Wednesday 20 November 2024
Dear members,
In October, the position of Secretary at UnionsWA became vacant following the resignation of Owen Whittle. Last night, the UnionsWA Council accepted the report from the Returning Officer on the election to fill this vacancy.
I am pleased to announce that I have been elected as the new Secretary of UnionsWA. As such, I have tendered my resignation as Branch Secretary of the CPSU/CSA to President Matthew Abrahamson, effective 11:59pm 1 December 2024.
The CPSU/CSA has been, and always will be, an enormous part of my life. It is where I have dedicated the past 17 years of my career, with more than 12 years being in positions of elected leadership. Being appointed Branch/General Secretary in 2018 and returned at the 2021 election was a particular honour, and I thank our Council and our members for placing their faith in me to lead our mighty Union for the past six years.
Together, we have achieved great things. I am proud that the strategies we’ve adopted have enabled us to deepen our workplace union leadership, build influential alliances and take powerful collective action. This has allowed us to progress important campaigns in Youth Justice and Child Protection, as well as knock off repressive government wages policies and secure pay outcomes that catch up with the cost of living.
Critically, the CPSU/ CSA is once again a growing union! We're winning on the issues that matter to public sector workers, and with projects such as the Regional Entitlements Review presenting further opportunities to engage and join, I am confident that membership will continue in a positive direction under new leadership.
Taking up the mantle of UnionsWA Secretary could not come at a more crucial time for workers in Western Australia. The IPSOS Issues Monitor September 2024 edition ranked the Cost of Living as the top issue facing Western Australians, with 64% of those listing it in their top five issues, up from 24% at the last state election, and 53% listing housing, up from 26%.
My commitment to the public sector workers of WA will carry on into my new role as I work to improve the rights and conditions of workers all over Western Australia, in every industry. All workers deserve pay and conditions that foster a modern, flexible and safe working environment.
Next week, the CPSU/CSA Council will fill the vacancy I leave for the remainder of the term of office. You will receive communication about the outcome from your new union leadership. I wish my successor the very best, and I look forward to working with them closely in my new role.
It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the CPSU/CSA and represent you, the public sector workers who make WA work. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the CPSU/CSA to grow the strength and capacity of the WA union movement and build a better world for working people as UnionsWA Secretary.
In Unity,
Rikki Hendon
Outgoing CPSU/CSA Branch Secretary
