This is a two day course for members who are, or who are interested in being job reps. It is also of interest to members who want to become more active and effective unionists.

Members in the public or private sectors are welcome. All public sector members have an entitlement to 5 days per year on full pay for the purposes of attending approved union training courses. (or ten days over two years) Some private sector agreements also provide such leave. Private sector members are asked to check their agreements.

Public sector members are particularly encouraged to attend as our enterprise agreement expires at the end of this year and next year will be an enterprise bargaining year.

It is already apparent that the new coalition government in Victoria is running a very hard line against the other public sector unions which are attempting to negotiate with them this year. The Government’s agenda includes wage rises below the CPI (i.e. effective wage cuts) and demands that we forfeit hard won conditions in order to get anything more.

To succeed we will need to be united and well informed.