For the last 24 years I have had the privilege of representing ASU members across our union. It has been the greatest honour to have had your support to lead our union for the last 12 years.
Together in the ASU we pride ourselves on the way we stand up and fight for workers’ rights. I am incredibly proud of what we have been able to achieve together and that our union has been, and remains, at the forefront of campaigns for:
- Equal pay, including ground breaking provisions to address the superannuation gender pay gap
- Securing government procurement policy promoting ethical local jobs across the service sector
- Domestic Violence leave in EBA’s and the important and ongoing fight to secure DV leave in the National Employment Standards
- Recognition of the skills of white collar workers and securing an appropriate safety net
- An end to sham contracting and insecure working arrangements that undermine our living standards
And of course there is more to do, including changing the rules to make our workplace laws fair for working people.
Because of our shared history I wanted you to know that after careful consideration and discussions with my family, friends and union colleagues, I have decided to stand for ALP preselection for the Western Metropolitan Region, a position that becomes vacant at the Victorian state election in November 2018.
I live in the heart of the western suburbs and have done so for more than 20 years. It’s a community I care passionately about.
If I am preselected and then elected as an MP, I will work tirelessly to ensure that my community receives the support and representation it deserves on the key issues that I know ASU members and the members of my community care about – decent secure jobs, education, housing, infrastructure and equality.
I am truly grateful to those of you who have contacted me to wish me well and urged me to seek preselection. Your support means a lot to me.
I believe the right thing for our union is for me to take leave while I participate in the Labor party’s preselection process over the next few weeks.
While I am on leave, your ASU team will continue to work with you doing what they do best – getting results for and with our members, and holding employers to account.
Yours in Unity,
Ingrid Stitt
Branch Secretary
