If you are anything like me your head will be spinning because we are only a week out from Christmas. How is it possible?

I swear I was writing a 2024 wrap up not that long ago and here we are on the verge of another year!

Looking back over 2025 I can once again feel great pride in the work of our great delegates and members. By working together, with great USU staff, we are once again celebrating a year of achievement.

It has been unusual with Graeme taking extended leave but I can truly say I have enjoyed immensely working with Gary Vann, Daniel Papps, Steve Donley, Stephen Hughes and our current Acting GS Sandie Morthen.

Recognising Graeme Kelly OAM

Recently I had the great honour of presenting Graeme Kelly with his Certificate of Recognition for his 35 years employment at the Union. As members would know Graeme has been a member of the (then) Municipal Employees Union and now United Services Union since he was 16! His life has been devoted to the Union and its members and certainly since commencing work with the Union as an Organiser 35 years ago Graeme’s contribution to our great union has been immense!

It was good to catch him off guard with his presentation!

As members probably know I do really love Christmas. As well as being a great time of joy it can also be a great time to reflect.

I remember this time last year being the slave of my physio having had a knee replacement. It made me slow down for a while, giving me time to look through our union journal and what struck me was how positive it is – filled with some great wins.

One win that is particularly close to my heart in this edition is the win on Pay Day Super, legislation that was possible due to the re-election of an Albanese Labor government.

Why is this so important?

Put simply, rather than your super staying in bosses’ accounts for months you will start earning compound interest on your super sooner. It’s your super so it makes sense that you earn the interest.

Requiring employers to pay super on pay day means millions of workers will retire with tens of thousands more in their super fund.

Not only will it ensure workers benefit from compound interest sooner, but paying super on pay day will make it harder for dodgy employers to steal workers’ super.

I have two daughters just starting out in their working lives – they, like many Australians will really see the benefits of this legislation and I am proud that the USU joined unions across Australia to make it happen.

I wish all members and their families a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy 2026!

 

By Your Side

Sharon Sewell
President
United Services Union