STATEMENT FROM AEU FEDERAL PRESIDENT CORRENA HAYTHORPE

On behalf of the AEU, I congratulate Melissa Donnelly on her election as the next Secretary of the ACTU.

Melissa brings an outstanding record of leadership and advocacy for workers to the role, and her experience representing public sector workers as CPSU National Secretary for the past seven years will be invaluable as she takes on this important position.

This is also a major moment for women in the Australian union movement with Melissa continuing a remarkable period of women’s leadership at the ACTU, and will continue the significant path laid out by Sally McManus.

The AEU has worked closely with Sally throughout her time as ACTU Secretary, and we thank her for her extraordinary contribution to Australian workers and the union movement.

Sally has been a strong and principled advocate for working people, including through the pandemic, the campaign to restore workers’ rights and collective bargaining, and the significant workplace reforms achieved over recent years that have worked to build a strong and effective union movement.

Despite these advances, there are still enormous challenges ahead in this rapidly changing world to ensure every worker has secure employment, particularly in the face of the AI revolution, wages that reflect the increasing cost of living, and conditions that reflect today’s working environment.

For teachers and education support staff, that means a properly resourced and valued public education system with the pay and conditions that education workers deserve.

We warmly congratulate Melissa and look forward to working with her as we continue to build a stronger union movement and a better future for working people across Australia.

ENDS

Media Contact: Kylie Jensen 0402 298 728