The reaction to my email message last night was such that I have decided to start this blog, to let people have their say, either anonymously or publicly - their choice.
Several comments suggested that the decision about merging with the CPSU (Who's that? See below.) is a done deal and that the Alliance simply wants members to rubber-stamp it. Not a chance. For a start there are many views about this possible merger among Alliance officials, both honorary and full-time. Then there are possible road-blocks such as both unions not being able to agree on a suitable partnership arrangement.
However it is certainly true that members have not been kept informed as fully as they should, and for that I apologise: I should have informed Queensland members much sooner about the tentative steps that Federal Council has taken.
Below you will find some comments from members, sent to me and then posted here with their permission. If you would like to lodge a comment, please either use the Comment box at the bottom of this page, or email me at Alliance.Qld@gmail.com and - as long as the comment meets normal publication criteria regarding defamation, contempt and so on - it will be published. Censorship is not an option here.
One more thing: the CPSU. You will find the website of the Community and Public Sector Union at http://www.cpsu.org.au/. Have a browse. If you then have specific questions, send 'em in and I will attempt to get them answered for you.
Cheers, Terry O'Connor, Alliance Queensland Secretary
I've been a member of the CPSU in the past and they were useless - only interested in members in the likes of CentreLink/Social Security and the Tax Office where they had big membership numbers and could use that "muscle" and the fact that one of those departments was/is a big revenue raiser, to get a result.
You are not going to save anything. You'll be a part of another organisation, so arguably the savings won't be yours anyway!
And
You'd probably best amalgamate before a rampaging Packer or a crabby Murdoch buy you out and sack those of us who remain. I know we journos love our "independence", but to survive we just might have to amalgamate
I guess so many of us have seen the Packers and Murdochs and their ilk gobble up everything in front of them
at a price that is often argued as being to the detriment of journalistic independence and our right to speak openly and freely (and we are a "developed" country!?)
So I reckon there perhaps will be a feeling abroad of going through all of that again ... again
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
All the best with your discussions, hopefully wise heads will prevail.
Cheers, Bob Riley
My concern with a merger with Community and Public Sector Union is that it puts journalists in the same union as all the bureaucrats and spin doctors who obfuscate and try to manipulate us.
Regards, Amelia
I was on the AJA Executive when we became MEAA. I do a lot of work for trade unions and I'm a strong believer that size matters when it comes to industrial strength. It's up to members to be active and ensure their voice is heard within the bigger Union. You've got my support for the merger.
Cheers, Anne Jones
ToadShow Pty Ltd
I don’t wish to merge with the CPSU. I will look for another union if we do.
Cheers, Bernie Dowling
There were a few more comments lodged, but not every respondent wanted their comment made public, let alone have their name used. But don't hold back. The Alliance NEEDS a vigorous debate and this is a chance to start. – Terry
Thanks for the proposal - if you go with it - I'll have to drop my support as a member you have had for the past 22 plus years - no point in staying in an even more diverse and less relevant org as will happen when swamped by the public service-serving organisation that is the correct function and focus of the CPSU. Ah well - saving $1 million always looks good - but since we are financially stable - how much money is it worth to sell-off of identity and specific reasons to exist? Sounds like many a merger to me where one side is big and makes promises about no changes only benefits - then over time - the great corporate / CEO line - "moving forward" like a tank over the MEAA - the MEAA who? by the time the following CPSU AGM happens.
ReplyDeleteMy partner is a member of the QPSU, which I believe is part of the CPSU, and a more hopeless bunch you would be hard-pressed to find. If the parent body is anything like the child . . . forget it. Find someone else to marry.
ReplyDeleteI've been an AJA/MEAA member for 38 years and can't see much to be gained by merging with the CSPU. Surely there is a union with more with more in common with us? That said, I congratulate you on stirring this debate. As for those saying they will quit the union if we merge, get a grip, people; do you honestly think the leadership of the MEAA at state or federal level would be investigating this on a whim? Let's debate the thing, look at both sides and then decide. _ Barry Dick
ReplyDeleteThe QPSU and CPSU are very different unions run by different people. I think it is exciting to be part of building a new union. As Barry said State and Nationally they are working towards the possiblity and I am sure they wouldn't make a choice that destables our identity. I was Equity before MEAA and I am still Equity. Take a breath and think about the possiblities and what's important.
ReplyDelete1. What are the perceived benefits for alliance members with this merger? Apart from the stated financial gains to the alliance. WIFM (Whats innit for me)
ReplyDelete2. Do financial gains to alliance indicate a reduction in member fees? Or will our fees increase due to the merger?
3. Our two unions appear completely unrelated, what’s the go here?
4. What is this unions political bent? It appears to have an ALP bias? See CPSU blog comments.
5. My thoughts on this are who gets professional development and in what area? Training is something I feel the alliance could do and do better, how would funding be allocated for this training?
6. This union already looks like its got its fair share of departments to look after (160,000.00 members). How many staff are employed by the union and where? How is funding allocated to the different departments? Big is not always better.
I tend to agree with the comment made by Amelia:
“My concern with a merger with Community and Public Sector Union is that it puts journalists in the same union as all the bureaucrats and spin doctors who obfuscate and try to manipulate us.”
I've looked at the website I don't see any real work being done here by this union apart from keeping public servants employed.
While not averse to a merger, I say rethink this one.
Thanks
Susan Kirk Bcomm
Journalist
MEAA ASC HMAQ QWC
Dear Terry,
ReplyDeleteThank you for explaining this proposed merger and giving me the chance to have my say. As a relatively inactive member most industrial issues don't affect me, but I do have some concerns.
My main concern arises from my first-hand experience of other mergers of bodies I have been involved with. It seems that the smaller body is eventually subsumed into the larger one and once the merger is complete there is effectively no watch-dog to make sure that promises made continue to be enforced, even though written into the Heads of Agreement.
The CPSU is more than 8 times our size and their backbone is public servants with a mix of others like Meat Inspectors and scientists. Without disrespect to such people (I was a public servant for over three years) the fact is that we as performers experience radically different working conditions, e.g. going from one job to the next with no security vs public servants on contracts from 3 years to permanent, "weird" hours vs office hours, etc. That means that any merger must be done in such a way that the new union must retain a genuine capacity for understanding our working conditions and be prepared to fight for them just as hard and just as effectively as the MEAA does now.
To my mind, an important aspect of that will be for the new, merged entity to bear a new name, rather than continuing as merely a larger CPSU. The name is symbolic, and changing it will signal that it is not "business as usual" for the CPSU but that the benefits of the merger will create a new, better union not only for MEAA members but also continuing members of the old CPSU.
I also believe that the fee structure must continue to reflect the long-standing financial reality of working in the performing arts sector. I have had no paid work as a performer for 6 years. I pay my membership dues out of money earnt in a day job that has nothing to do with my life as a performer. Ideologically, as part of your explanation for the merger is $1million of proposed savings, I would have trouble accepting increased dues.
I look forward to seeing how this process develops.
Yours,
David Bentley
Member number 3003887
I would not support a merger, as a journalist I think it’s very important to have specific representation and a voice.
ReplyDeletePlease let me know how the debate progresses,
Giordana Caputo
The reasoning given for choosing the CPSU was ridiculous, that there was already a cross-over with journalists who worked for the ABC and SBS. Why not join the AMWU because some journalists work in PR for Ford? Or the CMFEU? I have done so many stories with social workers and despite having a common interest in people’s stories; we have absolutely nothing in common with them. Their employer is the Uniting Church, ours is Rupert Murdoch. Big similarity! There is not a public servant or social worker in the land that has had to suffer such appalling conditions as we do. I was employed by one of Australia’s largest newspaper groups as a ‘contractor’ for two years, despite fronting up for work at the same hours on the same days every week. At least when I was a teenager working for McDonald’s, I got superannuation! On second thoughts, maybe we should join the CPSU, then I’ll get to be a public servant.
ReplyDeleteDeirdre Smith
As an ABC employee I have the option of joining either union. I chose the MEAA because of its ties to the AJA and the specific interest in media issues, plus the code of ethics.
ReplyDeleteI am also concerned about joining the same union as the bureaucrats and spin doctors. Who would fight for our right to information or the protection of sources rights if there were no MEAA? I can't see a union whose members are forbidden from talking to journalists without permission also fighting for access to the information they protect.
I'm also concerned about the union's role as a campaigner for journalist rights being undermined by the fact that they'd be campaigning against many of their members' employers, (ie governments) who they then have to negotiate EBAs with.
Dear Terry,
ReplyDeleteThe economic reasons given for the need to merge seem a little skimpy.
To what extent has the Alliance been "knocked off balance" by the GFC?
Are we looking at staffing cuts?
Are we in the red?
What has happened to the levies we've been paying for years now?
Didn't they do the job they were introduced for - to shore us up in case of economic hard times?
If a merger is necessary, so be it. But I'll need a lot more information before I'll be persuaded, and then I'll need some rather more convincing arguments in favour of the CPSU. But then this is a debate that's onlyn just beginning, right? No decision has yet been made, right? And we'll all receive lots more information so we can make the correct decision, right?
It seems to me the information you've sent out this week is a little late in arriving but at least it's a start. Keep it coming
Merge with the public service union? I can't think of a more ridiculous and incongruous match (if match is the right word).
ReplyDeleteI was only trying to work out the other day what had been gained since the merger of the AJA and Actor's Equity to form the MEAA. Answer: nothing much from my point of view as a working journo of 20 years at a regional daily paper (and a union member for the same length of time). And that's nothing against my entertaining friends, who probably feel the same way.
Size matters? Perhaps the merger has made some difference as far as the union's administrative costs though, but I can't see how it's achieved anything else for members. It's not given us a bargaining strength. It's not like the actors go out on strike every three years when we butt heads with company management trying to negotiate a new agreement. And it's not like the bureaucrats are going to down pens to help when our company management plays the usual stalling game and then makes its usual less-than-CPI offer well past the current agreement's expiry date. (A, it's probably not legally possible, and B, as another blogger points out, these are often people who are trying to "obfuscate and manipulate" us.)
We are completely irrelevant to each other when it comes to what we really need a union for, and that's standing up for members.
At least both the journos and actors had some common ground - the media.
People knew who and what the AJA stood for. Some people might have an idea what the MEAA is about. What the hell are people coing got make of the MEAA CPSU? All I can come up with is a MES. Mr O'Connor highlighted the obvious problem in his opening comments on this blog when he felt it necessary to write, in red, who's that?, regarding our possible new bed parnters. The CPSU is a mystery to many existing MEAA members and I can't understand the point of marrying two such seemingly disparate organisations.
Actually, the whole idea has got me wondering who the MEAA is now, and if it even knows its own members.
In principle, I think this merger is a backward step for the union, as it not only admits the failing power of the union, but fails to address the real problem, which is falling membership. If the power of a union lies in the collective voice of its members, and the point of a union is to address the needs and concerns of its particular members, then surely it needs to ensure that it represents - from an informed position - those needs and concerns. I cannot see how the CPSU would provide anything more than (potentially) a bigger office for staff, and a lesser focus upon the specific needs and concerns of its much smaller 'partner'.
ReplyDeleteIn practice, well I'd need to be convinced that it would provide any real benefit to Alliance members in practice.
Thanks
Flloyd Kennedy
I don’t believe the MEAA has any other option but to look at a merger with another union.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have read and heard to date it does appear that the CPSU is the most suitable merger partner providing issues, such as retaining some sort of journalistic identity (for journalist members) and similarly for the other sections of the MEAA and adequate employment protection for current MEAA staff, are resolved satisfactorily. The ABC and SBS members and their CPSU colleagues probably have more to gain than newspaper members but for the overall future for a media union I am supporting amalgamation.
I was disappointed to see the old AJA name virtually disappear but I guess this is the price we have to pay for the changing media scene.
Regards, Dennis Simmons
Perhaps we should remember the lesson we learned when journalists went on strike for 8 weeks in the early 80s. If we'd had the printers on side, we might have had some effect, instead of simply losing morale and lots of money. If we're going to be absorbed into a large conglomerate, we should be aiming to join the print unions so Murarrie and Bowen Hills would have some sort of unity when taking on management.
ReplyDeleteTerry,
ReplyDeleteThere is no way I would support a merger with a public service Union, before I decided to follow my real dream of working on film/tv jobs whether extra or whatever I worked for the Queensland Government Railways.
They typical male chauvenist, bum covering unions covered up thieving, sexual harrassessment of female employees like myself or promoted the useless Clarkes out of Trouble on a whopping great salary.
For the first time in my working life I have felt safe from sexual harrassessment, safe work conditions, (film units are like a family in other words - someone who gives a shit on their fellow employees - you sell out to the public service union, they look after their own overpaid male chauvenist, funny handshake club fat backsides...
I'll find another union, what are you going to be like the kiwis and sell out to the yanks..
Jenelle.
Hi Terry
ReplyDeleteI'm not convinced that merging with the Community and Public Sector Union is a great idea. I've yet to see anything that really shows that merging would put current MEAA in a stronger position, and I'm concerned the interests of members could be compromised when in a bigger union.
At the moment, the main aspect of the MEAA that I appreciate and regularly use include the Walkley magazine. I like that the magazine is focused on current issues in journalism and public relations. I'm not so sure this would still be the case in a merger with the CPSU.
Also, I agree with the comments on the blog from Amelia - I don't think it's a good idea to lump journalists into the same union as bureaucrats, given the working relationship between the two.
Kind regards
Margaret de Silva
This was my immediate response to Terry's initial email:
ReplyDeleteI received in the email last night your message regarding a proposal to merge with the Commonwealth Public Service Union. This was the first I'd heard of this and the email stated "Now is your first chance (there will be more) to make any suggestions or raise any concerns." The email also announced that "Alliance officials will be debating these issues in the next week."
In your email, you ask members to send in in their views: "I will be part of next week's debate – as well as any other debates that arise on possible amalgamation – and I will put forward all the views that have been passed to me. So this is your first, and possibly most important, chance to make your opinion count. I look forward to hearing from you."
Excuse me, but such a proposal and the views of members ought not be mediated by someone who has already quite clearly been part of discussions among the officials and the other union. The first step the MEAA ought to be taking is arranging are member forums, both for members to attend and open online discussions.
As a former Federal Secretary of a small union, which quite adequately protected its members because of a high level of membership involvement, I have serious concerns about union amalgamations and effective representation, the economies of scale argument, the industrial priorities of a large diverse organisation, the accessibility of members to officials, the ability of a larger organisation to comprehend the policy issues that affect our industry, and the question whether a broader union organisation can effectively encompass the professional and artistic concerns as well as the industrial issues that affect performing artists.
It might be that a new model of union organisation is needed to provide more effective representation, but the autonomy of Equity in our case must be retained. Film and TV acting in particular are part of a global industry and subsuming Equity in an amalgamation with the Commonwealth Public Service Union could have the effect of watering down the representation of actors' professional concerns in dealing with the unique characteristics of film and screen performance.
The email advised that Federal Council has raised questions, including:
"Are we too small to continue to achieve all the things our members expect of us? Do industry changes mean we are only going to get smaller? Should we look at merging with other organisations to create a new, larger union? If so, how should we structure a new union? If so, which union or unions should we seek to merge with?"
The questions that a healthy performers' organisation should always ask itself are: How are we doing? How can we best represent the members? How can we best influence the industry? How can we best represent Australian actors in the global industry [eg., Hobbits]? How can we best organise our resources to achieve our professional and industrial objectives?
And the first step is to ask the members. In my view, your letter is disturbing because any views will be mediated by you and the members have not been given the opportunity to either discuss collectively the issues or express directly their views on whether or not there is a problem requiring Equity to look at amalgamation or any other option. The membership have been presented with a debate in which they have had no opportunity to influence what the terms of the debate should be: those have merely been presented to us.
Regards,
Jim McDonald
I think this is a stupid idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm concerned about being in the same union as the bureaucrats and spin doctors.
Keep us separate. Otherwise if a merger happens I'll be withdrawing from union membership completely
I'm a member of the MEAA and have been for many years. WTF. I have received no info from MY union re this proposed merger.
ReplyDeleteTony Campbell
Mem #2974584
Well, i've been a mmeber of this union for a number of years in the screen technicians division and i've heard nothing from MY union about this. WTF?
ReplyDeleteSince the MEAA & the CPSU have been working together in South East Queensland we have never had more support, this is the best thing for both unions. I am a MEAA member and have been since 1974 (started as AT&AEA) I strongly support this merger and will continue to grow with these unions as one. The people who are making noises about 'quitting their union membership' GET A GRIP, what are you thinking, that sounds like nothing more than 'spoilt brat syndrome'. You are connected to either of these unions for a reason then stay connected, this will make both unions stronger and more acceptable in the work place, as we are now proving in SEQ.
ReplyDeleteMEAA member no. 3785610
P.S. for all the MEAA people who haven't received notification regarding this matter then I suggest you get onto your MEAA organiser and ask WHY!
Firstly, and most importantly, SPECIFICALLY what are we lacking that amalgamation would give us?
ReplyDeleteSecondly, and of somewhat lesser importance, SPECIFICALLY what would M.E.A.A. members gain? I would not be satisfied with answers that are generalisations like 'more bargaining power' and 'savings in staff costs'.
Unless both of these questions can be answered in ways that satisfy me I'll vote against amalgamation.
Bob Newman, Equity member since Moses was in short pants.
In March, on this blog, it said the merger with the CPSU was off...and now, out of the blue, we are told that there is a one-year operational trial with another union, APESMA. Have I missed something, or has there been no prior opportunity for the grass roots membership to express their views on this new development?
ReplyDelete