New Boss Named to Lead Union Movement After Turbulence
Donnelly was the only nominee and will take over as ACTU secretary on August 31 as unions face wage and corruption challenges.
- On Monday, the Australian Council of Trade Unions executive appointed Melissa Donnelly as secretary-elect, replacing Sally McManus who steps down on August 30 after a decade leading the union movement.
- The leadership transition follows announcements by McManus and ACTU president Michele O'Neil in late July that they would step down to make way for younger leaders to bring the "movement forward."
- Donnelly, who led the Community and Public Sector Union for seven years, identified cost-of-living pressures and wage growth as her primary focus, saying she would "continue to address the real cost of living pressures that working people are facing every day."
- Facing ongoing inquiries into the CFMEU in Victoria and Queensland, Donnelly pledged "zero tolerance" for corruption and violence to restore the union movement's reputation amid recent scandals.
- Donnelly plans to use the union's political influence to counter One Nation's rising popularity among blue-collar workers while implementing strong "guardrails" regarding AI's potential impact on job security.
11 Articles
11 Articles
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'Generational change': Melissa Donnelly named as new ACTU boss
The 44-year-old inherits the trade union movement while it is enjoying a golden era of political influence, but also faces a long-term decline in membership and a fight for the rights of workers in the AI boom.
Sydney Morning Herald
The 44-year-old working mother soon to lead the union movement
Melissa Donnelly, who has led the Community and Public Sector Union for seven years, will replace ACTU secretary Sally McManus at the end of August.
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