Why do we need to organise?

Organising in the Workplace

Starting out in the nursing and midwifery professions is an exciting time. Many of our members have been lifelong ANMF members who joined at the beginning of their careers.

When thinking about joining a union, one might automatically think of benefits such as professional indemnity insurance, industrial and professional representation, fighting for pay, entitlements and conditions.

These are all important benefits which unions do provide, and today’s existing rights are a result of what unions have fought for over decades. But how do unions operate and practice to get results for members?

Individual member assistance is key to providing services to members. This type of service is tailored to address members’ needs where an issue is limited, including advice on pay and leave entitlements, and workplace conditions and rights.

Unions also assist members in getting positive outcomes and improvements in workplace conditions through organising. Organising is where deep long-lasting change occurs due to members collectively driving change. Organising collectively is also used to address significant and serious matters that impact on multiple members in a workplace.

What is organising?

The organising model is a transformational way of unlocking and utilising the power of members and setting up structures to build union power where union leaders can lead, and members can identify and take collective action on issues. Some key elements to this include:

• You need a Workplace Delegate (WPD).

Why? WPDs are nominated by members in the workplace and play a vital role in representing members. They are the critical link between the Branch and members, and members and the employer. They are your union leaders, who work closely with the ANMF ACT Organising Team.

• You need a Workplace Organising Committee (WOC).

This is a leadership group that is made up of activist members who work with the WPD to provide support to the WPD and members. They often provide practical support and make things happen like organising meetings, communicating key information to members and going with the WPD to meetings with employers.

• You need members.

MEMBERS ARE THE UNION. There is only power in organising if there are members who are willing to be active and collectivise on issues.

Members are at the centre of our work and drive change. With the assistance of WPDs and ANMF ACT Organisers, members formulate strategy to resolve workplace issues.

Evidence demonstrates that members who have a WPD and WOC in their workplace are more likely to achieve better workplaces.

Members share their wins with colleagues which demonstrates to potential members the importance of being an ANMF ACT member.

Workplace Delegates and Branch Councillors with the Organising Team, at the ANMF ACT 2021 Biennial Conference

What do the ANMF ACT Branch Organising Team do?

The ANMF ACT Organising Team are experts in the craft of union organising. They are solely dedicated to WPDs and their members, and assist in unlocking the organising power of members. Organisers work with WPDs by providing role support, developing their leadership skills and capability to build union power in the workplace.

Organisers help WPDs to undertake exercises such as mapping of union membership to understand how many members are in the workplace and where recruitment needs to occur, formulating strategy on how issues can be fixed and providing practical support to WPDs. The Organising Team have assisted WPDs and their members across many workplaces in the ACT. This work has helped to create safer and fairer workplaces for members, their patients, and the community.

Contact the Branch on 02 6282 9455 to find out more about how you can start organising for positive change in your workplace.

Unions exercise collective power through developing strong networks of members and Delegates in the workplace, supported by strong supportive networks between Organisers and (Workplace) Delegates.

– David Peetz, Griffin University Academic