Melissa Wainwright
Assistant Branch Secretary
P: 03 9342 3443
M: 0408 384 464
E: mwainwright@asuvictas.com.au
Melissa overseas the Servicing team, responsible for industrial advocacy and growth across the Branch.
She first joined the Australian Services Union in 2003 as a Delegate when the Australian Services Union ran an Equal Pay campaign for Child care workers. She joined and helped campaign for the right of all Early Childhood educators to be recognised in Enterprise Bargaining which achieved higher pay for all local government workers in the sector across the State.
Melissa became an Organiser at the ASU in 2005, and has been critical in campaigning and bargaining for improved wages and conditions.
Melissa holds a Diploma and has over 20 years’ experience in Early Childhood Education. She has been working at the ASU for over 13 years, completing her Cert 4 in Unionism at ACTU Organising Works and been a Branch Coordinator for 3 of those years.
Melissa has represented on the ASU Branch Executive by speaking at ACTU congress on the win for Equal Pay for Childcare workers, was actively involved in the ‘Your rights at work ‘ and has facilitated many ASU interest groups.
ASU Facebook
ASU community sector and local government members met yesterday about the North Melb/Flemington public housing hard lockdown. Concerns raised included the very heavy police presence and impact on residents, vs a health and social service response, and lack of communication with the ASU about the rushed plan. PPE, cleaning protocols and OHS concerns for workers and residents at the impacted estates, and across all high-density public housing were discussed. Meeting motion below has all the details.
Next members’ meeting - 1:00 pm Thursday 9 July
Register here, for link to the meeting: bit.ly/2BCvadQ
More info: www.asuvictas.com.au/public-housing-lockdown-update/
Members involved in the response, please get in touch with any queries about OHS or your rights. Solidarity with all the residents!
Great work ASU members!
Please consider a list of vital numbers including Lifeline Kids Helpline Family Violence Hotline Drug and Alcohol support. Online options also. With all the concerns for mental health it is urgent that residents have easy access. People may feel so isolated and alone they feel there is no one they can talk to. Hence dome cards or a list would be so helpful. Can these be delivered to every unit in the 9 towers in with bags of food.
#ASUProud
I love this. I'm not working in the sector currently but was a previous member for years. I can't express how relieved i am by this statement..... I live close to the Flemington estate and also lived around the area as a kid. It's been really distressing to see VTHC refusing to speak out on the barbarity of how this is being managed, and acting like charity is the only role for them. Thank you soooo much to all the workers and ASU organisers who put this together 💕💕💕💕
A very fair and understandable list of demands! Great work ASU members!
It's a poorly executed lock up. When all this is over the government needs to demolish those towers and build nicer accomodation.
Good to see ASU onto this. Thanks x
Philip
#ASUproud
I love this
✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼
Jasmine Ali Olivia Nigro Lucy Honan
I don’t feel it’s a problem, police are there in a peaceful capacity.
#ASUProud
📣📣Urgent Meeting: ASU community sector members to raise concerns about the hard lockdown of public housing in Flemington & North Melbourne. Local Gov members working in this area please join and share! 📣📣
10:30 Monday 6 July
Register at link below, meeting link will be forwarded: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvdOivrj4oGdGHM5Z9vlRpw6zsXbTCqdaS
There will be many residents urgently requiring community services during the lockdown period and ASU community sector workers will provide many of these services. It’s vital that you are able to do your work as safely as possible and free from risk in a potentially volatile situation.
The ASU wants to hear from you on any concerns held and that safety measures are in place!
More info at: www.asuvictas.com.au/urgent-covid-19-public-housing-lockdown-members-meeting/
We know many ASU members will be concerned to hear that 9 public housing towers in Flemington and Kensington have been placed in hard lockdown as part of the COVID response. This time will be beyond challenging for residents, there are vulnerabilities and needs amongst residents that will be challenging to meet.
VTHC is coordinating donations for those that are able to show some practical support.
supportpublichousingresidents.raisely.com/
Urgent: For our members that may be urgently deployed to provide support to public housing residents here’s some important info on PPE, your rights working during COVID and more.
www.asuvictas.com.au/covid-19/community-sector/
If you need advice about urgent deployment over the weekend please send us a DM here and we’ll provide support to our members.
Stay safe comrades 🙏
The more the media and politicians say we are in this together, the more the evidence shows that we are not. Under capitalism there are huge inequalities in our societies. Its workers, their families and communities that are faring the worst. Public health measures that don’t take into account of this, just reinforce these inequalitie. Whether here in Australia or globally..... This is why unions are important to try and redress these imbalances.