Talk:Australian Services Union

Left/Right
I notice that unlike most other Australian Union wiki pages, the ASU's mentions nothing about left or right leaning nor it's influence on the ALP... perhaps some expansion on this by someone more knowledgeable on the subject would be helpful if possible. Timeshift 19:23, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

Removed the following section - basically the section isn't accurate and isn't able to be accurately sourced beyond the level of conjecture. While there are certainly factional alliances as in any unions, it would be incorrect to say that the ASU votes a particular way, or even that individual branches do. For one thing, ALP affiliation which determines the right of unions to vote is conducted on a state by state basis. While individual branches may have tendencies one way or another, there are several branches which have representation from across factions and don't operate in this way. Furthermore votes within the ALP are not disclosed and will often vary subject to different issues. The assertion that the ASU is largely associated with the left ignores the fact that a number of branches have expressed no leaning toward one faction or another, either within the internal politics or within the ALP. On the observation that the USU Branch or Services Branch are not associated with the left, I'd doubt that any quotable source could be found for this. If it is, from my understanding these two branches currently represent a majority, or close to the majority of members within the union, so if the assertion were accurate, then it would contradict other parts. Other branches such as the Victorian A&S branch have leadership teams from across Victorian factions.

As to the assertions of a "reform group victory a few years ago" as far as I'm aware the last national elections weren't seriously contested anywhere, and there really hasn't been any significant leadership changes except through resignations and for a considerable period of time. Having said this, all ASU branches that I'm aware of have structural mechanisms in place to ensure rank and file participation wherever possible - this is true irrespective of factional allegiance.

The reason there aren't references to factional allegiances is because generally factional politics are somewhat fluid, and usually the inner machinations aren't in the public domain.

In the sense that the ASU is affiliated to the ALP, then this is a matter that's on the public record, and in a general sense as is the case with the vast majority of unions, the ASU is a left-leaning organisation. --Hmette

ALP Affiliation
- 	The ASU, are now largely associated and vote with the left of the ALP after a successful rank and file reform group victory a few years ago. . This excludes the USU Branch in New South Wales and the Services Branch in Queensland

clean up
Just made a few changes it looks a bit messy though - feel free to change it around.
 * Please sign comments. The comments about ALP affiliation were not completely correct Dankru 10:42, 4 January 2007 (UTC)