No Vote, No Amalgamation
Earlier this year, our Secretary acknowledged the glaring lack of communication with VAHPA members and committed to improving communication moving forward.
Well, fast forward six months…rumours of VAHPA being taken over by HACSU… with…no communication to members.
Instead, VAHPA Pulse had these rumours confirmed after receiving this HACSU statement from our colleagues working in mental health.
Meanwhile, our Secretary is missing in action.
Commitment broken. No wonder the trust between VAHPA Leadership and Membership continues to be at an all time low.
We should not have to ask our Union bosses to commit to communicating with us - this should be part and parcel of the professional, high quality representation and advocacy that we pay OUR hard earned wages for.
Members have the following concerns:
That the decision appears to already have been made - the HACSU statement refers to “surveys” and “consultation” with members but no actual vote of the membership. What will consultation actually look like? What happens if members express concerns through this “consultation” process? Will the amalgamation happen anyway?
The lack of communication with the membership - feels pretty crazy that HACSU would release communications about this, without VAHPA doing the same.
The prospect of being swallowed up by a larger Union whose majority membership is not Allied Health professionals and not governed by AHP’s…
Would a union not run by AHP’s best represent the varied and unique interests of another 50+ specialist Allied Health professions?
Members demand the following from VAHPA Leadership:
1) A binding vote on any possible amalgamation with HACSU
And confirmation on the following:
2) What arrangements have been agreed with our current leadership in relation to this amalgamation with HACSU?
2) What role is VAHPA Leadership going to have in the amalgamated union?
3) Why haven’t we heard from our Secretary about this?
4) A refocus on bargaining to achieve the EA results demanded by the membership.