Following the positive results for Members First, the rank-and-file network in the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) in the May union elections, and the national caucus of CPSU members held at the Socialist Alliance national conference, the Canberra and Victorian Alliance branches have now held caucuses of members and supporters to discuss what steps we can take to get our CPSU work more organised.
At the caucus meeting in Victoria, Alliance member Terry Costello, a delegate to the CPSU’s national council, reported on the council’s decisions, including the adoption of a motion, initiated by SA members, calling for an industrial and political campaign around the federal budget. The caucus discussed how to pressure union leaders to put this motion into practise, including the possibility of volunteering as CPSU delegates to a Victorian Trades Hall Council meeting to plan action against the budget.
The question of casualisation in the public service was also discussed. The caucus decided to write an article on the topic and make a submission to a state government enquiry on casualisation.
In Canberra, the caucus discussed the document adopted at the Socialist Alliance national conference - “Rebuilding democratic, militant unionism: Socialist Alliance and the trade unions” - as it related to our CPSU work, and what activities we could undertake in Canberra.
Some of the things we decided to do were: to organise semi-regular Socialist Alliance CPSU members events to discuss and debate issues facing CPSU workers; to encourage monthly meetings of Members First so that the rank-and-file group can get more organised in preparation for the October union by-election; to consider producing Alliance CPSU bulletins (preferably national); to hold stalls and distribute the bulletins; and look out for ways to build the campaign against the federal budget attacks.
Socialist Alliance members in the CPSU are encouraged to stay in touch and join the national effort to get more organised by subscribing to the CPSU caucus e-group. Click here to email Daniel Watson at aneiki@bigpond.com
For more information, click on their names to contact the caucus conveners - in Victoria, Terry Costello at TCostello@primustel.com.au or in the ACT, Andrew Hall at andrew-hall@bigpond.com