QNU Contacts and Workplace Representatives
Workplace representatives play a vital role in union activities, maintaining a link between members and the Union office. Union representatives are responsible for encouraging membership, distributing information to members and assisting the organiser in ensuring that workplace issues are being addressed.
Workplace representatives are nominated by three financial members of the Union. Members are normally expected to serve as a Union contact before to being nominated as a workplace representative. Workplace Branches are notified of nominations in their area and nominations are submitted to the Union's Council for endorsement.
It is possible to have more than one workplace representative in a workplace, and in large workplaces this is essential, particularly where there is more than one facility or a number of discrete work units. In some cases where there are a number of nominations and there is a need to limit the number of workplace representatives, an election will be required. In this case the Organiser should be contacted for advice or assistance with the conduct of an election.
Workplace representatives serve for a period of two years, and then need to be re-nominated.
Form a Branch of the QNU
The rules of the Union give members the opportunity to form workplace, community or special interest Branches, with each member belonging to a Branch in their workplace or region.
There are currently approximately 130 Branches throughout Queensland. Each Branch has a Branch Executive that consists of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Assistant Secretary. Branches also elect delegates to the Meetings of Delegates and Annual Conference. The Branch Executive and other delegates are elected every two years by secret postal ballot, which is conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission.
Branches form the building blocks of the Union's democratic structure and promote membership participation, consultation and communication.
Meetings of Delegates (MODs)
Delegates are elected every two years by Branches. Meetings of Delegates (MODs) take place in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Bundaberg or Maryborough and Brisbane, three times per year, between February and May, August and October and October and December each year.
MODs enable the Secretary of the Union to report on the activities of the Union and to consult with Branch delegates. They also provide a forum for Branch delegates to debate regional issues and to formulate recommendations to the Union's Council. | |
The QNU Council
The QNU Council consists of 24 nurses who are elected honorary officials and the Secretary of the Union. There is a seven member Executive and currently there are 18 Councillors.
Members of the Council are elected by secret ballot of all members every two years. The Secretary who is a full-time officer of the union is elected by secret ballot of all members every four years.
The Council is responsible for the day to day management and administration of the Union and its staff and for ensuring that Annual Conference decisions are implemented effectively.
Any financial member of the union who has been fully financial for twelve months may nominate for election to the Union's Council.
The Council meets once a month, while the Executive meets between Council meeting to oversee the Union's activities.
QNU Annual Conference
The Annual Conference decides the Union's direction and policies. Delegates who are elected to MODs also represent their Branches at the Annual Conference. Branch delegates are elected to Conference on a proportional basis.
Members of the Union's Council also participate in Annual Conference which is held in July or August each year. Before to Conference, Branches are encouraged to submit agenda items for Conference consideration.
Each Annual Conference elects members to the Industrial Policy Committee and the Professional Policy Committee. These Committees operate between Conference to assist with the development of policies in accordance with Annual Conference decisions.
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