MEDIA RELEASE – 20 May 2025
A movement of Victorian public servants has launched an underdog challenge for leadership of the state’s main public sector union, while vowing to simultaneously fight against state government job cuts.
Building on broad rank-and-file discontent with the current leadership of the Community and Public Sector Union’s Victorian branch (CPSU Vic), A Voice for Members (AVFM) is a group of delegates and rank-and-file workers standing candidates for most positions on the CPSU Victorian Branch Executive and Council – in the first fully contested union leadership elections in more than 30 years.
AVFM is running a bold policy platform to fight for better conditions, wages and job security; and ensure Victorians get the government services they deserve from a properly resourced and efficiently managed public sector.
“We’re the underdogs,” said Jiselle Hanna, candidate for State Secretary and CPSU Vic delegate at the Department of Justice and Community Safety. “We don’t get paid for our union work, we’re not insiders—this entire campaign is being run in our spare time, on top of full workloads and constant restructures. But we believe our members deserve better.”
The union elections fall at a critical time for Victorian public servants, with today’s state budget confirming more job cuts are on the horizon. This will put at risk critical services Victorians rely on, and compounds the damage already done by other cuts last year that saw thousands of roles slashed.In response, AVFM has mobilised its own rallies in the streets, drawing hundreds of public sector workers and supporters in protest when these planned cuts were first announced, with more direct action now planned.
Union members say they’ve had enough. “The last EBA delivered real wage cuts and the negotiation process was done entirely behind closed doors,” said Katrina Kiernan-Walker, a Health and Safety Rep, CPSU delegate at the Victorian Electoral Commission and one of 2 vice-president candidates with A Voice for Members. “We need a union that doesn’t just manage declining conditions, but fights back when the offer isn’t good enough.”
A Voice for Members is calling for a more democratic, transparent, and active union, pledging to grow membership and defend jobs. The campaign has committed to reforming the union to give members a greater say in how it is run, dramatically slash the exorbitant salaries paid to union executives, and reduce union dues to make membership more affordable.
“The current union leadership has been in place for decades. That’s too long. There’s no renewal, no challenge, no urgency,” said Hanna. “This moment demands a stronger union that’s ready to advocate for Victorians and the services they rely on, and fight against government cuts, not just communicate them after the fact.”
With union election ballots set to open in June, the group is asking members to vote for change. “This is about hope, courage, and the belief that we can rebuild our union into something that fights for us again.”
“With increasing threats to public sector staffing and wages, our union needs leaders who will actually step up and defend our members. We’re ready to fight for wages that meet the rising cost of living, improve working conditions, and protect jobs and services from attacks like the Silver Review.”
“Win, lose, or draw, we are building a voice for members in the CPSU Vic.”
More information about the campaign, candidates, and policies is available on our website at avfm.au.
Media enquiries: media@avfm.au