NEW UNION LEADERS SET PRIORITIES

5 April 2010

South Australia's peak unions' organisation, SA Unions has elected a new leadership team, whose priority will be to grow and strengthen workers' rights.

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles (who was re-elected unopposed for another four year term) says the new team represents a fresh generation of unionists committed to creating a fairer South Australia.

The new President is Jamie Newlyn, State Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).  Elizabeth Dabars, State Secretary of the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is the new Vice President, joining existing Vice President Karen Atherton, Regional Director of the Community Public Sector Union (CPSU).

"This team brings experience, balance and broad representation, covering blue and white collar workers, men and women, and public and private sector unions", Ms Giles says.

"The new team's key objectives are to ensure the wealth of the state directly benefits working people and their families and gives them a better life, and to grow membership in unions in South Australia with a focus on increasing participation by young people, women and Aboriginal people."

Ms Giles says the team has also set its campaign priorities for the coming year as

• Active involvement in the federal election
• Reinstating fairness in WorkCover as an outcome of the review of the legislation
• Gender pay equity
• Abolish the special laws in the construction industry
• Improve safety at work
• Abolish the NT Intervention

Ms Giles paid tribute to outgoing President Nick Thredgold of the National Union of Workers, and Katrine Hildyard of the Australian Services Union for their skilled and professional leadership during a challenging time which included the Your Rights at Work Campaign to get rid of federal WorkChoices laws, and the state campaign to reinstate fairness in the WorkCover Compensation Scheme.