Rank and file news #1

Who we are and what we stand for

A Voice For Members is a group of rank-and-file CPSU SPSF members committed to revitalising our union by strengthening grassroots democracy and empowering members to lead the fight for better wages and workplace conditions. We aim to build a bold, democratic, and united union that is ready to take action and win for workers.

We are public servants employed across various departments, agencies, and services within the Victorian public sector. Our members include permanent, fixed-term, and casual workers, as well as workplace delegates and activists.

Our foundation

Founded in 2024, A Voice For Members emerged during the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations, when many of us felt frustrated by the lack of consultation and the lack of member meetings to discuss what our priorities should be for bargaining. Many of us were shocked that the Log of Claims was never put to members for a vote, rather was decided behind closed doors by union bureaucrats.

Members started talking to one another only to discover that our union officials never advertise elections, never publicised meetings or opportunities to engage with or influence the direction of our union; our membership is entirely isolated from fundamental decision-making processes, despite member engagement with these processes being essential to activating
the union’s collective strength.

We’re committed to a more accountable and member-driven CPSU, because we know the empowerment of our membership can only
happen when we have the ability to participate democratically in the decision-making structures of our union. We see the erosion of these structures, the erosion of our ability to engage in union activity or meaningful decision-making, as a barrier to accessing and leveraging our collective power as a union.

A Voice For Members acknowledges that we live and work on stolen Aboriginal land and we commit to advancing the recognition of First Nations sovereignty and rights.

Our principles

Member-Led Unionism: We believe that union power comes from the rank and file. Members should be at the centre of all union decisions, with opportunities to shape priorities and strategies.
Transparency and Accountability: Union processes and decisions should be open and accessible to all members. Elections should be advertised well in advance, and rank and file members should be given fair opportunity to contest.
Active Participation: We advocate for rebuilding delegate networks, revitalising member forums, and creating vibrant workplace committees to strengthen the union’s presence and effectiveness.
Solidarity and Unity: We work to unite all public sector workers — permanent, fixed-term, casual, and labour-hire — to fight together for fair pay and better conditions.
Fighting Spirit: We stand ready to take strong industrial action, including strikes, to secure meaningful wins for members.

What We Oppose

Anti-Union Legislation: Laws that restrict workers’ ability to organise, strike, and take collective action.
Wage Suppression and Poor Conditions: Bargaining policies and management practices that undermine wages, conditions, and job security.
Chronic Understaffing: Arbitrary staffing caps, outsourcing of core functions, funding cuts, and efficiency dividends that erode public services.

What We Believe

Union Democracy Matters: Open discussion and member-driven decision-making are essential for a strong, effective union.
Public Services Belong in Public Hands: The community depends on a well-resourced, independent, and transparent public sector.
Equity and Social Justice: The fight against sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism is union business. We support diverse workplaces and oppose all forms of discrimination.
The Right to Organise: Workers must have the freedom to speak out, associate, and take collective action without fear of reprisal.

Our Vision for the Future

A Voice For Members will fight for:

Workplace Safety and Inclusion: Safe, harassment-free workplaces where diversity is genuinely valued.
Better Conditions for All: Flexible working arrangements and fair conditions extended to all workers.
Empowered Members: Greater say for workers in how services are delivered, with respect for their expertise.
Stronger Protections: Restoring the right to strike, and the right for HSRs and delegates to have a say in everyday workplace operations
Cross-Industry Solidarity: taking solidarity action as a critical tool for building worker power and a strong labour movement. Touch one, touch all!
A Resilient Public Sector: Secure funding and staffing levels that allow public servants to meet the needs of the community effectively

If you’re passionate about creating a stronger, fairer, and more democratic CPSU, join A Voice For Members and be part of the change.

AN ELECTION IS COMING IN 2025

Election dates have been released as of March 2025. This newsletter has been updated.

There has not been a fully contested election for the Branch Executive in over 30 years! Most of the Branch Council positions are elected without a contest as well.

A Voice For Members believes that contested elections create more democratic unions where members can participate in choosing who their elected officials are.

Win, lose or draw, we are building A Voice For Members through network of rank and file workers, delegates and HSRs that together are building a fighting CPSU.

UNDERSTANDING THE CPSU’S ELECTION PROCESS

The Branch Secretary must lodge the required information with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) by 31 March 2025 to commence the election. Election procedures are managed independently by the Returning Officer, an employee from the AEC.

Once the election process is triggered, nominations will be open for 14 days for positions on the Branch Council and the Branch Executive. Only members who have been financial members for 12 months or more are eligible to nominate – this includes disqualification for anyone who has paused their membership, or gone into arrears, for any reason for more than 3 of the last 12 months.

As of March 2025 the election has been called! See below, or this page on the AEC website, for more details.

Branch Council

Workplaces represented by CPSU Vic are divided into 9 electorates. Union members from each electorate are then elected to Branch Council via a direct vote of the membership, with the number of Branch Council Delegates per electorate dependent on the number of members within that electorate.

You can only nominate to become a Branch Council Delegate within the electorate your workplace belongs to. As a voter, you will only be voting for the delegates within your electorate.

What does Branch Council do?

Council members meet monthly to deal with current issues and shape union policy. Union organisers prepare a report each month to keep council members up to date with industrial activities in the union. Branch Council has the power to change union rules, call general meetings, establish member committees, call conferences, and make the final decision on disciplinary action taken against members who violate union rules.

Branch Council Electorate Positions

Health & Community Services: 4
Education: 2
Resources: 3
Justice: 9
Central Agencies: 7
Barwon/South Western Region: 4
North Western Region: 2
Gippsland Region: 2
North Eastern Region: 1

Want to know what electorate you will be voting in? It’s based on a combination of your workplace, and your workplace postcode as registered with CPSU Vic.

You can find out which electorate you are in using our Electorate Finder.

Branch Executive

The Branch Executive is made up of 5 positions:

Branch Secretary
Branch Assistant Secretary
Branch President
Branch Vice Presidents (2)

The Branch Executive functions as the committee of management between Branch Council meetings. It possesses the powers of the Branch Council, with a few important exceptions: it cannot change union rules, refuse admission of members to the union, or determine the code of conduct for members or officials (amongst other restrictions).

The Branch President and Branch Secretary retain a voting place on the Branch Council, taking the total number of Branch Council members to 36. The Branch Secretary is responsible for preparing the agenda for all Branch Council and Branch Executive meetings, meaning winning this position is important for enabling Branch Council delegates to table and vote on issues raised by the member base.

Election Procedure

Once the election procedure has been triggered (by no later than March 31 2025), nominations will be open for all positions on Branch Council and Branch Executive. Nominations will be open for 14 days. Once nominations have closed, accepted nominees have 7 days to provide a photo and a 250 word bio that will be displayed on the voting ballot.

Nominations open 28/04/2025, and will close 12:00pm AEST on 12/05/2025. See this page on the AEC website for more details.

The election will be conducted in two stages. Stage 1 involves the Branch Executive and the Branch Council being elected via a direct vote – meaning the entire financial member base will vote for these positions.

Stage 1 will be conducted via a postal vote.

The ballot has been confirmed to be opening on 10 June, and completed ballot papers must be returned to AEC by 10:00am AEST on 08/07/2025. See this page on the AEC website for more details.

Stage 2 is conducted via a collegiate electoral system, where the newly elected Branch Council nominate and vote candidates on to the Federal Council and Federal Executive. Federal Council and Federal Executive function similarly to the Branch Councils and Branch Executive, except it is made up of elected delegates from all CPSU branches across the country. Branch Secretaries from all states automatically hold the position of Federal Vice President on the Federal Executive.

We’re having a public meeting on Thursday 30 January where we will discuss the election process further and give you a chance to ask questions.

WHAT’S ON

INAUGURAL A VOICE FOR MEMBERS MEETING

THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2025

6PM – 8PM

FOLLOWED BY SOCIAL DRINKS

BAGUNG MAGALI – COMMUNITY ROOM

BARGOONGA NGANJIN, NORTH FITZROY LIBRARY, 182 SAINT GEORGES ROAD, FITZROY NORTH

MCED BY PURPLE PINGERS (AKA JORDAN VAN DEN LAMB)

This first meeting will start the process for pre-selecting candidates for Branch Council and Branch Executive, kicking off our election campaign.

This event has been held, thank you all for attending!

You can listen to a recording from the meeting thanks to our friends at 3CR.

TAKE OUR SURVEY

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THE UNION, WHAT YOU HATE ABOUT IT AND WHAT YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT IT IF YOU COULD!

Survey is now closed, thank you for your responses!

See the results in CPSU Rank and File News – Edition 5: Survey Results

GET IN TOUCH TO GET INVOLVED

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Rank and file news #1 – who we are