Fight looms over MEAA union ‘corporatisation’ push to put in CEO
Senior members of the union representing journalists, actors and musicians are calling for a greater debate over moves by the union to scrap the current model of an elected federal secretary in favour of a new system which would see an elected board appointing a CEO.
The push has been privately described by some in the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) as an attempt at a “coup”, coming just weeks after federal secretary Chris Warren announced he would step down after more than two decades at the helm of the union.
That decision had led to strong rumours Fairfax journalist Marcus Strom would become the next federal secretary, with many expecting the first election where there would be an open field for the position in more than 15 years.
However a meeting of the MEAA on March 17 and 18 will now see the union vote on whether to abandon an election for the leadership in favour of what official documents being circulated describe as “a professionalised structure” which would see a CEO appointed by “senior honorary officers on the MEAA board”.
Does anyone care any more? When I was made obsolete by one of the Big Boys a few years back, the union’s comment was to the effect “oh, you’ve done alright, see you later, oh, by the way do you want to join up as a freelancer.” Not bloody likely. That’s what 40 years of paying dues gets you. It seems entirely appropriate that one of those talking loudest in this latest drama is a comedian.
Yes, Zumabeach, people who pay upwards of $1,000 a year do care about how they are represented.
Joining up as a freelancer should be a seamless option for the huge numbers of journos that get the axe but have skills that can get them off the Newstart queue with a bit of support – something that delivers real benefits. However freelancers don’t get that support from the MEAA now as the people who have run it for so many years are so staff-focused.
Ditching election of Fed Sec is a huge change to the structure of the union. Why not put it out to a member vote? A referendum, of sorts (… with a true independent writing the referendum question, of course, we don’t want another Republic-style debacle.)
Well, you can forget my subscription if this happens.
A CEO not appointed by members!
Is this a mining company or a union?
Michaela Baeriji “LaLegale” said the MEAA did nothing to help her. They could at least refund her 16 years of membership fees 😐 Crikey: [$] http://www.crikey.com.au/2014/.....ns-and-qa/
@ Fran Molloy … Well, if you or anybody else is paying $1000 a year to the MEAA, you have more money than sense. I have enough of a track record and contacts to find freelance work if I want it but, generally speaking, the money is crap and more often than not you’re dealing with start-up duckers and divers who might get around to paying you one day, if you’re lucky. The Big Boys might still pay reasonable rates and on time but the work is getting less and less. What can the union do about any of this? Nothing. It’s good at doing award piss-up nights, academic ivory tower talkfests and gibbering on about maintaining standards, but it’s about as useful as the proverbial ash tray on a motorbike when it comes to keeping journalists in jobs.
If you need professional indemnity insurance as a freelancer, the fees are worth the price of the discount insurance alone.
The idea of value is in the eye of the beholder. It isn’t a union’s job to ‘keep journalists in jobs’ but to represent them in negotiations with employers to ensure pay and conditions are of an agreed standard. The problem with freelancers is that the MEAA doesn’t have that clout because freelancers are not employees and we do not have the same rights (to pay and conditions) in relation to clients as employees do to employers.
The MEAA were making baby steps in the right direction and now Chris Warren is stepping down this is a chance to ensure the person that represents us is the right person to take things forward. We want to be able to choose that person. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
The main problem with MEAA is the lack of involvement of activists in decision-making. Hence, Councillors are elected and make decisions without any reference to their constituency.
Furthermore, there are problems with the MEAA electoral system, which allows union management to stop those who dare to ask questions from being elected, by spending lots of money during election campaigns, and by filling casual vacancies with their own preferred activists.