By Steve Rogers
CANBERRA — Defeat of the incumbents in the ACT branch Public Sector Union elections has sent a shiver down the spine of the local ALP officialdom. With around 21,000 members, the PSU is the largest union in the ACT. It is not affiliated to the ALP, but the current leadership has played a major part in ALP affairs and provided virtually uncritical support for the ACT's Labor minority government.
PSU Challenge won 7 executive positions out of 12 generally elected, including Cath Garvan in the all-important branch secretary position. (A 13th position is filled by ABC union members.)
Cath Garvan told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly she was looking forward to real changes in the coming three years, changes that would build the membership and create a pride in the union.
The secretary-elect was not surprised by the victory. "There are many separate issues, but members are generally disappointed in the performance of the union, and are looking for change."
The PSU Challenge victory comes at a time of major attacks on public servants: the Labor government is preparing extensive cuts to the public sector, and the PSU national leadership is undertaking measures to substantially limit members' rights.
One immediate issue is agency-based enterprise bargaining. A number of agreements are in preparation and due to go to members early in 1994. "We will be scrutinising any draft agreements prior to their presentation to members for a vote", said Garvan. "There will be no deadlines for members' response, as presently exist. The agreements will only be approved if members feel very comfortable with them, and are not trading off conditions or jobs for a pay rise.
"If that means that agreements are not pursued with great vigour, that is fine. It will be up to the membership, not us, to push them forward."
In March, PSU members are due to vote on the issue of amalgamation with the State Public Service Federation. This will more than double the size of the union. In the case of Canberra, where there is no state public service union, the effect will be to reduce the influence of the ACT branch within the union.
In line with PSU Challenge's commitment to union democracy, ACT members will get both points of view so that they are able to make their choice. Garvan identified the main problem with the proposal: "The question is whether the amalgamation provides a better level of service to members". Evidence points to the contrary.
One claim by PSU Alliance throughout the election campaign was that other unions and the national organisation would not work with PSU Challenge. According to Garvan, the claim reflected the narrow-mindedness of the incumbents. "The national office, if it has any sense, will work with the branch.
"What it has to realise is that it is not just Canberra. There is a ground swell of feeling within the union at a national level, and national elections are coming up next year."
Since the result, PSU Alliance leaders Ross Campbell and Jennifer Bradley have been trying to stir up hostility to Garvan through the local press. Accusations of financial incompetence and work impropriety, which were spread by word of mouth during the campaign, have now been put in print. Whether this represents sour grapes or the start of a coordinated ALP disruption campaign is not yet known.
The response on the job has been positive. Public servants trying to cope with increasing cuts want something new. Comments such as "We need a change", "About time" and "I'll join the union now" are typical.