12 March, 2012Vowing to actively campaign for job security and workers' rights, Dave Oliver, AMWU National Secretary stands for election as Secretary of Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).
AUSTRALIA: Dave Oliver, National Secretary of the IMF-affiliated Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU), announced on March 8 his decision to nominate for the position of Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).
Enjoying broad support for his nomination from the union movement, Oliver is expected to take the position at the ACTU Congress in May, when current ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence will retire.
Seeking to make ACTU a community-backed, high-profile campaigning organization, Oliver's first task will be to ensure ACTU and the Australian union movement is ready to campaign on job security and workers' right in the lead up to the federal election in 2013.
Oliver has indicated that one of his priorities remains the growing threat to jobs and the economy, particularly in those sectors impacted by the mining boom and the high Australian dollar, not only in manufacturing but in finance, tourism and the service sector.
In an open letter to AMWU members, Oliver writes, "To my friends and comrades in the AMWU - past and present - I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve our union over the past 24 years and if successful I look forward to working with you for many years to come in my new capacity."