INSERT COPY FROM THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
WORDS INTO ACTION FOR A STRONGER FUTURE
Elias Spernovasilas Assistant Secretary
When we were elected, the CFMEU executive made a commitment to the membership that we’d strive to make this union as powerful as it could be. One of the key elements of delivering on that commitment was to ensure the CFMEU would not only be strong now, but ensure the CFMEU had a strong future. The development of the Young Activists has been central to laying the foundations to this strong future. Held every two months, the Young Activists’ meetings have been attracting over fifty young members to every meeting. At these meetings, we made it clear to the Young Activists, that if they demonstrated a commitment to the union, discipline and a fighting spirt, we would train them up and give them every opportunity to progress through the union ranks. The meetings have covered a range of topics to give the Young Activists a solid understanding of the Union, its history and
JAMES SIMPSON
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modern industrial tactics. We’ve covered the history of the union movement; the history of the CFMEU; our battles – from the deregistration of the BLF to the Myer Emporium dispute to our political battles with various Liberal governments; and we’ve made sure they have a solid understanding of who our real industrial and political enemies are. All of this has equipped this new generation of CFMEU fighters with the ability to step up when their union calls on them.
I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE NOW HAVE SEEN TEN OF THE YOUNG ACTIVISTS PROMOTED TO SHOP STEWARD AND THREE YOUNG ACTIVISTS PROMOTED AS ORGANISERS.
I’m proud that we’ve turned our words into actions. These future leaders represent a new generation in many ways. They’re learning from our mistakes and know how to box smarter. They’re also embracing new technologies and tactics. This commitment to the reinvigoration of the branch is setting us up for a very strong future. I’ve often said, organising is a young person’s game. But the reality is that the best mix for the union is a combination of youthful energy and agro, with the experience organisers have after years of fighting bosses, recouping stolen wages and negotiating agreements. Our Young Activists are self-motivated and disciplined. They attend the regular meetings and volunteer their spare time when the unions needs them most. They’re the envy of the Australian union movement.
ANDREW HOUSTON
BEN CORDIER
CAM JONES
ERROL HUGHES
GERRY MCCRUDDEN
MARK ‘CLETUS’ HENRY
MARK PALMER
PAUL TSIMAS
TERRANCE MCNAMARA
WILLY NIUMATA
CFMEU WORKER
AUTUMN 2017