to parliament, 

but had been given no concrete 

answer other than it is still on the 

Government’s agenda, that is, until 

last a few weeks ago. 

The Government has now finally 

acted; initially with a media release 

by the Minister. 

WIN ON MODERN AWARDS 

The USU has also had high level 

discussions with the Office of Local 

Government during which it was 

reconfirmed that JRO’s will be 

unable, under the legislation that is 

TWO Big Wins: 

JRO’s will be 

covered by 

the NSW Local 

Government 

act; 

Councils 

can choose 

their own JRO 

Boundaries. 

going to be put to State Parliament 

to formally recognise them under 

the Local Government Act, to employ 

any staff other than a CEO until 

the JRO seeks to be declared and is 

declared a non-National IR System 

employer and is under the NSW 

IR Act and therefore covered by the 

enabling provisions of the NSW 

Local Government Award. 

This important achievement 

protects our members from being 

employed under the vastly inferior 

conditions of the Federal IR System 

and the so called Modern Awards. 

VICTORY ON JRO BOUNDARIES 

In a further win for common sense 

the initial proposed JRO boundaries 

that LGNSW were opposed to, have 

been freed up to allow Councils to 

choose where they belong in a JRO 

if at all, as long as they have at least 2 

member Councils in the JRO. 

It now also appears that the far 

west initiative which includes 9 

Regional Western Councils which 

make up an area which is bigger 

than the rest of NSW combined will 

not proceed as planned and instead 

JRO's can be formed in this region 

also. This is great news for those 

Councils who were opposed to the 

creation of the massive far west 

initiative model. 

Most of the amalgamated Councils 

are progressing well, especially 

following the generally great results 

for Labor and some supportive 

others such as the SFFP at Orange, 

and other true Independents and 

the Greens. 

With the Council elections in 

September, came the departure 

of the Government appointed 

Administrators, with newly elected 

Councils now deciding if they 

would continue to employ the 

Interim GM’s and other senior 

contract staff who were retained or 

appointed during the long period of 

governance under Administrators. 

Hopefully we can fix a lot of the 

problems that crept in whilst under 

administration. 


Making progre 

Just over a year ago in October 2016 the NSW LNP government sold off Australia’s largest 

electricity distribution network. In what can only be described as a torrid year, some progress 

is finally being made at Ausgrid. With our outstanding team of committed delegates we still 

have a way to go but it is good to see some light at the end of the tunnel. 

Over the past few months 

meetings with Ausgrid 

management have increased 

in an effort to get job 

security, wage increases and 

a fair agreement protecting 

conditions. 

In October, following nine months 

of gruelling negotiations, the 

combined energy unions knew 

we had to take action - we were 

going backwards, not forwards and 

the delegates’ committee voted 

unanimously for the unions to 

prepare for a Protected Action Ballot 

which opens on 7 December. 

Since then, there have been 

a series of meetings. Meetings 

attended by the combined union 

officials and Ausgrid management 

were conducted on November 14th 

and 21st (“focus discussions”), whilst 

meetings with the wider negotiating 

committee have taken place on the 

15th and 22nd. 

The aim of the focus meetings 

was to hone in and work our way 

through the issues that were proving 

the most difficult to work through. 

These meetings were productive 

in that all participants attended 

and participated in good faith and 

spirit, which assisted the parties to 

progress the matters at hand. 

Progress 

To that end, there has been 

significant progress made on: 

Consultation, Dispute Resolution 

and Contracting Out; we are at a 

stage now where we could soon have 

draft clauses to present to members 

for consideration. 

Dreamteam: The USU Ausgrid 

Bargaining Committee;Craig 

Murphy, Lisa Turner, Kayla 

Miller, Emily Callachor, Nick 

Speranza, Andrew Stenning 

and Joseph Agius. 

The parties have also reached 

agreement on a global cap on 

redundancies post 30 June 2020; 

this cap will be re-visited at the 

expiration of the Agreement. 

Further, the $75,000 incentive 

payment will be offered to those 

in redeployment, both currently 

and into the future. This payment 

will be a one-time offer and will be 

available to those who accept VR 

within a certain time-frame. 

Discussions on Career, Capability 

and Remuneration (CCR) have 

progressed, however, there are some 

outstanding matters to address. 

Ausgrid has provided the combined 

unions with an updated proposal, 

a proposal which will be discussed 

further at ongoing meetings. 


SS @ Ausgrid 

Stop selling off jobs 

We hope to make further progress 

- and while we proceed with the PAB 

in case it is needed we hope that 

negotiations proceed so that is not 

necessary. 

The main areas of concern for 

our members is the entry level pay 

points, which remain below their 

current salaries. 

Wages Offer 

With respect to wage increases, 

Ausgrid has put forward an offer 

of a 3 year Agreement, expiring in 

February of 2021, containing wage 

Sending a strong message on jobs! 

Following advice that USU members 

were being unfairly re-deployed 

at Ausgrid, USU General Secretary 

Graeme Kelly, along with ASU 

National Officials commenced 

discussions with the ACTU executive 

about a campaign to stop this unfair 

treatment. 

While further campaign talks take 

place the ACTU Executive has 

unanimously endorsed this motion: 

The ACTU executive expresses 

unequivocal support for the ASU/ 

USU, ETU & Professionals Australia 

members working at Ausgrid. 

The ACTU demands that Ausgrid 

management, AustralianSuper and 

IFM Investors stand by employment 

protections for Ausgrid workers as 

outlined in NSW Legislation and 

to negotiate in good faith with the 

relevant unions in achieving a fair 

and reasonable outcome for workers 

including job security. 

We condemn the actions of Ausgrid 

management & their investors for 

their appalling treatment of workers 

at Ausgrid and demand that Ausgrid 

management treat all employees 

with respect and ensure those 

increases of 2.5%, 2.5% and 2%. 

This is still short of the 3% claim 

put forward by the combined 

unions and will be a topic for 

discussion at the next meeting. 

If you or someone you know 

isn’t a member of our union, 

please get them to join today - it is 

easy to join online at www.usu.org. 

au/join. 

Members who refer others for 

membership will be eligible for 

a payment of $50 per member 

joined. Contact our Membership 

Support Centre on 1300 136 604. 

employees currently classified 

as “redeployees” are engaged in 

ongoing meaningful work suitable 

to their skill sets. 

The current “redeployee” policy 

is clearly designed to abrogate 

Ausgrid’s legislative redundancy 

requirements but in doing so has 

developed a culture of humiliation 

and worthlessness for these 

workers. 

The job losses, offshoring of 

work & treatment of workers is 

clearly unacceptable and should 

be reversed and we call upon 

Ausgrid management, Australian 

Super and IFM Investors to do this 

immediately. 

In August members of the 

USU and ETU refused to take 

part in training India-based 

IT contractors who would 

replace more than a third of 

the workforce in Ausgrid’s 

Geographic Information System 

(GIS) section. 

Despite assurances by the 

Berejiklian government that 

jobs would not be lost in the sell 

off this offshoring of valuable 

IT jobs proved how wrong that 

was. 

Ausgrid launched legal action 

in the FWC and members were 

forced to train these workers 

proving that Australia’s industrial 

laws are stacked against the 

interests of working people. 

USU General Secretary Graeme 

Kelly said it was now up to the 

new private owners of Ausgrid 

- AustralianSuper and IFM 

Investors - to intervene to save 

the jobs. 

“These funds claim to ethically 

invest the retirement savings of 

Australian workers, yet they are 

allowing managers at a company 

they majority-own to slash jobs 

by outsourcing them to India,” 

Mr Kelly said. 

“These investors should 

demonstrate their commitment 

to Australian jobs by ensuring 

these specialist positions remain 

in this country. 

“They should also commit to 

abiding by the spirit of the job 

protections that were put in 

place by the NSW Parliament to 

prevent power privatisation from 

being a tool to simply slash jobs 

and services.” 


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UnitedServicesUnion 

USU WINS JOB Back FOR 

UNFAIRLY DISMISSED RANGER 

The USU successfully brought 

proceedings against the City of 

Parramatta Council following the 

dismissal a long-term USU member 

earlier this year after he became 

a victim of a violent assault by 

members of the public. 

The proceedings in the Industrial 

Relations Commission of New 

South Wales were conducted 

over four days and culminated in 

Commissioner Murphy ordering 

that the USU member be reinstated 

to his former position. 

This is a fantastic 

result, reinforcing 

the importance and 

benefits of USU 

membership. 

In arriving at this decision 

Commissioner Murphy described 

the City of Parramatta Council’s 

handling of the dismissal as 

‘procedurally unfair in a number 

of ways’ and found that the 

dismissal ‘by the Council was harsh, 

unreasonable, and unjust.’ 

Symbols of unity 

Given new life 

Stand up close 

to it and you 

can feel the 

sweat and 

determination 

of our union 

comrades from 

the past. 

JOIN OUR 

COMMUNITY 

LIKE US TODAY 

www.facebook.com/ 

UnitedServicesUnion 

As part of their 175 

birthday celebrations 

the City of Sydney 

Council launched the 

newly restored banner 

of the Municipal 

Employees Union - a 

wonderful symbol of our 

past. On hand to pay 

tribute at the launch 

was Paul Reid, Delegate 

David Jabbour and 

organiser Jim Carter. 

Our own 

lady liberty 

banner is 

a beautiful 

symbol of 

strength and 

unity. 


WIN @ WELLINGTON 

Jobs saved! Local Wellington members celebrate 

The Wellington community 

will receive a vital boost to 

employment and services as 

a result of legal action by the 

USU, with Dubbo Regional 

Council agreeing to restore local 

employment numbers to premerger 

levels. 

The United Services Union 

launched the action in the NSW 

Industrial Relations Commission 

after council management claimed 

that Wellington was not a “rural 

centre” under the Local Government 

Act. 

Under the Act, only towns with 

a population below 5,000 people 

are considered rural centres, with 

council management claiming 

that figure was exceeded once 

the occupants of the Wellington 

Correctional Centre were included. 

The Office of Local Government 

intervened during the legal 

proceedings, providing written 

advice to Dubbo Regional Council 

that Wellington was indeed a rural 

centre under the Act. 

“Small regional 

communities 

are incredibly 

vulnerable to 

the economic 

impact of job 

losses, making 

wins like this 

all the more 

significant.” 

Management at the council, which 

was formed following the forced 

merger of the City of Dubbo and 

Wellington Council in May last 

year, made an undertaking before 

the NSW Industrial Relations 

Commission that it will deem 

Wellington a rural centre and return 

the core employment numbers to 

the level they were immediately 

before the amalgamation took place. 

United Services Union General 

Secretary Graeme Kelly said the 

outcome was a significant victory for 

the Wellington community. 

“One of the greatest fears workers 

and community members had 

following this merger was that 

local jobs would be lost from the 

Wellington community, hurting the 

economy and leading to reduced 

services,” Graeme said. 

“As a result of the efforts of Union 

members at Wellington and our 

legal team we have achieved a 

significant victory that will see job 

numbers not only restored to premerger 

levels, but guaranteed into 

the future. 

Graeme said the decision 

demonstrated the importance of 

strong collective action. 

“Local government workers 

in Wellington understand the 

significant community service they 

provide, which is why they bravely 

worked together to challenge this 

management decision,” he said. 

“The community owes them 

a debt of gratitude for their 

personal efforts to ensure the NSW 

Government’s merger process didn’t 

result in Wellington being stripped 

of jobs and services.” 


Half a Million 

Reasons to be USU! 

 

The NSW Liberal/National 

Government 

removed travel to 

and from work 

from the Workers Compensation 

Insurance Scheme. 

JOURNEY INSURANCE 

PAID TO USU MEMBERS 

$48,974 

Journey Claims Paid 

% 

$128,875 

This left workers 

uninsured 

for injuries that 

happen on the way 

to or from work. 

 

$105,683 

$143,090 

In 2012 

All workers 

were affected 

by this change. 

 

The USU instigated action to 

protect our members 

so if you are a USU 

member, you are covered 

by your Union! 

% 

% 

 

The USU has paid 

Jun-14 Jun-15 Jun-16 Jun-17 

over half a 

million dollars 

to members to help them avoid financial 

distress and support them and their 

families to combat the financial difficulty 

of an accident when travelling to and 

from work. 

 


ASBESTOS ALERT @ BMCC: 

Investigation Underway 

The USU, on behalf of twelve members, recently 

lodged grievances with Blue Mountains City 

Council regarding allegations relating to the 

management of asbestos. 

At the Council meeting on Tuesday 14 November a 

Council resolution was passed which included the 

following: 

‘That the Council instructs Trevor Cork of McPhee 

Kelshaw solicitors, to engage an independent 

investigator to investigate and report on these 

allegations and any further related matters that the 

Council solicitor and independent investigator deem 

merit further investigation.’ 

The USU has been given assurances that the 

investigation will be independent and transparent. 

Neither the Solicitor guiding the investigation nor 

the investigator are employees of the Council. The 

investigator is a well-regarded health and safety lawyer 

and the USU is pleased with his appointment. 

While the USU will continue to monitor this situation 

closely, we consider this to be a positive step in the 

process of getting to the bottom of who knew what and 

when. 

EXPOSED? WHAT YOU SHOULD DO 

With media warning of a “third” wave of the asbestos epidemic it is important to know 

what you are dealing with both at work and home and what to do if you fear you have been 

exposed. With a great deal of asbestos reaching its lifespan the issue of asbestos disposal is 

vitally important to local government workers. What should you do? 

IMPORTANT: If you believe you have been 

exposed to asbestos please get in contact 

with your local USU Delegate immediately. 

The USU can help you take the following steps: 

1 

2 

3 

Arrange to have yourself tested 

Attend your GP and have these concerns 

registered 

Attend confidential counselling through 

the Employee Assistance Program 

Given the way in which asbestos may be 

transported it is possible that Council vehicles or 

equipment may also be contaminated. 

We remind employees of s 84 of the Work Health 

and Safety Act 2011: 

‘A worker may cease, or refuse to 

carry out, work if the worker has a 

reasonable concern that to carry out 

the work would expose the worker to 

a serious risk to the worker’s health or 

safety, emanating from an immediate 

or imminent exposure to a hazard.’ 

Contact the USU on 1300 136 604 if you have concerns. 


View from the cabin - 

imagine waking up to this! 

USU members can enjoy great holidays at the Union’s own Riverside 

Resort, located in beautiful Port Macquarie on the Hastings River. 

The resort consists of a Motel and a Caravan Park, so no matter 

what type of holiday you are after your needs are covered. 

There are special rates for USU members and to ensure all members 

get a chance to holiday here during peak season a ballot is held 

each year. The peak season is from 15 December 2018 to 27 January 

2019. It is a popular time so we want to make sure our members get 

the chance to get in early! 

Don’t miss out - mark the date! 

 

THE 

BALLOT FOR SUMMER 2018/19 

BALLOT OPENS 1ST MARCH AND 

CLOSES 31 MAY 2018. STAY TUNED FOR 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOU 

CAN BE PART OF THE BALLOT. 

Rooms and caravan sites are allocated to USU members first and 

then non-members if available. Members’ preferences for room and 

accommodation is taken into consideration, however depending on 

the order of the ballot, rooms and sites will be 

allocated on next best available. 

In March the Ballot form will be available to 

download at: www.usu.org.au/ballot2018 Riverside 

Resort 

To find out more about Riverside Resort and @ Port 

other great holiday rates for USU members visit 

Owned & operated by 

www.riversideresortatport.com.au 


U•S•U 

Greetings pelican 

Kitchen 

Boatings 

RTBU Holiday Park 

Located in the Booderee National Park, the RTBU 

Holiday Park at Jervis Bay, is just a 3 hour drive 

south from Sydney, but a world away … 

Each of the 14 self-contained units sleep up to a 

maximum of 6 people and rates are based on a 

family of 2 adults and 4 children. 

You will need to bring your own sheets as only 

mattress protectors, quilts and pillows are supplied. 

The units contain a digital television, an oven, 

microwave, fridge, crockery, cutlery, glassware, pots 

and pans as well as basic cooking utensils. Make 

sure you come prepared as the closest grocery shop 

is a 30 minute drive away. 


United Services Union members now have the option of holidaying at the USU’s Newly 

renovated Riverside Resort @ Port Macquarie, or heading south to Jervis Bay at the Rail 

Tram and Bus Union Holiday Park. RTBU and USU members can stay at either holiday 

location at discounted member rates.* 

Fishing and more ... 

Cabin exterior 

at Jervis Bay 

The RTBU Holiday Park facilities available to all 

guests include a boat ramp, undercover BBQ area 

with seating, tennis court and a coin operated 

laundry. 

There are various swimming spots to enjoy and 

natural areas to explore, suitable for all the family. 

Kangaroos, possums, wallabies, kookaburras, 

bandicoots, echidnas and rosellas visit the 

grounds of the holiday park daily. 

Enjoy fishing from the calm shores or take a quick 

walk to experience beach fishing on the pristine 

Bherwerre Beach. 

Bookings can 

be made by 

telephoning the 

RTBU Office on 

(02) 9264 2511. 

R AIL 

T R AM 

U N 

AND 

I O N 

B US 

* conditions apply 

USU Riverside Resort @ Port 

USU members can enjoy great holidays at the Union’s own Riverside Resort, 

located in beautiful Port Macquarie on the Hastings River. The resort consists 

of a Motel and a Caravan Park, so no matter what type of holiday you are 

after your needs are covered. 

Stay in comfort at the holiday resort and 

enjoy great discounts and great style while 

relaxing in the best climate in Australia. 

GREAT DEALS FOR 

USU MEMBERS ALL 

YEAR ROUND! 

You can contact the motel or caravan park by calling Riverside Resort @ Port on 02 

6583 7388 or check the website at www.riversideresortatport.com.au. You can also 

call the Union’s Head Office on 1300 136 604 for more information. 


Moving closer to a better deal @ REX 

After continued discussions 

with the Union, Rex 

Management reviewed their 

final proposals, so now, as we 

head to print there is only one 

clause to be completed before 

a final document is ready for 

members to consider. 

The Final Management 

Offer to date is: 

Rollover of the current 

Agreement with the following 

changes 

Duration (Clause 3) A 4 Year 

Term of Agreement 

Probation (Clause 7.2.2) Change 

review from 2, 4 and 6 to 3 and 6 

monthly 

Shift Swaps (Clause 16.10) 

limited to 4 per fortnight and 

repaid within the current 28 day 

roster. (Reduction of repayment 

time from 90 days and definition 

of number per fortnight) 

Overtime (Clause 18.15) 

Withdrawing of proposed 

change to Overtime Meal Money 

entitlement. Status Quo. 

Recognition of Service and 

Experience CSO and CCC 

Senior Position Level 4: 

The USU has requested that 

after five year’s service and 

experience in all areas all staff to 

become eligible for Level 4. 

REX responded that they 

would remove the need to have 

coordination skills from criteria. 

There was no guarantee that 

all those who met the criteria 

would get the Level 4. 

Management is currently 

reconsidering the eligibility for 

all who fit the criteria and have 

satisfactory performance record. 

Jetstar negotiations underway 

The USU/ASU Jetstar National 

Negotiating team (NNT) met with 

management representatives for 

a 4th EBA negotiation meeting on 

13th November. It is still early days 

but time to get serious and put an 

effort into trying to resolve some 

of the key issues. 

The NNT heard company 

feedback and discussed what 

will be of benefit to USU/ 

ASU members. We know that 

consultation, rostering and hours 

for part-timers, information about 

work changes, the wage increase, 

leave and protecting your current 

conditions are very important. 

Jetstar has mostly responded 

favourably to the USU/ASU Claim 

and now it is time to see whether 

Jetstar’s sympathies for many of the 

main issues will be followed through 

with beneficial terms for your next 

agreement. 

Not so super 

We also took the opportunity at 

our meeting to talk to the company 

about payment of superannuation 

on periods of unpaid and paid 

Wages: 

Final Offer Minimum of 2.5% 

p.a. for 4 years increased 

in line with CPI for the 

corresponding year up to a 

maximum of 3%. 

Despite the Union’s constant 

restating of our claim for 3% 

Management have remained 

firm on a Companywide 

position of 2.5%. 

Management and the Union 

committee will meet again to finalise 

an agreement which members will 

be able to vote to accept or reject. 

parental leave. The USU/ASU 

claim is only seeking payment 

for the paid component of your 

leave as well as an increase in 

the number of weeks’ leave 

from 12 to 14 weeks. 

In response to overwhelming 

feedback from USU/ASU 

members across industries 

and occupations, the USU/ASU 

has committed to improving 

superannuation outcomes for 

women throughout Australia. 

More information about the 

issue and what we are doing to 

ensure Super continues to be 

relevant: https://tinyurl.com/ 

y83melv4 


Virgin members - HAVE YOU MET LORRY? 

We all know that the role of 

union delegate is vital. Our 

Union delegates are the first 

line of contact for members. 

We’d like you to meet one of 

our new outstanding delegates 

from Virgin Australia - Lorry 

Parissakis. 

Lorry came on board with the 

USU as a workplace delegate at 

the beginning of 2017. The USU was 

looking for a delegate and Lorry’s 

personable nature coupled with a 

strong urge to fight for the rights of 

both himself and fellow colleagues 

made him the perfect candidate for 

the role. 

Lorry was thrown in the deep end, 

being the lone delegate representing 

one of the largest airlines in the 

Sydney Domestic Terminal is a 

daunting task, but he has gone all 

in and is starting to achieve some 

amazing things among the Virgin 

ranks. Lorry has completed the 

USU@WORK training, which 

means he has an extremely in-depth 

knowledge of the EBA and how 

it applies to all facets of work life, 

along with being coached on how to 

represent employees in disciplinary 

meetings should the need arise. 

One of Lorry’s biggest tasks has 

been taking on the role of employee 

representative for Sydney in the 

ongoing national Virgin Australia 

EBA negotiations. He has been vocal 

in raising many issues and ensuring 

your voices are heard. 

Lorry has been working closely 

with USU organiser Josh Paterson to 

try and get the best result possible 

in EBA negotiations and to further 

Virgin Australia delegate Lorry 

Parissakis has been doing a 

great job since taking on the 

role earlier this year. 

strengthen the USU’s membership 

numbers to make sure we are all 

heard. 

Say HI to your new delegates @ Jetstar! 

The United Services Union is proud to introduce three new faces to the Jetstar delegate team. 

With Adam Wardrop, Robert Struben and Claudine Tenana joining existing delegates Darien Cincotta 

and Bruce Rogers our Jetstar delegate team has been strengthened even more. This group of passionate 

employees from various backgrounds have made a commitment to ensuring the voices of our members are heard 

and they will fight for continued improvement of wages and conditions. 

This great delegate team will be representing Jetstar members in the upcoming Jetstar EBA negotiations so please 

don’t hesitate to talk to them about any issues you feel are impacting on you in the workplace. The USU is working 

closely with delegates to provide you with the best service possible, making sure we are able to address all member 

issues promptly and effectively. 

Bruce rogers 

Customer Service 

Officer 

Darien Cincotta 


Officer 

Adam Wardrop Claudine Tenana Robert Struben 


Officer/Relief Ground 

Ops Controller 


Officer 


Officer 


A better deal @ Teachers Health Fund 

Members and delegates at Teachers Health 

Fund show the benefits of a strong union. 

The USU has been in negotiation with Teachers 

Health over the renewal of the current 

Agreement which expired 30th June 2017. 

Consultation meetings were held with members 

to develop the claim put to Teachers Health. 

Due to the persistent and resolute representation 

of members by THF Delegates Vince Raschilla, 

Michael Garner and Simon Perrett members 

have now achieved a new Enterprise Agreement 

which will be ratified as soon as members have 

endorsed it. 

All members are to be congratulated for their 

attendance and input at the staff meetings and for 

supporting the delegates. 

On behalf of the members, the Union thanks 

Vince, Michael and Simon for their time and effort 

in achieving a great outcome for the members. 

Our Union is as strong as our membership. 

The following is the in principal agreed position: 

A rollover of all provisions of the current Agreement 

 

Our Union is as 

strong 

as our membership. 

Clause 10: GRADINGS, CLASSIFICATIONS AND 

SALARY RATES. 

TFH accepts 

3% for each of the 3 years (1 January 2018, 1 January 2019, 1 

January 2020) with maintenance of CPI statement “...but 

if CPI is greater, CPI will apply instead”. 

Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen 

USU Organiser Sandie Morthen 

recently had the opportunity 

to meet Fi Shewring from 

SALT (Supporting and Linking 

Tradeswomen). SALT has very 

clear aims: 

Providing support to 

tradeswomen in Australia 

including apprentices and 

women seeking to work in the 

trades. 

Providing avenues for women 

to meet other tradeswomen, 

apprentices etc and share 

experiences. 

Promoting women in the trades 

to the general public and 

industry. 

Advocating for change to 

attitudes to women working in 

the trades. 

Campaigning for changes which 

USU DELEGATE 

RACHEL FARLA & 

MARTI FLETCHER 

enable women to train and work 

in the trades. 

Promoting diversity and 

acceptance for all people in the 

trades. 

SALT has always encouraged 

men to join, as we believe the way 

forward is men and women working 

together where gender is not the 

issue. 

As members may be aware Local 

Government is a great place for 

people to gain a trade and over 

the years the number of female 

apprentices in Local Government 

has increased. This is very evident 

at Blacktown Council where SALT 

has been providing support and 

networking opportunities to both 

apprentices and tradespeople. 

If you would like to know more 

about SALT their website is 

saltaustralia.org.au. If you would 

like to know more how you 

can get involved in working on 

issues that impact women in 

the workplace contact Sandie 

Morthen on 0419 761 326 or via 

email at smorthen@usu.org.au 


Breaking NewS@ Slater & Gordon: 

LET’S GET A DEAL BEFORE CHRISTMAS! 

Meetings of USU/ASU members across Australia have 

overwhelmingly endorsed the new Support Staff and Lawyers 

Agreements negotiated by our National Negotiating Team. 

As a result of this positive result we have notified the company 

that the USU/ASU supports the proposed agreements and 

so a vote of all staff will now be conducted in accordance with the 

requirements of the Fair Work Act. 

The access period for the agreements will be between Thursday 7th 

December and Wednesday 13th December 2017 inclusive. 

Voting will be between Thursday 14th December and Monday 18th 

December 2017. Watch this space! 

Our Slater & Gordon NNT at the EBA meeting from Left to 

Right: Amy Murray, Serina Dowding and Kaylee Dean. 

Hard work of delegates inspires Cheryl 

The Muswellbrook area, and in 

particular Muswellbrook Shire 

Council, has a very proud Union 

history which continues to be 

strong to this day. Our strength 

comes from our members - both 

old and new. 

The USU welcomes new USU 

member, administration 

employee Cheryl Wiseman, who, 

prior to accepting her job with 

Council never imagined that she 

would ever join a Union, despite her 

dad being a carpenter and a long 

time Union member. 

Cheryl was initially attracted to 

the USU after witnessing the hard 

work of her delegates, and the fact 

that Union members were paid for 

a picnic day seemed like a good 

reason as well. About 18 months 

ago Cheryl was glad she had her 

USU membership when she had a 

disagreement with her co-ordinator. 

Rather than having the opportunity 

to discuss the issue, it escalated into 

“The support 

of the Union 

delegates in my 

workplace was 

invaluable.” 

- Cheryl 

(potentially) a performance review. 

Cheryl said, “the support of the 

Union delegates in my workplace 

was invaluable; the delegates 

assisted me through the grievance 

process as per our award and a great 

outcome was achieved, which I’m 

sure would not have been the case 

without the support of the USU”. 

Cheryl now knows that the Union 

is not just about large industries, 

coal mining, and strike action, 

basically she says ‘it is for everyone’. 

When another new employee 

enters the workplace Cheryl always 

highlights all of the benefits and 

encourages them to join. It’s not a 

case of can you afford to, it’s a case of 

can you afford not to? 

USU Organiser Daniel Orwell says 

stories like Cheryl’s inspire others 

to join. “I can understand why the 

Muswellbrook delegates inspired 

Cheryl - they are an amazing 

team. It is great that she now uses 

her experience and passion to 

encourage others to join.” 


There has recently been a number of important changes 

that may affect your super investment. 

At Local Government Super, we can help you understand 

all your options and make the right decisions about your 

long-term financial future. 

And you don’t have to be a member. 

We offer expert financial advice to all local government 

employees. 

To find out more, just visit lgsuper.com.au or call us on 

1300 LGSUPER (1300 547 873) between 8.30am and 

5.00pm, Monday to Friday. 

L0972-10/17-LGProf 

LGS755-advert Your Super is changing 2.indd 1 

20 • United Summer 2017 

24/10/17 10:50 am

LET’S TALK 

The USU prides itself on 

listening to our members. We 

also work hard at getting the most 

up to date information out to our 

members and are always looking at 

new ways to do this. 

Early in 2018 new reference 

groups will commence that will give 

you a place to interact with other 

members in your industry as well 

FLASHBACK 

as keep yourself up to date. These 

groups will join the existing groups 

of the Women’s Committee and the 

Retired Members’ Committee. 

If you would like more 

information and want to be put 

in touch with a group convenor 

contact our Support Team who 

will be happy to assist on 1300 

136 604 or at united@usu.org.au 

The groups are diverse 

and cover many areas: 

Women’s Committee 

Rangers Parking Patrol & Law 

Enforcement Reference Group 

Lifeguarding/Pools 

Youth (Next Gen) 

Retired Members 

Librarians 

Political Affiliations/Lobbying 

USU Professionals 

Road Construction and 

Maintenance 

Community Services / Art 

Galleries / Museums 


Finance / Health 

Emergency Services 

Wholesale Distribution, 

Warehousing, Road Transport 

& Retail 

Not for Profit 

Childcare / Aged Care 

Water / Sewer 

Parks and Reserves 

Skills IQ 

Recruitment 

Waste Services 


USU Women taking up the challenge 

The USU Women’s Committee plays a key role in formulating USU policy that directly impacts on 

women in the Union. Meeting four times a year the Committee is made up of active female delegates 

and members who are ready to face the challenges ahead to ensure women achieve pay equity; better 

super for a dignified retirement and a Domestic Violence Leave clause in all Workplace Agreements. A 

key event on the Committee’s calendar is the Biennial Women’s Conference which was held this year. 

USU Women’s Officer Clare Raffan outlines another successful year for the committee. 

The USU Women’s Committee 

has been effective in promoting 

the USU’s push for Domestic and 

Family Violence protections in 

industrial instruments across all 

sectors. The Committee has also 

been a great supporter of the Big 

Issue’s Women’s Subscription 

Enterprise that assisted mainly 

homeless and unemployed women 

gain safe and meaningful work 

in the distribution component of 

the mail out subscription of the 

magazine. 

The Committee is eager to pursue 

other avenues that assist workers 

whilst concentrating charitable 

efforts towards women who face life 

on the streets or insecure housing. 

The Committee identified the 

greater need to support rural and 

regional homeless or disadvantaged 

women due to the reduction of 

women’s services that are outside of 

the metropolitan and city centres. 

The year ahead 

In 2018 the Committee will 

explore the use of social media to 

promote the USU and the Women’s 

Committee. 

USU membership extends across 

all of NSW and the Committee 

would like to focus on rural and 

regional areas that could benefit 

from our support in regards to 

homelessness, domestic and family 

violence and where services have 

been reduced or removed due to the 

Government’s slashing of services. 

The Key Speakers at USU 

Women’s Conference 

were: Kaila Murnain, 

General Secretary, NSW 

Labor; Danica Leys, 

CEO, Country Women’s 

Association of NSW; 

Kara Keys, National 

Campaign Coordinator, 

Former Indigenous 

Officer – ACTU; Jo- 

Anne Davidson, Former 

National Secretary Flight 

Attendants Association 

of NSW and Linda White, 

Assistant Secretary, 

Australian Services 

Union. Women’s Conference 2017 

Awards were presented to two outstanding members whose activism 

promotes women in the Union movement and the workplace. 

Robert Potter, Assistant National Secretary, Australian 

Services Union, presented the Edna Ryan Award to 

Emily Callachor on behalf of the recipient Kayla Miller. 

Kayla Miller is a young mother and USU delegate at the 

Newcastle branch of Ausgrid. Kayla is an energetic and 

tireless campaigner for USU members volunteering for 

EBA negotiations, consultancy committees and handling 

many member issues in these uncertain times. Kayla is 

always ready to volunteer and help others and does so 

with positive outlook. 

Linda White, Assistant National Secretary, Australian 

Services Union, presented the Betty Spears Award 

to Hainee Pengelly who has been a staff union 

representative at the NSW Teachers Federation 

for approximately 20 years. She has been a staff 

representative for the Printing and Kindred Industries 

Union, the Federated Clerks Union and now as one 

of our United Services Union staff representatives. 

Hainee is a fierce advocate to maintain our current 

working conditions, and improve them. She is not 

afraid to challenge any attempts to reduce hard 

fought conditions and entitlements. Hainee is well 

respected, displays integrity, leadership and loyalty 

and most importantly always encourages members to 

have a voice and contribute to workplace issues. 


USU CONFERENCE 2017 

This years Conference in Council 

was held in the Stephen Birney 

Auditorium at USU Head Office from 

14-15 September. 

As usual the two days were jam 

packed with presentations and 

workshops giving conference 

delegates the opportunity to discuss 

campaigning strategies for the year 

ahead as well as present and discuss 

motions from their Branches. 

Once again our Conference was 

an outstanding success with special 

recognition being made to our Life 

Members and other Award winners. 

Conference was opened by NSW 

Opposition Leader Luke Foley who 

discussed Labor’s plans for restoring 

equity for workers in NSW. 

Check out pages 24-27 for more 

- we thank all the delegates for 

their contribution as well as our 

sponsors: Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers; 

Local Government Super; EISS and 

Worldwide Printing Solutions. 

Hotel: Metro Hotel Marlow, Sydney Central 

Address: 431-439 Pitt Street, Haymarket NSW 2000 

(Cnr Pitt & Campbell Streets) 

Phone: (02) 9281 6999 

KEY SPONSORS 

SPONSORS 

ACCOMMODATION 

Hotel: Metro Hotel Marlow, Sydney Central 

Address: 431-439 Pitt Street, Haymarket NSW 2000 

(Cnr Pitt & Campbell Streets) 

Phone: (02) 9281 6999 

ACCOMMODATION 

KEY SPONSORS 

Add Botany print. 

Key Conference sponsors 

SPONSORS 

Conference Sponsors 

L0898 USU Winter Journal ad.indd 1 

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** Program subject to change without notice 

4/07/2017 1:27:15 PM 


ACTU Secretary Sally 

McManus talked about 

Above: Graeme Kelly welcomes 

the attacks by the 

Conference Delegates. 

Turnbull Government 

Right: Steve Birney thanks 

on working people and 

Wayne Wood, ASU WA Branch 

presented a campaign 

Secretary for his presentation 

strategy in the lead 

about the successful union and 

up to the next Federal 

community campaign to stop 

Election. 

power privatisation in WA. 

CONFERENCE 2017: s 

Left: ACTU 

Assistant Secretary 

Scott Connolly; Right 

top: Sharon Sewell, 

Glen McAtear, Steve 

Birney and Graeme 

Kelly; Right below: 

Delegates hard at 

work. 


Time to 

unwind the at 

Conference 

dinner. 

tronger together 

Raff wins Roy Byrnes Award 

At Conference the USU proudly awarded the Roy Byrnes Community 

Award to Raffaele Catanzariti who has been at Holroyd Council (now 

Cumberland Council) for 11 years and a delegate of the USU since 2007. He 

is a member of the Sydney Branch, of which he is now the Branch President. 

Raffaele led the team for the Hands Off Holroyd campaign fighting 

against the merger of Holroyd Council which he put his heart and soul into. 

He continues the fight, with the community, to restore Holroyd back to its 

former boundaries serving on the Save Our Councils Coalition Executive 

team. 

Raffaele dedicated the award to all the delegates in the room as he knows 

what they all go through and how stressful their roles can be at times and to 

the community members of Holroyd for fighting the amalgamation. 

METRO BRANCH MANAGER STEVE 

DONLEY PRESENTS THE AWARD TO 

RAFFAELE CATANZARITI 


Time to rest? Not on your life! 

Paul Reid has been presented 

with Life Membership of the 

United Services Union. As an 

advocate for working people you 

USU President 

Steve Birney 

presents Paul 

with his Life 

could not find a more committed Membership at 

person than Paul. 

2017 Conference. 

Paul Reid worked in a variety of 

jobs, including Trades Assistant 

at Tooths Brewery and Painter & 

Docker at Cockatoo Island, Garden 

Island Dockyard, and ship repair 

waterfront workshops in Birchgrove 

before joining local government. 

The rest, as they say, is history. 

He started at City of Sydney 

Woolloomooloo Council Depot in 

1983 and was elected MEU Delegate 

in 1984, later elected Head Delegate. 

commenced secondment with the 

MEU as an Organiser in 1996 and 

became a fulltime official in 1997. 

Recently retired, Paul plans to 

undertake more education and 

further increase political/social 

He transferred to South Sydney As well as Organiser, Paul also activism for the benefit of USU 

Council following State Government worked as an Industrial Officer members and workers generally. 

boundary changes in 1988. 

(Metro) until 2003, HR Officer for He advises that he may join the 

Paul led the MEU Delegate’s a while and finished his working USU Retired Members Club to lend 

Committee to successfully negotiate career as one of the Union’s Training them his organising and political 

the South Sydney Wages & Salaried and Educative Services Officers. skills to assist their activities as 

Staff Award which rewarded 

well as further involve himself in 

As well as being the USU Political 

outdoor staff and lower graded 

community activism, volunteer 

Co-ordinator Paul has been a 

indoor staff with 16% wage increases 

for Not-For-Profit organisations 

delegate to Unions NSW for almost 

(compounded) over 3 years. Paul 

and become a general pain in the 

18 years and was a recipient of 

considers this as one of his greatest 

a#&e for all Liberal MP’s and their 

Unions NSW Scroll of Honour in 

Union achievements. 

supporters. 

2013 and is Trustee of Unions NSW 

He undertook formal studies in & member of Unions NSW Finance Finally when that’s all done, Paul 

Industrial Relations 1990 -1993 and and Governance Committee. 

advises that he may get some rest. 

USU Southern Manager Gary Vann congratulates Life members left to 

right: Wayne Fussell Wollongong Council; Phil Bowering Sutherland 

Council; Tim Jonas Palerang Council and Paul Wesley USU Organiser. 

Life membership 

awarded to: 

Greg McLean, Kayee 

Griffin, Amanda Keevil, 

Eric Dowling (see more 

on page 34), Joe Smith 

(see more on page 

34), Frank Holobowski, 

Wayne Fussell, Tim 

Jonas, Phil Bowering, 

Paul Wesley, Paul Reid, 

Gary Cullen, Christopher 

Johnson, Myra Bowman 

and Susan Webster. 


A life of service to the members 

Greg McLean, OAM, has been 

presented with Life Membership 

of the United Services Union. 

Greg became a member in 1971, 

serving nearly 35 years as a full 

time elected official. 

At the 2017 Conference dinner 

the union paid tribute to Greg 

and his commitment to the union 

movement locally, nationally and 

internationally. 

Joining the Union in December 

1971 before starting work at Sydney 

County Council in January 1972 (in 

those days you joined the Union 

before commencing work) Greg was 

a delegate and then member of the 

Public Utilities Salaried Officer’s 

Association (PUSOA) Committee of 

Management. 

Along with being active in the 

Union itself, Greg was always 

politically active which saw him 

attend ALP State Conferences as an 

MEU/USU delegate since 1978 as well 

as being Delegate to the NSW Trades 

and Labour Council (now Unions 

NSW) since January 1979. 

Throughout Greg’s career with 

the Union he worked with local 

government water and electricity, 

local government county councils 

and then state owned corporations. 

When Greg first started with the 

MEU in 1979 he was a Research / 

Industrial Staff Officer. 

In 1982 Greg was elected as a Local 

Government Organiser covering both 

city and country NSW. 

In 1988 Greg was elected as 

Secretary of the PUSOA Branch 

of the MEU where he represented 

salary members, professional and 

technical members and supervisors 

at Sydney County Council (now 

Ausgrid), Sydney City Council, South 

Above: USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly and President Steve Birney 

present Greg with his Life Membership. 

Greg’s Union and Labor 

values have been inspired by 

those he has worked with at 

both a political and industrial 

level as well as his family 

which has a long history of 

Union involvement. 

Sydney Council, the Electricity 

Commission of NSW (including all 

power stations, transmission centres 

state wide) and Sydney Farm Market 

Authority. 

In 1997 Greg was elected to 

the position of Assistant Branch 

Secretary of the ASU National Office 

where he was a strong advocate for 

the local government electricity 

and water union members and 

their industries, anti-privatisation, 

and more. He was also an advocate 

for skills recognition and training, 

all based around results in greater 

equality, job security, remuneration, 

longer term employment, reducing 

opportunities for contracting out, 

keeping jobs in local communities ... 

and ensuring the NSW award system 

was secured for Local Government 

employees as the country moved 

to a majority National Industrial 

Relations system. 

Greg’s Union and Labor values 

have been inspired by those he 

has worked with at both a political 

and industrial level as well as his 

family which has a long history of 

Union involvement - for 19 years his 

Grandfather was National President 

of the (then) Postal and Telegraph 

Workers’ Union. 

He was awarded the Order of 

Australia for Services to Industrial 

Relations in 2011, presented with the 

Unions NSW Scroll of Honour in 2013 

and Awarded Life Membership of the 

ALP by the NSW Branch in 2014. 

In 2016 Greg was elected as 

Councillor for Sutherland Shire 

Council in 2017. His commitment to 

the members of the USU is lifetime 

and he will continue to be involved in 

campaigns that ensure a fair go for all 

workers. 


40053_USU_Ad_273x210_vF.indd 1 

24/11/17 12:05 pm 

Small steps now can make 

a big difference to your future 

Here are some ideas from EISS Super to help you get moving in 2018. 

Find your lost super – after all it’s your money! 

Australian’s have just under $18 billion in lost super (ATO, June 

2017). People often lose their super because they change jobs 

or move house and forget to update their details with their 

super fund. 

If you have a myGov account, you can search for your lost super 

online by linking to the ATO. Alternatively, you can download 

and complete a Searching for lost super form from ato.gov.au/ 

forms/searching-for-lost-super and return it to the ATO. 

Salary sacrifice – invest a little more 

Your employer is required to contribute 9.5% of your salary to 

super but the harsh reality is, that may not be enough to live a 

comfortable retirement. 

Help grow your retirement savings by contributing a little extra 

to your super. It doesn’t need to be a lot, with the power of 

compounding investment returns (i.e. earning interest on your 

interest from year to year) just a few dollars from each pay now 

can make a real difference later. 

Plus, making contributions from your before tax income may 

mean you don’t give up as much as you would think. This is 

because the amount you contribute is taxed at only 15% 1 which 

is usually lower than the tax rate you pay on your income. 

The EISS Super contributions calculator can help you work out 

the best way to add to your super. You can access the calculator 

at eisuper.com.au/calculators. 

Invest for the long term 

Super is a long-term investment that accumulates over your 

working life and needs to work for you now and in retirement. 

Make sure you choose the investment option that is right for you. 

You can learn more about the EISS Super investment options 

at eisuper.com.au/eiss-super-investment-options. 

Still not sure where to start, why not seek 

professional advice? 

You don’t have to have a lot of assets or money to benefit from 

financial advice. Speaking to an expert can save you time and 

money and make a big difference to your future. 

To make an appointment with an EISS Financial Planner 

call 02 9046 1920 or email fp@eisuper.com.au. 

Make the most of 2018 

Commit to doing at least one thing in 2018 to help 

grow your super and take a step closer to achieving the 

retirement you want to live. 

For more information visit eisuper.com.au/ 

grow-my-super or call Member Services 

on 1300 369 901 from Monday to Friday, 

8.30am to 5.00pm (AEST) or email 

info@eisuper.com.au. 

1 30% if you earn over $250,000 p.a. 

EISS_USU_40053 11/17 

The information in this document is current as at the date of issue, is of a general nature only and has been prepared without taking account of your 

objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information or making an investment decision about whether to acquire, hold or sell 

a financial product, you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs and read the relevant 

Product Disclosure Statement which is available at eisuper.com.au or by contacting Member Services on 1300 369 901. This document is issued by 

Energy Industries Superannuation Scheme Pty Limited ABN 72 077 947 285 (the Trustee), RSE Licensee L0001373 and AFS Licence 441877 as 

trustee for Energy Industries Superannuation Scheme Pool A ABN 22 277 243 559, RSE R1004861 - Pool B ABN 64 322 090 181, RSE R1004878 (the 

Scheme). Throughout this document the Trustee may be referred to as ‘EISS’, ‘EISS Super’, ‘EISS Financial Planning’, ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’. 


It’s time to focus on young workers! 

Do you know a young person about to make the transition from school to work? As 

workplaces face new challenges, the USU is supporting the Future and Younger Workers - 

School to Work Transition Inquiry. 

USU Official / New Gen 

Committee Coordinator Luke 

Hutchinson and Assistant ASU 

National Secretary Robert Potter 

presented a joint submission to the 

Parliamentary Committee Inquiry 

into School to Work transition on 1st 

September. Luke and Robert both 

provided evidence to the committee 

to support younger workers 

transitioning into the workplace. 

The Inquiry’s overall Terms of 

Reference focused on how students 

are supported from school to work 

including the following matters: 

1. Measurements of gain in school 

and how this contributes to 

supporting students to prepare 

for post-school education and 

training; 

2. Opportunities to better inform 

and support students in relation 

to post-school education 

and training, including use 

of employment outcomes of 

students who undertake schoolbased 

vocational education or 

post-school tertiary pathways. 

The Australian Services Union 

developed a report using evidence 

gathered by ASU / USU members 

and community members. The 

report was then supported by the 

joint submission (ASU / USU) to the 

Parliamentary Committee Inquiry. 

The submission was also supported 

by providing direct case studies and 

examples which have been gathered 

by both Robert and Luke while 

representing members in the NSW 

Local Government sector for the 

past ten years. 

USU Official Luke Hutchinson 

and Assistant National Secretary 

(ASU) – Robert Potter, along with 

Labor Party representatives on the 

Parliamentary Inquiry Committee – 

Susan Lamb (MP for Longman) and 

Andrew Giles (MP for Scullin) 

The Union’s submissions also focused on key areas / 

recommendations as follows to bring to the joint Parliamentary 

Committee’s attention: 

Improve governance and apply more stringent scrutiny, auditing and 

compliance measures for the private providers in the VET system, 

particularly if they receive public funds. 

Work toward the abandonment of the contestable funding model which 

has had a detrimental impact on the quality of education, student 

support, learning outcomes and government revenue. 

Create incentives for industries to take on apprentices and trainees with 

adequate mentoring in the workplace while also ensuring they receive a 

liveable wage. 

Encourage schools to provide information about worker safety and the 

important role of Unions in the workplace. 

Do not adopt policies which encourage the underpayment and 

exploitation of young people (for example the Federal Government’s 

Youth Jobs Path program which includes $4 an hour internships). 

Are you in the workplace and aged between the ages of 16 to 

35? Interested in connecting with your New Gen Committee to 

assist and promote the collective interests of fellow younger 

workers? Contact USU Organiser Luke Hutchinson 0419 761 323 or 

lhutchinson@usu.org.au to find out more. 


Reality Check: 

what you say outside of 

In recent years there have been a string of high profile examples where somebody has found 

themselves in hot water at work for comments made in their personal capacity. 

Whether it be hotel worker 

Michael Nolan getting 

fired for posting abusive Facebook 

comments to SMH opinion writer 

Clementine Ford, a Canberra 

children’s entertainer losing her 

role over her “It’s Okay To Say No” 

profile photo or SBS newsreader 

Scott McIntyre getting the sack for 

a controversial ANZAC day tweet, 

these instances are often met with 

the same public response – “But 

what about freedom of speech?” 

The reality is there is no express 

constitutional or legislative 

protection for unrestricted freedom 

of political communication in 

Australia. 

Many people traditionally 

associate the idea of “freedom of 

speech” with the United States First 

Amendment , which provides: 

Congress shall make no law 

respecting an establishment 

of religion, or prohibiting 

Thanks 

the free exercise thereof; or 

abridging the freedom of 

speech, or of the press; or the 

right of the people peaceably 

to assemble, and to petition 

the Government for a redress 

of grievances. 

The Australian Constitution does 

not have an equivalent, express 

recognition of an individual’s 

right to free speech. Instead, our 

“freedom” comes from the High 

Court’s recognition of an implied 

constitutional freedom of political 

communication. 

That recognition, whilst very 

important, does not create personal 

rights in terms of freedom of 

political communication. It does not 

let you make any political comments 

and be protected from any adverse 

consequences, responsibilities or 

accountabilities for what you say. 

The Federal Court decision of 

Chief of the Defence Force v Gaynor 

I have been a life member of the union ever since my 

forced retirement due to a work related injury in 2012. 

I cannot thank the union, Carroll and O’Dea legal firm 

and especially Mr Peter Lleonart whose devotion to my 

case saw a fair and just outcome. Without Peter I would 

not have known where to start. 

I strongly urge all members who are thinking about 

retirement or who have retired to become retired 

members of the USU because the insurance companies 

put so many road blocks in front of you that only people 

like Mr Lleonart can handle. 

Once again thank you all for your devotion to my case. 

Steve Brown 

[2017] FCA FC41 brings these 

limitations and constraints into 

sharp focus, particularly as they 

relate to the workplace. 

That matter concerned Mr Bernard 

Gaynor, a Major in the Australian 

Army Reserve who communicated 

a range of public opinions through 

a blog publish on his personal web 

page. He made the same comments 

on his Twitter account and through 

his Facebook page. 

Mr Gaynor’s statements included 

words to the effect that he would 

not let homosexual people teach 

his children, that it was wrong to 

let members of the ADF march in 

uniform at the Sydney Mardi Gras, 

as well as expressing views critical 

of Government and ADF policy, 

including the conflict in Afghanistan 

and a range of comments relating to 

the practice of Islam. 

Mr Gaynor contended he was 

making these publications in a 

personal capacity and not as an 

“employee” of the Army Reserve 

or the Australian Defence Force, 

however there was no dispute that 

any reader could easily identify that 

he was an officer in the ADF from 

his various publications. 

Mr Gaynor was cautioned by his 

superiors about his publications, but 

he did not change his practices and 

steps were taken to terminate his 

service. 

Mr Gaynor’s publications came 

against a background where the 

ADF, over a number of years, had 

been seeking to change its position 

to ensure it was encouraging greater 

diversity in gender equality. 


work can impact your employment 

The ADF had its own publications 

clearly identifying these aims, as 

well as instructions to Commanders 

that all personnel and prospective 

personnel were to be valued and 

treated fairly on individual merit 

and with respect and dignity. The 

Court considered the ADF was 

attempting to encourage tolerance 

and acceptance of diversity. 

Mr Gaynor challenged his 

dismissal on the basis that it 

interfered with the implied 

constitutional freedom of political 

communication. Though the 

Federal Court initially favoured Mr 

Gaynor on this position, the Full 

Bench overturned that decision and 

re-iterated that the implied freedom 

in the Australian Constitution 

did not grant personal rights to 

individuals. 

Put another way, the Full Bench 

held the freedom of political 

communication is a limit on the 

legislative power of the Government, 

not an expressly created right for 

individuals. 

The Full Bench rejected the 

notion that the matter was a case of 

Mr Gaynor having been terminated 

for expressing his political opinion. 

Rather, the Court found Mr Gaynor 

was terminated for not complying 

with the policies and directions of 

the ADF. 

The Court held that it was not a 

question of whether Mr Gaynor’s 

dismissal itself was incompatible 

with the implied freedom of 

political communication, but rather 

whether the Government legislation 

and regulations that allowed the 

ADF to dismiss him breached that 

freedom. 

This Regulation permitted the 

termination of a service of an officer 

in certain circumstances and was 

not incompatible with the implied 

freedom. 

Mr Gaynor sought leave to appeal 

his matter to the High Court and his 

application was rejected. 

Accordingly whether you are in 

the Army, the public sector or the 

private sector, and employer has the 

capacity to set out a range of policies 

over issues that pertain not simply 

to the narrow traditional economic 

focus of an enterprise but to a much 

broader range of policy criteria 

including being a “good corporate 

citizen”. 

A breach of these policy 

prescriptions in the workplace 

certainly can give rise to disciplinary 

consequences, but more 

importantly, a breach of the policy 

prescription by your behavior outside 

of the workplace, including what is 

said in social media, can still bring 

an employee to account. 

What you say, and the risk of 

adverse action you take in saying 

it, must be measured against the 

means by which you communicate, 

the extent to which you are 

identifiable as the author of what 

is said, whether you are readily 

identified as an employee of your 

company and the policy of the 

employer. 

It is a high risk strategy to be 

relying upon implied protections 

for the freedom of political 

communication and it is a strategy 

unless there are exceptional 

circumstances which will fail. 

Michael Barnes 

Partner 

1800 816 559 


Picnic day at the Races 

MidCoast Council held its 

first Picnic day as a newly 

amalgamated council on Friday 

20th October 2017 and it was a 

fantastic success with over 200 

members turning out for a day 

at the races. Congratulations to 

the Picnic committee members 

(pictured) Ian, Damien Welsh 

(USU), Jeff, Julie, Naomi, Bret, 

Merv and Jason. 

The day had representation from the three former Councils, as 

well as from the County Council that joined MidCoast Council 

in June this year. Members from both the LGEA and Depa also 

turned up to celebrate the Union Picnic Day. The day was a huge 

success, with even the newly elected Mayor turning out to talk with 

the members. Some members travelled over 250 km return trip just 

to enjoy the day. The Picnic Day Committee organised a full day of 

entertainment, which included sponsoring the first race of the day 

the “United We Stand” handicap, as well as the sixth race the “USU 

Picnic Day” plate, with 8 members winning the lucky door prize 

to present the trophies and ribbons to the winning horses of both 

races. There was also ‘fashions of the field’ with both best dressed 

male and female. Members also enjoyed a main meal, nibbles and 

drinks, as well as new friendships forged over a few ales. 

USU SCHOLARSHIPS 2018 

Each year the USU awards two 

scholarships, the Phil Smyth 

Scholarship to assist with the costs 

of higher education and the John 

Beacroft Memorial Scholarship/ 

Grant to assist with expenses 

related to sporting ambition. 

The Union has supported 

members and their families 

through the Phil Smyth Memorial 

Scholarship program for a 

number of years and from 2017 

will assist USU members (or 

dependants), who demonstrate 

outstanding sporting attributes 

with ambitions for higher 

achievements in the sport arena. 

Applicants for both scholarships 

are required to be full-time students, 

must be a child of a member, with 

the member having at least five 

continuous years of membership. 

Phil Smyth Scholarships are 

awarded in four categories and are 

open until 28 February 2018: 

Category 1. Secondary Education 

Category 2. Tertiary Education, 

Industrial Relations Studies or 

Local Government Foundation 

Studies Operation Certificates. 

Category 3. University Studies 

Category 4. Industry 

Scholarship Contribution 

The John Beacroft Grants will 

be open from 1st January to 31st 

October of each year and will 

be approved at each Executive 

Meeting until funds for that year 

are exhausted. 

These scholarships are to assist 

members on low incomes. 

Members are encouraged 

to apply for the 

scholarships. Find out more 

at www.usu.org.au 

FULL DETAILS, CONDITIONS & APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.USU.ORG.AU 


USU members Richard 

Broadbent and Neville Watling 

106 years of history 

threatened 

Following a service review report Singleton Council has informed its employees and the USU that it 

will release an expression of interest for the lease or sale of the operations of its livestock sale yards 

on the 21 st December 2017. The USU believes there is a better alternative. 

Council currently employees 

2 full time employees and a 

weighbridge operator for 8 hours 

per week on sale day. The Singleton 

sale yards have been owned and 

operated by Council on the same site 

since 1911. The previous time Council 

offered an expression of interest was 

in 2012 and it received no interest. 

Whilst sale yards are currently 

running at a loss, Council charges 

have only increased by CPI 

each year for the last 5 years. It 

is the cheapest sale yard in the 

surrounding area with its closest 

competition which is privately run, 

charging almost double per head of 

cattle that passes through. 

A 7 million dollar upgrade is 

almost complete which includes 

a roof over the saleyards and new 

railings and walkways that was in 

part funded by a 6 million dollar 

State Government grant. Council 

will make a decision on the outcome 

of the expressions of interest in 

February 2018. 

In parallel to the EOI, Council is 

developing a business plan should 

it continue to run the saleyards. 

The USU believes that as part of 

its business plan if it increased its 

charges by a reasonable amount 

it would remain cheaper than its 

privately owned competition and 

achieve a 43% increase in revenue 

making the sale yards a viable 

business for Council and retaining 

employees jobs on Council. 

USU pays tribute to a great Cobber 

The USU pays tribute to a union stalwart and former USU Executive 

member Paul Mazzotta who sadly passed away on 26 July 2017. 

Paul commenced at Marrickville Council on the 7th February 1983. He was the 

Head Delegate at Council while also holding a position on Sydney Branch 

and working his way up to be a USU Executive member. 

He always supported MEU / USU members at Marrickville Council and 

would call everyone Cob - for him unionism was about helping a mate. Paul was 

committed to the USU and our members, assisting in a number of major disputes 

at Marrickville Council where his extensive knowledge and experience at Council 

assisted the Union in settling these disputes. Paul was certainly a character in 

Local Government. He retired 27 September 2007 and passed away on 26 July 2017. 

The USU extends our sympathy to his family and many cobbers. 


Getting things done for 34 Years 

The USU congratulates Allan 

“Joe” Smith who has been 



Joe commenced work at 

Gloucester Shire Council in 1977 

as a Water and Sewerage Operator 

at the Gloucester Water Treatment 

Plant. Joe joined the (then) MEU on 

his first day of work and remained 

a proud, active union member and 

Water & Sewerage Operator for 38 

years. 

Within six months he had 

become the Union Delegate to 

“get things done around here”. Joe 

remained the MEU / USU Delegate 

at Gloucester Shire Council for 

approximately 34 years, when in 

2011 Council’s Water and Sewerage 

Operations were transferred 

to MidCoast Water in 2011. Joe 

remained a proud USU member at 

MidCoast Water and a USU Contact 

for the Gloucester area until his 

retirement in 2015 at the age of 78. 

Joe’s ongoing advice to the 

replacement delegate currently 

at Gloucester Shire Council Jeff 

USU General Secretary Graeme 

Kelly presents Joe with his Life 

Membership. 

“Bones” Blanchard is “Now as the 

Union Delegate you need to tell the 

bosses what to do not the other way 

round!” 

Throughout his 34 years of 

representation for the MEU / USU 

at Gloucester Shire Council he 

cannot remember the number of 

Union Picnic days, Union mass 

meetings, union fees, grievances, 

Christmas parties, union 

conferences he has organised, 

attended and resolved. 

Joe still resides in the Gloucester 

area and is always willing to provide 

advice or opinions to any fellow 

workmates. 

Delegates have a say in the union 

The USU congratulates 

Eric Dowling who has been 



Eric started with Maitland 

Council on the 11th of April 

1989 as a Civil Construction Team 

Leader and a month later he became 

a Union member. 

Around 2004 he was approached 

to become the Indoor Staff Delegate 

for the (then) MEU. 

In 2005 WorkChoices reared its 

ugly head and Eric found himself 

working with USU Delegate 

Luke Hutchinson (now a USU 

Organiser) in formulating a Council 

Agreement, and dealing with a 

NAPSA and not the award. 

In 2007 Eric took over the role as 

Delegate; Newcastle Committee 

of Management rep and also as a 

Conference Delegate. 

Eric recalls, “My first Conference 

showed me the role of the Delegate 

and how they have a say in the 

direction of our Union.” 

Eric has been on the negotiating 

team for five Waste Agreements 

and the revised Start and Finish 

Agreement. 

With the help of Stephen Hughes 

he was part of a trial for the industry 

Drug and Alcohol Policy, something 

USU Manager North Stephen 

Hughes presents Eric with his Life 

Membership. 

that he is very proud of which was 

needed to protect our members. 

Eric was the driving force behind 

the Union Picnic for Maitland City 

Council and this gave him great 

pride as a Union member. 

He has enjoyed his working career 

with the Council and more so as a 

Union member and Delegate. 

Eric approached Council about 

phased retirement in April 2016 and 

resigned from Council on the 22nd 

July 2016. 

Eric would like to thank the Union 

for all its support over the years 

as well as from members, fellow 

Delegates, Organisers and Officials. 

He is proud to say that he is a 

member of the USU. 


How will the recent changes 

affectyour super? 

On 1 July 2017, a number of changes to superannuation 

came into effect, and there’s one that may affect you if you’re 

fortunate enough to receive a financial windfall, such as an 

inheritance, and want to use it to boost your super. 

Non-concessional or post-tax super contributions 

These contributions are made from your post-tax income and 

include any lump sums you make to your super account. No 

tax is deducted from your non-concessional contributions 

but there’s still a cap on the amount you can contribute each 

financial year. 

The annual cap on these contributions has changed as follows: 

Up until 30 June 2017 From 1 July 2017 

Cap of $180,000 per annum 

for everyone regardless of 

your age. 

‘Bring forward’ rule meant if 

you’re under 65, you could 

make up to three years of 

contributions, or $540,000, 

at any time over the threeyear 

period. 

Cap of $100,000 per annum 

for everyone regardless of 

your age. 

‘Bring forward’ rule means 

if you’re under 65, you can 

make up to three years of 

contributions, or $300,000, 

at any time over the threeyear 

period. 

You may think that the $100,000 annual cap may affect a 

very limited number of people who can afford to invest this 

sort of money in their super. However, if you receive a financial 

windfall, such as an inheritance, you will need to be aware of 

just how much you can contribute to your super. 

The ‘bring forward’ rule allows you to make nonconcessional 

contributions of up to $300,000 in one financial 

year. It also means that you cannot make any further nonconcessional 

contributions in the following two financial years. 

So if you do receive an inheritance of more than $300,000, 

you may need to consider investing any excess funds 

elsewhere, and how you invest these funds will depend on 

your long-term financial goals. 

Local Government Super offers professional financial planning 

advice to everyone and you don’t even have to be a member. 

If you’d like more details about financial planning, call us 

on 1300 LGSUPER (1300 547 873) between 8.30am and 5.00pm, 

Monday to Friday. 

This article has been issued by LGSS Pty Limited (ABN 68 078 003 497) (AFSL 383558), as 

Trustee for Local Government Super (ABN 28 901 371 321). This document contains general 

information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, situation or needs. 

You should consider obtaining professional financial, taxation and/or legal advice tailored to 

your personal circumstances prior to making any financial decision. 

You can 

plan for the 

unexpected 

Many of the big changes in our 

lives are completely unexpected. 

How you respond to these 

changes can have a big influence 

on your long-term financial future. 

A good financial plan gives 

you the flexibility to adapt to 

changing circumstances, and take 

advantage of new opportunities. 

If you’d like to know more 

about affordable, professional 

financial advice, give us a call on 

1300 LGSUPER (1300 547 873) 

or visit lgsuper.com.au 

Issued by LGSS Pty Limited (ABN 68 078 003 497) (AFSL 383558), 

as Trustee for Local Government Super (ABN 28 901 371 321). 

This document contains general information only. 

L0956-11/17-USU 

L0956 vertical_ad.indd 1 

United Summer 2017 • 35 

1/12/2016 3:00:55 PM

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*SuperRatings ‘Which funds have the lowest fees’ September 2016. 

The information in this document is current as at the date of issue, is of a general nature only and has been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this 

information or making an investment decision about whether to acquire, hold or sell a financial product, you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs 

and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement which is available at eisuper.com.au or by contacting Member Services on 1300 369 901. This document is issued by Energy Industries Superannuation 

Scheme Pty Limited ABN 72 077 947 285 (the Trustee), RSE Licensee L0001373 and AFS Licence 441877 as trustee for Energy Industries Superannuation Scheme Pool A ABN 22 277 243 559, RSE R1004861 - 

Pool B ABN 64 322 090 181, RSE R1004878 (the Scheme). Throughout this document the Trustee may be referred to as ‘EISS’, ‘EISS Super’, ‘EISS Advice’, ‘EISS Financial Planning’, ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’. 

SuperRatings does not issue, sell, guarantee or underwrite this product. Go to www.superratings.com.au for details of its ratings criteria. 


40052_USU_Ad_273x210_vF.indd 1 

24/11/17 12:06 pm

Training that delivers 

USU delegate training has recently had an overhaul, splitting the basic training from USU@WORK. 

WE NOW HAVE 2 DAY DELEGATE BASICS WHICH COVERS: 

History of 

Union Movement 

How the Branches 

work 

Conference and the 

Rules 

History of 

the USU 

Union Purpose, 

values and power 

Structure of the 

USU 

Delegates’ Rights, 

Responsibilities and 

Competencies 

ROLE OF THE DELEGATE 

Award 

Mapping 

Building Density 

Natural Justice and Procedural Fairness 

Taking notes at a meeting 

Grievance and disputes 

Disciplinary meetings 

We also have USU@WORK, which is a more advanced course aimed specifically at membership growth. 

The course is mapped against units of competency from the Certificate IV, Unionism and Industrial 

Relations. The face to face component is delivered at an accredited level. In order to make the course 

achievable for our delegates, the assessments have been designed to make them more useful in the 

USU context. 

Accredited assessments formerly required delegates to run the same campaign which is required in 

USU@WORK, but to undertake critical analysis of the success of the campaign and write a 5000 word 

essay on that critical analysis. 

THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING: 

Mapping of your workplace; 

Between 6 and 8 mentoring sessions with your 

Organiser – at least 3 must be in person; 

Draft a couple of industrial updates; 

Complete Delegate Campaign Plan; 

Run a simple campaign on a local issue, aimed 

at membership growth; 

Give a short report on how the Campaign went 

and the members gained. 

OTHER TRAINING DELIVERED AT REASONABLE RATES: 

5 day and 1 day refresher HSR 

Joint Consultative Committee Training 

Bespoke training – tailored to the needs of your Organisation 

On site Delegate training for a minimum of 8 participants. 


Get rewarded $$$ 

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Your ME specialist is 

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0457 527 511 

Chetan.kabra@mebank.com.au 

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*Conditions apply 

*offer valid until 28 February 2018 


New England Branch asks... 

Can you help us save a life? 

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter 

Service is approaching 2,000 

missions each year with a Doctor 

and Paramedic on every flight. 

Your Tax Deductible donation 

will help to ensure that the service 

remains FREE of charge to our 

community. New England Branch 

committee Management and 

members of the United Services 

Union in the New England area are 

great supporters of the Westpac 

Rescue Helicopter Service. USU 

members’ total donations in New 

England branch area up to date have 

seen the USU logo placed on the 

Helicopter. 

The New Branch Committee of management thank all of our members 

for their kind donations to this great organisation. 

The challenge is on! 

We now put the 

challenge out to all the 

other USU Branches, 

to equal or better the 

USU New England 

members’ donations 

to the Westpac Rescue 

Helicopter Service. 

Council Restructure? 

Talk to the Union about your options 

With many councils 

undergoing restructure 

following amalgamations 

members can find 

themselves in a situation 

where they need to 

make decisions about 

their futures. As Acting 

Northern Branch USU 

Organiser John Hickson 

points out this should not 

be undertaken without the 

help of the Union. 

The recent restructure at Byron Shire Council resulted in one of our 

members missing out on the new structured position. 

As a result of discussions with Council on behalf of the member, the 

member was offered the option of taking up an alternative position with no 

loss of pay, or a redundancy. 

The member sought financial advice from the Superannuation Financial 

Planner and decided he would take the redundancy. 

Negotiations commenced between the Union and Council in regard to the 

terms of the redundancy. 

Following a number of meetings the Union was able to 

negotiate a package of 50 weeks redundancy payment. 

Our member was very happy with the Union’s efforts on his behalf. If you 

are subjected to a re-structure make sure you contact your USU Delegate or 

Organiser immediately. 


USU Contributions 

2018 

INCOME THRESHOLDS 

SUBSCRIPTION 2018 - METROPOLITAN COUNCIL/ AUSGRID/ PRIVATE SECTOR PICNIC TICKET RATES 

Annual Quarter Month Fortnight Week 

A Full (earning more than $652.5pw) 550.16 137.54 45.85 21.16 10.58 

B 75% Rate (earning $652.5pw or less) 417.04 104.26 34.75 16.04 8.02 

C 50% Rate (earning $435pw or less) 283.92 70.98 23.66 10.92 5.46 

D 25% Rate (earning $217.5pw or less) 150.80 37.70 12.57 5.80 2.90 

SUBSCRIPTION 2018 - REGIONAL & ENERGY NON PICNIC TICKET RATES 


E Full (earning more than $652.5pw) 532.48 133.12 44.37 20.48 10.24 

F 75% Rate (earning $652.5pw or less) 399.36 99.84 33.28 15.36 7.68 

G 50% Rate (earning $435pw or less) 266.24 66.56 22.19 10.24 5.12 

H 25% Rate (earning $217.5pw or less) 133.12 33.28 11.09 5.12 2.56 

SUBSCRIPTION 2018 - AIRLINES MEMBERS INC PICNIC TICKET ($8.80pa levy applies) 


I Full (earning more than $652.5pw) 558.96 139.74 46.58 21.50 10.75 

J 75% Rate (earning $652.5pw or less) 425.84 106.46 35.49 16.38 8.19 

K 50% Rate (earning $435pw or less) 292.72 73.18 24.39 11.26 5.63 

L TAB & Agencies - Casuals Per Hour: 0.31 For more information contact the 

M TAB & Agencies - Junior Casuals Per Hour: 0.20 USU on 1300 136 606 

The following regional councils have different picnic levies - Ballina Council, Byron Council, Central Coast Council, Coffs Harbour Council, Kyogle 

Council, Mid Coast Council, Narrabri Council, North West Council, Warren Council, Wollongong City Council. Please refer to the USU website for 

further fee information (including varying picnic fee levies). 

PAYMENT OPTIONS: 

Direct Debit: 

Payroll Deduction: 

Direct Payment: 

Union Contributions are deducted Weekly, Fortnightly, Bi-Fortnightly, Monthly or Quarterly 

from the member’s credit card or bank, building society or credit union account. 

Members’ contributions are deducted from their pay and forwarded to Union office (where 

the employer provides this facility) 

Members receive an invoice and may pay by mailing a cheque, providing a credit card 

number, via Bpay or by cash over the counter. 



Great deals 

for members at 

The Good Guys 

As a valued Union Shopper member you 

can now get exclusive access to a new 

online shopping site with The Good Guys 

Commercial. 

You will be able to see ‘live’ discounted 

pricing on the entire The Good 

Guys range – that’s great deals 

on over 4,000 products! 

And you will be able to make 

your purchases online – saving 

you time and money. 

To register for online access to The Good Guys Commercial 

website,visit www.unionshopper.com.au/the-good-guys/ 

or phone 1300 368 117 

1300 368 117 

unionshopper.com.au 


USUKIDS corner 

Two winners will be awarded 

in the following categories: 

Ages 8-12 years and 

Ages up to 7. 

Send your entry to: USU Kids, 

Level 7, 321 Pitt St, Sydney for 

your chance to win some great 

prizes. Winners will be published 

in the next edition of United. 

Name:__________________ 

________________________ 

Age: ___________________ 

Address: ________________ 

________________________ 

________________________ 



AUSTRALIAN MUNICIPAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, CLERICAL AND SERVICES UNION 

NSW LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CLERICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, ENERGY, AIRLINES & UTILITIES BRANCH 

SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2017



NEW SOUTH WALES LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CLERICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, 

ENERGY, AIRLINES & UTILITIES UNION 

SUMMARY OF THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2016


2018 USU 

METRO 

PICNIC DAY 

A fun day out 

at Taronga Zoo 

for USU metro 

members and their 

families! 

JOIN US 

ON FRIDAY 

9th 

March 


U•S•U 

Conditions apply. 

Check the USU 

website www.usu. 

org.au for more 

details. 

Find out more : 

www.taronga.org.au/

United magazine Summer 2017

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