Queensland organising trial

On Monday this week Queensland Branch Council met and unanimously approved a trial operational merger - NOT a union merger - between the  Queensland organising teams of the Alliance and the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers of Australia (APESMA). A  message to members today from the Alliance federal office - sent without consulting the Queensland Branch Council - may have given the impression that the Alliance and APESMA are on the brink of merging.

Not so, although both unions are looking, tentatively, at a possible merger.

As was explained last year when the possibility of a merger with the CPSU was mooted, the Alliance faces a financial crisis within a couple of years unless something is done. This approaching crisis has been brought about by technological changes which have badly affected our media and equity membership levels, along with the global financial downturn, which affected just about everything. Our finances are healthy at the moment but cannot stay that way unless we make substantial changes.

The Alliance is examining many different options. Nothing has been decided about any merger, and nothing will be decided without approval by members. If any merger is formally proposed, members will be asked to vote in a referendum, and members will decide. And well before that happens, if it does, members will be consulted, their opinions sought and their opinions listened to.

However the trial operational merger in Queensland is worth exploring regardless of what we might decide to do down the track. If it works then it will provide immediate tangible benefits to members from cost savings and a boost in organising power.

I believe it will work, and that members will notice very little difference when they contact the Alliance office. But our organising ability, and APESMA's, will show a significant improvement.

Stand by for a more comprehensive explanation in the next few days. This brief Queensland Branch bulletin is being posted solely because of the possibility of misunderstanding arising from today's Federal office message.

Terry O'Connor
MEAA Queensland Secretary

The merger's off - at this stage

After extensive talks, the Federal Executive of the Alliance has concluded that there is not sufficient consensus within the Federal Executive to continue discussions for a merger with the Community and Public Sector Union at this stage. The Alliance will continue to explore all our options to ensure we sustain a strong union, to build power at work and to represent our members and industry.

That's the formal message to members, which doesn't say a lot, on the surface.

So what's next?

Up to you, in a way. We Alliance officials are still looking at ways to strengthen our industrial and professional efforts, and if you have suggestions, please send them in.

The debate at Federal Executive was spirited, and several options are still open. If you think there is something else we can do to ensure the Alliance remains effective, please tell us. Don't hold back.

Terry O'Connor, Queensland Secretary

Amalgamation debate info – stand by

Were you one of those cynics who assumed that the MEAA debate about a possible amalgamation with the CPSU was simply for show – that the amalgamation was a done deal and the debate was a sham, constructed to try to demonstrate democracy in action?

If so you've just been proved wrong.

The Alliance Federal Executive met in Sydney yesterday and today (Tuesday, March 8) to consider several important issues including the possible amalgamation and the debate was robust, to say the least. Very robust, at times.

I'll leave details of what happened, what motions were carried etc, until the information is formally released. But you can be assured there wasn't a rubber stamp in the room.

Stand by . . .

Terry O'Connor, Queensland Secretary