To say that I was saddened to yesterday learn of Jim Metcher’s decision to retire from the workforce would be an understatement.
But it was with the greatest respect for his reasoning – to spend more time with his family he loves so much – that I accepted his decision.
Sitting here today and reading through the many personal tributes flowing from members to Jim in response to this morning’s announcement, it has definitely sunk in that he has left behind incredibly large shoes to fill.
I am extremely humbled by the Branch Committee of Management’s decision to afford to me the privilege of filling the vacancy caused by Jim’s retirement, as Branch Secretary, and am determined to lead our Branch in delivering the same high standards of service, representation and advocacy members have come to expect of their Union under his leadership.
I will be single-mindedly focussed on the job of standing up for members and their families.
Having myself worked for both Australia Post and Telstra prior to commencing my career with the Union, I have a unique understanding of the issues that make our members tick.
As an experienced negotiator in both the public and private sectors, I am determined to tackle the issues immediately confronting our members, including enterprise bargaining currently underway with Australia Post.
I believe our members have run out of patience for Post’s hypocritical wage stance on EBA9.
Members are simply not swallowing Post’s argument for cutting workers’ real pay by hiding behind the Federal Government’s bargaining policy, when the boss is making more than $5 million a year.
We also need to hold the Federal Government to account on the bungled NBN rollout.
Workers on the front line are being subjected to dodgy rip-off contracting arrangements and are sick of dealing with the public’s escalating frustration with construction delays and service reliability – both of which are consequences of the mismanagement of the project by NBN Co and the government.
This is just skimming the surface of the many issues confronting our members that I am eager to get stuck into and resolve for our members. I believe we’re almost there on the long-running Telstra job banding and classification dispute.
Finally, on behalf of the Union and all CEPU members, I would like to thank Jim for his enormous contribution in his 27 years’ service to postal and telecommunications workers.
I had the privilege of working closely with Jim over the past 18 years, and the honour to spend the past six of those years alongside him as his Assistant Secretary.
He is a committed leader, who was always determined to get the best outcome for members in everything he did and with the benefit of his dedicated and nurturing mentorship throughout my career, I am confident in my ability to lead our team as we strive to deliver the same for members going forward.
Yours faithfully
SHANE MURPHY
BRANCH SECRETARY
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