Rikki Hendon has been at the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association (CPSU/CSA) for 17 years. Photo: CPSU/CSA.
After 12 years at the helm of CPSU/CSA, branch secretary Rikki Hendon will soon leave Western Australia’s public sector union to become secretary of UnionsWA – the peak body for the state’s trade union movement.
From 2 December she will begin in her new role at UnionsWA, where she is president. Ms Hendon is also the national vice-president of the Community and Public Sector Union – State Public Sector Federation (CPSU-SPSF) – the overarching industrial organisation for state public sector workers – of which the CPSU/CSA represents the WA branch.
The outgoing branch secretary said working on behalf of WA’s public sector had been an absolute honour and she looked forward to continuing working for all workers of the state as Secretary of UnionsWA.
“I want to thank the members of the CPSU/CSA, hardworking and dedicated public sector workers from all walks of life, from all over the state, who have supported me to be an elected leader of their union for over a decade now,” she said.
“They are the heart, soul and true strength of this union, and I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve achieved together.”
The incoming UnionsWA secretary believes taking on this new role “could not come at a more crucial time for workers in WA”.
“Workers in WA are facing some big challenges, and as we head into federal and state elections in the next six months, their issues need to be high on the political agenda,” she said. “Peter Dutton has already admitted he will dismantle the Better Jobs, Secure Pay legislation if elected prime minister.
“Workers simply can’t risk a Dutton Liberal government that will strip their rights at work.”
Ms Hendon cited polling from IPSOS in September in which Western Australians ranked the cost of living (64 per cent) and housing (53 per cent) in their top five issues. Each of these results were up from the last state election in 2021, when they respectively sat at 24 per cent and 26 per cent.
“I commit to the workers of Western Australia that I will lead a strong and collaborative trade union movement, that all workers can rely on to keep them safe, put food on the table and live a good life.”
CPSU/CSA assistant branch secretary Melanie Bray and branch secretary Rikki Hendon were elected to their roles in 2018. Photo: CPSU/CSA.
During her time at the CPSU/CSA, Ms Hendon was able to secure reclassifications for dental health workers and family support officers, along with increased funding in child protection and a ‘conversion-to-permanency’ process.
In her capacity as national vice-president of the CPSU-SPSF, Ms Hendon led work for a unified national campaign demanding more resources be dedicated to child protection by the Federal Government.
Throughout this period she also moved up the ranks of UnionsWA from vice-president to president. Earlier this year UnionsWA and the CPSU/CSA successfully negotiated the end of the state’s wages cap.
Ms Hendon will be taking over from former UnionsWA secretary Owen Whittle.
Last month he was appointed CEO of West Australian Music (WAM), the peak body for contemporary music in WA.
WAM Board President Al Taylor said the appointment came at a pivotal time for the organisation as it embarked on a new strategy to revitalise its role in supporting the state’s music industry. It also recently secured $500,000 in annual funding from the state’s Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
The organisation’s incoming CEO said “it is clear there is much to do”.
“WAM is an institution in WA,” said Mr Whittle. “It rightfully should be at the forefront of responding to the challenges facing artists and the industry.
“I look forward to my first order of business – getting out and about to engage with the industry and put the future of the WA music industry firmly front and centre in people’s minds.”
More details on the CPSU/CSA’s new leadership are to be revealed following its evening council meeting next Wednesday (27 November).
“Ultimately, what draws me to the role is to represent the sector, lift WAM’s profile with government and the community and get wins on the board,” said CEO Owen Whittle. Photo: WAM.
