USU Manager Northern Stephen Hughes outlines why the USU is creating a USU Delegate Recruitment Information Kit.

At the July monthly USU Managers’ Meeting an idea was discussed to create a USU Delegate’s information kit, to provide to USU Delegates and potential USU Delegates and Worksite Contacts and inform them of the various levels of involvement they could participate in should they choose to become an active USU Workplace Delegate/Representative/Activist or specific Worksite Contact.

We are not limited for examples under the NSW Local Government State Award regarding how many Delegates we can have in a workplace, nor their right to paid leave to participate in our Union Delegate training.

HOW OUR DELEGATE STRUCTURE WORKS

We also have USU Delegates who participate at different levels, which have different levels of participation and commitments attached.

For example, the USU is part of a Federal Union known as the Australian Services Union which has broad industry coverage in Local Government, Energy, Airlines and Clerical sectors.       

The NSW United Services Union Branch of the ASU has 12 Sub-Branches which cover all areas across NSW with an Energy Branch, an Airlines Branch a Clerical Branch and 9 regional Branches which are either entirely Local Government or largely Local Government.

Each of these Sub-Branches meet approximately every 4 months and are made up of elected rank and file eligible Delegates/Members who must have at least 12 months unbroken financial membership when nominating for the roles on their Sub-Branch for the elections which are held every 4 years in accordance with our rules.

Each of these Sub-Branches have at least 1 person who is elected to the State Executive which under the current rules is the Governing body of the USU.

This Executive group meets generally quarterly.

Each of the Sub-Branches have their size and structure determined and ratified before the elections every 4 years but are capped at a maximum of 30 positions except for the larger Sydney Metropolitan Sub-Branch which is capped at 40 positions.

In the 8 regional Local Government Sub-Branches every single Council within the Sub-Branch has at least 1 position in the structure.

We also seek to include guaranteed positions for youth (under 35), Women and have recently added an indigenous position to Sub-Branches who until the next elections in 2 years will be able to attend the Sub-Branch meetings and participate in discussions but who won’t hold an official position until we amend the Sub-Branch structures prior to the next elections.

All the Sub-Branch position holders are now invited to the USU State Annual Conference and recently when a representative from a Sub-Branch was unable to attend the Conference, we have made arrangements to have another financial member/delegate attend to represent that specific employer/workplace.

Most of our hundreds of USU Delegates across NSW are not filling positions that require attendance at regional Sub-Branch or Executive meetings.

DELEGATE RIGHTS

As stated earlier Union Delegates have certain specific rights which should assist them in their Delegate’s role regarding access to paid time for Delegate training, and for example in representing their fellow Union members in grievances, disciplinaries, on Consultative Committees, in workplace negotiations etc.

For example, NSW Local Government Delegates have rights regarding resourcing under the NSW Local Government Model Code of Conduct.

There are also laws which protect Union Delegates from victimisation from employers, for example sections 210 and 211 of the NSW IR Act regarding freedom of association and from victimisation.

DELEGATE TRAINING

The USU runs several face-to-face training courses for our Delegates which generally are for 2 days with Delegates basics as well as more advanced Delegate training.

Other than the regional meetings for those who are elected to Sub-Branch Committees, those interested in becoming a USU Delegate can seek to do so at different levels and capacities.

For example, we would normally have a Delegate recognised as the Head Delegate for a workplace.

YOUR VOICE

This person would normally also be elected to their regional Sub-Branch Committee where they can ensure that their workplace has a direct voice at that level, where they can both provide and receive relevant information to disperse back to and from their members.    

We also should have Co-Delegates in the workplace who can assist their Head Delegate and step in if their Head Delegate is unavailable or if there is a possible conflict of interest for a specific matter.

We are not limited in how many Co-Delegates that we can have in any workplace.

SPECIFIC SECTION/WORKSITE/VOCATION DELEGATES

We can and should have members fill positions where they have the local knowledge, experience and presence where they can be a local representative for a specific site/group and where they can assist readily when required in that specific area.

SITE CONTACTS

Every fixed worksite should ideally have a USU member who is prepared to receive and make available union information for USU members and potential members and who can refer those who may need advice and or representation to the relevant USU Delegate and where needed the allocated USU Organiser.

The USU has been mapping and identifying all fixed workplaces where we have members or potential members and ideally every one of those should at least have a USU Site Contact.              

DELEGATES KIT

As stated at the beginning, the USU will be developing a new USU Delegate/Activist/Representative/Site Contact kit which will include information on Delegate’s Rights and Responsibilities, details on our USU Delegate Training and for those who seek to become an Active USU Delegate, a USU Delegate’s folder (which we have already developed) can be provided on request.

For those who merely want to be listed as a specific Worksite Contact we can ensure that you go on our list to receive electronic and/or mailed regular flyers and information and recruitment kits with the $50.00 sign up a member application form which they can claim for each new member they sign up to the Union.