Sometimes, it’s helpful to reflect on what it is that we as union members are striving for.

It’s important to reflect on what being union is all about – it’s about supporting each other and working together to make sure we are able to focus on the things that are important to our quality of life.

Fairness at work, time off to spend with family and friends, conditions that support us as we work for Queenslanders – they are not too much to ask.

When talking to your fellow workers, it’s often helpful to have a simple reminder of what it is that we as union members are trying to achieve.

Please take the time to watch this short video and pass it on to your family and friends.

It never hurts to remind others and ourselves that being union is about working for a better life.

In response to the devastating earthquake in the Caribbean nation of Haiti, workers in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources organised morning teas in a variety of locations, raising over $4000 to support the work of Union Aid Abroad: APHEDA, the Australian union movement’s aid agency.

QPSU delegate Lachlan Hurse, who helped organise the morning tea in George Street Brisbane, said that he was very moved by the generosity of DERM employees who supported the fundraising appeal.

“As union members we are firmly in support of social justice, and it’s great to see that through APHEDA we will be able to help Haiti recover from this catastrophe”, Lachlan said.

To read more and see more photos click the Read More link below.

Custodial Corrections members and delegates have secured a major win by reaching in-principle agreement with the government for a new collective agreement ahead of the 31 December 2009 deadline.
This means that workers in Custodial Corrections are entitled to the government’s 4.5%, 4.0% and 4.0% wage increases, starting from 1 April 2010 and with each wage increase in subsequent years.

The agreement is still being drafted in preparation for a ballot later in the year.  You can find out more by visiting www.qpsu.org.au/corrections2010.

In addition, modern Fair Work Australia industrial awards came into force on January 1 and apply to a large majority of Australian workers.

Late last year the Senate passed legislation transferring the remainder of Queensland workers who were not state public servants or local government employees in to the federal jurisdiction and these workers are this year covered by the workplace laws set out in the Fair Work Act.

To read more, click on the link below

For the first time ever, our union has reached 31,000 financial members.  This means that we are stronger than ever across all areas of the public sector.

As we head into the Christmas season, we should take the time to celebrate.  We have faced a very tough economic and political environment, including a state election, the collapse of the state’s finances, and a number of important collective bargaining campaigns.

In facing these challenges head on we have improved the lives of public sector workers.  The largest pay rise ever won in core public sector collective bargaining, the protection of public sector jobs, improved rights for temporary employees – all of these have been achieved because record numbers of people have made the decision to join their union and get involved.

On behalf of our President, Vivienne Doogan, and all QPSU delegates and staff, I would like to wish you a safe and happy festive season and a joyful new year.  In 2010 we will continue to grow our union and build better lives for workers.

Thank-you for everything you have done this year,

Alex Scott

Thanks to QPSU delegates and activists who have been busy recruiting new members, our union’s members have achieved significant pay increases for many areas across the public sector.

As workers are preparing to welcome the pay rises that have been won by QPSU members’ collective effort, there has never been a better time than now to talk to your colleagues about joining to make our union even stronger.

We are close to a record-breaking 31,000 financial members for our union!

That's why the QPSU will be holding a prize draw for new members and the activists who recruit them!  There are 20 gift vouchers of $100 to be won, as well as a voucher for our 31,000th financial member and the person who signs this member up! We will draw the lucky winner on December 3, 2009. Click here for more details, including terms and conditions and to sign up a new member today!

Thanks for your efforts in helping to make our union stronger in your workplace. Together, we can reach 31,000 members and continue working for better lives.

QPSU members are building on and celebrating their achievements during 2009.

Over a year ago, members won a fair wages offer through the Wage Balance: It’s only fair campaign.  That win was solidified through members’ efforts during the state election, and during the Core and other enterprise bargaining agreements this year.

The latest piece of good news for workers in the Core is that the government has agreed to apply the first pay rise of the new agreement – 4.5% backdated to 1 August - administratively as certification is likely to be delayed whilst issues surrounding the Department of Transport and Main Roads are sorted out.

As a union we have achieved our best ever Core enterprise bargaining outcome amidst some of the most troublesome economic times we have ever seen.

Public works employees are voting on new agreements for their business units – find out more at www.qpsu.org.au/publicworks

Health practitioner members in Queensland Health are celebrating a milestone of their own: the conclusion of Phase 2 of the HP agreement.  Union members are gathering to celebrate across the state in barbecues – check the list of events to find out what’s happening in your local area.

Custodial Corrections members are also working for better conditions and wage increases through a new collective agreement.  Negotiations for the new agreement have commenced, and you can view the QPSU Custodial Corrections log of claims at www.qpsu.org.au/corrections2010. 

This week is National Health and Safety Week.

Australia's union members are campaigning to maintain high standards of health and safety at work through the nationwide "Don't Risk Second Rate Safety" campaign.

Following the election of a new federal government, a "harmonisation" process of the laws governing workplace health and safety around the country has taken place.

This "harmonisation" is aimed at created a single piece of legislation that will be identical in all states and territories – the Model Act.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift protections for workers by achieving the world's best safety standards for the entire country.

However, the release of a draft version of the Model Act has indicated that the combined state and territory governments have taken a "lowest common denominator" approach, meaning that workers in states such as Queensland, which has strong laws to protect health and safety, stand to lose some important protections, like the position of Workplace Health and Safety Officer (WHSO).

Join with union members around the country as they ask our state and federal governments for strong protections for the health and safety of all workers - www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/dontrisk2ndratesafety/.

Please pass the word around to your friends and colleagues so that we can send a clear message to politicians - Queenslanders don’t deserve second-rate safety!

QPSU members in many different areas are continuing to come together to create new agreements and improve their lives.

You will find In this post / update information about:

1. Custodial Corrections 2010 - Log of claims finalised;

2. Health Practitioners - Just End It! action; and

3. Medical Doctors in Queensland Health - Ballot underway.

Corrections members come together for new agreement

QPSU custodial corrections delegates have finalised their union's log of claims, the list of issues for discussion with the Department, for a replacement collective agreement.

QPSU members overwhelming support the proposed new ‘Core’ collective agreement, with an extraordinary 99.5% of votes cast in favour of the draft agreement.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote in our union’s poll, and congratulations once again to all the delegate and members who participated in the collective bargaining process, whether it was by joining the Wage Balance and Fight4Jobs campaigns, giving feedback in Have Your Say month, attending Kick-Off meetings, joining with colleagues to support Communities in Take a Stand Day, taking up the message that Schools Don’t Run Themselves and all the other activities around the state that helped our union secure these wins.

We have bargained through one of the toughest economic climates we have seen in decades and won a strong agreement. We have shown that by standing together we can make a difference.

The State Government Departments Enterprise Bargaining Agreement ("Core EB") has been drafted and it is now up to you to have your say on whether or not the Agreement will be supported by your union.

You can vote in the poll on whether or not to accept the proposed Agreement in one of the following ways:

1. Visit www.qpsu.org.au/vote and follow the instructions
2. Send an SMS with your name, membership number or date of birth, and your vote - either "yes" or "no" to 0416 907 392
3. Send an email with your name and your membership number or date of birth to either yes@qpsu.org.au for a yes vote, or no@qpsu.org.au for a no vote.
4. To vote anonymously, you may use the voting card that will be sent to eligible members by post over the coming week.

Please use only one method to vote. Multiple votes will be disregarded.

You can find out more about the provisions of the core agreement at www.qpsu.org.au/core09

The poll of QPSU members will close on Friday 2 October.