Health and Community Services Union

When you join HACSU, you become part of an organisation with workplace, State and national structures.

How does HACSU work in the regions and workplaces?

HACSU has structures tailored to particular services, regions and types of workplace.

Importantly, although we have clear models, because we have such a diversity of workplaces, HACSU has a great deal of flexibility in its regional and workplace-based structures.

We ensure that the structures and the subsequent activity always operates within membership control. That is, those who represent members and the issues pursued are regularly subject to membership scrutiny and endorsement.

Our regional and workplace structures must encompass the five rules of membership engagement;

1. Consult the membership on issues, claims and possible action
2. Keep members informed of progress 
3. Involve members in the solutions 
4. Report back and obtain support for resolution
5. Celebrate and promote wins with members 

Model Regional Structures

HACSU has ‘core’ representative REGIONAL STRUCTURES in the form of Sub Branches, Area Organising Committees (AOC) or Regional Organising Committee (ROC), within each Disability Region, Area Mental Health Service, or Non Government Organisation.

Biennial general meetings are encouraged to elect core positions which minimise hierarchy.

These are usually task oriented positions, for example;

• Local Organiser / Convener
• Local Organiser / Phone Tree Coordinator
• Local Organiser / Professional Issues
• Local Organiser / Grievance assistance
• Local Organiser / Discipline assistance
• Local Organiser / OH&S
• Local Organiser / Membership & New Starters
• Local Organiser / Community Issues Leader
• Local Organiser / Communications

By establishing ‘task orientated’ functions, we create within our structures more effective campaign capacity.

Local organisers are deemed to be an elected workgroup delegate or representative for their particular workplace and enjoy all the benefits associated with being a delegate of the union for all other purposes.

This structure/group of members are in turn supported by a wider group of individual member/activists in the form of workgroup delegates or contacts established and maintained by an ongoing process of election/appointment/replacement at the workplace/unit level.

Workgroup delegates can cover one workplace/unit or a few sites; this is dependent on how many members we can encourage to share the load.

Examples of the Model

Mental Health Service

Govt.' Disability Region

The Branch Committee of Management (BCOM), meet about every 6 weeks and sets the policy and direction for the union.

Organising Committee Function Include;

• Responsibility for growing the union through membership recruitment
• Providing an active HACSU presence in the workplace;
• Working with State Officials on workplace organising activities and campaigns;
• Representing, consulting and negotiating with local/regional management on issues, local agreements and members concerns;
• Encouraging individual members to be activists/workplace delegates/ contacts;
• Encouraging collective member involvement in our union through discussion, social activity, issue identification, mobilisation through to resolution;
• Identifying, consulting, debating policy issues for referral to State Branch Committee of Management and State Delegates conference;
• Establishing and maintaining a communication network with members and union office. eg, phone trees, publish local newsletter, dissemination of information;
• Providing individual workgroup delegates and members with resources and advice to enable them to deal with issues at their workplace with confidence;
• At all times upholding the principles of natural justice and fair treatment.

HSU - our National Union

The Health Services Union (HSU) is the national Federation and has a number of branches in each state. There are branches in each state, with a number of separate State-based unions representing different health and community services workers in Victoria.

HACSU fits into the national union like this:

A biannual National Conference and a National Executive govern the national union, with a number of representatives elected from state branches depending on the size of each branch every 4 years.

The National Executive meets frequently and makes decisions about current issues and strategies affecting members on a national basis.

Each Branch has a Branch Committee of Management, which is elected by the eligible members of the branch in their respective state or territory.

Union Delegates

HACSU delegates are crucial to the running of the union. They are one of the key links between head office and workplaces.

Delegates are elected to assist you with negotiations and representations in the workplace, and to help members find answers or processes to resolve problems.

Delegates are volunteers and play a vital role in recruiting new members and organising your workplace union activities.

If you have a problem, talk to your local delegate. If they can't handle the problem on their own, they can talk to other branch officers or full - time union experts on your behalf.