Are We a Union? Understanding Red Union

Short answer: Yes, we, and our affiliates, are a union.

We are united behind reliable and affordable services for all workers, regardless of their unique and protected attributes.

No organisation owns the word "Union" nor has the right to deny you its use. 

Any organisation that attempts to alienate your right to associate and unionise as you see fit is doing a disservice to workers and our fundamental human rights granted in Articles 22 of the ICCPR and 8 of the ICESCR.

So Why is it Even a Question?

What the legacy unions might mean when they say we "aren't a real union" is that:

• Red union's entities like Red Union Support Hub (RUSH), NPAA, TPAA, IWUA, SOPAA, and AMPS are not "Registered Employee Organisations" like they are; and therefore

• Have to apply work arounds to do some things they get to do for their members automatically (e.g. we need our members to appoint their bargaining agents for Enterprise Agreements or use of lawyers instead of union officials for some issues in industrial tribunals).

This is an inherently unfair comparison because

• Our affiliates are denied registration via monopoly rules that keep dissenters and competitors down and out (often referred to as "conveniently belong" rules); and

• Our associations are recognised as "industrial associations" in the Federal Fair Work system, which still recognises freedom of association within its objectives. 

Background

The first industrial union movements of the 1800 – 1900s have made great strides for workers rights.

During the late 20th century in Australia, the biggest trade unions began to benefit from "monopoly clauses" such as the "conveniently belong" rules, to essentially enjoy fiefdoms, where union bosses and their delegates could rule without any true economic accountability, keeping dissidents and competitors out, and getting away with providing less, paying themselves more, and even using unions as a launching board into politics.

The Red Union movement really first began in Queensland with the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland in 2014 when nurses and a benefactor thought the unions charged too much, and did too little for their members.

This caused a big shakeup, and the 2022 Queensland government of the time changed the industrial laws (under the consult of a career-unionist from the big unions) to essentially delete "industrial association" from the Queensland Public Sector rules.

Since then the NPAA and other Red Union affiliates have collectively grown to 24,000+ members strong, with glowing reviews. 

How it works

The current structure involves Australian workers subscribing to Red Union Support Hub (RUSH) which coordinates the subscriber's experience across all the Red Union services. 

Subscription includes:

• Membership of a state-based advocacy association (company limited by guarantee) for state specific advocacy and indemnity coverage (for Australian teachers, nurses, and midwives),

• A national industrial association (incoporated society),

• Professional Indemnity arrangements (for employed nurses, teachers, and allied health where eligible),

• access to industrial advocates and paid agents on demand,

• legal funding, and

• a growing range of add-on affiliate services including

  • Red Tax, and

  • Red Academy.

• Subscription also includes the option of convenient interstate transition across Australia and New Zealand.

Your association is governed by professionals and secretaries who fight for your interests. No entity in the Red Union movement donates to any political party — so we support every member, on every issue, without agenda.

This is what a modern workers' movement looks like, affordable, reliable, innovative, and competitive. 

Need More Help?

If you cannot find the answer you are looking for, our Support Hub is here to help. Reach out by phone, email, or live chat, and our team will get you sorted.