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AUWU Membership - Thread @AusUnemployment
According to Consumer Affairs Victoria's register of incorporated associations the Australian Unemployed Workers Union Incorporated (AUWU) had 42 members as of August 2020. 1/
According to Consumer Affairs Victoria's register of incorporated associations the Australian Unemployed Workers Union Incorporated (AUWU) had 42 members as of August 2020. 1/
Yet, the AUWU is reported, and claims to have as many as 16,000+ members. How can both of these vastly different numbers be true? The answer is how the term 'members' is understood. 2/ https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/australian-unemployed-workers-union-calls-for-strike-against-pointless-and-punitive-job-agencies/news-story/eb4fd718245df1d68455860110878775
When a reasonable person visits the AUWU website (either http://unemployedworkersunion.com or http://auwu.org.au ) and 'signs up' using this form you might reasonably believe that they have applied for membership. 3/
When they subsequently receive an email, 'Subject: Welcome to the AUWU', thanking them for joining, you might reasonably believe that they are members - with rights, responsibilities and protections as set out in the constitution and rules of that organisation. /4
However, this is not the case. To apply for membership of the AUWU - the registered incorporated association - you would, 1) have to know that you haven't already obtained membership, and 2) set out to discover the membership application process - not your average cup of tea. 5/
I'm a nerd, elected to Student representative council once while at school. Yr 12 finding myself chairperson - I read the constitution. That applies here too. A version of the incorporated association's constitution can be found via a link on this page. 6/ https://unemployedworkersunion.com/auwu-constitution/
According to *this* AUWU Inc constitution, potential members must make a signed written submission to a committee member stating very specific things. Applications are considered by the commitee, & written notification sent. No reason need be given to rejected applicants. 7/
It is only the successful applicants who are members - which are entered into the register of members maintained by the associations secretary - that can vote, participate in AGMs, see minutes, etc. The total of which is the 42 reported to Consumer Affairs Victoria. 8/
If you still think that this is still just pencil pushing, you are wrong. AUWU membership - being on that list of 42 - brings with it protections. Had @twtrrr been, disciplinary & grievance sections of the constitution would have been available for action to be taken. 9/
How is any of this possible? @consumervic are unable to answer my call due to Covid-19, but I'll ask my questions here.
1) Does section 53 of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012, state that only members have a right to inspect an associations rules (constitution)? 10/
1) Does section 53 of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012, state that only members have a right to inspect an associations rules (constitution)? 10/
And, @consumervic
2) does that mean that an incorporated association isn't required to make public their current membership application process?
3) What can you do for people like @twtrrr who has suffered at AUWU's hands - not a member, and not a Victorian? 11/
2) does that mean that an incorporated association isn't required to make public their current membership application process?
3) What can you do for people like @twtrrr who has suffered at AUWU's hands - not a member, and not a Victorian? 11/
And, @consumervic
4) Are all members, including affiliates (who can't vote), required to be on the members register?
5) Could an incorporated association create categories of membership under their constitution that are excluded from the members register? 12/
4) Are all members, including affiliates (who can't vote), required to be on the members register?
5) Could an incorporated association create categories of membership under their constitution that are excluded from the members register? 12/
And, @consumervic
6) How is the privacy of the information provided to an incorporated association by non-members protected?
7) Does that differ from members on the incorporated association's register?
8) Are Inc associations required to use their reg no. on social media? 13/
6) How is the privacy of the information provided to an incorporated association by non-members protected?
7) Does that differ from members on the incorporated association's register?
8) Are Inc associations required to use their reg no. on social media? 13/
And @consumervic
9) Can Inc associations identify as trade unions on social media?
10) If an Inc association receives $20k+ a year from donations are they required to register a fundraiser?
11) If consumers believe they have applied for membership, what protects them? 14/
9) Can Inc associations identify as trade unions on social media?
10) If an Inc association receives $20k+ a year from donations are they required to register a fundraiser?
11) If consumers believe they have applied for membership, what protects them? 14/
And @consumervic
12) Is an Inc associations registration number required to be on their website, notices, ads, publications, all official business docs, receipts & emails?
13) Has there been, or will there be an investigation into the AUWU Inc's conduct? 15/
12) Is an Inc associations registration number required to be on their website, notices, ads, publications, all official business docs, receipts & emails?
13) Has there been, or will there be an investigation into the AUWU Inc's conduct? 15/
You might think that I of anyone could tell prospective members how to join. Honestly I'm not sure, even if you followed the process per the constitution on the AUWU website, there is no guarantee that is the current constitution as it changed in 2015. 16/
If you want to apply for AUWU membership you need to contact the Committee of Management (CoM) elected by members, NOT the Operations Committee (OC) who are elected by the CoM (National AUWU Structure, pp.11-13). 17/
The AUWU has not made contacting the CoM easy. The positions filled in the last AGM are in the picture, but we know that the president has changed since then, and there are no generic office email addresses listed that I have found or a postal address. 18/
I call on the CoM to make the membership process clear so those who wish to can fully participate. The AUWU does important work, but needs to admit more members, so the CoM can fulfill their remit to investigate & discipline perpetrators of abuse, online & otherwise. End/
