The ASU national Conference was held in Adelaide on 13-15 November.

This conference brings all state branches of our union together, giving us the opportunity to share our experiences and wins with our colleagues across Australia.

It also enables us to celebrate special members of our great national union.

At Conference 2024 the USU was proud to nominate former President Glen McAtear for Life Membership of the Australian Services Union. Glen’s contribution to the USU and ASU has been outstanding and we celebrate this recognition with him!

Conference also gave our union the opportunity to take part in discussions of national importance and the challenges we face in the future such as AI, Climate change, Reproductive Health.

USU Manager Energy, Utilities, Private Sector and Airlines Narelle Rich and USU Executive member Thao Tran spoke on ‘Building Climate Safe Communities.

USU Manager Industrial, Rules, Governance & Compliance Daniel Papps also spoke about the great campaign and win that the USU achieved with funding announced for Trainees and Apprentices earlier this year when the United Services Union welcomed the Minns government’s commitment to inject $252 million into the state’s 128 local councils to employ 1,300 apprentices and trainees to fill gaping skills shortages.

The next generation of mechanics, engineers, early childhood educators, plumbers, civil construction workers, and planning cadets will begin work early next year across the state thanks to the announcement.

This is a great USU win! We have been campaigning for this policy for the past three years and we now look forward to re-skilling local government as it was in the 70’s-80’s and 90’s (read full story here)

Daniel and USU Organiser Sandie Morthen also addressed conference about the union’s campaign to achieve an Award for Local Council early childhood educators.

In the last month, 23 meetings were held with early education leaders across NSW. The primary agenda was to seek endorsement for the draft Early Childhood Education and Care schedule. The majority of votes were yes! We now have a proposed new ECEC Splinter Award and the ECEC specific amendments to the LG (State) Award. (see more here)