Welcome aboard to Ged Kearney, another formidable Australian woman

A little over a week ago, the ACTU’s Sharan Burrow was elected unopposed as the first woman General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.

Chalk that up as another first in an amazing few days for formidable Australian women. 

It’s hard to see Sharan go.  She has been a tireless and passionate advocate for working Australians for many years, culminating in a decade at the ACTU. I can only echo Sharan’s parting words that there is no greater privilege than to work for and with working people at any level.

Since I’ve been Secretary of the ACTU, I’ve greatly valued Sharan’s support and friendship. 

She played an enormous leadership role during the 2007 election campaign, where we harnessed a massive groundswell of support across the Australian community to defeat of the Coalition Government and their WorkChoices policy that cut pay and conditions of ordinary workers.

I also would like to acknowledge a few of Sharan’s many recent achievements: 18 weeks paid parental leave for all working women, support of Australian industry and jobs during the financial crisis, and advocating for sustainable job creation in the climate change debate.

While it is hard to see Sharan go, she has a fine successor in Ged Kearney.  Australian unions have a proud tradition of filling senior union positions with women.  And I’m glad it’s continuing.

Ged has been active member of the ANF since she first became a nurse, and for the last 6 years has been part their leadership team. 

She reshaped the aged care debate in Australia, making sure quality aged care was put on the national agenda, campaigning hard for proper funding of the sector with the successful ‘Because We Care’ campaign. 

Under her leadership, the ANF has been a growing vibrant union, not only supporting and advancing the interest of its members, but a union that has fed into the policy debate of quality health care and a better society.

The ACTU is lucky to have her onboard.  I look forward to working with her during this crucially important time for working people.  It’s hard to believe after their substantial defeat in 2007 that the Coalition would consider re-introducing WorkChoices – but they’re not just considering – they will do it if elected. 

The worst elements of WorkChoices, the removal of unfair dismissal protection and reintroduction of individual contracts (that last time cut thousands of workers’ pay and conditions) are back on the Coalition’s policy agenda. 

With Ged as President, we will continue the campaign hard for working people to ensure that whatever the name, WorkChoices – never again.

Also we will work together to ensure there is respect for Australian unions.    Our contribution to a better society, the value of unions to a strong democratic community, should be rightly recognised.

We have a positive agenda – to ensure all workers have job and income security during their working life, as well as a financial security in their retirement.

We want to see that Australians get a fair share of the revenue collected by tax put back into services in the communities that we rely on – in quality education, healthcare, childcare, community and public infrastructure. 

Australian unions are working for a better life – and not just for our members, but for all Australian workers.  

Despite a recovering economy that has outperformed its peers, it’s clear that still too many working families are struggling to make ends meet. 

Australian unions fought hard to see that workers on minimum wages received a decent pay increase this year.  And on the day Ged officially became President (1 July) workers on minimum wages received a historic pay increase of $26 a week.

This is in stark contrast to what happened to minimum wages under the Coalition’s WorkChoices ‘Fair Pay’ Commission.  Wages for Australia’s lowest paid workers went backwards.  Most workers on minimum wages received a real wage cut of $20 a week – some had their pay cut even further.  A telling reminder how important this election is for working families.

It is a great privilege to have Ged Kearney joining us as President to continue our agenda of action for Australian workers.   Working families have many challenges ahead and I believe she will be a powerful ally and advocate.

I have no doubt, Ged adds to the list of formidable Australian women who have taken on leadership roles in what has been a historic week for Australia. 

Jeff Lawrence is Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions


R@W News is a forum for news, analysis and commentary about rights at work and related issues. The opinions presented in R@W News are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent policies or views of the ACTU.