ASU members to discuss ALP’s future

Date: 21 March 2002

Members of the Australian Services Union will discuss the future of the ALP when the union's annual conference meets tomorrow.

ASU Branch Secretary Julie Bignell said she would propose a resolution to the conference calling on the Labor Party to adopt and implement policies "that restore fairness and justice for workers, their families and their communities in order to effectively represent working people".

Ms Bignell said the conference would also consider resolutions calling for:
* Strict criteria for the awarding of government incentives to private firms, including compliance with industry standard rates of pay;
* Legislation to enable bargaining fees to be levied on non-union members who benefit from union-negotiated pay increases; and
* Improvements to the relationship between the Queensland government and unions including better consultation and the removal of administrative charges for the payment of union fees via payroll deduction across the public sector.

"There is widespread frustration and disappointment amongst many union members with the current direction of the ALP at the present time," Ms Bignell said.

"Over the past week, many unionists have begun to express these frustrations in the hope that Labor will listen and respond," she said.

"Our annual conference will give ASU members the opportunity to hold a frank discussion about the need for improved policies and processes within the ALP to give working people a stronger voice in parliament," she said.

"The current federal policy review combined with Labor's historic majority in the Queensland parliament provides a unique opportunity to shape the ALP's direction for the next decade or so. It is fundamentally important that we get it right," she said.

ASU Branch Secretary Julie Bignell is also Vice President of the ALP's Queensland Branch.

For further information

Contact:	Matthew Collins
Union:	ASU Services
Contact Mobile:	0405 188 256
Email:	info@qld.asu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qld.asu.asn.au

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