Comments on: Whom, exactly, is Joe de Bruyn representing?

By: John Passant

John Passant — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 21:56:41 +0000

http://www.sa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3108:union-members-challenge-sda-leaderships-homophobia&catid=215:labour-and-unions&Itemid=218

By: John Passant

John Passant — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:20:15 +0000

One of my comrades int eh SDA, who is actually organising around equal marriage in the union against De Bruyn, says that as head of the SDA for the last thirty years he ahas never been voted into the position by rank and file members of the union. I assume that is because the elections are uncontested.
And that leads me back to Paul’s points at 6. A large part of the workforce is casualised, often young and female. Then there are systemic barriers to organising an opposition, the pwoer of beign in power etc. While some have referred to the benefits De Bruyn wins, I think the casualised, exploited sections of the workforce might disagree. Has the SDA run a campaign against casual work etc? Even the more settled sections don’t seem that well off compared to what a union prepared to fight for better conditions might win. That’s why the bosses are happy with the current leadership.

By: Paul Norton

Paul Norton — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:29:46 +0000

Not an EEO lawyer myself, but if one's answer to a question like that came to bear on the final decision about whether one should be appointed, there would be a strong prima facie case that a breach of section 7(j) of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act had been committed if the job with with the SDA's Queensland branch.

By: Cultural Catholic

Cultural Catholic — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:27:38 +0000

A standard interview question when applying for a job at the SDA is ones views about abortion. Any EEO lawyers have any thoughts?

By: Antonio

Antonio — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:30:21 +0000

Paul Norton,

Contrary to popular belief, Clinton de Bruyn is not related to Joe de Bruyn. One of the more bizarre Griffith SRC stories…

By: Fiasco da Gama

Fiasco da Gama — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:12:07 +0000

Another note on the SDA: it’s not entirely true that their membership is made up overwhelmingly of young casual retail shop assistants. It would be if every 16-y/o at Just Jeans or KFC signed up, but they don’t.
The SDA also cover many warehouses, distributors and wholesalers, and their workforces of overwhelmingly blue-collar, male, permanently-employed storemen/packers. The ranks of the shop stewards, delegates and organisers—from amongst whom the first likely challenge to de Bruyn would come—are drawn from this part of the workforce.
And what Marcel said about incumbency: I’ve never heard of a contested election of SDA officials.

By: FDB

FDB — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:10:12 +0000

Oh, except these fine lads.

By: FDB

FDB — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:06:18 +0000

If you’re going to do street theatre, imho, you should be made to do it in mime form, or at least sotto volce, to save the rest of us from your embarassment.

When did FUCKING MIME ever save anyone from embarrassment?

YOU ARE THE FUCKING EMBARRASSMENT BUDDY!!!

KILL ALL MIMES!!!

By: BearCave

BearCave — Wed, 02 May 2007 06:39:09 +0000

Thanks to others for informing me about just who Mr. De Bryun is. It’s very interesting that I’m likely to be in broad support of the work he does for the benefit of shop assistants.

However, I’m not going to be at all shy of questioning his definition of my gay relationship as a “radically different type of union”.

The news I had confirmed yesterday was about my boyfriend’s advanced diabetes condition. The news is very bad.

We’ve both been rehearsing the theme “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” because of the precise focus we’ll both need to make sure his life is prolonged.

I never previously considered my relationship to become something I’d use to make a political point, but I must at least say that it would certainly help if our political leaders could in future be “more sensitive” to the health needs of gay relationships, starting with making the debate about gay issues “more focused” and “less shrill”.

…From Justin

By: Marcel's Ghost

Marcel's Ghost — Wed, 02 May 2007 02:50:24 +0000

Perhaps people would prefer the LHMU, who nationally are proud of representing the lowest paid and most frequently exploited workers in the nation….??? Not much of a union.

And, as a Union, the lhmu have a pretty horrific habbit of indulging in street theatre and making their members sing when on picket lines. If you’re going to do street theatre, imho, you should be made to do it in mime form, or at least sotto volce, to save the rest of us from your embarassment.

The SDA may not be the most militant union about (and I do agree that they do a decent job in a difficult area), but at least they don’t pretend that they are…

De Bruyn retains his post because he improves his workers wages and conditions, and protects some of the most vulnerable sectors of the employment market from exploitation. Pretty simple.

Well, no. That’s going a bit far. De Bruyn retains his position because of the benefits of incumbancy, as discussed above.