Ash Newcastle construction targets

Newcastle’s new ETU organiser Ash ‘Moose’ Bamford brings a strong track record as an ETU delegate and organiser.

Ash was a gun ETU delegate and HSR on the massive Inpex project in Darwin when ETU action saw the abolition of the four weeks on, one week off ‘suicide roster.’

He joined ETU WA Branch as an organiser, leading campaigns to improve FIFO conditions, against nonlicenced electrical work and for apprentice rights.

The 32-year-old father of two is tasked with building the ETU in construction across the Hunter.

Opportunities were limited during Ash’s first 18 months as an electrician and he worked for ‘grubby non-union companies’. It wasn’t until he got started on construction projects in the Northwest of WA that he signed with the ETU.

‘That was the first time I’d had a conversation about joining the union. I realised I had union values, so it was

New legal team supports ETU members

A crack new legal team with extensive experience is in place to support ETU members. Between them, Alister Kentish and Armen Aghazarian have represented union members for more than 20 years.

Senior legal officer Alister had a long stint in the ETU national office along with solid time at the Mining and Energy Union and AMWU. Legal officer Armen was at the United Workers Union and the ETU national office before joining the NSW Branch.

The duo has a strong track record when it comes to advising and representing members, and in courts and the Fair Work Commission.

Legal support and advice is one of the many benefits that comes with ETU membership.

Historic ETU banner restored

a storage rack at Sydney Trades Hall.

Painted by Edgar Whitbread, the display was first carried on a truck at the Eight-Hour Procession in 1922. It was reported at the time that ‘the electrical trades had a striking banner, depicting Mercury dashing across space in a whirl of lightning’. The other side depicts what is believed to be the Ultimo Power Station plant room.

With support from the ETU, conservator Karen Coote and her assistants, with Trades Hall Heritage Officer Neale Towart, have done a wonderful job restoring this unique piece of our union’s history.

The banner can be viewed by arrangement in the banner room at Sydney Trades Hall.

Electrical Trades Union of Australia

NSW Branch 2023 Quadrennial Election for the State Union ELECTION NOTICE

Separate elections are being conducted for the CEPU NSW Branch of the federally registered CEPU, (the Federal Union) and the State registered ETU, (the State Union). Elections for the Federal Union are being conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission and elections for the State Union are being conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission. If you wish to stand for offices in both the Federal and State registered unions, you must lodge separate nominations in accordance with the Rules of the relevant union, with the Australian Electoral Commission and the NSW Electoral Commission.

This Notice Relates To The State Union Only

Nominations

Nominations are invited on and from Monday 26 June 2023 for the following positions:

Assistant Secretary Organisers

State Councillors – representing each of the following Sections*

General Trade

Supply Authorities

Transport Authorities

Salaried Officers

Manufacturing, Radio, Television and electronic/communications industry & business equipment Electrical

*Note: The exact number of State Councillors to be elected by their respective Section is to be determined by reference to the financial memberships as at 12.00 noon, Monday 10 July 2023 in accordance with Rule 20(c)(v) of the Union’s Rules

Chairman of each Sub-Branch listed hereunder

Secretary of each Sub-Branch listed hereunder

Delegates to the State Conference – representing each of the following Sub-Branches**

**Note: The exact number of Delegates to State Conference to be elected by their respective Sub-Branch is to be determined by reference to the financial memberships as at 12.00 noon, Monday 10 July 2023 in accordance with Rule 20(b)(v) of the Union’s Rules.

Qualifications for Office

To be eligible for the executive Offices of President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Organiser a member must have been a financial member of the union for each quarterly period as it fell due within 2 years immediately preceding 12.00 noon, Monday 10 July 2023.

To be eligible for any other office a member must have been financial member for each quarterly period as it fell due within 1 year immediately preceding 12.00 noon, Monday 10 July2023.

A candidate may not be nominated for more than one executive position ie, President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Organiser.

Delegates to State Conference representing Sub-Branches shall live in the area of the respective Sub-Branch of which they are a delegate.

Eligibility to nominate a candidate

Candidates as Delegates to State Conference, Chairmen, and Secretaries of Sub-Branches shall be nominated only by members of the Sub-Branch to which they belong and candidates as State Councillors by members of the Section to which they belong provided that permanent and/or full-time officials of the Union may be nominated as State Councillors by members of any one Section.

Nominations of candidates for all positions must be made in writing and endorsed by not less than two adult members who have been at least three months in the Union and are financial as at 12.00 noon, Monday 10 July 2023. Each candidate shall signify in writing their acceptance of the nomination.

No member may nominate more candidates than the number to be elected for each position.

Nomination forms are available from:

• NSW Electoral Commission’s website at www.elections.nsw.gov.au.

• NSW Electoral Commission, Level 3, 231 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, telephone 1300 135 736; or

• Electrical Trades Union of Australia, Level 5, 370 Pitt Street, Sydney, telephone (02) 9267 4844

Lodgement of Nominations

Nominations must be received by the Returning Officer not later than 12.00 NOON, MONDAY 10 JULY 2023.

Nominations may be lodged:

• by email: ballots@elections.nsw.gov.au or

• by post: PO Box 693 Grosvenor Place NSW 1220; or

• by hand: NSW Electoral Commission, Level 3, 231 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

Note: Visitors to the NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC) are by appointment only. To ensure a NSWEC staff member is in attendance and to gain access to the office, please make an appointment via email to: ballots@elections.nsw.gov.au or telephone 1300 135 736.

Any defect in a nomination must be rectified by the candidate prior to the close of nominations. Any candidate wishing to withdraw a nomination must do so in writing so as to be received by the Returning Officer prior to the close of nominations.

Should more than the required number of nominations be received in respect of any of the above positions, a draw will be conducted to determine the position of candidates’ names on the ballot paper at the New South Wales Electoral Commission at 10.00am, Tuesday 11 July 2023. Candidates or their representatives are invited to witness the draw.

Voting

Should a ballot be necessary, voting material will be posted on Thursday 3 August 2023 to all eligible members. Members must be eligible and financial as at 12.00 noon, Monday 10 July 2023 in order to receive a ballot paper.

The poll will close at 12.00 noon, Tuesday 29 August 2023 and be counted at 9.00am, Wednesday 30 August 2023. The method of voting will be Preferential system/Multi Preferential. Any enquiries should be directed to Paul Chesher at the NSW Electoral Commission, telephone 1300 135 736 or email at ballots@elections.nsw.gov.au

Diana Kosseifi,

Returning Officer, NSW Electoral Commission