After the last election the new government rushed through a mammoth machinery of government change that created the so called "super-departments" that we have today. There are many people who are unhappy with this change and think it should have been done differently.
With the release of the state budget, we are now seeing the start of the campaign season for the next state election.
We’ve seen in the past that politicians make plans for the public service that are only revealed after the election is over. Could the next time be different?
As a union we will be engaging with politicians about what policies and processes are best for the public sector.
We’re interested in your thoughts. Should public sector workers be consulted before government decides on machinery of government reform? What do you think an effective machinery of government reform would look like?
You can email your views on machinery of government changes to alex@qpsu.org.
There has been a lot of feedback from members already on this topic, and I’m sure there will be more to come too. As union members we should make sure that politicians are making decisions that respect what is best for service delivery, and not just political convenience.
Workers from the Department of Transport and Main Roads around the state came together Tuesday, 7 June 2011, to send a strong message to the government that they need to come to the table and start genuine negotiations with unions.
The current collective agreement, EDA7, expires in a matter of weeks but TMR management are still not in a position to negotiate about the scope or length of the agreement.
The state-wide day of action was called by union delegates because members are concerned that the lack of readiness of TMR management to genuinely negotiate will delay a new agreement.
Together, workers wore “Stronger Together” stickers and displayed posters that read “Unions ready now! Why isn’t TMR?” and spread the word that management’s delays are not good enough.
The action was a success! Management have come to the table, but at this stage delegates are awaiting the outcomes of this meeting to see if management are really genuine about negotiations.
You can read more about the campaign at www.qpsu.org.au/campaign/tmreda8/index.php.
On Sunday 5 June nearly 45,000 people, including thousands of members of Queensland unions, rallied to support a price on pollution and action on climate change.
Queensland’s union members are continuing to sign up to support the “Say Yes campaign” – you can sign up here.
Across Queensland public sector workers are working hard to build a better life and find solutions to the big challenges in our community.
Over recent years, your union’s members have helped to make workplaces and communities more sustainable as QPSU Climate Connectors.
Your union Council has voted to continue its support of a price on pollution. Find out about what your union’s members are doing to say yes to a clean energy future at www.climateconnectors.org.
Now community groups and unions have come together to ask all workers to saying YES to a brighter Queensland.
Saying Yes means we’re taking action to support Queensland’s future and the jobs and services that are so important to our growing state.
To support the call by thousands of union members and their family and friends to say yes, sign up today at www.sayyesaustralia.org.au
We’re saying YES to healthy air for our kids. That means supporting services for our kids and our health system.
We’re saying YES to ready-to-go clean technologies. That means backing our scientists and researchers to continue working on innovative solutions.
We’re saying YES to protecting our environment. That means supporting members who support and sustain our land to build a brighter Queensland.
Your union’s members have got together to make lives better through raising over $4000 for the Live Below the Line cause.
Participants volunteered to spend less than $2 a day on food between 16-20 May. Your union’s members have been generous in their sponsorship, raising well above our target through individual donations.
There are about 1.4 billion people worldwide who live on less than $2 a day – for all expenses, not just food. The Live Below the Line campaign reminds those who participate of the need for a fairer world everywhere.
The national campaign has raised over $1 million, which will help the work of the Global Poverty Project in eradicating polio, ensure fair prices for workers everywhere, and exposing and tackling corruption.
You can read more about what these fundraising efforts have achieved at www.livebelowtheline.com.au. It’s also not too late to make a donation to your union’s team in the campaign – you can do that by visiting this link
This is a great effort by members and a reflection of how committed union members are to building better lives everywhere.
Thanks to members of your union throughout Queensland, Labour Day weekend was a great success and great fun for workers and their families.
Hundreds of members were at regional centres everywhere across the state.
We’re putting together a compilation of photos from the celebration days – if you have pictures you would like to share with us you can email them to cjo@qpsu.org.au
View the gallery of photos from the celebrations
Last updated 22 May 2011
