Role and responsibility of Workplace Delegates, Workplace Representatives and Contacts
CPSU policy.
Preamble
The success of the CPSU relies on the work and participation of members in workplaces.
While Workplace Delegates remain central to union organising in workplaces, participation patterns that include groups of Union representatives and members have become common. When the work to be done is analysed, it is difficult for a single person, the Delegate, to carry out all of the tasks. Further, in an era where anti union attacks are increasing, active unionists in workplaces need to be able to be clearly protected when they are performing their range of authorised duties.
Delegates and representatives perform critical roles in the workplace, which require particular skills and knowledge. Union education programs assist Workplace Delegates, Deputy Delegates and Representatives to improve their skill and capability levels and assist them to be protected under the Workplace Relations Act 1996.
On this basis it is important that the rules are modified to ensure that:
Delegates and Deputy Delegates are protected in response to employers taking disciplinary action specifically because of authorised Union activity.
All members who are participating in union activities are recognised and provided protection under the Rules for conducting authorised union activity.
That members taking on Union roles understand the importance of participating in Union education on performing the roles and that the Union shall as far as practicable provide access to this education, including to assist them to be protected under the Workplace Relations Act.
In many workplaces, members are not prepared to take on the formal role of delegate but are prepared to perform a range of the functions that Delegates and Deputy Delegates are expected to perform.
For these reasons, National Council has altered the Rules to:
Make the role and responsibility of Workplace Delegates and Workplace Deputy Delegates clear and to allow the Deputy Delegate to assist the Delegate.
To include a new category of Workplace Representative who, when duly authorised by the Union, may fulfill all or some of the role of a Workplace Delegate.
Recognise the role of Union Contact or distributor in the Rules.
Formalise the responsibility of members taking on Union roles to participate in training and the responsibility of the Union to provide access to that training.
At National Council 1/2005 the following Union policy with regard to the role and responsibility of Delegates, Deputy Delegates and Representatives is determined.
Role and responsibility of Delegates, Deputy Delegates and Representatives
The role and responsibility of Delegates and Deputy Delegates are set out in Rule 2.3 - WORKPLACE DELEGATES & DEPUTY DELEGATES. The role of Workplace Representatives are set out in Rule 2.4 – WORKPLACE REPRESENTATIVES, of the PSU Group Rules.
All Officers of the CPSU, including Section Secretaries, Governing Councillors and Section Councillors also share the role and responsibility of Delegates.
The role and responsibility of Delegates and Deputy Delegates are:
1. A Delegate and Deputy Delegate shall work with and assist the relevant officers and staff of the PSU Group:
(i) to represent and protect the industrial interests of workers;
(ii) to organise workers; and
(iii) to further and protect the industrial interests of the Union.
2. A Deputy Delegate shall assist the Delegate.
3. A Delegate shall also help co-ordinate the activities of any Deputy Delegates, Workplace Representatives or Contacts in the workplace.
4. A Workplace Representative will provide the same assistance as is as described in paragraph 1.
5. A Delegate, Deputy Delegate and Representative may carry out any lawful task authorised by the Union or these Rules, which includes but is not limited to the following authorised tasks:
(i) distributing authorised Union publications and bulletins to workers;
(ii) calling meetings of members and workers;
(iii) recruiting workers to join the Union;
(iv) canvassing the workers to identify matters of concern;
(v) acting as a representative or witness for a member in a workplace matter;
(vi) meeting with relevant management representatives;
(vii) putting authorised Union publications on Union notice boards; and
(viii) organising workers to participate in lawful action authorised by the Union.
6. The Union shall as far as practicable provide such training and assistance to Delegates, Deputy Delegates and Representatives as is necessary to ensure that they can comply with relevant legislation and Union policy, and to enable them to perform their functions professionally and competently. It is expected that Delegates shall attend such training.
Role and responsibility of Workplace Contacts
The role and responsibility of Contacts are set out in Rule 2.5 - WORKPLACE CONTACTS of the PSU Group Rules.
The role and responsibility of Workplace Contacts are:
a. Members may be recognised by the Governing Council as Workplace Contacts. A Workplace Contact will help to further and protect the industrial interests of the Union and its members by assisting the Union to distribute authorised Union publications to workers in the workplace. Authorised Union publications shall be publications produced pursuant to Rule 5.13.
b. A Workplace Contact may also assist to arrange meetings of workers when requested.
