Workplace Union Leaders Training

By Greg Harvey

They came from as far afield as Adelaide, Newcastle and Taree, covering NRC, RIC and CityRail.

The purpose of the course was to give the Delegates the tools, knowledge and know how to not only continue the fundamental duties that have always been associated with being a workplace Delegate, but to also challenge their ideas of Unionism and to get them to look outside of their own workplace.

This course, using the Organising Model, was designed to further encourage workplace Delegates to deal with issues in their own workplace, while remaining aware of wider issues.

Ashley Waddell, Terminal Operator and RTBU Delegate at the NRC Adelaide Freight Terminal said, "I found the course very confronting. It challenged how I thought the Union Movement operated. I thought it operated from the top down," he said, "when in reality the RTBU is actively encouraging the power to be coming from the coal-face. The tools we were given during the course have enabled me to better question and negotiate with management. Since the course, I have already had positive feedback from my workmates about the advancement of my skills and industrial knowledge", Ashley said.