Service delivery short circuited

It's now more than a year since Premier Morris Iemma stood before a packed Sydney Town Hall and committed his Government to the preservation and where possible the expansion of the public sector.

The PSA didn't take the Premier's undertaking at the event lightly yet it is now a quarter of the way through the Government's term and delivering on that promise is well overdue.

In fact, rather than increasing quality public services, in one glaring instance, quite the opposite is looming.

I refer to the privatisation of the state's electricity, a socially and politically controversial move which can hardly be argued to be in the interests of increasing public and community services.

Most people are quite rightly concerned about what will result from such a sale specifically increased prices, job losses and potential foreign ownership of what is and should remain a publicly owned state asset.

The PSA was at the forefront of the fight to keep the power industry in public hands back in 1997 and we are again heavily involved in round two of the battle.

Some of the remarks coming from Macquarie Street to the effect that the sale will happen no matter what disturbingly mirrors the attitude of a Liberal rather than a Labor Government.

While that's as disappointing as it is puzzling it only strengthens our resolve to win and keep electricity in public hands.

The PSA and many other unions stood firmly behind the Iemma Government at the state election in March 2007 and now in some strange act of false political advertising their agenda has changed.

The strength and level of opposition we show in this fight will have a great bearing on future battles we have with the State Government. If we meekly submit to their proposals we are simply sending them a signal about what other state assets can be sold in the future.

Drawing a line in the sand on the power sale issue is crucial.

Violence in the workplace

There have been disturbing reports in the media recently about violence in schools.

Members in a range of other Departments where direct contact with the public or clients takes place have also been subjected to violence in the workplace.

I am proud to say that the PSA has vigorously mounted and won major court cases where the occupational health and safety of members has been compromised.

In fact, another case is before the courts at the moment.

There are more than enough stresses and demands in the workplace without the added threat of personal injury.

The PSA will not tolerate violent behaviour toward our members.

PSA Recruitment

Now that the dust and the excitement has settled after the Federal election and the hammering workers and the union movement received under the Howard Government is history, it's time to rebuild.

During the year, the PSA is conducting a recruitment drive to sign up new members.

Many people might have been understandably spooked by Howard and the WorkChoices laws as well as bosses all too eager to be a puppet of Howard's team and decided against joining the union.

The fact is however and has always been that being a member of a union not only empowers the individual and offers job insurance in the workplace but it also strengthens the union as a whole.

The more members we have the greater our bargaining power and collective voice.

On page 10 of this issue of Red Tape is an article on recruitment with do's and don'ts and various strategies and ideas to target and sign up new members or encourage those who have, for whatever reason resigned, to rejoin us.

While recruitment is a key role of local delegates for the purposes of the recruitment drive we are also calling upon individual members to do what they can and talk to colleagues who might not be members of the PSA and encourage them to join up.

A friendly word from a trusted and respected workmate or a voice of experience that has had the union come to their aid in a time of need is a powerful recruiting tool.

Sue Walsh
President