MERGER BY STEALTH
If you’re interested in working with us to save our union, please urgently get in contact via vahpapulse@gmail.com
Following the leak published by VAHPA Pulse late last week, our sources reveal that the deal is quickly proceeding. We now understand it is being pushed through unilaterally by VAHPA Secretary Craig McGregor, and his Branch Committee of Management (BCoM).
THERE WILL BE NO VOTE
Most importantly, as the email sent by McGregor and VAHPA President JoAnne Ginn on Friday indicated: there will be no vote.
You have to ask:
What agreements have been made with our leadership to be part of this merger?
What roles will our current Secretary and Assistant Secretary have if the amalgamation goes ahead?
And will the membership still get their democratic right to decide at an election on who our leadership should be?
TIME TO FIGHT THIS MERGER BY STEALTH
Here’s why:
Lack of democratic process — the decision about whether our union continues or is taken over by a larger one should be made by us, the members. If the proposal is truly in members’ best interests then why not present the full details — pros and cons all laid out clearly — and let members have an informed vote on the matter?
Let’s be clear, if VAHPA Pulse hadn’t published the leak, VAHPA and HACSU would not have informed the membership last week.
HACSU’s recent Public Sector outcome — Despite its larger membership, supposedly increased resources and political connections, it is our understanding that they only won a 15% wage increase over four years in the most recent round of bargaining. Significantly, HACSU did not achieve parity with the nurses in the most recent round of bargaining. This sets the ceiling for our own Public Sector bargain.
HACSU is not governed by AHPs — If we move to HACSU, we leave a union where we are solely governed by AHPs for AHPs, to one where there is currently not a single AHP in HACSU’s leadership or governance structures (despite a thousand AHP members).
We are fighting for a clause in our EA stating that we are not to be structured under anyone other than an AHP, so why is this OK for our union?!
We will be the minority — we won’t have voting power, which makes it near impossible to leave in the future if we want to disamalgamate.
HACSU is more concerned with Labor Party politics — As a Labor Party affiliated Union, HACSU is not independent. That’s one of their main priorities, ALP factional politics.
VAHPA has never been Labor party affiliated, let’s keep it that way!
What’s happening with our Branch Committee of Management?
BCoM has dwindled from nine to just six members (including the Secretary). Members have been told this is because no one has nominated, but we know members have. Most recently, one member’s application was accepted but did not proceed following their request to see previous BCoM meeting minutes.
Others have applied and been rejected. They were told that there were “more applicants for this [vacant] position than at any time over the past decade and the candidates were all excellent. ” If that is the case, then why are there now so many vacant positions?
Why does this matter?
BCoM has the power to decide on this merger — if the committee has been deliberately run down to ensure the vote can proceed, then this raises serious questions about the governance of our union.
BCoM says it represents members — but this is clearly not the case — they are stealing your right to vote on the future of your union.
We urgently need a new BCoM
One that is truly democratic and represents us, the members. One that is properly representative of all our diverse professions across the public, community health and private sectors. One that is accountable and transparent (no meeting minutes have been posted since October last year). One that would never try to secretly sell us out without a vote.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
We need to change VAHPA, not amalgamate.
VAHPA Pulse is a group of members who want to lead a democratic way forward. Members have contacted us already to be part of a new leadership team. We want to invite all members who are interested to put themselves forward and be a part of this alternative.
If you’re interested in working with us to SAVE OUR UNION, please urgently get in contact via vahpapulse@gmail.com and share this with workmates/members who may be interested!