May 1999 Volume 80 Number 6 "serving the protectors"
WOPU Conference All Class
By Bernadette Zimmermann

The Women Officials in Police Unions committee held its annual meeting in Hobart this year. All Australian Police associations and unions attended, except Western Australia. In all, 15 delegates participated.

Police Federation of Australia (PFA) industrial officer, Chris Hayes, facilitated the meeting. He was very encouraging throughout the meeting and impressed the importance upon delegates of the forum becoming a valuable resource for the federation.

Barrister and guest speaker, Patricia Lowson, presented a paper to the committee titled Industrial Issues for Women Police Officers. Its content was quite interesting and contained suggestions for action.

Lowson mentioned the benefits of a federal organization, especially for the purposes of collection and analysis of data. She suggested that analysis of data is necessary not only for women officers, but also police forces in general. Some of those “women’s issues”, she said, also affect male officers.

In closing, she remarked: “Nevertheless, with a significant number of women now pursuing a career in policing, now is the time for those women to be actively involved in ensuring that the industrial practices occurring in their chosen field of expertise takes adequate account of their views, and address(es) their needs - for the good of all.”

You can’t argue with that. Those who fail to get involved encourage organizational inertia, which has become an effective management tool in holding women back. This is a direct invitation for women members to start returning to their branch meeting (first Wednesday each month at 10am in Fenwick Hall) even if it’s just to keep themselves informed.

Two days of the meeting were taken up with business arising from the minutes, affiliates’ (and other) reports, agenda items and general business. Full copies of the minutes are available from PASA.

A summary of motions carried and lost is set out below. Members should know what motions arose - and their success - as they affect how and what police unions decide to do with our issues.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

MOTION
that the PFA finance the attendance of a WOPU delegate at each of the ACTU Women’s Advisory Committee meetings (of which there are four per year) and other forums as agreed to between the parties.
CARRIED

MOTION
that a representative of WOPU participate in all PFA Industrial Planning Committee (IPC) meetings.
CARRIED

MOTION
that representation of WOPU at PFA Council meetings be undertaken by a WOPU member of the State in which the council meeting is to be held and in the event of branch president being a member of WOPU, that an additional member of WOPU attend as such representative.
CARRIED

MOTION
that any proposed article, paper or information relating to WOPU be authorised by the incumbent Chairperson prior to the article, paper or information being published, delivered or released with the exception of reports on the Committee’s business to Police Associations/Unions of the PFA.
CARRIED

MOTION
that the PFA, in consultation with WOPU appoint a spokesperson from this committee for the purpose of responding to media reports and/or portrayals of women in policing so as to accurately report the position of its members. Discussion with the President of the PFA will take place prior to any such response.
CARRIED

AGENDA ITEMS

MOTION
that the logo of the Committee be the ‘Women’s’ symbol as tabled at the meeting. The design to be finalised and distributed for final approval.
CARRIED

MOTION
that the WOPU Committee change its name to the ‘Police Federation of Australia Women’s Advisory Committee’ (PFAWAC).
CARRIED

MOTION
that PFAWAC consider nominating persons for the [Australasian Council for Women and Policing] National Excellence in Policing Awards.
LOST

MOTION
that the PFAWAC accept the offer to present an update on its activities to the Second Australasian Women and Policing Conference.
CARRIED

MOTION
that PFAWAC hold an Annual Meeting and -
(a) a designated bi annual teleconference and
(b) other teleconferences as required.
CARRIED

MOTION
that the PFA encourage and oversee the training of women members in industrial issues.
CARRIED

MOTION
that the 1999 PFAWAC express its disappointment at the non-attendance of a WA representative and encourage their contribution at this forum at the next meeting/teleconference.
CARRIED

MOTION
that the Secretary of the PFA correspond with the President of the WA Police Union of Workers in relation to their non-attendance at this meeting.
CARRIED

GENERAL BUSINESS

MOTION
that the PFA strongly recommend to member unions and affiliates, the adoption of the Anna Stewart Memorial Project as a means of encouraging women’s participation in the union movement. It is recommended that appropriate literature advertising the project be disseminated through the various States/Territory journals.
CARRIED

MOTION
that Angela Bradford (Assistant Secretary, Police Association of Tasmania) be appointed as Secretary to the Committee effective immediately and to be reviewed at the next Annual meeting of the PFAWAC.
CARRIED

OVERVIEW BY THE FACILITATOR
(taken from the draft minutes)

Chris Hayes stated that far more had come from the meeting than he expected. He said the outcome of the meeting should be conveyed to each executive in a very positive way.

Hayes is encouraged by the developments that have occurred and said that the resources of the forum were quite impressive. He extended an invitation to the Chairperson to attend the next PFA Executive meeting to discuss the Committee.

Hayes said that he leaves the meeting with the knowledge that the Committee is made up of a group of trade unionists who can do a lot in advancing policing and looking after our members as a whole.

THE LAST WORD:

The importance of Hayes’ last statement (above) cannot be underscored in terms of its relevance to ALL MEMBERS, women AND men. A saying which I think picks up his point well is: “If it’s good for women, it’s good for everyone”.

It’s important to see the point of this statement because it helps markedly to have male members’ support when we are pushing particular issues through the industrial arena. We’ve had some successes so far. There are plenty more that need attention. I only hope we get the support we experienced at both the 1998 and 1999 PASA Delegates Conference, where motions such as endorsement of the paid maternity leave claim and the right to a Women’s Branch vote at the annual conference were “voted up”. At these conferences, there were no women voting in their own right.

Feedback on the motions listed is encouraged and I look forward to discussing any of them with members.

The Police Association of Tasmania organized a “class” conference and showed incredible hospitality to delegates. And, surprisingly, great hospitality also came from some other quarters.

Firstly, Tasmanian Police Commissioner, Richard McCreadie, kindly arranged a trip for delegates aboard the Police Marine flagship vessel, “Van Diemen”.

Secondly, the Commissioned Police Officers Association of New South Wales secured the attendance of Patricia Lowson as guest speaker to the conference, which was very much appreciated.

Due to the expert organization by all concerned, the two-day conference in Hobart was productive and useful. SA delegates thank those responsible for their efforts.

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