Rebel group pledges million-dollar strike fund for public service union

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 22:39 · Archive

A breakaway faction of Australia's Community and Public Sector Union is vowing to establish a $1 million strike fund to support industrial action for above-inflation pay rises.

Members United, a breakaway faction within the Community and Public Sector Union, is contesting the union's national leadership elections and vowing to establish a $1 million strike fund in its first year if elected. The group says the fund is needed to support disruptive industrial action required to secure above-inflation pay rises for public servants.

The elections take place between 6 November and 11 December this year. Members United previously contested all executive positions in the 2023 elections—the first fully contested CPSU election since 2005—and won a third of the vote. The group's candidate for national secretary, Christopher Warren, says public service wages have declined 7.3 per cent in inflation-adjusted terms since 2019 and may fall further to 8.5 per cent by the end of this year.

Members United is also strongly questioning the value of the union's affiliation with the Australian Labor Party and its political party donations. The group argues that the current CPSU leadership lacks the experience to defend against proposed job cuts and other pressures, including moves to extend work hours and reduce annual leave provisions in key agencies.

How it is being reported

• CPSU elections see rebel group pledge a million dollar strike fundA vocal breakaway group of the Community and Public Sector Union is again contesting the union’s national leadership positions and promising to establish a million-dollar strike fund to help secure better wages for public servants. Members United (Democracy 4 CPSU) is the CPSU reform campaign that contested all executive positions in the union’s 2023 elections […]Region Canberra · 3 Nov, 22:27
• Rebel CPSU ticket vows $1m strike fund to fight on public service payMembers United wants union members to vote on Labor affiliation.The Canberra Times · 3 Nov, 18:30

In this story: Members United · Community and Public Sector Union · Christopher Warren · Australian Labor Party · Australian Public Service

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