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WINNING FOR MEMBERS
from Livewire Winter 2023
by ETU NSW
Measured by industrial outcomes for members, the past two years has been one of the most successful periods in the 120-year history of the ETU NSW & ACT Branch.
Great outcomes have been delivered in major campaigns for more than 10,000 members across the construction, power and rail sectors.
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Many members in general trade and manufacturing have also benefited from good EBA outcomes.
Regionally, we’ve seen promising results from organising drives in the Illawarra and South Coast, and in the Central West, where the Branch now has a dedicated organiser.
These achievements for the big majority of ETU members have been carved out in challenging times.
Over the past 17 years, legal, industrial and political barriers were erected to obstruct the legitimate work of unions seeking to represent and advance the interests of members.
Those anti-union measures are one reason that traditional union organising is required – strong, accountable unions with active members and good delegate structures get results.
That’s exactly the path the NSW & ACT Branch has taken over the past two years, rebuilding and strengthening our capacity to better represent ETU members.
Our recent approach has reversed the decline in Branch membership. The ETU NSW & ACT has grown by over 10% in two years.
That will continue as the Branch implements a growth strategy that targets sectors such as Electricity Supply Authority contractors, Fire Industry, Data & Communications, Mechelec and Apprentices. None of this is possible without the active support of loyal ETU members and especially the union’s hardworking delegates and organisers.
Together we’ve come a long way in a short time. With members’ ongoing support, the Branch has big plans to build on our recent achievements to deliver further improvements for ETU members and their families.
Growing Etu Reverses Decline
Over the past two years, the ETU NSW & ACT Branch has reversed a longterm trend of declining membership.
Total fee-paying membership grew by more than 10% in the period May 2021-May 2023. In electrical contracting/construction, membership jumped by 21%.
All sectors saw growth, from Supply Authorities up 2.4%, to General Trade up 5.2% and Transport up 13.1%.
These figures reflect the success of the Branch’s organising and industrial work, and the recognition across industry of the ETU’s renewed drive and effectiveness.
