Union elections - an opportunity for workers to have their say

Written by: Ned K. on 27 February, 2026

(Above: Workers join unions for unity in struggle, not for division caused by factional rivalry.  Source: UWU)

On Friday 26 February the Australian Financial Review (AFR) ran a prominent page 4 article headed "Union split puts focus on ALP spend". The article was about the forthcoming United Workers Union (UWU) election for its governing body, the Delegates Convention. According to the AFR there are Convention delegate positions up for election for a four-year term.

The UWU is a 2019 amalgamation of the NUW which predominantly covered warehouse workers, food processing workers and pharmaceutical processing and United Voice which covered aged care, child care, disabilities sector, hospital workers (non-nursing), hospitality, animal care such as RSPCA , cleaners, security guards, prison officers and an assortment of manufacturing and even funeral directors. 

So, the amalgamated union UWU covers workers "from the cradle to the grave" as well as covering workers that enable Australians to have chicken on the table or a packet of chips with a beer at the local hotel!

The AFR reports that there is great rivalry playing out in the coming election essentially between the former NUW leadership and the former United Voice leadership.
As is usually the case, both sides strive to hold the high moral ground to win over enough members' votes to control the direction of the UWU for the next four years.

Both sides say they want to increase resources that benefit existing members and bring more workers in as union members with extensive social media campaigning.

Both accuse the other of poor use of members' money and about how much and under what conditions members' money should be given to the ALP.

The dark cloud hanging over Tim Kennedy and his alleged misuse of members’ money and sweetheart industrial deals with some big employers and the old NUW's smaller membership base within the UWU must be a worry for his ticket.

On the other hand, the United Voice ticket led by Jo Schofield may receive a backlash from members about the amount of members' money ($8 million according to the AFR) that the ALP received in 2024-25.

The good thing about a Union election is that members who vote have the final say.

Unlike parliamentary elections, voting in Union elections is voluntary. 

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